FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS COURT

An Historical Romance

BY

L. MUHLBACH

AUTHOR OF JOSEPH II. AND HIS COURT

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY

MRS. CHAPMAN COLEMAN AND HER DAUGHTERS

CONTENTS. 

BOOK I. 

CHAPTER

 I. The Queen Sophia Dorothea, II. Frederick William I. , III. The Tobacco Club, IV. Air-Castles, V. Father and Son, VI. The White Saloon, VII. The Maid of Honor and the Gardener, VIII. Von Manteuffel, the Diplomat, IX. Frederick, the Prince Royal, X. The Prince Royal and the Jew, XI. The Princess Royal Elizabeth Christine, XII. The Poem, XIII. The Banquet, XIV. Le Roi est Mort. Vive le Roi! XV. We are King, XVI. Royal Grace and Royal Displeasure, BOOK II. 

 I. The Garden of Monbijou, II. The Queen's Maid of Honor. III. Prince Augustus William, IV. The King and the Son, V. The Queen's Tailor, VI. The Illustrious Ancestors of a Tailor, VII. Soffri e Taci, VIII. The Coronation, IX. Dorris Ritter, X. Old and New Sufferings, XI. The Proposal of Marriage, XII. The Queen as a Matrimonial Agent, XIII. Proposal of Marriage, XIV. The Misunderstanding, XV. Soiree of the Queen Dowager, XVI. Under the Lindens, XVII. The Politician and the French Tailor, XVIII. The Double Rendezvous, BOOK III. 

 I. The Intriguing Courtiers, II. The King and the Secretary of the Treasury, III. The Undeceived Courtier, IV. The Bridal Pair, V. The French and German Tailors, or the Montagues and Capulets of Berlin, VI. In Rheinsberg, VII. The King and his Friend, VIII. The Farewell Audience of Marquis von Botter, the Austrian Ambassador, IX. The Masquerade, X. The Maskers, XI. Reward and Punishment, XII. The Return, XIII. The Death of the Old Time, XIV. The Discovery, XV. The Countermine, XVI. The Surprise, XVII. The Resignation of Baron von Pollnitz, FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS COURT. 

BOOK I. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE QUEEN SOPHIA DOROTHEA. 

The palace glittered with light and splendor; the servants ran here andthere, arranging the sofas and chairs; the court gardener cast asearching glance at the groups of flowers which he had placed in thesaloons; and the major domo superintended the tables in the picturegallery. The guests of the queen will enjoy to-night a rich and costlyfeast. Every thing wore the gay and festive appearance which, in thegood old times, the king's palace in Berlin had been wont to exhibit. Jesting and merrymaking were the order of the day, and even the busyservants were good-humored and smiling, knowing that this evening therewas no danger of blows and kicks, of fierce threats and tremblingterror. Happily the king could not appear at this ball, which he hadcommanded Sophia to give to the court and nobility of Berlin. 

The king was ill, the gout chained him to his chamber, and during thelast few sleepless nights a presentiment weighed upon the spirit of theruler of Prussia. He felt that the reign of Frederick the First wouldsoon be at an end; that the doors of his royal vault would soon open toreceive a kingly corpse, and a new king would mount the throne ofPrussia. 

This last thought filled the heart of the king with rage andbitterness. Frederick William would not die! he would not that his sonshould reign in his stead; that this weak, riotous youth, this dreamer, surrounded in Rheinsberg with poets and musicians, sowing flowers andcomposing ballads, should take the place which Frederick the First hadfilled so many years with glory and great results. 

Prussia had no need of this sentimental boy, this hero of fashion, whoadorned himself like a French fop, and preferred the life of asybarite, in his romantic castle, to the battle-field and thenight-parade; who found the tones of his flute sweeter than the soundsof trumpets and drums; who declared that there were not only kings by"the grace of God, but kings by the power of genius and intellect, andthat Voltaire was as great a king--yes, greater than all the kingsanointed by the Pope!" What use has Prussia for such a sovereign? No, Frederick William would not, could not die! His son should not reign inPrussia, destroying what his father had built up! Never should Prussiafall into the hands of a dreaming poet! The king was resolved, therefore, that no one should know he was ill; no one should believethat he had any disease but gout; this was insignificant, never fatal. A man can live to be eighty years old with the gout; it is like afaithful wife, who lives with us even to old age, and with whom we cancelebrate a golden wedding. The king confessed to himself that he wasonce more clasped in her tender embraces, but the people and the princeshould not hope that his life was threatened. 

For this reason should Sophia give a ball, and the world should seethat the queen and her daughters were gay and happy. 

The queen was indeed really gay to-day; she was free. It seemed as ifthe chains which bound her bad fallen apart, and the yoke to which shehad bowed her royal neck was removed. To-day she was at liberty toraise her head proudly, like a queen, to adorn herself with royalapparel. Away, for to-day at least, with sober robes and simplecoiffure. The king was fastened to his arm-chair, and Sophia dared oncemore to make a glittering and queenly toilet. With a smile of proudsatisfaction, she arrayed herself in a silken robe, embroidered insilver, which she had secretly ordered for the ball from her nativeHanover. Her eyes beamed with joy, as she at last opened thesilver-bound casket, and released from their imprisonment for a fewhours these costly brilliants, which for many years had not seen thelight. With a smiling glance her eyes rested upon the glitteringstones, which sparkled and flamed like falling stars, and her heartbeat high with delight. For a queen is still a woman, and SophiaDorothea had so often suffered the pains and sorrows of woman, that shelonged once more to experience the proud happiness of a queen. Sheresolved to wear all her jewels; fastened, herself, the sparklingdiadem upon her brow, clasped upon her neck and arms the splendidbrilliants, and adorned her ears with the long pendants; then steppingto the Venetian mirror, she examined herself critically. Yes, Sophiahad reason to be pleased; hers was a queenly toilet. She looked in theglass, and thought on bygone days, on buried hopes and vanished dreams. These diamonds her exalted father had given when she was betrothed toFrederick William. This diadem had adorned her brow when she married. The necklace her brother had sent at the birth of her first child; thebracelet her husband had clasped upon her arm when at last, after longwaiting, and many prayers, Prince Frederick was born. Each of thesejewels was a proud memento of the past, a star of her youth. Alas, thediamonds had retained their brilliancy; they were still stars, but allelse was vanished or dead--her youth and her dreams, her hopes and herlove! Sophia had so often trembled before her husband, that she nolonger loved him. With her, "perfect love had not cast out fear. " Fearhad extinguished love. How could she love a man who had been only atyrant and a despot to her and to her children? who had broken theirwills, cut off their hopes, and trodden under foot, not only the queen, but the mother? As Sophia looked at the superb bracelet, the same ageof her darling, she thought how unlike the glitter and splendor ofthese gems his life had been; how dark and sad his youth; how colorlessand full of tears. She kissed the bracelet, and wafted her greeting toher absent son. Suddenly the door opened, and the Princesses Ulrica andAmelia entered. 

The queen turned to them, and the sad expression vanished from herfeatures as her eyes rested upon the lovely and loving faces of herdaughters. 

"Oh, how splendid you look, gracious mamma!" exclaimed the PrincessAmelia, as she danced gayly around her mother. "Heaven with all itsstars has fallen around you, but your sweet face shines out amongstthem like the sun in his glory. "

"Flatterer, " said the queen, "if your father heard you, he would scoldfearfully. If you compare me to the sun, how can you describe him?"

"Well, he is Phoebus, who harnesses the sun and points out his path. "

"True, indeed. " said the queen, "he appoints his path. Poor sun!--poorqueen!--she has not the right to send one ray where she will!"

"Who, notwithstanding, assumes the right, gracious mamma, " said Amelia, smiling, and pointing to the diadem, "for I imagine that our most royalking and father has not commanded you to appear in those splendidjewels. "

"Commanded, " said the queen, trembling; "if he could see me he wouldexpire with rage and scorn. You know he despises expense and ornament. "

"He would immediately calculate, " said Amelia, "that he could build anentire street with this diadem, and that at least ten giants could bepurchased for the Guard with this necklace. " She turned to her sister, who had withdrawn, and said:

"Ulrica, you say nothing. Has the splendor of our mother bewilderedyou? Have you lost your speech, or are you thinking whom you willcommand to dance with you at the ball this evening?"

"Not so, " replied the little Ulrica, "I was thinking that when I am tobe a queen, I will make it a condition with my husband that I shall beentirely free to choose my toilet, and I will never be forbidden towear diamonds! When I am a queen I will wear diamonds every day; theybelong to majesty, and our royal mother was never more a queen thanto-day!"

"Listen, " said Amelia, "to this proud and all-conquering littleprincess, who speaks of being a queen, as if it were all arranged, andnot a doubt remained; know you that the king, our father, intends youfor a queen? Perhaps he has already selected you for a little margrave, or some unknown and salaried prince, such as our poor sister of Bairouthas wedded. "

"I would not give my hand to such a one!" said the princess, hastily. 

"You would be forced to yield, if your father commanded it, " said thequeen. 

"No, " said Ulrica, "I would rather die!"

"DIE!" said Sophia; "man sighs often for Death, but he comes not; oursighs have not the power to bring him, and our hands are too weak toclasp him to our hearts! No, Ulrica, you must bow your will to yourfather, as we have all done--as even the prince, your brother, wasforced to do. "

"Poor brother, " said Amelia, "bound to a wife whom he loves not--howwretched he must be!"

Ulrica shrugged her shoulders. "Is not that the fate of all princes andprincesses; are we not all born to be handled like a piece of goods, and knocked down to the highest bidder? I, for my part, will sellmyself as dearly as possible; and, as I cannot be a happy shepherdess, I will be a powerful queen. "

"And I, " said Amelia, "would rather wed the poorest and most obscureman, if I loved him, than the richest and greatest king's son, to whomI was indifferent. "

"Foolish children, " said the queen, "it is well for you that yourfather does not hear you; he would crush you in his rage, and evento-day he would choose a king for you, Amelia; and for you, littleUlrica, he would seek a small margrave! Hark, ladies! I hear the voiceof the major domo; he comes to announce that the guests are assembled. Put on a cheerful countenance. The king commands us to be joyous andmerry! but remember that Frederick has his spies everywhere. When youspeak with Pollnitz, never forget that he repeats every word to yourfather; be friendly with him; and above all things when he leads theconversation to the prince royal, speak of him with the mostunembarrassed indifference; show as little interest and love for him aspossible, and rather ridicule his romantic life in Rheinsberg. That isthe way to the heart of the king; and now, my daughters, come. "

At this moment the grand chamberlain, Pollnitz, threw open the doorsand announced that the company was assembled. The queen and princessesfollowed the master of ceremonies through the room, giving here andthere a smile or a gracious word, which seemed a shower of gold to theobsequious, admiring crowd of courtiers. Pride swelled the heart ofSophia, as she stepped, to the sound of soft music, into the thronesaloon, and saw all those cavaliers, covered with stars and orders--allthose beautiful and richly-dressed women bowing humbly before her. Sheknew that her will was more powerful than the will of all assembledthere; that her smiles were more dearly prized than those of themost-beloved bride; that her glance gave warmth and gladness like thesun. While all bowed before her, there was no one to whom she must bendthe knee. The king was not near to-night; she was not bound by hispresence and his rude violence. To-night she was no trembling, subjected wife, but a proud queen; while Frederick was a poor, gouty, trembling, teeth-gnashing man--nothing more. 

CHAPTER II. 

FREDERICK WILLIAM I. 

Mirth and gayety reigned in one wing of the palace, while in the other, and that occupied by the king himself, all was silent and solitary; inone might be heard joyous strains of music, in the other no soundreached the air but a monotonous hammering, which seemed to comeimmediately from the room of the king. 

Frederick William, when in health, had accustomed himself to use hiscrutch as a rod of correction; he would shower down his blows, carelesswhether they fell on the backs of his lacqueys, his ministers of State, or his wife. When ill, he was contented to vent his wrath upon moresenseless objects, and to flourish a hammer instead of his crutch. Under the influence of the gout, this proud and haughty monarch becamean humble carpenter; when chained to one spot by his disease, andunable to direct the affairs of State, he attempted to banish thoughtand suffering, by working with his tools. Often in passing near thepalace at a late hour of the night, you might hear the heavy blows of ahammer, and consider them a bulletin of the king's health. If he workedat night, the good people of Berlin knew their king to be sleepless andsuffering, and that it would be dangerous to meet him in his walk onthe following day, for some thoughtless word, or careless look, or eventhe cut of a coat, would bring down on the offender a stinging blow ora severe reprimand. Only a few days had passed since the king hadcaused the arrest of two young ladies, and sent them to the fortress ofSpandau, because, in walking through the park at Schonhausen, heoverheard them declare the royal garden to be "charmant! charmant!" OneFrench word was sufficient to condemn these young girls in the eyes ofthe king; and it was only after long pleading that they were releasedfrom confinement. The men were fearful of being seized by the king, andheld as recruits for some regiment; and the youths trembled if theywere caught lounging about the streets. As soon, therefore, as the kingleft the proud castle of his ancestors, all who could fled from thestreets into some house or by-way, that they might avoid him. 

But now they had nothing to fear. His queen dared to wear her jewels;his subjects walked unmolested through the streets, for the king wassuffering, chained to his chair, and occupying himself with his tools. This employment had a beneficial effect: it not only caused the king toforgot his sufferings, but was often the means of relief. The constantand rapid motion of his hands and arms imparted a salutary warmth tohis whole body, excited a gentle perspiration, which quieted hisnervous system, and soothed him in some of his most fearful attacks. 

To-day the king was once more freed from his enemy, the gout; this evilspirit had been exorcised by honest labor, and its victim could hopefor a few painless hours. 

The king raised himself from his chair, and with a loud cry of delightextended his arms, as if he would gladly embrace the universe. Hecommanded the servant, who was waiting in the adjoining room, to calltogether the gentlemen who composed the Tobacco Club, and to arrangeevery thing for a meeting of that august body. 

"But those gentlemen are at the queen's ball, " said the astonishedservant. 

"Go there for them, then, " said the king; "happily there are no dancersamong them; their limbs are stiff, and the ladies would be alarmed attheir capers if they attempted to dance. Bring them quickly. Pollnitzmust come, and Eckert, and Baron von Goltz, and Hacke, the Duke ofHolstein, and General Schwerin. Quick, quick! In ten minutes they mustall be here, but let no one know why he is sent for. Whisper to eachone that he must come to me, and that he must tell no one where he isgoing. I will not have the queen's ball disturbed. Quick, now, and ifthese gentlemen are not all here in ten minutes, I will give a ballupon your back, and your own howls will be the most appropriate music. "

This was a threat which lent wings to the feet of the servant, who flewlike a whirlwind through the halls, ordered, with breathless haste, twoservants to carry the tobacco, the pipes, and the beer-mugs into theking's chamber, and then hurried to the other wing of the palace, wherethe ball of the queen was held. 

Fortune favored the poor servant. In ten minutes the six gentlemenstood in the king's ante-room, asking each other, with pale faces, whatcould be the occasion of this singular and unexpected summons. 

The servant shrugged his shoulders, and silently entered the king'sroom. His majesty, dressed in the full uniform of his beloved Guard, sat at the round table, on which the pipes, and the mugs, filled withfoaming beer, were already placed. He had condescended to fill a pipewith his own hands, and was on the point of lighting it at the smokingtallow candle which stood near him. 

"Sire, " said the servant, "the gentlemen are waiting in the next room. "

"Do they know why I have sent for them?" said the king, blowing a cloudof smoke from his mouth. 

"Your majesty forbade me to tell them. "

"Well, go now, and tell them I am more furiously angry to-day than youhave ever seen me; that I am standing by the door with my crutch, and Icommand them to come singly into my presence. "

The servant hurried out to the gentlemen, who, as the door was opened, perceived the king standing in a threatening attitude near the door, with his crutch raised in his hand. 

"What is the matter? Why is the king so furious? What orders do youbring us from his majesty?" asked the gentlemen anxiously and hurriedly. 

The servant assumed a terrified expression, and said:

"His majesty is outrageous to-day. Woe unto him over whom the cloudbursts. He commanded me to say that each of you must enter the roomalone. Go now, for Heaven's sake, and do not keep the king waiting!"

The gentlemen glanced into each other's pale and hesitatingcountenances. They had all seen the threatening appearance of the king, as he stood by the door with his raised crutch, and no one wished to bethe first to pass under the yoke. 

"Your grace has the precedence, " said the grand chamberlain, bowing tothe Duke of Holstein. 

"No, " he replied, "you are well aware his majesty does not regardetiquette, and would be most indignant if we paid any attention to it. Go first yourself, my dear friend. "

"Not I, your grace, I would not dare to take precedence of you all. Ifyou decline the honor, it is due to General Schwerin. He should lead onthe battle. "

"There is no question of a battle, " said General Schwerin, "but a mostprobable beating, and Baron von Pollnitz understands that better than Ido. "

"Gentlemen, " said the servant, "his majesty will become impatient, andthen woe unto all of us. "

"But, my God, " said Count von Goltz, "who will dare go forward?"

"I will, " said Councillor Eckert; "I owe every thing to his majesty, therefore I will place my back or even my life at his service. "

He approached the door with a firm step, and opened it quickly. 

The others saw the flashing eyes of the king, as he raised his stickstill higher. They saw Eckert enter, with his head bowed down and thenthe door was closed, and nothing more was heard. 

"Against which of us is the anger of the king directed?" falteredPollnitz. 

"Against one and all, " said the servant, with a most maliciousexpression. 

"Who will go now?" the gentlemen asked each other, and, after a longstruggle, the grand chamberlain, Von Pollnitz, concluded to take thebitter step. Once more, as the door opened, the king was seen waiting, crutch in hand, but the door closed, and nothing more was seen. Fourtimes was this scene repeated; four times was the king seen in thisthreatening attitude. But as General Schwerin, the last of the sixgentlemen, entered the room, the king no longer stood near the door, but lay in his armchair, laughing until the tears stood in his eyes, and Baron von Pollnitz stood before him, giving a most humorous accountof the scene which had just taken place in the ante-room, imitating thevoices of the different gentlemen, and relating their conversation. 

"You all believed in my rage, " said the king, almost breathless withlaughing. "The joke succeeded to perfection. Yours, also, Schwerin. Doyou at last know what it is to be afraid, you who never experienced thefeeling on the field of battle?"

"Yes, sire, a shot is a small thing in comparison with the flashing ofyour eye. When the cannon thunders my heart is joyful, but it is veryheavy under the thunder of your voice. I do not fear death, but I dofear the anger and displeasure of my sovereign. "

"Oh, you are a brave fellow, " said the king, warmly giving the generalhis hand. "And now, gentlemen, away with all constraint and etiquette. We will suppose the king to be at the ball. I am only your companion, Frederick William, and will now proceed to the opening of the TobaccoClub. "

He once more lighted his pipe, and threw himself into one of thechairs, which were placed round the table; the other gentlemen followedhis example, and the Tobacco Club was now in session. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE TOBACCO CLUB. 

There was a short interval of silence. Each one busied himself withpipe and tobacco. The dense clouds of smoke which rolled from the lipsof all had soon enveloped the room with a veil of bluish vapor, fromthe midst of which the tallow candle emitted a faint, sickly light. 

The king ordered the man in waiting to light several additionalcandles. "To-day our Tobacco Club must also present a festiveappearance, that the contrast between it and the ball may not be toogreat. Tell me, Pollnitz, how are matters progressing over there? Isthe assemblage a handsome one? Are they enjoying themselves? Is thequeen gay? and the princesses, are they dancing merrily?"

"Sire, " said Pollnitz, "a more magnificent festival than to-day's Ihave never witnessed. Her majesty was never more beautiful, moreradiant, or gayer than today. She shone like a sun in the midst of thehandsomely dressed and adorned ladies of the court. "

"Indeed! she was then magnificently attired?" said the king, and hiscountenance darkened. 

"Sire, I had no idea the queen possessed so princely a treasure injewels. "

"She has put on her jewels, then, has she? It seems they are takingadvantage of my absence. They are merry and of good cheer, while I amwrithing on a bed of pain, " exclaimed the king, who, in his easilyexcited irritability, never once remembered that he himself hadappointed this festival, and had demanded of his wife that she shouldlay aside care, and be cheerful and happy. 

"Happily, however, your majesty is not ill, and not on a bed of pain. The queen has, therefore, good reason to be happy. "

The king made no reply, but raised his mug to his lips, and took a longdraught of beer, and let fall its lid with an angry movement. 

"I should not be surprised if Frederick had clandestinely come over tothis ball, " murmured the king. "They dare any thing when notapprehensive of my taking them by surprise. "

"But taking by surprise is your majesty's forte, " exclaimed CountHacke, endeavoring to give the conversation another direction. "Neverbefore in my life did I feel my heart beat as it did when I crossed thethreshold of this chamber to-day. "

The king, who was easily soothed, laughed heartily. "And never beforedid I see such pale faces as yours. Really, if the gout had not made myfingers so stiff and unwieldy, I would paint you a picture of thisscene that would make a magnificent counterpart to my representation ofthe Tobacco Club, and I would call it 'The Six Tailor Apprentices whoare afraid of Blue Monday. ' See! we will now devote ourselves to poetryand the arts, and our learned and fantastic son will soon have noadvantage over us whatever. If he plays the flute, we paint. While hewrites sentimental, we will write satirical poems; and while he singsto sun, moon, and stars, we will do as the gods, and, like Jupiter, envelop ourselves in a cloud. Let it be well understood, however, notfor the purpose of deluding a Semele or any other woman, at all times, and in all circumstances, we have been true to our wives, and in thisparticular the prince royal might well take his father as an example. "

"Sire, he could do that in all things, " exclaimed Count von Goltz, blowing a cloud of smoke from his lips. 

"He thinks at some future day to govern the kingdom with hisbook-learning and his poems, " said the king, laughing. "Instead ofoccupying himself with useful things, drilling recruits, drawing plans, and studying the art of war, he devotes his time to the acquirement ofuseless and superficial knowledge, which benefits no one, and is mostinjurious to himself. A dreaming scholar can never be a good king; andhe who, instead of sword and sceptre, wields the pen and fiddle-bow, will never be a good general. "

"Nevertheless, no regiment made a finer appearance, or was betterdrilled, at the last review, than that of the prince royal, " said theDuke of Holstein. 

The king cast a distrustful look at him, and muttered a few words whichno one understood. He was never pleased to hear any defence of theprince royal, and suspected every one who praised him. 

"Your majesty forgets that this is a sitting of the Tobacco Club andnot of the State Council, " said Pollnitz, in a fawning voice. "If yourmajesty designed to be angry, it was not necessary to light the pipesand fill the beer-mugs; for while you are neither smoking nor drinking, the pipe goes out, and the beer becomes stale. "

"True, " replied the king, and raising his glass he continued: "I drinkthis to the health of him who first overcame his timid heart and daredto enter my chamber. Who was it? I have forgotten. "

"It was the privy councillor Von Eckert, sire, " said Count Hacke, withan ironical smile. Eckert bowed. 

"He entered the chamber as if going to battle, " exclaimed Von Pollnitz, laughing. "In the spirit he took leave of all the fine breweries, andartfully constructed never-smoking chimneys which he had built; he alsotook leave of the city exchanges, which he had not yet provided withroyal commissioners, destined to despoil them of their riches; he badeadieu to his decoration and to his money-bags, and exclaiming, 'To theking I owe all that I am, it is therefore but proper that my back aswell as my life should be at his service, ' marched courageously intothe royal presence. "

"Did he really do that? Did he say that?" exclaimed the king. "Eckert, I am pleased with you for that, and will reward you. It is true that Ihave elevated you from a lowly position; that I have made a gentlemanof the chimney-sweep; but gratitude is a rare virtue, men seldomremember the benefits they have received; your doing so, is an evidencethat you have a noble heart, one which I know how to appreciate. Thenew house which I am building in Jager Street shall be yours; and Iwill not present you with the naked walls, but it shall be handsomelyfurnished and fitted up at my expense. "

"Your majesty is the most gracious, the best of monarchs!" exclaimedEckert, hastening to the king and pressing his hand to his lips. "Yes, your majesty is right in saying that you have elevated me from thedust, but my heart, at least, was always pure, and I will endeavor topreserve it so. You have rescued me from the scum of the people. As theancient Romans gave freedom to those slaves who had rendered themselvesworthy of it by good and noble deeds, so has my king also delivered mefrom the bondage of poverty and lowliness, and given me freedom, and Ialso will strive to render myself worthy of this great boon by good andnoble actions. "

"And Berlin offers you the best opportunities of doing so. There arestill many smoking chimneys and indifferent beer breweries. PrivyCouncillor Von Eckert can, therefore, still execute many glorious deedsbefore he is gathered to his forefathers, " exclaimed Von Pollnitz. 

All were amused at this, and the king himself could not refrain fromsmiling. Von Eckert's countenance had become pale and lowering, andcasting an angry look at Von Pollnitz, he said, with a forced laugh:

"Really, your wit to-day is dazzling, and I am so charmed with yourpleasantries, that should your wine merchant refuse to supply you withany more wine until your old accounts have been settled, I shall beperfectly willing to send you a few bottles from my own cellar, thatyour Grace may be able to drink my health. "

"That I will gladly do, " said Pollnitz, affably. "Yes, I will drink toyour long and lasting health, for the longer you live the more timeyour ancestors will have to increase and to multiply themselves. And, as it seems that you are not destined to become the father of a cominggeneration, you should, at least, endeavor to become the progenitor ofyour ancestors and the father of your fathers. Ancestors are born toyou as children are to others, and, if I am not mistaken, you arealready the possessor of three. For a gentleman of wealth and quality, this is, however, too few. I will, therefore, drink to your health, that you may still be able to create many ancestors. And I propose toyour majesty to give him an ancestor for every chimney which he freesfrom smoke. "

"Silence, Pollnitz!" exclaimed the king, laughing. "No more of thisraillery. Listen to what I have to say. I have given Eckert the newhouse, and as I have invested him with a title of nobility, it is butproper that a noble coat-of-arms should be placed over his door. Gentlemen, let us consider what the escutcheon of Eckert shall be. Eachof you, in his turn, shall give me his opinion. You, duke, commence. "

With grave and sober mien the gentlemen began to confer with each otherin regard to Von Eckert's escutcheon; and each one considering thefavor in which the former stood with the king, took pains to proposethe most magnificent coat-of-arms imaginable. But the king was notpleased with the grave and learned devices which were proposed. Hedisliked giving the newly-made baron a coat-of-arms worthy of any houseof old and established nobility, which would have placed him on anequality with the oldest counts and barons of the kingdom. 

"When I build a house, " said the king, "I wish every one, to see thatit is a new one; I therefore give it a nice white coat of paint, andnot an old graystone color to make it look like a robber castle. Eckertshould, therefore, have a fresh touch of paint for his new dignity, aspick and span new coat-of-arms. "

"I am entirely of your majesty's opinion, " exclaimed Von Pollnitzsolemnly; "and as every noble family bears on its coat-of-arms someemblem and reminiscence of the deeds and events through which it becamegreat, so should also the escutcheon of the noble house of Eckertcontain some such reminiscence. I propose to quarter this shield. Thefirst field shall show on a silver ground a black chimney, in which wewill also have indicated the Prussian colors. The second field is blue, with a golden vat in the centre, having reference to Eckert's greatability as a beer-brewer. The third field is green, with a goldenpheasant in the middle, suggestive of Eckert's earlier occupation asgamekeeper in Brunswick; and the fourth field shows on a red ground acock and a knife, a reminiscence of the good old times when PrivyCouncillor Von Eckert fed and dressed fowls in Bairout. "

A peal of laughter from the entire club rewarded Von Pollnitz for hisproposition. The king was also so well pleased, that he, in allgravity, determined to accept it, and to have a coat-of-arms with theabove designated emblems adjusted over the door of the new house inJager Street. 

The merriment of the gentlemen of the Tobacco Club was now becomingenergetic, and jests and jokes were contributed by all. The grandchamberlain, Von Pollnitz, was, however, the gayest of the gay. And ifthe pleasantries which bubbled from his lips like water from afountain, at any time threatened to flag, a glance at the pale face ofVon Eckert, who fairly trembled with suppressed rage, was sufficient torenew his merriment. 

While the king was conversing with Von Eckert on the subject of his newhouse, Pollnitz turned to his neighbor and asked if he had not madeample amends for his awkwardness in the first instance. 

"By my thoughtless repetition of that hypocritical man's words, Iprocured him the new house, but I have also given him a coat-of-arms;and I wager the privy councillor would willingly relinquish the former, if he could thereby get rid of the latter. "

"Pollnitz, why are you looking so grave?" asked the king at thismoment. "I wager you are in a bad humor, because the handsome house inJager Street was not given to you. "

"By no means, your majesty; as handsome as the house is, it would notsuit me at all. "

"Ah, yes, you are right; it would be much too large a one for you!"said Frederick William, laughing. 

"No, your majesty, it would be much too small for me. When a cavalierof my quality once determines to build a house, it should be arrangedin accordance with his rank and standing, and that costs a great dealof money, much more than I ever possessed. It is true that my fatherleft me a fortune of about two hundred thousand dollars, but what issuch a trifle to a nobleman? It was not enough for a decent support, and it was too much to go begging on. I calculated how long this summight be made to last, and finding that, with considerable economy, itwould perhaps do for four years, I lived like a noble and generouscavalier for that time; and during that period I was fortunate enoughto have the most devoted friends and the truest sweethearts, who neverdeserted me until the last dollar of my fortune was expended!"

"Do I understand you to say that you expended two hundred thousanddollars in four years?" asked the king. 

"Yes, your majesty; and I assure you that I was obliged to practise themost, rigorous economy. "

Frederick William regarded him with surprise, almost with admiration. To the king there was something in this man's nature which wasimposing. It was perhaps the great contrast between the unlimitedextravagance of the baron and his own frugality, which exerted so greatan influence on the king, excited his astonishment, and enlisted hisadmiration in behalf of this ready, witty, and ever-merry courtier. 

"An income of fifty thousand dollars is, therefore, not sufficient fora decent support?" asked the king. 

"Your majesty, if one attempted to live in a style befitting anobleman, on that sum, he might die of hunger. "

"Ah, explain that. What sum would you consider necessary to enable youto live in a style befitting a nobleman?"

Pollnitz remained lost in thought for a moment, and then replied:

"You majesty, in order to live somewhat respectably, I should requirefour hundred thousand dollars yearly. "

"That is not true, not possible!" exclaimed the king. 

"That is so very possible, sire, that I hardly know whether it wouldsuffice or not. "

"Gentlemen, do you believe that?" asked the king. 

"I, for my part, have not the fourth part of this income, " said theDuke of Holstein, smiling. 

"I not the tenth!" said Count Von der Goltz. 

"And I not the twentieth!" exclaimed General Von Schwerin and CountHacke at the same time. 

"And yet, " said the king, "you all live as respected cavaliers, asesteemed gentlemen of my court. Let us hear how Pollnitz would manageto spend so much money. Quick, Jochen, quick, give us a sheet of paperand a pencil. "

The valet hastily executed this commission, and handed the king paperand pencil. 

"Fill the glasses, Jochen, " ordered the king, "and then seat yourselfat the foot of the table, and pay attention to what Von Pollnitz isabout to explain. It is worth the trouble to learn how an income offour hundred thousand dollars can be spent in a respectable manner. Youshall dictate, and I will be your secretary. Woe to you, however, ifyou do not keep your word, if you expend less! For every thousand whichyou fail to account for, you shall drink ten glasses of beer, and smokea pipe of the strong Havana tobacco recently sent me by the stadtholderof Holland. "

"But what shall I receive for every thousand which I expend over andabove that sum?" asked Von Pollnitz, laughing. 

"Oh, it is impossible that a nobleman should need more, that is, provided he does not expend it in a foolish manner, like a madman. "

"And if, in order to live in a style befitting a nobleman, I shouldnevertheless need more, what am I to receive for every thousand?"

"Well, then, for every thousand, I will pay a hundred of your oldestdebts, " said the king. "But commence. And you, gentlemen, drink andsmoke, and pay attention to what he has to say. "

CHAPTER IV. 

AIR-CASTLES. 

"I will begin, " said Pollnitz. "First of all, I shall need arespectable house, to receive my guests in, to exhibit my collections, and entertain my friends; to pursue my studies, without being disturbedby the slightest noise; a house, in which my wife must have herseparate apartments, and as I shall wish to have my friends with me, every now and then, to smoke, my wife's reception-rooms must beentirely separated from mine. "

"But, " exclaimed the king, "your wife will certainly allow you to smokein her rooms!"

"And if she permitted it, your majesty, I would not do so; it becomesnot a cavalier to smoke in a lady's room. "

The king reddened a little, and carried the mug to his lips, to hidehis embarrassment; he remembered how often he had smoked in the queen'srooms, notwithstanding her sighs. 

Pollnitz continued quietly: "I must then have several differentreception-rooms, and as my wife and myself will frequently be atvariance with each other, two different and widely-separated staircaseswill be necessary, that we may not meet, unless we wish it!"

"Oh! you mean to lead a wretched life with your wife; to quarrel withher every now and then, do you?"

"No, sire, we will never quarrel; it ill becomes a cavalier to have acontest with his wife. "

The king reddened again, this time from anger. This exposition of acavalier began to offend him; it seemed to be a satire upon himself;for unhappily the king not only smoked in the queen's rooms, but theworld knew that his wife and children were often the objects of hisviolent temper, and that the queen had more than once been terriblyfrightened by his thundering reproaches and unbearable threats. 

"Your highness sees that my house must be large, and as it is so, ahost of servants and a large income will be necessary. But of thishereafter. Let us speak of my houses, for it is easily understood thatI must have a country residence. "

"Yes, that is a reasonable demand, " said the king, in adding thecountry house to his list. 

"But as I do not go to the country to live as I do in the city, but toenjoy the beauties of nature and scenery, I must have a garden, withvineyards, and beautiful walks, and, for their cultivation, manyservants. And, as I cannot ask my friends to visit me simply to pluckmy flowers, and eat my fruits, I must procure for them other and rarerpleasures. I must have a park for hunting, and a lake for fishing. "

"Yes, that is well argued and true, " said the king, noting the park andthe lake on his paper. 

"Now we are coming to the most important points--the kitchen andwine-cellar. On these two I must bestow most particular care. It wouldbe most unworthy a cavalier to present such dishes to his friends asthey can enjoy every day at home. No, if I invite my friends, they mustbe certain of having such luxuries as they cannot procureelsewhere--such rare and costly viands as will recall the wonders offairy land!"

"I am quite of your opinion, " cried the king, and his face brightenedat the thought of the delightful and costly dishes that the richPollnitz would set before his friends. "Listen: from time to time youcan prepare for me the delightful bacon-pie that I once tasted atGrumbkou's. Oh, that was really splendid, and reminded one, as you say, of the wonders of fairy land! My cook obtained the receipt immediately;but what do you think? three bottles of champagne and three bottles ofburgundy were necessary to stew the meat. I had to give up theintention of having such a pie, but I told Grumbkou that when I feltlike eating such an expensive dish, I would be his guest. "

"I will obey your commands, your highness, " said Pollnitz, earnestly, and bowing low to the king. "Let us continue to furnish my house; afterthat we will speak of the pie. As hunting is decided upon, we must nowconsider the horses, for I cannot ask my friends to hunt on foot, orwalk to the lake. I must have beautiful and noble steeds, and as horsesand carriages do not take care of themselves, I must have a number ofservants to attend to them. "

"That is true, " said the king, adding the carriages and horses to hislist. "That is true; but I find that you think a great deal of yourfriends and very little of yourself. Your whole demand, so far, is forthe benefit of your friends. "

"Sire, hospitality is one of the noblest virtues of a cavalier, forwhich one can never do too much, but easily too little. "

The king frowned and looked threateningly before him; the rest of theclub looked at Pollnitz with increasing astonishment, surprised at hisdaring to show the king in this manner his faults and weaknesses. 

Pollnitz alone remained gay and unembarrassed. "Now, as I have attendedsufficiently to the pleasure and comfort of my friends, it is time thatI should think a little of myself. I therefore beg your highness toname the sum you deem necessary for my yearly expenses for charitiesand presents for my sweetheart. "

"Your wife is your sweetheart. You intend to be a very tender husband, notwithstanding the two staircases. "

"Sire, it would not become a cavalier to possess a wife and sweetheartin the same person. Your wife represents your family, your sweetheartamuses you. You give your wife name and rank, your sweetheart your loveand whole heart. A true cavalier does not love his wife, but he demandsthat the world shall honor her as the lady that bears his name. "

"Pollnitz, Pollnitz, " said the king, shaking his hand threateningly athim, "take care that I never see your cavalier in my house, and no onethat is like him; I would have no pity with him, but crush him with mykingly anger!"

Pollnitz was frightened, and covered himself in a cloud of smoke, thatthe king might not see his perplexity. 

"Continue, " said Frederick William, after a short pause. "I have setaside a certain amount for every single article you have mentioned, butI truly hope you have concluded; and that the demon that dwells in you, and masters you, will make no further suggestions to your luxurious andinsane fancies. "

"Yes, your highness; and I beg you will calculate the sum totalnecessary for these different articles. "

The king calculated, his guests smoked and drank in silence, andPollnitz listened attentively to the sound of voices, and noise ofhorses in the court. 

The king suddenly uttered an oath, and brought his fist heavily down onthe paper. "As truly as God lives, Pollnitz is right! Four hundredthousand dollars are not sufficient to support a cavalier of hispretensions. The sum here amounts to four hundred and fifty thousanddollars. "

"Your highness confesses that I have demanded nothing superfluous orexaggerated?"

"Yes, I confess it. "

"Consequently, your highness will be kind enough to pay me fivethousand dollars. "

"The devil! How can I understand that?"

"Your majesty forgets that you promised me one hundred dollars forevery thousand over and above the sum of four hundred thousand. "

"Did I say that?" said the king; and as all present confirmed it, helaughed aloud, saying, "I see that none of you understand Pollnitz. That was not my meaning. I did not say I would pay Pollnitz the gold;but for every thousand above his four hundred thousand I would pay ahundred of his oldest debts, and that is quite a different affair. Youknow well, if I gave him the gold, his creditors would never receive acent of it. But what I have promised I will do; bring me, to-morrow, alist of your oldest debts, and I will pay five thousand dollars uponthem. "

"Your highness, my account is not yet finished. I have only mentionedthe most pressing and necessary articles, and much has been forgotten. I must have a forester to chase the poachers from my park, and a nightwatch to guard my country house, to feed the fish in my pond, to strikeupon the water in order to silence the frogs, that my sleep and that ofmy friends may not be disturbed. "

"Enough, enough of your castles in the air, fool that you are!" criedthe king, half angry, half amused. "Seek another sovereign, who is richenough to provide for your follies. "

"Sire, " said Pollnitz, "I will seek nothing elsewhere. I am too happyto have found so noble and gracious a monarch. I only wished to proveto your majesty, and these gentlemen that do me the honor to considerme a spendthrift, that a great fortune can be easily spent withoutextravagance and folly, and you will now understand that I have given aworthy proof of economy in fixing my yearly income at four hundredthousand dollars, when I could easily dispose of that sum in sixmonths. "

The king laughed, and, raising the beer-pot aloft, commanded thegentlemen to drink to the health of the miser Pollnitz. 

The beer-pots were raised, and were jingling merrily, when suddenly itseemed as if an electric shock had struck them all simultaneously--allwith the exception of the king. The six cavaliers placed theirbeer-pots upon the table, and, rising with breathless haste from theirchairs, bowed lowly and humbly. 

CHAPTER V. 

FATHER AND SON. 

The king, in speechless amazement, sank back in his chair. He could notyet conceive what spell had taken hold of these gentlemen, that madethem rise from their seats in spite of the rules of the Tobacco Club. The king did not see that, behind him, the door had opened, and, in themidst of the smoke that filled the whole room, a young man was visible, whose appearance had produced this astounding impression upon the sixcavaliers. And, certainly, there was something exalted and imposing inthis youth. A wondrous combination of beauty, nobility of soul, youth, royalty, and melancholy was expressed in this face, whose sharp andmarked lines spoke of severe pain and bitter experience, while so freshand youthful a smile played upon the soft red lip, you could butsuppose the heart young, confiding, and impressible. But the eyes werein wonderful contrast to these beautiful lips; they shone like great, mysterious, unfathomable stars--one moment sparkling with youthfulsuperciliousness, the next with the firm, steady, piercing glance of anobserving sage. The lofty, somewhat retreating forehead, and thestraight, finely-pointed nose, formed a profile indicating commandingelevation of character. And the soul imprisoned behind these templeswas powerfully agitated, seeking ever for freedom of thought andexpression. It was the eye, the head of a hero; and, had his formcorresponded with the giant strength of his glance, he would have beena Titan, and might have crushed the world like a toy in his hand. Buthis slender, symmetrical, and graceful form was more weak thanpowerful, more maidenly than heroic. 

You felt, however, that this head might lend strength to the body, andif the Titan could not overcome by physical strength, he could rule andconquer by the commanding power of his genius. [1]

[1] A French traveller, by the name of Birre, who went from Paris toBerlin to see Frederick, describes him in this manner: Buste admirableel vraiment royal, mais pauvre et miserable pedestal. Sa tete et sapoitrine sont au dessous des eloges, le train d'en bas au dessous de lacritique. --(See Thiebault. )

This was the unexpected apparition that shocked the gentlemen of theTobacco Club, and forced them hastily from their seats! The king satspeechless and amazed in his chair, while the youth stood close behindhim. 

"Allow me to wish your majesty good-evening, " said the prince, with hisfull, clear-ringing voice. 

The king was greatly agitated, and the blood rushed to his face. "Fritz!" said he, in a light tone. "Fritz!" repeated he more sternly, and already the sound of a coming storm was perceptible in his voice. 

"I come from Ruppin, " said the prince, in a quiet, kindly voice, "whereI was reviewing my regiment, and I beg pardon for my unexpectedappearance. "

The king made no reply; his mistrust was scornfully exhibited. Hethought that the queen believed him to be suffering and confined to hisroom. He did not doubt for a moment that she had sent for the prince, and Frederick was there to see if the life of the king was not indanger; if the throne of Prussia would not soon be empty, and ready forits successor. 

These dark suspicions excited the king's ire, and filled his heart withbitter distrust. With a hasty movement he dashed back the hand of theprince royal, and arose from his chair. His scornful eye took in at aglance the whole circle, still standing in awe-struck silence aroundthe table. 

"Why have you arisen from your chairs?" cried the king, with tremblingvoice. "How dare you arise contrary to my command, and thus setyourselves in opposition to my kingly power? Do you no longer know thelaws of the Tobacco Club? Do you not know that these laws positivelyforbid you to arise from your seats to greet any one? You are allsilent, miserable cowards that you are, who do not attempt to defendyourselves, who go always with wind and tide, and deceive and flatterin every direction. Answer me, Pollnitz, did you not know the law ofthe Tobacco Club, forbidding you to arise from your seat?"

"I know it, sire, but thought I might be allowed to make an exceptionof the prince royal. "

"So thought we all, " said General Schwerin, in a steady voice. 

The king struck with doubled fist on the table, and the pitchers andbeer-mugs trembled. 

"You thought that, " said the king, "and yet knew that no exception wasever made for me! But certainly the prince royal is of more consequencethan the king. The prince royal is the future sovereign, the risingsun! What the king was not able to give, the prince royal may bestow. From the king there is nothing left to hope, nothing to fear; for thisreason you turn to the prince royal; for this reason you ridicule thelaws of the father to flatter the son. The son is a fine Frenchcavalier, who loves ornament and courtesy, to whom the question ofetiquette is important. You stand up also when the prince royal enters, although you know in this room all are equal, and here you have oftenforgotten that I am king. Yes, the king can be forgotten--the princeroyal never; he may soon be king!"

"God grant your majesty a long and happy life, " said the prince royal. 

During this passionate speech of the king, he had stood silent andimmovable behind his chair. 

"Who spoke to you? Who told you to speak until you were questioned?"said the king, whose whole form trembled with rage. "You, the slave ofetiquette, should know that no man speaks to the king until he isspoken to. Truly you think the king does not understand etiquette. Heis an old-fashioned man, and knows not how a true cavalier shouldconduct himself. Now, Pollnitz, you see there a cavalier after your ownheart, a veritable model. Ah, you thought perhaps I did not see theface lurking behind your picture; you suppose I did not recognize thecavalier you painted in such glowing colors, in order to prove that hemust have four hundred thousand dollars yearly or be forced to makedebts. Patience! patience! my eyes are at last opened! Woe, woe to youall when I see that you dare brave me in order to please the princeroyal! I will prove to you that I yet live, and am your master. TheTobacco Club is closed, and you may all go to the devil!"

"As I don't know the way there, will your majesty allow me to return toRheinsberg? I now take my leave, " said the prince royal, bowingrespectfully to the king. 

Frederick William turned his head, and said but one word--"Go!"

The prince bowed again; then, turning to the cavaliers, he said:

"Good-evening, gentlemen. I sincerely regret to have been the cause ofthe king's anger. Against you this displeasure is however just, for acommand of the king should never be disobeyed, not even with a kind andmagnanimous intent. "

The prince had with these words put himself beyond the reach of theking's rage, and at the same time done justice to all: to the king inacknowledging the justice of his anger; to the cavaliers in praisingtheir good intentions. He was evidently master of the situation. 

With a firm, steady tread he left the room, while the king, in spite ofhis anger, could not help feeling that he had again failed in kindnessto the prince royal. But this consciousness only made him the morepassionate. He muttered a deep curse, and looked threateningly at thepale, trembling cavaliers. 

"Hypocrites and eye-servants are you all, " muttered he, as he slowlypassed by them. "Give me your arm, Hacke, and lead me into the otherroom. I cannot look at these men any longer. "

Count Hacke rushed forward, and, leaning on his arm, the king totteredinto the adjoining room. 

When the door closed behind them, the cavaliers seemed to awaken fromtheir torpidity. They raised their heads, and looked at one anotherwith a half-confused, half-angry gaze. They had been scolded likechildren, and felt that they were men. Their honor had received asensitive wound, but their awe of the king kept them from demandingsatisfaction. 

When the count returned to order the gentlemen in the king's name toleave the palace, they did not have the courage to obey this command, but sent the count as their ambassador to the king to ask in thehumblest manner for forgiveness and pardon, and to assure him thattheir behavior to the prince royal was but the consequence ofinvoluntary thoughtlessness. 

The count, after much trembling, left the room to deliver this messageto the king; the cavaliers waited in anxious silence for his return. Atlength the door opened, and the count appeared. 

"Well, what says the king? Has he forgiven us? Will he take us into hisfavor again? Is he convinced that we are his true, humble, and obedientservants?"

All these questions the count answered by a slight motion of the hand. It was a moment of anxious expectation; all were eagerly looking at thecount, who was to pronounce for them the words of forgiveness orcondemnation. 

"Gentlemen, " at length said the count, and his voice sounded to thetrembling courtiers hollow and awful as that of an angel of death, "gentlemen, the king says if you do not leave here at once, he willeasily find means to compel you to do so!"

This was a menace that gave strength to the trembling limbs of thecourtiers. Silently, with sad, troubled looks, they hastened away, andnot until the great portals of the palace had closed upon them did theyfeel safe from the fear of imprisonment, and the king's crutch. 

The king had not yet subdued his anger. He thirsted for another victim. The servants wisely remained at a distance beyond the reach of theroyal crutch; the king's ungovernable anger had even banished CountHacke from the room. 

The king was alone, entirely alone in this dark, empty room, and itscomfortless silence filled him with anxiety. He sank into hisarm-chair, and looked with a sad glance around this large room, which, because of his parsimony, was but badly lighted with four tallowcandles. Nothing broke the silence but from time to time the gay musicof the dance, which was heard from the other wing of the castle. Mirthstill reigned in the saloons of the queen. The king sighed; his heartwas filled with melancholy and rage. The queen was gay, while herhusband suffered. The court was joyful, while he sat alone andneglected, gnashing his teeth in this dark and joyless room. And yet hewas the king, the all-powerful ruler of millions of subjects, whotrembled before him, and yet not one of them loved him. 

All eyes were fixed upon the rising sun, upon Frederick, so unlike hisfather, and so little the son of his father's heart. As the kingthought of this, deep grief and a foreboding melancholy overcame him. In the anguish of his heart he turned to God and prayed. He silencedthe voice of self-accusation and remorse, now whispering in his breast, by prayer. 

The king prayed. Exhausted with rage, he fancied that he had givenhimself up to pious contrition and world-despising godliness. 

As the tones of the music were again heard, he experienced a piousexasperation over this unholy levity, a peaceful self-content; hebelonged not to the ungodly, who gave themselves up to worldliness andvanity, but alone and deserted he prayed to his Father in heaven. Howsmall, how pitiful, how contemptible did the gay dancers appear to him!How pleased he was with himself, his holy walk and conversation! Atthis moment the anxious face of his valet appeared at the door. 

"Your majesty commanded me to tell you so soon as the coffins whichcame yesterday were unpacked and placed in the white saloon: this isdone, and the coffins can be seen. "

"Ah! My coffin is ready!" said the king, involuntarily shuddering. "Mycoffin, and that of the queen! And Sophia gives a ball, and perhapsdances, in place of bowing her soul in contrition before God. I willawaken her from these soul-destroying vanities; the arrival of thecoffins now was an especial providence of God. The queen shall seethem!"

He called his two valets, commanded one to lead him to the ball-room, the other to illuminate the white saloon in which the coffins wereplaced. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE WHITE SALOON. 

The queen had no suspicion of all that had happened in the chambers ofthe king; she had not observed the absence of the Tobacco Club, andafter having made the grand tour of the saloons, she seated herself atthe card-table. 

Her majesty had no idea that her husband was free from pain, and hadleft his arm-chair; she was, therefore, gay and careless, filled with asense of freedom and power. The cruel eye of Frederick William was notbent upon her to look her down, and cast a veil of humility over thesparkling diamonds which adorned her brow; no, she was to-nightentirely herself--every inch a queen! proud and happy, smiling andmajestic. Rejoicing in her own greatness and glory, she was stillamiable and obliging to this great crowd of devoted, submissive, flattering, smiling men, who surrounded her; never had she been sogracious, never so queenly. As we have said, she had seated herself atthe card-table, and the margrafin Maria Dorothea and the English andFrench ambassadors were her partners; behind her chair stood her twomaids of honor, to whom she now and then addressed a word, or sent themto look after the young princesses, who were dancing in the adjoiningroom, and giving themselves up merrily to the pleasures of the evening. Suddenly the music ceased, and a strange, unaccustomed silence reignedthroughout the rooms. 

The queen was arranging the cards, and turned smilingly to one of hermaids of honor, commanding her as soon as the dance was ended to leadthe princesses to her side; she then gave her attention to the game, when suddenly the Princess Amelia, pale and terrified, rushed hastilyto her mother, and whispered a few words in her ear. 

Sophia Dorothea uttered a low cry of terror, and exclaimed: "The king!my God, the king! he seems very angry!" said the princess; "do not lethim see your diamonds. " The partners of the queen sat in respectfulsilence, waiting for her to play; she dashed her cards upon the table, removed her necklace and bracelets hastily, and thrust the glitteringheap into her dress pocket. [2]

[2] See Thiebault. 

"Remove my long ear-rings, " she whispered to Amelia, and while theprincess obeyed the command, the queen took her cards from the table. The glory was departed; the diamonds were hiding timidly in her pocket, and the fire of her eye was quenched. 

The king was there; Sophia Dorothea was no longer a royal queen, but atrembling, dependent woman, cowering before the rage of her husband. The partners of the queen sat quietly with downcast eyes, and did notappear to see the rash change in the toilet of her majesty, stillseemingly waiting for the play of the queen. Sophia played a queen, Lord Hastings played the king. 

"Lost!" said her majesty, "so must the queen ever lose when the kingcomes; but it is always a comfort, " she said, with a bitter smile, "tobe overcome only by a king. " She played on quietly, though she knewthat the king was already in the door of the room and watching herclosely. 

As the king stepped forward and called her name, she rose and advancedtoward him with an expression of joyful surprise. 

"Ah, my husband, what a great pleasure you have prepared for us!" shesaid smiling; "it is most amiable of your majesty to glorify this feastwith your presence. "

"I come, however, " said the king, in a rude, harsh voice, and thrustingthe queen's arm in his own, "to cast gloom upon this fete; it is goodand necessary in the midst of tumultuous earthly pleasures to bereminded of the fleeting vanity of all sublunary things; and to stillthe voluptuous music with prayer, I am come to administer this medicineto your vain and sin-sick soul. Come with me, you there!" said theking, turning his head backward to the courtiers, who were gathered insilent and frightened groups. "You there, follow us!" He dragged thequeen forward; silently the procession of richly-adorned guestsfollowed the royal pair, no one knew where. 

The queen had in vain implored the king to make known his purpose. Thislong procession, adorned with flowers, diamonds, uniforms, and orders, had a gay and festal appearance; you might well suppose them weddingguests on their way to church. The principal actors on this occasion, however, did not promise to be a happy pair. 

The king looked steadily, with a frowning brow and tightly-compressedlips, right before him; the queen, wan and trembling, turned her eyesanxiously from side to side, seeking everywhere some new danger, somenew terror prepared for her. The procession stepped silently andearnestly through the dressing-rooms, odorous with flowers; through theilluminated antechamber; further on through the corridors and up thewide stair steps; onward still through long passages till they reachedthe great doors of the White Saloon, which Frederick had built andadorned. 

"We have arrived, " said the king, opening the door, and leading in thequeen. Suddenly Sophia Dorothea uttered a cry of horror, and fellbackwards; behind her stood the curious, astonished, and shockedcourtiers, pressing themselves hastily through the door of the saloon. 

"Two coffins!" murmured the queen, with horror; her timid glance restedfirst upon the solemn coffins, then wandered anxiously to the lofty, imposing marble statues of the prince electors, who, in solemn rest, inthis chamber of the dead, seemed to hold a watch over the coffins ofthe living. 

"Yes, two coffins, " said the king--"our coffins, Sophia; and I resolvedin this hour to show them to you and the assembled court, that thissolemn warning might arouse you all from your unholy and sinful lusts. Death must strike at your heart to awaken it from voluptuous sleep andcause you to look within. In these coffins we will soon rest, and allearthly vanity and glory will be at an end. No one will fear my glanceor my crutch; no one will compliment the beautiful toilet of the queen, or admire her diamonds; dust will return to dust, and the king and thequeen be nothing more than food for worms!"

"Not so, " said Sophia, whose noble and proud heart felt humbled by thispious grovelling of her husband; "not so, we will be more than dust andfood for worms. The dust of common mortals will be scattered in everydirection by the hand of Time, and over their graves will History walkwith destroying feet; but she will remain with us and will gather ourdust, and build therewith a monument to our memory; when our bodies offlesh and blood are placed in the vault of our ancestors, our formswill arise again with limbs of marble and bosoms without hearts. Look, my husband, at these statues of your exalted ancestors; they have alsogone down into the vaults, but their marble forms have the best placesin our splendid rooms; perhaps they listen to our words and behold ourdeeds. "

Whilst the queen spoke, her countenance was illuminated with royalenergy and beauty; she was now, indeed, truly imperial, without the aidof diamond coronets. The queen was herself again; she had conquered herwomanish fears; she felt herself not only the wife of Frederick, butthe sister of the king of England, the mother of the future king. 

But Frederick, in what he considered his holy penitential mood, wasmade angry by her self-possession, her proudly-erected head; he feltthat this soul had made itself free from his heavy yoke, and claimedand enjoyed a separate existence; but she should acknowledge him againas her lord, and he bowed down with humble penitence. The queen shouldbecome the woman, the obedient wife; had not the Bible said, and "heshall rule over thee"?

"So, then, let our ancestors behold how we try our coffins beforethem, " said the king, placing his hand heavily on the shoulder of thequeen; "the world knows that diamonds become you, and that I, in myuniform, am a fine-looking fellow; let us see now how our coffins willclothe us!"

"What do you mean, my king?" said Sophia, fixing her trembling glanceupon her husband. 

"I mean that we will see if we can take our places with dignity andworthily in our coffins; that we will do to-day in sport what we musthereafter do in solemn earnest. "

"This is indeed a cruel jest, " said the queen. 

"Oh, yes, to the children of this world every thing seems cruel whichreminds them of death and the fleeting nature of all earthly joys, "said the king, "but such a warning is good and healthy to the soul, andif we would accustom ourselves from time to time to leave the ballroomand rest awhile in our coffins, we would, without doubt, lead more holyand earnest lives. Lay yourself, therefore, in your coffin, Sophia; itwill be to your soul's advantage, and my eyes will see a picture which, praised be God, you can never behold. I shall see you in your coffin. "

"Oh, you are younger than I, my husband; you will surely see me buried;it is not therefore necessary to put me to this trial. "

"Conquer thy soul, and make it quiet and humble, " said the king; "wehave come hither to try our coffins, and we will try them!"

"The king had a feverish attack of piety to-day. I would not have comeif I had known the intentions of your majesty, " said the queen. 

"You would have come as I willed it, " murmured the king, while hischeeks glowed with anger and his eye flashed fire. 

Sophia saw these symptoms of a rising storm, and she knew that allrestraints would be removed if she resisted longer. She called with acommanding tone to one of her maids of honor, and said proudly:

"Reach me your hand, duchess; I am weary, and will for awhile rest uponthis bed, of a new and uncommon form. "

With the appearance and nobility of a truly royal soul, she raised herrobe a little, lifted her foot over the edge of the coffin, and placedit firmly in the bottom. She stood in the coffin proudly erect, commanding and majestic to behold; then, with inimitable grace, shestooped and lay down slowly. The coffin creaked and groaned, andamongst the crowd of courtiers a murmur of horror and disgust washeard. The king stood near the coffin, and Sophia Dorothea looked athim so steadily, so piercingly, that he had not the courage to meet herglance, and fixed his eyes upon the ground. The queen stood up quietly. The Countess Hacke held out her hand to assist her, but she waved herproudly back. 

"No, " she said, "kings and queens leave their coffins by their ownstrength and greatness, and sustained by the hand of History alone. "Sophia then stepped over the edge of the coffin, and, bowing profoundlyto the king, she said--

"Your majesty, it is now your turn. "

The king was confused. He cast a dark, distrustful glance upon thequeen. Her simple words had for him a prophetic meaning, and heshuddered as he drew near the coffin. With a powerful effort heovercame himself, stepped into the coffin, and nodded to some of hiscourtiers to assist him in lying down. 

"Ah, I rest well upon this couch, " said Frederick. "Here will I soonsleep till it shall please God to wake me at the resurrection!"

"May that time be far removed, my king!" said Sophia earnestly. "Allowme to assist you. "

She reached her hand to the king; he seized it with alacrity, and wasin the act of rising, when a wild and unaccustomed sound was heardwithout--a loud, piercing cry, which was many times repeated, then thesound of hasty steps approaching the room! The pallid and awe-struckcourtiers whispered to each other. 

"What is it?" cried the king, who was still sitting in his coffin. 

No one answered. The courtiers whispered confused and wild words, butno one dared to answer. 

"I demand to know what has happened, " said the king, as with muchdifficulty he sought to raise himself up. 

The major domo stepped forward. "Your majesty, two soldiers are withoutwho held watch in the corridor; they declare that a long, white figure, with a veiled face and black gloves, passed slowly by them the wholelength of the corridor, and entered this room; they, believing thatsome unseemly mask wished to approach your majesty, followed the figureand saw it enter this room. They ran hither to seize the masker, butyour majesty knows no such person is here. "

"The white lady!" cried the king, and sank powerless and as if brokento pieces in the coffin. "The white lady! veiled and with black gloves!That signifies my death!"

"The white lady!" murmured the courtiers, withdrawing involuntarilyfrom the door through which the evil-omened white lady should enter. 

The queen alone was silent. She looked around with a searching glanceupon the marble statues of the prince electors, and her soul was faraway with her beloved son Frederick. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE MAID OF HONOR, AND THE GARDENER. 

It was a lovely day in May. The lilacs were in bloom; the birds weresinging their sweetest songs; the swans floating upon the tranquillake, which, bordered with water lilies and other fragrant plants, wasone of the chief ornaments in the garden of the prince royal atRheinsberg. It was still early; the residents of the palace, which wassurrounded by this beautiful garden, were sleeping; the windows wereclosed and curtained, and you heard none of the sounds which usuallyarose from this gay and charming place. No music fell on the ear butthe melting tones of the nightingale and the morning song of the lark. 

The prince royal himself was still asleep, for his flute was silent, and that was a sure sign to all who lived in the palace that the lordof the house was not awake, or at least that he had not yet begun theday. 

The music of his flute was the morning sacrifice with which the youngprince greeted the day; it, like the pillar of Memnon, which gave fortha sound when touched by the rays of the sun, announced to hisflattering courtiers that their sun had arisen. 

But the flute was silent; the sun had therefore not arisen, althoughits beams had long been flooding the park in golden light, and drinkingfrom every flower the dew that had fallen during the past sultry night. 

Fritz Wendel, the gardener, was already busy with his watering-pot, andwas at the same time anxiously selecting and gathering the mostbeautiful flowers, and concealing them carefully under the variousplants and bushes; perhaps to protect them from the heat of the sun, perhaps to secure them from the curious eyes of some observer. Sucheyes were already observing him, and resting upon him with anexpression so tender and smiling, that you could see that the younggirl to whom they belonged had a special interest in the tall, handsomegardener, who, in his modest, simple dress, and his great and imposingbeauty, appeared to realize the truth of the old fables, of the godswho visited the earth in disguise. He might have been Apollo charmed bysome Daphne, and taking this rude dress to approach the shepherdess heloved. Perhaps this charming young girl thought thus, and on thataccount looked at him so smilingly from behind the lilacs, or perhapsshe believed him to be a prince, and waited anxiously for the momentwhen he would throw off his disguise and declare himself her equal. Forshe was, although not a princess, maid of honor to one, and of noblebirth. 

But youth is indifferent to such things as a genealogical tree, or acoat-of-arms, and what cared this child of thirteen summers whetherFritz Wendel was the son of a prince or a peasant? He pleased herbecause he was young and handsome, and he had one other great charm, hewas her first lover. Every one else called Mademoiselle von Sehwerin achild, and jested with little Louise. The princess royal had begged herfrom her mother, as a sort, of plaything with which to amuse her lonelyhours, and the title "maid of honor" was only a jest, which servedmerely to secure the entrance of the young lady to her royal mistressat any time. 

But Louise was only a child in years; she possessed already the heart, the feelings, and the desires of a woman; nothing, therefore, hurt herpride so much as being called a child, and she was never happier thanwhen her beauty and talent caused her youth to be forgotten. 

Fritz Wendel, the young gardener, knew nothing of her age. For him shewas Mademoiselle von Schwerin, a young lady, the goddess at whoseshrine he worshipped, the fairy under whose glance his flowers bloomed, and his heart beat high. For her alone he tended the flowers and thefruits; for her alone had God created the earth; was she not its queen, and was it not natural that Fritz Wendel lay at her feet, and calledher the star of his existence?

The young lady having watched her silent, dreaming "first lover" longenough, and tired of this unnatural silence, walked forward from herplace of concealment, and bade Fritz Wendel good-morning, just as hewas gathering a beautiful narcissus. 

Poor Fritz trembled, and a deep blush overspread his face; he was soembarrassed that he forgot to return the young girl's greeting, andonly bent still lower over the flower which he held in his hand. 

"For whom are your flowers intended?" said Louise, "and why have youhidden the most beautiful ones? Will you not place them in the bouquetwhich you arrange every morning for the princess?"

"I have never been ordered to gather the most beautiful flowers for theprincess, " said Fritz Wendel, who had not yet dared to glance at theyoung lady. "The prince royal commanded me to place fresh flowers inthe vases every morning; that is all. "

"But it seems to me that is not all, " said Louise, laughing, "for youare gathering other flowers; for whom are they intended, if not for theprincess royal?"

Fritz Wendel at length dared to raise his eyes, and glance timidly atthe smiling face of the young girl who stood near him. 

"They are also intended for a princess, " he said, in a low voice--"formy princess. "

"Oh! then you have a special princess for whom you gather flowers?"

"Yes, I have my princess, whom I serve, and for whom I would willinglysacrifice my life, " cried the impetuous young man, with all the energyof his passionate and untamed nature. 

Mademoiselle von Schwerin played carelessly with the branch of thelilac which she held in her hand. She plucked off the small blossoms, and throwing them in the air, blew them about, as she danced here andthere on tiptoe. 

"I would like to know how it is that I find a magnificent bouquet in myroom every morning, and who it is that dares to gather more beautifulflowers for me than any to be found in the vases of the princess royal?"

"It must be some one who adores you, " said the young gardener, with hiseyes on the ground, and blushing deeply at his own temerity. 

"Then it is a nobleman, perhaps one of the court gentlemen, " she said, casting a teasing glance on her embarrassed lover. "Who else would dareto adore me, or to send me flowers?"

"Yes, you are right, who would dare?" murmured Fritz Wendel; "perhapssome poor, deluded mortal, led by a wild insanity to forget his humblecondition, and consider himself your equal. There have been maniacs whoimagined themselves great among earth's greatest men, and equal even tothe very God in heaven. "

"How pale you are!" cried Louise, looking at the young man withundissembled tenderness. "Why do you weep, Fritz?"

She took his hand, and gazed into his eyes with a most singularexpression, half curious, half questioning. 

Fritz Wendel trembled with delight at her touch, but withdrew his handalmost with violence. 

"I weep because I am a miserable gardener, " he murmured; "I weepbecause I am not great and noble, like the gentlemen at court. "

"Yesterday Baron von Kaiserling gave an account of an Austrian general, who was the son of a peasant, and had been a cowherd. Now he is ageneral, and is married to the daughter of a count. "

The countenance of Fritz Wendel beamed with energy and courage. 

"Oh! why is there not a war?" he cried, enthusiastically. "I could notfail to become a general, for I should fight like a lion. "

"You would like to become a general, in order to marry the daughter ofa count?"

"Not the daughter of a count, but--"

"Fritz Wendel! Fritz Wendel!" called a voice in the distance. 

"It is the head gardener, " said poor Fritz, sadly. "Farewell, farewell;be kind and gracious, and come again to-morrow to the garden. "

He took his basket of flowers, and hurried down the avenue. 

Mademoiselle von Schwerin followed him, with an angry glance. "Oncemore no declaration of love, " she murmured, stamping on the ground withthe spitefulness of a child. "He shall make me a declaration. Madamevon Morien says there is nothing more heavenly than to hear for thefirst time that you are beloved. She also says it is wisest not tochoose your lovers among your equals, but either above or beneath you, for then you may be sure that you will not be betrayed. She told meyesterday that she was never so worshipped as by a young huntsman whoserved her father when she was just my age, and that no other man hadever adored her as he had done. Now Fritz Wendel loves me also, and heshall make me a declaration, for I must know what this charmingsensation is. He shall do it to-morrow. I will be so kind and gentlethat he will tell me of his love. But now I must return to the palace. I dare not be found here, " and the young girl flew away lightly as agazelle. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

VON MANTEUFFEL, THE DIPLOMAT. 

The garden was again solitary. Nothing was heard but the chattering ofbirds, as they flitted from limb to limb, and the whispering of thewind among the trees; all else was tranquil and still. But this did notlast long. The noise of advancing footsteps gave evidence of theapproach of some one, whose figure was soon visible at the entrance ofthe grand avenue. 

This person was again a lady, who, if not so beautiful as Mademoisellevon Schwerin, was still pretty enough to be called one of the fair sex. She was dressed in a charming and tasteful morning robe, which waseminently adapted to display to advantage the beautiful contour of hertall and stately figure. 

Nor had she come into the garden merely to breathe the fresh morningair, and enjoy the delightful fragrance of flowers; these were scarcelyobserved, as she hurriedly swept past them. She stood still for amoment at the end of the long avenue, and looked cautiously around inall directions. Seeing that no one was near, that she was alone andunobserved, she turned aside into the bushes, and, following a narrow, overgrown path, at last arrived at the garden wall, where she remainedstanding before a small door for a moment, listening with suppressedbreathing. Hearing nothing, she clapped her hands three times, andlistened again. And now a repetition of her signal could be heard fromthe other side, and she cried in clear and silvery tones, "Good-morning, good-morning!" A deep, manly voice returned her greetingfrom the other side of the wall. 

"It is he!" murmured the lady, and quickly drawing a key from herpocket, she opened the door. 

The man who had been standing outside sprang forward through the opengate, and, bowing low to the lady, pressed her proffered hand to hislips. 

"Good-morning, Count Manteuffel, " said she, smiling. "Really you are aspunctual as if coming to a rendezvous with your lady love. "

"Tempi passali!" sighed the count. "I am married, "

"So am I, " said the lady, laughing; "that is, however, no reason why--"

"You should not still have ardent and devoted admirers. " said thecount, interrupting her. "But you are still young and beautiful, whileI have grown old. Tell me, kind lady, by what, art you have preservedthe charming freshness of youth, and those bright and sparkling eyes bywhich I was so completely enslaved when I still had a heart?"

The lady gave him a penetrating, mocking look. "Count Manteuffel, " saidshe, "you are so friendly, and your adoration is of so profound anature, that you undoubtedly have some very particular favor to solicitat my hands. But come, let us enter that little pavilion; there we willfind comfortable seats, and be secure from all interruption. "

They passed silently along the wall to the pavilion, to which the samekey gave access which had before opened the garden door. 

"Here we are safe, " said the lady, throwing back the lace veil whichhad concealed her face. "Come, count, let us be seated; and now tell mewhy you desired this meeting, and why it is that your valet was notsent as usual to deliver your letters and to receive mine?"

"I had an irresistible longing to see you, to behold once more yourlovely countenance, " said the count, with a deep sigh. 

"But just now you said you had no heart, " said the lady, laughing. 

"You are the enchantress who recalls it to life. Really you do creditto your name, and, thanks to Madame Brandt, my heart is again inflames. "

"Count, it is very evident that you are now playing a part to which youare not accustomed, " exclaimed Madame Brandt, laughing. "When youattempt to act the lover you become insipid, while your are known andacknowledged to be one of the shrewdest and most ingenious ofdiplomatists. But no diplomatic subterfuges with me, I pray. Let uswaste no time on the shell, but to the kernel at once! What do yourequire of me? In my last letter I gave you an accurate account of thestate of affairs at court, and also of the state of my finances, whichis precisely that of the prince royal's; that is, his purse is as emptyas mine. "

"And both of you have an empress who is only too happy to have theprivilege of supplying this deficiency, " said Count Manteuffel, drawingforth a well-filled purse, through the silken meshes of which goldglittered, and presenting it to the lady. "I am only sorry to say thereare several empresses who have the inestimable privilege of assistingthe prince royal and Madame Brandt. "

"What do you mean, count? We no longer understand each other, and I begof you not to speak in riddles, which I am not prepared to solve. "

"I mean to say that the prince royal, in his moneyed embarrassments, nolonger addresses himself to the Empress of Austria, although she, ashis nearest relative, as the aunt of the princess royal, hasundoubtedly the first claim to his confidence. "

"But perhaps the purse of the Empress of Austria is insufficient tomeet his demands, " said Madame von Brandt. 

"He should first have tested the purse of the empress, as he frequentlydid in former times--in times when not only the prince royal, but alsohis sister of Bairout, experienced the generosity of their imperialaunt. But the prince royal readily forgets the benefits which he hasreceived. "

"That he does, " sighed Madame von Brandt. "We poor women are thegreatest sufferers. He has loved us all, and forgotten us all. "

"All?" asked Count Manteuffel. 

"All, count! We are nothing more to him than the plaything of an idlehour; he then wearies of us, and throws us aside. There is but one whomhe truly loves and constantly. "

"And this lady's name?"

"The flute, count! Ah, you looked sadly crestfallen. True, this ladycannot be bribed, either with Austrian gold or with the flattery of theskilful Count Manteuffel; she is always discreet, always mysterious;she never betrays her lover. Ah, count, we might both learn somethingfrom this noble flute. Yes, believe me, I would try to be like her, if, unfortunately, I did not need so many things for which a flute has nouse, and if the glitter of Austrian gold were not so alluring. But you, Count Manteuffel, why are you not like the flute? Why have you spiesand eavesdroppers at all places? Why are you an Austrian spy at thecourt of Prussia--you who have wealth, rank, and standing which shouldplace you above such paltry considerations?"

Count Manteuffel's brow darkened, and he compressed his lips angrily. But he quickly subdued this momentary irritation, and was once more theaffable, easy, and attentive diplomat. 

"I serve the Austrian court from inclination, " said he, "frompreference, and certainly with honest intentions. I serve that court, because I am deeply convinced that upon Austria devolves the privilegeand duty of dethroning all other German princes, and uniting allGermany under one government, of converting Austria into Germany. Prussia must then cease to exist in Austria, and must bend the knee asa vassal. That is my political conviction, and I act in accordance withit. "

"And for this political conviction you receive Austrian gold andAustrian decorations, " observed Madame von Brandt, laughing. "For thesake of your political conviction you have spies at all points, at thecourt of Potsdam, at the court of Dresden, and even here at the littlecourt at Rheinsberg. Not satisfied with having bought over the princeroyal's cook, and induced him to keep a diary for your inspection, [3]you have also succeeded in securing the services of that humble andmodest little person, Madame von Brandt, who well knows that all thiscosts your Grace a considerable amount of money. And now you wish tomake me believe that you do these things on account of your politicalconviction. Softly, my dear count! I, too, am a little diplomat, andhave my convictions, and one of these is, that Count Manteuffel has butone passion, and that is, to play a political role, and to make as muchmoney in that way as he possibly can. And to the good Count Manteuffelit is a matter of perfect indifference whether this money comes fromPrussian or from Austrian sources. "

[3] "Youth of Frederick the Great, " by Preuss, page 132. 

"And why these amiable pleasantries?" said the count, with a forcedsmile. 

"They mean, my dear count, that this miserable acting should cease;that we should lay aside our masks, and deal with each other truly andsincerely, when alone, as we are at present. I serve you, because I ampaid for it; you serve Austria, because you are paid for it. If, intime of need, you were not at hand with a well-filled purse, I wouldcease to serve you; and you would no longer be enthusiastic on thesubject of Austrian dominion, if Austria's money should cease to flowinto your coffers. And now, my dear count, I believe we understand eachother; and, without further circumlocution, what do you require ofme--what have you to communicate?"

"I must speak with you on matters of very grave importance. "

"I knew it! your flattery betrayed you, " said Madame Brandt, "Well, begin. "

"First of all, my dear baroness, you must know that the prince royalwill in a few days be king. "

"Not so, count; a courier arrived yesterday evening with theintelligence that his majesty was much better. The prince royal is sorejoiced that he has determined to give a fete in honor of Madame vonMorien to-day. "

"Does the prince royal still love this lady?"

"I told you before that he loved his flute alone, " said Madame Brandt. 

"Does he not, then, love the princess royal?"

"No! And perhaps he would not love her even if she were changed into aflute. He would probably say to Quantz, 'It is not made of good wood, and has a bad tone, ' and would lay it aside. "

"And do you believe he would do that with the princess? although she isno flute, do you believe he would cast her aside?"

"The princess dreads it. "

"And so does the empress!"

"But why was a woman, who not only knows nothing about music, but has ahoarse and discordant voice, and who articulates so indistinctly thatthe prince royal could not understand her were she to say the wittiestthings imaginable, why should such a woman have been given as a wife toa prince of such remarkable musical proclivities? One does not marry awoman merely to look at her. "

"Then you believe the prince royal will separate himself from his wifeas soon as he obtains his freedom, that is, when he becomes king?"observed Count Manteuffel, thoughtfully. 

"Of that I know nothing, count. The prince never speaks of his wife, even to his most intimate friends; and in his tenderest moments MadameMorien herself endeavors in vain to obtain some information on thissubject. "

"The prince is very discreet and very suspicious. Madame Morien must bebought over, " murmured the count. 

"That will be a difficult task, " said Madame Brandt. "She isunfortunately very rich, and attaches but little importance to money. Iknow of but one means. Procure for her a lover who is handsomer, moreardent, and more passionate than the prince royal, and she can be won!For it is well known that Madame Morien has a very susceptible heart. "

"Baroness, no jesting, if you please; the matters under discussion areof the gravest importance, and our time is limited. Madame Morion mustbe won over. She alone can influence the prince through his heart, andher influence must be exerted to prevent a separation of the princeroyal from his wife. You, my dear baroness, must induce Madame Moriento do this; you, with your bewitching eloquence, must make MadameMorien comprehend that this is the only means of doing penance for hersinful life, and that her only chance of reconciliation with Heavendepends upon her restoration of the faithless husband to the arms ofhis noble wife. She could, perhaps, save the princess royal and theimperial court the disgrace of a separation. The princess must remainthe wife of the king. This is the only tie which can bind the king toAustria. The prince is surrounded by the enemies of Austria, of whomSuhm is the most dangerous. "

"Well, he, at least, is not near the prince. You know that he is theambassador of Saxony at the court of Petersburg. "

"Therein lies the main difficulty! The prince royal places unlimitedconfidence in him, they correspond in characters which we have vainlyendeavored to decipher; and the result of this correspondence is, thatSuhm has already procured the prince royal a loan of ten thousanddollars from the Duke of Courland, and that he has now secured him theannual sum of twenty-four thousand dollars from the Empress Anne. Thesepayments will continue until the prince ascends the throne; the firsthas just been received. "[4]

[4] Oeuvres de Frederic le Grand, vol. Xvi. , pp. 340, 356, 360, 384. 

"That is a fable, " exclaimed Madame Brandt, laughing. "The prince is aspoor as Job, and for some time past has been literally besieged by hiscreditors!"

"And it can be no other than Russia who assists him in thesedifficulties!" exclaimed Count Manteuffel, in despair. "We must leavenothing undone to lessen the influence of this dangerous enemy, and towin Prussia to Austrian interests. Germany wishes for peace, andPrussia and Austria must be on good terms. If Prussia and Austria wereto take up arms against each other, the balance of power in Europewould be destroyed, and a war would be inaugurated which, perhaps, foryears would deluge Germany with blood and tears! Austria will do allthat lies in her power to avoid this; and we, my dear friend, will beAustria's allies, and will assist her to the best of our ability. Russia has given Prussia money, it is true, but an indebtedness of thiskind ceases the moment the money is returned. When the prince royalascends the throne, he will pay to Russia what he owes her, and withthat all obligations will be at an end. Then another tie must be foundto bind Austria more firmly to Prussia. And you must help to weave thistie. The prince royal must never be separated from his wife! The futurequeen of Prussia will then be the niece of the empress. The duties of anephew will consequently devolve on the king. To unite the two housesmore closely, another marriage must be brought about. The PrinceAugustus William, the presumptive heir of the prince royal, must, likethe latter, espouse a princess of the house of Brunswick--a sister ofthe princess royal. "

"That is impossible!" exclaimed Madame Brandt, with vivacity. 

"Impossible? Why impossible?"

"Because the heart of the Prince Augustus William is already filledwith a deep and passionate love--a love which would even touch you, that is, if you are susceptible to pity. "

"My dear madame, we are speaking of affairs of State, and you discourseof love! What have politics to do with love? The prince may love whomhe will, provided he marries the Princess of Brunswick. "

"But his is a great and noble, a real love, count--a love over which wehave no power, in which the devil had no hand; a love as pure asHeaven, and deserving of Heaven's blessing! You must give this plan up, count; the Prince Augustus William will never marry the Princess ofBrunswick. He is far too noble to give his hand without his heart, andthat is devoted to the beautiful Laura von Pannewitz. "

"A prince of the blood who loves a little maid of honor, and wishes tomarry her?" exclaimed von Manteuffel, laughing loudly. "How romantic!how sublime! what excellent materials for a sentimental romance! Mydear baroness, I congratulate you! This discovery does all honor toyour poetical temperament. "

"Mock me, if you will, count; but I repeat, nevertheless, PrinceAugustus William will not marry the Princess of Brunswick, for he lovesthe beautiful maid of honor of the queen, and is determined to make herhis wife. "

"We will know how to break this determination, " said Count Manteuffel. "The prince royal will assist us, depend upon it. He is not anenthusiastic lover, like Augustus William, and will never consent tohis brother's making a misalliance. "

"And I tell you, the prince would rather die than give up the beautifulLaura. "

"Well, then she must give him up, " said Count Manteuffel, with cruelcomposure. 

"Poor Laura, " said Madame Brandt, with a sigh, "she loves him sodearly! it will break her heart to lose him. "

"Pshaw! the heart of every woman is broken one or more times, but italways heals again, and when warmed by a new love, the old scarsdisappear entirely. You, dear baroness, have experienced this inyourself. Have you no recollection of the days of our ardent andpassionate love? Did we not expect to die when we were separated? Didwe not wring our hands, and pray for death as a relief? And are we notstill living, to smile pityingly at the pangs we then endured, and toremember how often we have experienced delight, how often love hassince triumphed in our hearts?"

"It is true, " sighed Madame Brandt, "we outlive our sorrows; the heartof women resembles the worm--it still lives and quivers, although cutin pieces. "

"Well, " said Count Manteuffel, laughing, "the heart of Laura vonPannewitz is merely a worm, and we will not hesitate to cut it inpieces, as it will still live merrily on. You, my dear friend, shall bethe knife which performs the operation. Are you willing?"

For a moment Madame Brandt looked down sadly, and seemed lost inthought. 

"True, " she murmured, "we outlive it, but the best part of our being isdestroyed! I should never have become what I am, if I had not beenruthlessly torn from my first dream of love. We will not kill Laura vonPannewitz's body, but her soul will suffer!"

"And as it is not our province to look after souls, that need give usno care; a political necessity demands that Prince Augustus Williamshall marry the Princess of Brunswick. It demands, moreover, that theprince royal shall not be divorced from his wife, but that the niece ofthe empress shall be Queen of Prussia. In both of these affairs we needyour assistance. You must closely watch the Prince Augustus William andhis lady love, and, at the proper time, bring the affair to light. Byyour eloquence you must convince Madame Morien that it is her duty toexert her influence with the prince royal to prevent his separationfrom his wife. This is your task, and a noble task it is. Its objectsare--to protect the peace of married life; to recall two noble heartsto the duties which they owe to the world; and lastly, to create a newbond of union between two mighty German powers. The wife of the EmperorCharles VI. , the noble empress, will not be ungrateful to her ally, Madame Brandt. On the day on which Prince William espouses the PrincessLouisa Amelia of Brunswick, Madame Brandt will receive a present oftwenty thousand dollars from the empress. "

The countenance of Madame Brandt was radiant with pleasure and delight. 

"The prince shall and will marry the Princess Louisa Amelia--my wordfor it. I am then to be the demon who, with his poisonous breath, destroys this romantic, this beautiful love; the evil genius who drivesfair Laura to despair. But why should I pity her? She suffers the fateof all women--my fate. Who pitied, who saved me? No one listened to mycry of anguish, and no one shall heed the wailing cry of the fair Lauravon Pannewitz. Count, she is condemned! But, hark! Do you not hearfaint tones of distant music? The prince royal has arisen, and isplaying the flute at his open window. We must now separate; the gardenwill soon be full of people, and we are no longer safe from intrusion. A boat-ride on the lake is in contemplation for the early morninghours, and then Chazot will read Voltaire's last drama to the assembledcourt. "

CHAPTER IX. 

FREDERICK, THE PRINCE ROYAL. 

Madame Brandt was not mistaken; the prince royal was awake, and wasbringing a tribute to beautiful, sunny Nature in return for thesweetly-scented air that came through his window. There he stood, withthe flute at his lips, and looked out at God's lovely, laughing worldwith a sparkling eye and joyful countenance. A cheerful quiet, a holypeace radiated from his beautiful face; his whole being seemed bathedin perfect harmony and contentment, and the soft, melting tones of hisflute but echoed his thoughts. Suddenly he ceased playing, and slightlybowed his head to catch the sweet, dying notes that were stilltrembling in the air. 

"That was good, " said he, smiling, "and I believe I can note it downwithout exciting the anger of Quantz. " He took his flute again, andsoftly repeated the air he had just finished. "I will write itimmediately, and play it this evening before my critical musicians. "

While speaking, Frederick left his bedroom, and passed into hislibrary. On entering this room, a beautiful smile flitted over hisface, and he bowed his head as if saluting some one. It would beimpossible to imagine a more charming and tasteful room. It had beenarranged according to the directions of the prince royal, and was in agreat degree a true portrait of himself, a temple which he had erectedto art, science, and friendship. 

This room was in the new tower, and its circular form gave it apeculiar appearance. It was most appropriately compared to a temple. High glass cases around the walls contained the works of Voltaire, Racine, Moliere, and Corneille; those of Homer, Caesar, Cicero, andOvid; also the Italian poets Dante, Petrarch, and Machiavel. All thathad a good name in the literary world found its way into the library ofthe royal prince--all, excepting the works of German authors. 

Between the book-cases, the shelves of which were ornamented here andthere with busts of celebrated writers, were alcoves, in which stoodsmall satin damask sofas, over which hung, in heavily-gilt frames, theportraits of Frederick's friends and contemporaries. 

The largest and most beautiful was one of Voltaire. He had received thehonored place; and when Frederick raised his eyes from his work, whilesitting at his escritoire, they rested upon the smiling face of thetalented French writer, whom the prince royal had selected as hisfavorite, and with whom he had for many years corresponded. 

The prince went with hasty steps to his table, and, without noticingthe sealed letters that were lying there, he took a piece of linedpaper, and began to write, humming softly the melody he had justcomposed. He occasionally threw down his pen, and took the flute thatwas lying at his side, to try, before noting them, different accordsand passages. 

"It is finished at last, " said the prince, laying aside his pen. "Myadagio is finished, and I think Quanta will have no excuse forgrumbling to-day; he must be contented with his pupil. This adagio isgood; I feel it; I know it; and if the Bendas assume their usual artistairs, I will tell them--; no, I will tell them nothing, " said theprince, smiling. "It is useless to show those gentlemen that I care fortheir approval, or court their applause. Ours is a pitiful race, and Isee the time approaching when I shall despise and mistrust the wholeworld; and still my heart is soft, and gives a warm approval to allthat is great and beautiful, and it would make me very happy to loveand trust my fellow-men; but they do not desire it--they would notappreciate it. Am I not surrounded by spies, who watch all mymovements, listen to every word I utter, and then pour their poisoninto the ear of the king? But enough of this, " said the prince, after apause. "This May air makes me dreamy. Away with these cobwebs! I havenot time to sigh or dream. "

He arose, and walked hastily up and down his room, then approached theescritoire, and took the letters. As his eye fell on the first, hesmiled proudly. 

"From Voltaire, " he murmured softly, breaking the seal, and hastilyopening the enclosure, which contained two letters and several loosescraps of printed matter. The prince uttered a cry of joyfulastonishment, and scarcely noticing the two letters, he gazed with ahalf-tender, half-curious expression on the printed papers he held inhis hand. 

"At last! at last!" exclaimed the prince, "my wish will beaccomplished. The first step toward fame is taken. I shall no longer beunknown, or only known as the son of a king, the inheritor of a throne. I shall have a name. I shall acquire renown, for I will be a poet, anauthor, and shall claim a place in the republic of genius. I shall notneed a crown to preserve my name in history. The first step is taken. My 'Anti-Machiavel' is in press. I will tread under foot this monsterof knavish and diabolic statecraft, and all Europe shall see that aGerman prince is the first to break a lance against this Machiavel, whois making the people the slaves of princes. By his vile principles, heis moulding princes into such monsters that all mankind must cursethem. "

And again looking at the paper, the prince read a few lines, his voicetrembling with displeasure:

"If it is a crime to destroy the innocence of a private individual whoexercises a limited influence, is it not far worse to undermine themoral character of princes who should exhibit to their subjects anexample of goodness, greatness, kindness, and love? The plagues sent byHeaven are but passing, and destroy only in certain localities; andalthough most disastrous, their effects pass away in time. But thevices of kings create incurable misery; yes, misery enduring forgenerations. How deplorable is the condition of nations who have everyevil to fear from their ruler, their property exposed to thecovetousness of a prince, their freedom to his humor, and their livesto his cruelty!"

Frederick ceased, and turned over a few pages of his "Anti-Machiavel, "and then continued to read:

"Machiavel speaks in his 'Principe' of miniature sovereigns, who, having but small states, can send no armies to the field. The authoradvises them to fortify their capitals, and in time of war to confinethemselves and their troops to them. 

"The Italian princes, of whom Machiavel speaks, only play the part ofmen before their servants. Most of the smaller princes, and especiallythose of Germany, ruin themselves by spending sums far exceeding theirrevenues, and thus by vanity are led to want. Even the youngest scionof the least important salaried prince imagines himself as great asLouis. He builds his Versailles, and sustains his army. There is inreality a certain salaried prince of a noble house, who has in hisservice all the varieties of guards that usually form the households ofgreat kings, but all on so minute a scale that it is necessary toemploy a microscope to distinguish each separate corps, and whose armyis perhaps strong enough to represent a battle on the stage of Verona. "

Prince Frederick laughed aloud. "Well, I think my most worthy cousin, Ernest Augustus, of Saxe-Weimar, will understand this allusion, and ingratitude for my giving his name to posterity in my 'Anti-Machiavel, 'will unravel the mystery, and inform the world how it is possible, withthe annual income of four hundred dollars, to keep a retinue of sevenhundred men, a squadron of one hundred and eighty, and a company ofcavalry; if he is capable of accomplishing this, without plunging intodebt, he is certainly my superior, and I could learn a great deal fromhim. I could learn of him how to rid myself of this torment that Iendure from day to day, from hour to hour. What could be a greaterdegradation to an honorable man than to be compelled to flatter thebase pride of these vile usurers to whom I am forced to resort for themoney I need; this money pressed, perhaps, from widows and orphans? Tothink that I, the inheritor of a kingdom, am in this condition--that Imust lower myself to sue and plead before these men, while millions arelying in the cellars of my father's palace at Berlin! But what! Have Ithe right to complain? am I the only one who suffers from the closenessof the king? are not the people of Berlin crying for bread, whilst theroyal larder is filled to overflowing? But patience! the day will comewhen the keys will be in my hands--on that day I will give the peoplewhat rightly belongs to them, bread. I will unlock the treasury, andset free the imprisoned millions. But what noise is this?" said theprince, approaching the door. 

Loud and angry voices were heard from without. "I tell you I must andwill speak with the prince royal, " cried a threatening voice; "I havewaited in vain for two months, in vain addressed to him the most modestand respectful letters; I have not even been deemed worthy to receivean answer. Now I have come to receive it in person, and I swear I willnot leave this spot without an explanation with the prince royal. "

"It is Ephraim, " muttered Frederick, with a deep frown. 

"Well, you can stand here until you become a pillar of salt, like yourgreat-grandmother of old, " cried another voice. 

"This is Knobelsdorf, " said Frederick. 

"The idea is good, " said the first voice, "but it is not I who willbecome a pillar of salt, but others will from fright and terror, when Icome with my avenging sword; for justice I will have, and if I do notobtain it here, I shall go and demand it of the king. "

"From the king! you do not know, then, that his majesty is dying?"

"Not so, not so! if that were so, I would not be here; I would havewaited quietly for that justice from the new king which I demanded invain from the prince royal. The king is recovering; I saw him in hisarm-chair in the garden; for this reason I insist on speaking to theprince. "

"But if I tell you his royal highness is still asleep?"

"I would not believe you, for I heard him playing on his flute. "

"That was Quantz. "

"Quantz! he is not capable of playing such an adagio; no, no, it couldonly have been the prince royal. "

"Ah! this man wishes to bribe me with his flattery, " said the prince, smiling, "and make me believe I am an Orpheus. Orpheus tamed lions andtigers with his music, but my flute is not even capable of taming acreditor. "

"But I say it was Quantz, " cried the poor frightened Knobelsdorf; "theprince still sleeps, or is in bed, for he is not well, and gave ordersto admit no one. "

"Ah! I know all about that; noble gentlemen are always ill if they haveto breathe the same air with their creditors, " said Ephraim, with amocking smile; "but I tell you I will stay here until I have spoken tothe prince, until he returns me four thousand dollars that I lent tohim, more than a year ago, without interest or security. I must andwill have my money, or I shall be ruined myself. The prince cannot wishthat; he will not punish me so severely for the kindness and pity Ishowed to him in his greatest need. "

"This is really too much, " cried Knobelsdorf, "you are shameless; doyou dare to speak of pity for the prince royal? do you dare to boast ofhaving lent him money, while you only did it knowing he could and wouldrepay you with interest?"

"If Ephraim knows that, he is cleverer than I am, " said Frederick, smiling sadly; "although I am a prince, I do not know how to get themiserable sum of four thousand dollars. But I must leave poorKnobelsdorf no longer in this condition; I must quiet this uproar. " Andhe hastened toward the door, as the noise without became louder andlouder. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE PRINCE ROYAL AND THE JEW. 

At this moment, while Knobelsdorf was threatening the Jew and callingthe servants to thrust him out, the prince royal opened the door andshowed his smiling face to the two combatants. 

"Come in, " said the prince, "I grant you the audience you soimportunately demand. "

Frederick stepped quietly back in his room, while Ephraim, confused andhumiliated by the calm dignity of the prince, advanced with bowed headand downcast eyes. 

"Dear Knobelsdorf, " said Frederick, turning to his gasping secretary, who stood amazed behind the Jew, "I pray you to assemble all the ladiesand gentlemen in the garden; we are going yachting; I will be with youin five minutes. "

"Five minutes, " said Ephraim to himself, as Knobelsdorf withdrew, "onlyone moment's audience for every thousand dollars! This is a prouddebtor; I would have done better not to place myself in his power. ButI will not be frightened, I will stand up boldly for my rights!"

"And now, what have you to say to me?" said the prince, fixing hisangry eyes upon Ephraim. 

"What have I to say to your highness!" said Ephraim, astonished. "Morethan a year ago I lent your highness four thousand dollars! I have asyet received neither principal nor interest. "

"Well, what more?"

"What more!" said Ephraim. 

"Yes, what more? It is impossible that you have come from Berlin toRheinsberg to tell me what I have known for a year as well as yourself. "

"I thought your highness had forgotten, " said the Jew, fixing his eyesupon the prince, but casting them suddenly to the floor, as he met theflashing glance of Frederick. 

"Forgotten, " said he, shrugging his shoulders; "I have a good memoryfor every act of kindness, and also for every offence against therespect and reverence due to the son of the king. "

His voice was so harsh and threatening, that Ephraim trembled in hisinmost heart, and stammered some words of apology. 

"My prince, " said he, "I am a Jew, that is to say a despised, reviled, and persecuted man! no--not a man, but a creature--kicked like a dogwhen poor and suffering, and even when the possessor of gold andtreasures, scarcely allowed human rights. It is better for the dogsthan for the Jews in Prussia! A dog dare have its young, and rejoiceover them, but the Jews dare not rejoice over their children! The lawof the land hangs like a sword over them, and it may be that a Jewessmay be driven out of Prussia because a child is born to her, only aspecified number of Jews being allowed in this enlightened land!Perhaps the father is not rich enough to pay the thousand dollars withwhich he must buy the right to be a father every time a child is bornto him! For this reason is gold, and again gold, the only wall ofprotection which a Jew can build up between himself and wretchedness!Gold is our honor, our rank, our destiny, our family, our home. We arenothing without gold, and even when we extend a golden hand, there isno hand advanced to meet it that does not feel itself contaminated bythe touch of a Jew! Judge, then, your royal highness, how much we love, how highly we prize one to whom we give a part of our happiness, a partof our honor. I have done for you, my prince, what I have done for noother man. I have given you four thousand dollars, without security andwithout interest. I lent to Knobelsdorf, for the prince royal, upon hismere word, my honest gold, and what have I received? My letters, inwhich I humbly solicit payment, remain unanswered. I am mocked andreviled--the door contemptuously shut in my face, which door, however, was most graciously opened when I brought my gold. Such conduct isneither right nor wise; and as the worm turns when it is trodden upon, so is there also a limit to the endurance of the Jew. He remembers atlast that he is also one of God's creatures, and that God himself hasgiven him the passion of revenge as well as the passion of love. TheJew, when too long mishandled, revenges himself upon his torturers, andthat will I also do, if I do not receive justice at your hands. Thatwill I also do, if you refuse me my gold to-day. "

"You have made a lengthy and impertinent speech!" said Frederick. "Youhave threatened me! But I will forgive you, because you are a Jew;because the tongue is the only weapon a Jew has, and knows how to use. I now advise you to put your sword in its sheath, and listen calmly tome. It is true, you have lent me four thousand dollars without securityand without interest. You need not extol yourself for this, for youwell know it is not the wish or the intention of the prince royal tooppress even the most pitiful of his subjects, or to withhold thesmallest of their rights. You knew this; then why were you notsatisfied to wait until I sent for you?"

"I can wait no longer, your highness, " cried Ephraim, passionately. "Myhonor and credit are at stake. Count Knobelsdorf gave me his sacredpromise that at the end of six months my money with interest should bereturned. I believed him, because he spoke in the name of the princeroyal. I now need this money for my business. I can no longer dowithout it. I must have it to-day. "

"You must? I say you shall not receive one penny of it to-day, norto-morrow, nor for weeks!"

"If your highness is in earnest, I must go elsewhere and seek redress. "

"That means you will go to the king. "

"Yes, your highness, I will!"

"Are you ignorant of the law by which all are forbidden to lend moneyto the princes of the royal house?"

"I am not ignorant of that law; but I know that the king will make anexception--that he will pay the money I lent to his successor. It ispossible I may feel his crutch upon my back, but blows will not degrademe. The Jew is accustomed to blows and kicks--to be daily trodden underfoot. Even if the king beats me, he will give me back my honor, for hewill give me back my gold. "

"Suppose that he also refuses you?"

"Then I will raise my voice until it is heard over the whole earth, "cried Ephraim, passionately. 

"Well, then, raise your voice and cry out. I can give you no goldto-day. "

"No gold!" said Ephraim. "Am I again to be paid with cunning smiles andscornful words? You will withhold my gold from me? Because you aregreat and powerful, you think you can oppress and mistreat a poor Jewwith impunity, but there is a God for the just and unjust, and He--"

He stopped. Before him stood Frederick, blazing with anger. His lipswere pallid and trembling, his arm uplifted. 

"Strike, your highness!--strike!" cried Ephraim, fiercely. "I deserveto be beaten, for I was a fool, and allowed myself to be dazzled withthe glory of lending my gold to an unhappy but noble prince! Strike on, your highness! I see now that this prince is but a man like the rest;he scorns and loathes the poor Jew, but he will borrow his money, anddefraud him of his rights. "

Frederick's arm had fallen, and a soft smile played about his lips. 

"No, " said he, "you shall see that Frederick is not a man like othermen. This day you shall have your money. I cannot pay you in money, butI will give you jewels, and horses from the stud that the king latelygave me. "

"Then your highness has really no money?" said Ephraim, thoughtfully. "It was not then to frighten and torment the poor Jew that my gold wasdenied me. Can it be possible that the great Prince Frederick, on whomthe hopes of the people rest, and who is already dearly loved by hisfuture subjects, can be without money? Is it possible that he sufferslike other men? My God! how dare we poor Jews complain when the heir toa throne is harassed for money, and must endure privations?"

The prince was not listening to Ephraim; he had opened a closet, andtaken from it a silver-bound casket, and was gazing intently at itscontents. He drew forth a large diamond cross and some solitaires andapproached the Jew. 

"Here are some jewels, I think, well worth your four thousand dollars;sell them and pay yourself, " said the prince, handing him the sparklingstones. 

Ephraim pushed the prince's hand gently back. "I lent gold, and goldonly will I accept in payment. "

The prince stamped impatiently upon the ground. "I told you I had nogold!"

"Then I cannot receive any, " said Ephraim, passively. "The poor Jewwill wait still longer; he will give to the prince royal the gold whichhe needs, and of which the poor Jew still has a little. I humbly askyour highness if you would not like to borrow another thousand, which Iwill gladly lend upon one condition. "

"Well, and this condition?"

"Your highness is to pay me upon the spot the interest upon the fourthousand in ready money? Does your highness understand? Just now youwished to pay my capital with diamonds and horses. Will you give me asinterest a few costly pearls--pearls which lie hidden in that flute, and which appear at your magical touch? I will count this as readymoney!"

Frederick came nearer to Ephraim, and eyeing him sternly, he said:

"Are you mocking me? Would you make of the prince royal a travellingmusician, who must play before the Jew, in order to soften hisheart?--would you--? Ah, Fredersdorf, " said he, interrupting himself, as his valet approached him in a dusty travelling-suit, "have you justarrived from Berlin?"

"Yes, your highness; and as I was told who was importuning yourhighness, I came in without changing my dress. The banker gave me thispackage for you. I believe it is from Petersburg. "

"From Suhm, " said the prince, with a happy smile, and hastily breakingthe seal, he drew from the package a letter and several books. Castinga loving glance at the letter, he laid it on his writing-table; thenturning away, so as not to be seen by Ephraim, he took up the twobooks, and looked carefully at their heavily-gilded covers. Fredericksmiled, and, taking a penknife, he hastily cut off the backs of thebooks, and took out a number of folded papers. As the prince saw them, a look of triumph passed over his expressive face. 

"Ten thousand dollars!" said he to himself. "The empress and the DukeBiron have fulfilled their promise!"

Frederick took some of the papers in his hand, and walked towardEphraim. 

"Here are your four thousand dollars, and one hundred interest. Are yousatisfied?"

"No, your royal highness, I am not satisfied! I am not satisfied withmyself. When I came to Rheinsberg I thought I had been wronged. It nowseems to me that I have wronged your highness!"

"Let that pass, " said Frederick. "A prince must always be the scapegoatfor the sin-offering of the people. They make us answerable for alltheir sufferings, but have no sympathy for us in our griefs. I owe younothing more--you can go. "

Ephraim bowed silently, and turned slowly toward the door. The eyes ofthe prince followed him with a kindly expression. He stepped to thetable, and took up his flute. Ephraim had reached the door of theante-chamber, but when he heard the soft melting tones of the flute, hestopped, and remained listening breathlessly at the outer door. Thepiercing glance of the prince rested on him; but he continued to play, and drew from his flute such touching and melancholy tones that thepoor Jew seemed completely overcome. He folded his hands, as thoughengaged in fervent prayer; and even Fredersdorf, although a dailyhearer of the prince, listened in breathless silence to those sweetsounds. 

When the adagio was ended, the prince laid down his flute, and signedto Fredersdorf to close the door; he wished to give Ephraim anopportunity of slipping away unobserved. 

"Did your highness know that the Jew was listening?" said Fredersdorf. 

"Yes, I knew it; but I owed the poor devil something; he offered tolend me still another thousand dollars! I will remember this. And now, Fredersdorf, tell me quickly how goes it in Berlin? How is the king?"

"Better, your highness. He set out for Potsdam a few days since, andthe pure fresh air has done him good. He shows himself, daily upon thebalcony, in full uniform. The physicians, it is true, look verythoughtful; but the rest of the world believe the king is rapidlyimproving. "

"God grant that the physicians may be again mistaken!" said the prince. "May the king reign many long and happy years! If he allow me to liveas I wish, I would willingly give an arm if I could thereby lengthenhis life. Well, now for mirth and song! We will be gay, and thuscelebrate the king's improvement. Make, therefore, all liberalarrangements. Give the cook his orders, and tell the ladies andgentlemen assembled in the garden that I will be with them immediately. "

The prince was now alone; he opened the letter he had received with thegold; his eye rested lovingly upon the handwriting of his distantfriend, and his heart glowed as he read the words of friendship, admiration, and love from Suhm. 

"Truly, " he said, raising his eyes devoutly to heaven, "a faithfulfriend is worth more than a king's crown. In spite of all my brilliantprospects in the future, what would have become of me if Suhm had notstood by me for the second time and borrowed this money for me inRussia--this paltry sum, which I have in vain sought to obtain in myown land? My heart tells me to write a few lines at once to Suhm, expressing my unshaken friendship, my enduring love. "

Frederick seated himself, and wrote one of those soul-inspiring lettersfor which he was so celebrated, and which ended thus: "In a short timemy fate will be decided! You can well imagine that I am not at ease inmy present condition. I have little leisure, but my heart is young andfresh, and I can assure you that I was never more a philosopher thannow. I look with absolute indifference upon the future. My heart is notagitated by hope or fear, it is full of pity for those who suffer, ofconsideration for all honest men, and of tenderness and sympathy for myfriends. You, whom I dare proudly count among the latter, may be moreand more convinced that you will ever find in me what Orestes was tohis Pylades, and that it is not possible for any one to esteem and loveyou more than your devoted Frederick. "

"Now, " said the prince, as he arose, "away with the burdens, thegravities and cares of life! Come, now, spirit of love! spirit ofbliss! We will celebrate a feast this day in thy honor, thou goddess ofyouth and hope! Come, lovely Venus, and bring with thee thy son Cupid!We will worship you both. To you belongs this day, this night. You, goddess of love, have sent me the little Morien, that fluttering, lightgazelle, that imperious, laughing fairy--that 'Tourbillon' of capriceand passion. Here is the poem I composed for her. Madame Brandt shallhand it to her, and shall lead the 'Tourbillon' into the temple oflove. Away with earnest faces, dull eyes, and the wisdom of fools! Comeover me, spirit of love, and grant me one hour of blessedforgetfulness. "

The prince rang for his valet, and commanded him to lay out his latestFrench suit; he entered his boudoir, and with a comic earnestness, andthe eager haste of a rash, impatient lover, he gave himself to theduties and arts of a royal toilet. 

CHAPTER XI. 

THE PRINCESS ROYAL ELIZABETH CHRISTINE. 

The princess royal had not yet left her rooms; she still waited for theprince, whose custom it was to give her his arm every morning and leadher to the saloon. On these occasions only did the Princess Elizabethever see her husband alone, then only did he address one word to her, touch her hand, or allow her to lean upon his arm. A sweet and sadhappiness for this young wife, who lived only in the light of herhusband's countenance; who had no other wish, no other prayer, no otherhope than to please him. She felt that the eye of Frederick neverrested upon her with any other expression than that of cold friendshipor absolute indifference. The reason for this she could never fathom. Elizabeth would have given her heart's blood to be beloved by him forone single day, yes, for one short, blessed hour; to be clasped to hisheart, not for form or etiquette, but as a loving and beloved wife, toreceive in her ear the sweet whispers of his tenderness and hisfondness. She would have given years of her life to have bought thisman, whom she so passionately loved; he was her earthly god, the idealof her maiden dreams. This man was her husband; he belonged to her; hewas bound to her by the holiest ties, and yet there was an impassablegulf between them, which her unbounded love, her prayers, her sighs, could not bridge over. The prince loved her not; never had theslightest pulse of his heart belonged to her! He endured her, onlyendured her by his side, as the poor prisoner, sighing for fresh air, permits the presence of the jailer, when he can only thus buy a briefenjoyment of God's gay and sunny world. The prince royal was aprisoner, her prisoner. Not love, but FORCE had placed that golden ringupon his hand, that first link in the long, invisible heavy chain, which from that weary hour had bound his feet, yes, his soul; fromwhich even his thoughts were never free. Elizabeth knew that she was anever-present, bitter memento of his sad, crushed, tortured, and humbledyouth--a constant reminder of the noble friend of his early years, whose blood had been shed for him, and to whose last wild death-cry histortured heart had been compelled to listen. Her presence must everrecall the scorn, the hatred, the opposition of his stern father; thehardships, the abuse, the humiliations, yes, even the blows, all ofwhich had at last bowed the noble mind of the prince and led him totake upon himself the slavery of this hated marriage, in order to befree from the scorn and cruelty of his father. To escape from hisdreary prison in Ruppin, he rushed into the bonds of wedlock. How couldhe ever forgive, how could he ever love this woman forced upon him, like drops of wormwood, and swallowed only with the hope of therebyescaping the torturous pains and last struggles with death?

Elizabeth had been ignorant of all these bitter truths. The prince hadbeen ever considerate and kind, though cold, when they met: she had hadone single confidential interview with him, and in that hour he haddisclosed to her what had forced them together, and at the same timeforever separated them. Never could he love the wife associated in hismind, though innocently, with such cruelties and horrors; he was fullyconvinced that she, also, could not love a husband thus forced uponher; could entertain no feeling for him but that of respectfulconsideration and cold indifference. 

Frederick did not know with what deadly wounds these words had piercedthe princess; she had the strength to veil her passion and her shamewith smiles, and in her modest maidenly pride she buried both in herheart. Since that interview years had gone by, and every year the loveof the princess royal for her husband became more ardent; his eyes werethe sun which warmed and strengthened this flower of love, and hertears were the dew which nourished and gave it vitality. 

Elizabeth hoped still to ravish the heart of her husband; she yetbelieved that her resigned, modest, but proud and great love, mightconquer his coldness; and yet, in spite of this hope, in spite of thisfuture trust, Elizabeth trembled and feared more than formerly. Sheknew that the hour of decision was drawing nigh; she felt with theinstinct of true love that a new storm was rising on the ever-cloudedhorizon of her marriage, and that the lightning might soon destroy her. 

Frederick had been forced by the power of the king, his father, tomarry her; how would it be when this power should cease, when herhusband should be king? by no one held back; by no one controlled; freehimself, and free to give laws to the world; to acknowledge no man ashis judge; to be restrained by nothing but his conscience. Might noteven his conscience counsel him to dissolve this unnatural marriage, which had within itself no spark of God's truth, no ray of God'sblessing? might not her husband cast her off and take this Englishprincess for his wife? had she not been the choice of his heart? hadnot King George, although too late, declared his willingness for thebetrothal? had they not loved each other with the enthusiasm of youth, although they had never met? did not Sophia Amelia's portrait hang inthe library of the crown prince? did not the English princess wear hispicture constantly near her heart? had she not sworn never to be thewife of another man?

As Elizabeth thought of these things she trembled, and it seemed to herthat her whole life would go out in one great cry of anguish and horror. 

"No, " she said, "I cannot live without him! I will never consent! hecan kill me, but he cannot force me to break the solemn oath I havesworn on God's holy altar. He shall not cast me out into the wildwilderness, as Abram did Hagar, and choose another wife!"

He could not force her to leave him, but he could beseech her, andElizabeth knew full well there was nothing in the world she couldrefuse to her husband, which he would condescend so far as to entreat;for one loving, grateful word from his lips, she would give him herheart's blood, drop by drop; for one tender embrace, one passionatekiss, she would lay down her life joyfully. But she would not believein this separation; she would yet escape this unblessed fate--wouldfind a way to his love, his sympathy, at least to his pity. 

It was a struggle for life, for happiness, for her future, yes, evenfor honor; for a divorced wife, even a princess, bears ever a stainupon her fair name, and walks lonely, unpitied, ever despised throughthe world. 

For these reasons the poor princess of late redoubled her efforts toplease her husband; she entered more frequently into the gayeties ofthe court circle, and sometimes even took part in the frivolous andrather free jests of her husband's evening parties; sometimes she wasrewarded by a smile and a glance of applause from Frederick. This wasfor Elizabeth the noblest jewel in her martyr crown of love, morecostly, more precious than all her pearls and diamonds. 

To-day one of these joyous and unrestrained circles was to meet. Theprince loved these fetes; he was more charming, witty, talented, andunrestrained, than any of his guests. Princess Elizabeth resolved to beno quiet silent member of this circle to-day; she would force herhusband to look upon her and admire her; she would be more beautifulthan all the other ladies of the court; more lovely than the gay andtalented coquette, Madame Brandt; more entrancing than the genial'Tourbillon, ' Madame Morien; yes, even the youthful Schwerin, with herglancing eye and glowing cheek, should not excel her. 

She was also young and charming, might be admired, loved--yes, adored, not only as a princess, not only as the wife of the handsome and genialprince royal, but for her own lovely self. She had dismissed her maid, her toilet was completed, and she waited for the prince royal to leadher into the saloon. The princess stepped to the glass and examinedherself, not admiringly, but curiously, searchingly. This figure in themirror should be to her as that of a stranger to be remarked upon, andcriticised coldly, even harshly; she must know if this woman might everhope to enchain the handsome prince royal. "Yes, " whispered she toherself, "this form is slender and not without grace; this white satinrobe falls in full voluptuous folds from the slender waist over thewell-made form; it contrasts well with these shoulders, of which mymaids have often said 'they were white as alabaster;' with this throat, of which Madame Morien says 'it is white and graceful as the swan's. 'This foot, which peeps out from the silken hem of my robe, is small andslender; this hand is fair and small and well formed. I was constrainedyesterday to promise the painter Pesne to allow him to paint it for hisgoddess Aurora; and this face! is it ugly to look upon? No, this faceis not ugly; here is a high, clear forehead; the eyebrows well formedand well placed, the eyes are large and bright, the nose is small butnobly formed, the mouth good, the lips soft and red: yes, this face ishandsome. O my God! why can I not please my husband?--why will he neverlook upon me with admiration?"

Her head sank upon her breast, and she was lost in sad and melancholydreams; a few cold tears dropping slowly upon her cheeks aroused her;with a rash movement, she raised her head, and shook the tears from hereyes; then looked again in the glass. "Why does not the prince loveme?" whispered she again to herself with trembling lips. "I see it, Iknow it! It is written in unmistakable lines in this poor face. I knowwhy he loves me not. These great blue eyes have no fire, no soul; thismouth has no magical, alluring smile. Yes, alas! yes, that is a lovelyform; but the soul fails!--a fine nature, but the power of intellect iswanting. My Father, my heavenly Father, I sleep; my soul lies dead andstiffened in the coffin with my secret sorrows; the prince could awakenit with his kisses, could breathe a new life into it by a glance. "

The princess raised her arms imploringly on high, and her tremblinglips whispered, "Pygmalion, why come you not to awaken thy Galatea? Whywill you not change this marble statue into a woman of flesh and blood, with heart and soul? These lips are ready to smile, to utter a cry ofrapture and delight, and behind the veil of my eyes lies a soul, whichone touch of thine will arouse! O Frederick! Frederick! why do youtorture me? Do you not know that your wife worships, loves, adores you;that you are her salvation, her god? Oh, I know these are unholy, sinful words! what then? I am a sinner! I am ready to give my soul inexchange for thee, Frederick. Why do you not hear me?--why have not mysighs, my tears the power to bring you to my side?"

The poor, young wife sank powerless into her chair, and covering herface with her hands, wept bitterly. Gay voices and loud laughter, sounding from beneath her window, aroused her from this trance of grief. 

"That is Madame Brandt and the Duke of Brunswick, " said Elizabeth, hastening to the window, and peeping from behind the curtains into thegarden. Yes, there stood the duke in lively conversation with JordanKaiserling Chazot, and the newly-arrived Bielfeld; but the ladies werenowhere to be seen, and the princess concluded they were already in theante-room, and that the prince would soon join her. 

"He must not see that I have wept; no one must see that. " She breathedupon her handkerchief, and pressed its damp folds upon her eyes. "No, Iwill smile and be gay like Madame Brandt and Morien. I will laugh andjest, and no one shall guess that my heart is bleeding and dying withinexplicable grief. Yes, gay will I be, and smiling; so only can Iplease my husband. " She gave a sad, heart-breaking laugh, which wasechoed loudly and joyously in the ante-room. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE POEM. 

The ladies of the court, and those who were guests at the palace ofRheinsberg, were assembled, and waiting in the ante-room, as theprincess royal had supposed. A few of them had withdrawn to one of thewindows with Madame von Katch, the first lady of honor, and wereconversing in low voices, while Madame von Brandt and Madame von Morienheld an earnest but low-toned conversation in another part of the room. 

Madame von Morien listened anxiously to her friend, arid the varyingemotions of her soul were clearly mirrored on her speaking countenance. At one moment a happy smile overspread her lovely features, but thenext a cloud lay on that pure, fair brow, and darkened those black andglorious eyes. 

"As I told you, " whispered Madame von Brandt, "the empress desires youto understand that, if you will assist in carrying out her wishes, youmay depend upon her gratitude. You must employ all your eloquence andinfluence to induce the prince royal to dismiss from his mind the ideaof divorcing his wife at the death of the king. "

"I do not blame the empress, " said Madame von Morien, with a roguishsmile. "It remains to be seen, however, whether the wishes of theprince royal and those of the empress coincide. You are well aware thatPrince Frederick is not the man to be led by the will of others. "

"Not by the will of the empress, dearest, but by yours. "

"Well how does this good empress expect to bribe me, for I hope shedoes not think me so silly and childish as to consider her wordscommands, merely because they fall from the lips of an empress. No, thelittle Morien is at this moment a more important person to the empressthan the empress is to me, and it is, therefore, very natural that Ishould make my conditions. "

"Only name them, my dear friend, and I assure you in advance that theywill be fulfilled, unless you should demand the moon and the stars;these the empress cannot obtain for you. "

"Ah, you have divined my condition, " said Madame von Morien, smiling. "I demand a star--one that is brighter and more beautiful than those inthe sky--one that the empress can give. "

"I do not understand you, " said her astonished friend. 

"You will soon understand--only listen. Have you not heard that theAustrian empress intends to establish a new order--an order of virtueand modesty?"

Madame von Brandt burst into a clear, silvery laugh. "And do you wishto belong to this order?"

"Yes; and if the empress will not present me with the star of thisorder, I shall enter into no further arrangements. "

Madame von Brandt, still laughing, replied: "This is a most edifyingidea. Le Tourbillon desires to become a member of the 'Order ofVirtue. ' The beautiful Morien, whose greatest pride was to despise theprudish, and to snap her fingers at morality, now wishes to be in thetrain of modesty. "

"Dear friend, " said Madame von Morien, with a bewitching smile, whichdisplayed two rows of the most exquisitely white teeth, "dear friend, you should always leave open a way of retreat; even as Aesop indescending the mountain was not happy in the easy and delightful path, but already sighed over the difficulties of the next ascent, so shouldwomen never be contented with the joys of the present moment, butprepare themselves for the sorrows which most probably await them inthe future. A day must come when we will be cut off by advancing yearsfrom the flowery paths of love and pleasure, and be compelled to followin the tiresome footsteps of virtue. It is wise, therefore, to beprepared for that which must come as certainly as old age, and, ifpossible, to smooth away the difficulties from this rough path. To-dayI am Le Tourbillon, and will remain so a few years; but when the rosesand lilies of my cheek are faded, I will place the cross of the 'Orderof Virtue' on my withered bosom, and become the defender of theGod-fearing and the virtuous. "

The two ladies laughed, and their laughter was as gay and silvery, asclear and innocent as the tones of the lark, or the songs of children. Le Tourbillon, however, quickly assumed an earnest and patheticexpression, and said, in a snuffling, preaching voice: "Do I notdeserve to be decorated with the star of the 'Order of Virtue?' Am Inot destined to reunite with my weak but beautiful hands two heartswhich God himself has joined together? I tell you, therefore, procurethis decoration for me, or I refuse the role that you offer me. "

"I promise that your caprice shall be gratified, and that you willobtain the star, " said Madame von Brandt, earnestly. 

"Excuse me, my dear, that is not sufficient. I demand the assurance, inthe handwriting of the Empress of Austria, the exalted aunt of ourprincess royal, that this order shall be established, and that I shallbecome a member. It would do no harm for the empress to add a few wordsof tenderness and esteem. "

"I shall inform the empress of your conditions immediately, and shewill without doubt fulfil them, for the danger is pressing, and you area most powerful ally. "

"Good! thus far we are agreed, and nothing fails now but the mostimportant part, " said Madame von Morien, with a mischievous smile;"that is to discover whether I can accomplish your wishes--whether theprince royal considers me any thing more than 'Le Tourbillon, ' 'thepretty Morien, ' or the Turkish music to which he listens when he isgay. Nothing is wanting but that the prince royal should really loveme. It is true that he makes love to me; he secretly presses my hand;he occasionally whispers a few loving, tender words in my ear; andyesterday, when I met him accidentally in the dark corridor, heembraced me so passionately, and covered my lips with such glowing, stormy kisses, that I was almost stifled. But that is all--that is theentire history of my love. "

"No, that is not all. This history has a sequel, " said Madame vonBrandt, triumphantly, as she drew a sealed letter from her bosom, andgave it to her companion. "Take this, it is a new chapter in yourromance. "

"This letter has no address, " returned Madame von Morien, smiling. 

"It is intended for you. "

"No, it is mine, " suddenly cried a voice behind them, and a small handdarted forward, and tore the sealed paper from Madame von Morien. 

"Mine, this letter is mine!" cried Louise von Schwerin, the little maidof honor, who, without being remarked, had approached the two ladies, and seized the letter at this decisive moment. "The letter belongs tome; it is mine, " repeated the presumptuous young girl, as she dancedlaughingly before the two pale and terrified ladies. "Who dares affirmthat this letter, which has no address, is not intended for me?"

"Louise, give me the letter, " implored Madame von Morien, in atrembling voice. But Louise found a pleasure in terrifying herbeautiful friend, who invariably laughed at her, and called her a childwhen she spoke of her heart, and hinted at a secret and unhappypassion. Louise wished to revenge herself by claiming the privileges ofa child. 

"Take the letter if you can, " cried the young girl, as she flew throughthe room as lightly as a gazelle, waving her prize back and forth likea banner, "take the letter!"

Madame von Morien hurried after her, and now began a merry race throughthe saloon, accompanied by the laughter of the ladies, who looked onwith the liveliest interest. And in reality it was a charming pictureto see these beautiful figures, which flew through the hall like twoAtalantas, radiant with eagerness, with glowing cheeks and smilinglips, with fluttering locks and throbbing breasts. 

The young girl was still in advance; she danced on, singing andlaughing, far before the beautiful Morien, who began already to bewearied. 

"The letter is mine!" sang out this impudent little maiden, "and no oneshall take it from me. "

But fear lent wings to Madame von Morien, who now made a lastdespairing effort, and flew like an arrow after Louise. Now she wasjust behind her; Louise felt already her hot, panting breath upon hercheek; saw the upraised arm, ready to seize the letter--when suddenlythe door opened, before which Louise stood, and the princess royalappeared. The youthful maid of honor sank laughing at her feet, andsaid breathlessly, "Gracious princess, protect me!"

Madame von Morien remained motionless at the appearance of the princessroyal, breathless not only from her rapid race, but also from fear, while Madame von Brandt, concealing, with a smile, her own alarm, approached her friend, that she might not remain without assistance atthis critical moment. The rest of the company stood silent at arespectful distance, and looked with curious and inquiring glances atthis singular scene. 

"Well, and from what shall I protect you, little Louise?" said theprincess royal, as she bent smilingly over the breathless child. 

Louise was silent for one instant. She felt that the princess wouldreprove her for her naughtiness; she did not wish to be again treatedas a child before the whole court. She hastily resolved to insist uponthe truth of her assertion that the letter was hers. 

"Madame von Morien wished to take my letter from me, " said Louise, giving the latter a perverse look. 

"I hope your royal highness knows this impudent child well enough notto put any faith in her words, " said Madame von Morien, evasively, notdaring to claim the letter as her property. 

"Child! She calls me a child!" murmured Louise, enraged, and nowdetermined to revenge herself by compromising Madame von Morien. 

"Then the letter does not belong to Louise?" asked the princess royal, turning to Madame von Morien. 

"Yes, your royal highness, it is mine, " declared Louise; "your royalhighness can convince yourself of it. Here is the letter; will you havethe kindness to read the address?"

"But this letter has no address, " said the astonished princess. 

"And still Madame von Morion asserts that it is intended for her, "cried Louise, wickedly. 

"And Mademoiselle von Schwerin declares it belongs to her, " said Madamevon Morien, casting a furious look on Louise. 

"I implore your royal highness to be the judge, " said Louise. 

"How can I decide to whom the letter belongs, as it bears no name?"said the princess, smiling. 

"By opening and reading it, " said the young girl, with apparentfrankness. "The letter is from my mother, and I do not care to concealits contents from your royal highness. "

"Are you willing, Madame von Morien? shall I open this letter?"

But before the amazed and terrified young woman found time for a reply, Madame von Brandt approached the princess with a smiling countenance. She had in this moment of danger conceived a desperate resolution. Theprince royal had informed her that this paper contained a poem. Whymight not this poem have been intended for the princess as well as forMadame von Morien? It contained, without a doubt, a declaration oflove, and such declarations are suitable for any woman, and welcome toall. 

"If your royal highness will permit me, I am ready to throw light onthis mystery, " said Madame von Brandt. 

The princess bowed permission. 

"This letter belongs neither to Madame von Morien nor to Mademoisellevon Schwerin, " said Madame von Brandt. 

"You promised to enlighten us, " exclaimed the princess, laughing, "andit appears to me you have made the mystery more impenetrable. Theletter belongs neither to Madame von Morien nor to little Louise. Towhom, then, does it belong?"

"It belongs to your royal highness. "

"To me?" asked the astonished princess, while Madame von Morien gazedat her friend with speechless horror, and Mademoiselle von Schwerinlaughed aloud. 

"Yes, this letter belongs to your royal highness. The prince royal gaveit to me, with the command to place it upon your table, before you wentto your dressing-room; but I was too late, and understood that yourhighness was occupied with your toilet. I dared not disturb you, andretained the letter in order to hand it to you now. As I held it in myhand, and said jestingly to Madame von Morien that the prince royal hadforgotten to write the address, Mademoiselle von Schwerin came and toreit from me in a most unladylike manner, and declared it was hers. Thatis the whole history. "

"And you say that the letter is mine?" said the princess, thoughtfully. 

"It is yours, and it contains a poem from his royal highness. "

"Then I can break the seal?" said the princess, tearing open the paper. "Ah!" she cried, with a happy smile, "it is a poem from my husband. "

"And here comes his royal highness to confirm the truth of mystatement, " cried Madame von Brandt, stepping aside. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE BANQUET. 

Madame von Brandt was right. The prince royal, surrounded by thecavaliers of his court, entered the saloon just as the princess hadcommenced reading the poem. 

On his entrance a murmur of applause arose, and the countenance of hiswife was radiant with pleasure and delight on beholding this handsomeand engaging young prince, whom she, emboldened by the love-verseswhich she held in her hand, joyfully greeted as her husband. On thisday the prince did not appear as usual in the uniform of his regiment, but was attired in a French costume of the latest fashion. He wore asnuff-colored coat of heavy moire-antique, ornamented at the shoulderswith long bows of lace, the ends of which were bordered with silverfringe. His trousers, of the same color and material, reached to hisknees, and were here ornamented with rich lace, which hung far downover his silk stockings. On the buckles of his high, red-heeled shoes, glittered immense diamonds. These gems were, however, eclipsed by thejewelled buttons which confined his long, silver-brocaded waistcoat. [5]

[5] Bielfeld, vol. Ii. , page 82. 

The costume of the cavaliers who accompanied the prince was of the samestyle, but less rich. 

As this group of handsome and richly-attired gentlemen entered thesaloon, the bright eyes of the ladies sparkled, and their cheekscolored with pleasure. 

The princess royal's countenance was illumined with delight; never hadshe seen the prince so handsome, never had he looked so loving. Andthis was all for her, the chosen one, whom he now blessed with hislove. Yes, he loved her! She had only read the commencement of the poemwhich he had written, but in this she had seen words of tender andpassionate love. 

While she was gazing at her husband in silent ecstasy, Madame vonBrandt approached the prince, and gracefully recounting the scene whichhad just occurred, requested him to confirm her statement. 

The prince's quick glance flitted for a moment from the beautifulMorien, who trembled with consternation and terror to his wife, and, judging by the pleased expression of her face, he concluded that shebelieved this poem had been really addressed to herself. She had, therefore, not read it to the end; she had not yet arrived at the versewhich contained a direct appeal to the beautiful Tourbillon, thecharming Leontine. She must not be permitted to read the entire poem. That was all!

The prince approached his wife with a smile, to which she wasunaccustomed, and which made her heart beat high with delight. 

"I crave your indulgence, " said he, "for my poor little poem, whichreached you in so noisy a manner, and is really scarcely worth reading. Read it in some solitary hour when you are troubled with ennui; it maythen possibly amuse you for a moment. We will not occupy ourselves withverses and poems to-day, but will laugh and be merry; that is, if itpleases you, madame. "

The princess murmured a few low and indistinct words. As usual, shecould find no expression for her thoughts, although her heart was fullof love and delight. This modest shyness of the lips, this poverty ofwords, with her rich depth of feeling, was the great misfortune of theprincess royal. It was this that made her appear awkward, constrained, and spiritless; it was this that displeased and estranged her husband. Her consciousness of this deficiency made her still more timid andconstrained, and deprived her of what little power of expression shepossessed. 

Had she at this moment found courage to make a ready and witty reply, her husband would have been much pleased. Her silence, however, excitedhis displeasure, and his brow darkened. 

He offered her his arm; and, exchanging glances with Madame Morien, heconducted his wife to the dining-saloon, to the magnificently arrangedand glittering table. 

"The gardener of Rheinsberg, Frederick of Hohenzollern, invites hisfriends to partake of what he has provided. For the prince royal isfortunately not at home; we can, therefore, be altogether sans gene, and follow our inclinations, as the mice do when the cat is not athome. "

He seated himself between his wife and Madame Morien, whispering to thelatter: "Beautiful Tourbillon, my heart is in flames, and I rely uponyou to quench them. You must save me!"

"Oh, this heart of yours is a phoenix, and arises from its ashesrenewed and rejuvenated. "

"But only to destroy itself again, " said the prince. Then taking hisglass and surveying his guests with a rapid glance, he exclaimed: "Ourfirst toast shall be youth--youth of which the old are envious!--youthand beauty, which are so brilliantly represented here to-day, that onemight well imagine Venus had sent us all her daughters and playmates, as well as her lovers, the deposed and discarded ones as well as thosewhom she still favors, and only proposes to discard. "

The glasses rang out merrily in answer to this toast, and all betookthemselves with evident zest to the costly and savory dishes, preparedby the master-hand of Duvall the French cook, and which the princeseasoned with the Attic salt of his ever-ready wit. 

They all gave themselves up to gayety and merriment, and pleasuresparkled in every eye. 

The corpulent Knobelsdorf related in a stentorian voice some amusinganecdotes of his travels. Chazot recited portions of Voltaire's latestwork. The learned and witty Count Kaiserling recited verses from the"Henriade, " and then several of Gellert's fables, which were becomingvery popular. He conversed with his neighbor, the artist Pesne, on thesubject of the paintings which his masterly hand had executed, and thenturning to Mademoiselle von Schwerin, he painted in glowing colors thefuture of Berlin--the future when they would have a French theatre, anItalian opera, and of all things, an Italian ballet-corps. For thelatter the most celebrated dancers would be engaged, and it shouldeclipse every thing of the kind that had ever been seen or heard of inGermany. 

At the lower end of the table sat the two Vendas, the two Grauns, andQuantz, the powerful and much-feared virtuoso of the flute andinstructor of the prince royal, whose rudeness was almost imposing, andbefore whom the prince himself was somewhat shy. But to-day even Quantzwas quiet and tractable. His countenance wore the half-pleased, half-grumbling expression of a bull-dog when stroked by a soft andtender hand. He is inclined to be angry, but is so much at his easethat he finds it absolutely impossible to growl. 

In their merriment the gentlemen were becoming almost boisterous. Thecheeks of the ladies glowed with pleasure, and their lovers werebecoming tender. 

The princess royal alone was silent; her heart was heavy and sorrowful. She had carefully reconsidered the scene which had occurred, and theresult was, she was now convinced that the poem which she had receivedwas not intended for her, but for some other fair lady. She was ashamedof her credulity, and blushed for her own vanity. For how could it bepossible that the handsome and brilliant man who sat at her side, whowas so witty and spirited, who was as learned as he was intelligent, asnoble as he was amiable, how could it be possible that he should loveher?--she who was only young and pretty, who was moreover guilty of thegreat, unpardonable fault of being his wife, and a wife who had beenforced upon him. 

No, this poem had never been intended for her. But for whom, then? Whowas the happy one to whom the prince had given his love? Her heart bledas she thought that another could call this bliss her own. She was toomild and gentle to be angry. She ardently desired to know the name ofher rival, but not that she might revenge herself. No, she wished topray for her whom the prince royal loved, to whom he perhaps owed a fewdays of happiness, of bliss. 

But who was she? The princess royal's glance rested searchingly on allthe ladies who were present. She saw many beautiful and pleasing faces. Many of them had intelligence, vivacity, and wit, but none of them wereworthy of his love. Her husband had just turned to his fair neighbor, and, with a fascinating smile, whispered a few words in her ear. MadameMorien blushed, cast down her eyes, but, raising them again and lookingardently at the prince royal, she murmured a few words in so low a tonethat no one else heard them. 

How? Could it be this one? But no, that was impossible. This giddy, coquettish, and superficial woman could by no possibility havecaptivated the noble and high-toned prince; she could not beElizabeth's happy rival. 

But who, then? Alas, if this long and weary feast were only at an end!If she could but retire to her chamber and read this poem, the riddlewould then be solved, and she would know the name of his lady-love. 

It seemed, however, that the prince had divined his wife's wish, andhad determined that it should not be gratified. 

They had taken their seats at table at a very late hour to-day, at sixo'clock. It had now become dark, and candelabras with wax candles werebrought in and placed on the table. 

"The lights are burning, " exclaimed the prince; "we will not leave thetable until these lights are burned out, and our heads have becomeilluminated with champagne. "[6]

[6] Bielfeld, vol i. , page 84. The prince's own words. 

And amid conversation, laughter, and recitations, all went merrily on. But the heart of the princess royal grew sadder and sadder. 

Suddenly the prince turned to her. "I feel the vanity of an author, "said he, "and beg permission to inquire if you have no curiosity tohear the poem which I had the honor of sending you to-day by MadameBrandt?"

"Indeed I have, my husband, " exclaimed the princess, with vivacity. "Ilong to become acquainted with its contents. "

"Then permit me to satisfy this longing, " said the prince, holding outhis hand for the poem. The princess hesitated, but when she looked upand their eyes met, his glance was so cold and imperious, that she feltas if an icy hand were at her heart. She drew the poem from her bosomand handed it silently to her husband. 

"Now, my little maid of honor, von Schwerin, " said the prince royal, smiling, "this sagacious, highly respectable, and worthy company shalljudge between you and me, and decide whether this paper is a letterfrom her dear mother, as this modest and retiring child asserts, or apoem, written by a certain prince, who is sometimes induced by hisimaginative fancy to make indifferent verses. Listen, therefore, ladiesand gentlemen, and judge between us. But that no one may imagine that Iam reading any thing else, and substituting the tender thoughts of alover for the fond words of motherly affection, Madame Morien shalllook at the paper I am reading, and bear witness to my truth. "

He read off the first verses as they were written, and thenimprovising, recited a witty and humorous poem, in which he did homageto his wife's charms. His poem was greeted with rapturous applause. While he was reciting the improvised verses, Madame Morien had time toread the poem. When she came to the verses which contained a passionatedeclaration of love, and in which the prince half-humbly, half-imperiously, solicited a rendezvous, her breast heaved and herheart beat high with delight. After the prince had finished he turnedto his wife with a smile, and asked if the poem had pleased her. 

"So much so, " said she, "that I pray you to return it. I should like topreserve it as a reminiscence of this hour. "

"Preserve it? By no means! A poem is like a flower. It is a thing ofthe present, and is beautiful only when fresh. The moment gave it, andthe moment shall take it. We will sacrifice to the gods, what we owe tothe gods. "

Having thus spoken, the prince tore the paper into small pieces, whichhe placed in the palm of his hand. 

"Go ye in all directions and teach unto all people that nothing isimmortal, not even the poem of a prince, " said he, and blowing theparticles of paper, he sent them fluttering through the air likesnowflakes. The ladies and gentlemen amused themselves with blowing thepieces from place to place. Each one made a little bellows of hismouth, and endeavored to give some strip of paper a particulardirection or aim--to blow it on to some fair one's white shoulders orinto some gentleman's eye or laughing mouth. 

This caused a great deal of merriment. The princess was still sad andsilent. Now and then a scrap fell before her; these she blew nofurther, but mechanically collected and gazed at them in a listless andmournful manner. Suddenly she started and colored violently. On one ofthese strips of paper she had read two words which made her hearttremble with anger and pain. These Words were, "Bewitching Leontine!"

The secret was out. The prince royal's poem had been addressed toLeontine, to a bewitching Leontine, and not to Elizabeth! But who wasthis Leontine? which of the ladies bore that name? She must, she wouldknow! She called all her courage to her assistance. Suddenly she tookpart in the general merriment, commenced to laugh and jest; she enteredgayly into a conversation with her husband, with Madame Morien and theyoung Baron Bielfeld, who was her vis-a-vis. 

The princess had never been so gay, so unconstrained, and so witty. Noone suspected that these jests, this laughter, was only assumed; thatshe veiled the pain which she suffered with a smiling brow. 

The candles had burnt half way down, and some of the gentlemen hadbegun to light the first tapers of the champagne illumination which theprince had prophesied. Chazot no longer recited, but was singing someof the charming little songs which he had learned of the merry peasantsof Normandy, his fatherland. Jordan improvised a sermon after thefashion of the fanatical and hypocritical priests who for some timepast had collected crowds in the streets of Berlin. Kaiserling hadrisen from his seat and thrown himself into an attitude in which he hadseen the celebrated Lagiere in the ballet of the Syrene at Paris. Knobelsdorf recounted his interesting adventures in Italy; and evenQuanta found courage to give the prince's favorite dog, which wassnuffling at his feet, and which he hated as a rival, a hearty kick. The prince royal alone had preserved his noble and dignifiedappearance. Amid the general excitement he remained calm and dignified. The candles were burning low, and the champagne illumination wasbecoming intense in the heads of all the gentlemen except the princeand the Baron Bielfeld. 

"Bielfeld must also take part in this illumination, " said the prince, turning to his wife, and calling the former, he proposed to drink withhim the health of his fiancee, whom he had left in Hamburg. 

After Bielfeld had left his seat and was advancing toward the princeroyal, the princess hurriedly and noiselessly gave her instructions toa servant. She had observed that Bielfeld had been drinking freely ofthe cold water which had been placed before him in a decanter. Theservant emptied this decanter and filled it with sillery, which was asclear and limpid as water. Bielfeld returning to his seat, heated bythe toast he had been drinking, filled his glass to the brim, and drankinstead of water the fiery sillery. [7]

[7] Bielfeld, vol. I. , page 85. 

The princess royal, whose aim was to discover which of the ladies wasthe bewitching Leontine, determined to strike a decisive blow. With aningratiating smile she turned to Bielfeld and said:

"The prince royal spoke of your fiancee; I may, therefore, congratulateyou. "

Bielfeld, who did not dare to acknowledge that he was on the point ofshamefully deserting this lady, bowed in silence. 

"May I know the name of your fiancee?" asked she. 

"Mademoiselle von Randau, " murmured Bielfeld, drinking another glass ofsillery to hide his confusion. 

"Mademoiselle von Randau!" repeated the princess, "how cold, howceremonious that sounds! To imagine how a lady looks and what she islike, it is necessary to know her Christian name, for a given name isto some extent an index to character. What is your fiancee's name?"

"Regina, royal highness. "

"Regina! That is a beautiful name. A prophecy of happiness. Then shewill always be queen of your heart. Ah, I understand the meaning ofnames, and at home in my father's house I was called the Sibyl, becausemy prophecies were always true. If you will give me your first names, Iwill prophecy your future, ladies. Let us commence. What is your givenname, Madame von Katsch?"

While the princess was speaking, she played carelessly with thebeautiful Venetian glass which stood before her. The prince royal alonesaw what no one else observed; he saw that the hand which toyed withthe glass trembled violently; that while she smiled her lips quivered, and that her breathing was hurried and feverish. He comprehended whatthese prophecies meant; he was convinced that the princess had becomeacquainted with the contents of his poem. 

"Do not give her your name, " he whispered to Madame Morien. He thenturned to his wife, who had just prophesied a long life and a happy oldage to Madame von Katsch. 

"And your name, Mademoiselle von Schwerin?" said the prince royal. 

"Louise. "

"Ah, Louise! Well, I prophecy that you will be happier than yournamesake, the beautiful La Valliere. Your conscience will neverreproach you on account of your love affairs, and you will never entera convent. "

"But then I will probably never have the happiness of being loved by aking, " said the little maid of honor, with a sigh. 

This naive observation was greeted with a merry peal of laughter. 

The princess continued her prophecies; she painted for each one apleasant and flattering future. She now turned to Madame Morien, stillsmiling, still playing with the glass. 

"Well, and your name, my dear Madame Morien?" said she, looking intothe glass which she held clasped in her fingers. 

"She is called 'Le Tourbillon, '" exclaimed the prince royal, laughing. 

"Antoinette, Louise, Albertine, are my names, " said Madame Morien, hesitatingly. 

The princess royal breathed free, and raised her eyes from the glass tothe beautiful Morien. 

"These are too many names to prophesy by, " said she. "By what name areyou called?"

Madame Morien hesitated; the other ladies, better acquainted with thelittle mysteries of Tourbillon than the princess, divined that thisquestion of the princess and the embarrassment of Madame Morienbetokened something extraordinary, and awaited attentively the reply ofthis beautiful woman. A momentary pause ensued. Suddenly MademoiselleSchwerin broke out in laughter. 

"Well, " said she, "have you forgotten your name, Madame Morien? Do younot know that you are called Leontine?"

"Leontine?" exclaimed the princess, and her fingers closed so tightlyon the glass which she held in her hand, that it crushed, and drew fromher a sharp cry of pain. 

The prince royal saw the astonished and inquiring glances of alldirected to his wife, and felt that he must turn their attention insome other direction--that he must make a jest of this accident. 

"Elizabeth, you are right!" said he, laughing. "The candles have burntdown; the illumination has begun; the festival is at an end. We havealready sacrificed a poem to the gods, we must now do the same with theglasses, out of which we have quaffed a few hours of happiness, ofmerriment, and of forgetfulness. I sacrifice this glass to the gods;all of you follow my example. "

He raised his glass and threw it over his shoulder to the floor, whereit broke with a crash. The others followed the example of the princeand his wife with shouts of laughter, and in a few minutes nothing wasleft of these beautiful glasses but the glittering fragments whichcovered the floor. But the company, now intoxicated with wine anddelight, was not contented with this one offering to the gods, butthirsted for a continuation of their sport; and not satisfied withhaving broken the glasses, subjected the vases and the bowls of crystalto the same treatment. In the midst of this general confusion the doorwas suddenly opened, and Fredersdorf appeared at the threshold, holdinga letter in his hand. 

His uncalled-for appearance in this saloon was something soextraordinary, so unprecedented, that it could be only justified on theground of some great emergency, something of paramount importance. Theyall felt this, notwithstanding their excitement and hilarity. Aprofound silence ensued. Every eye was fixed anxiously upon the prince, who had received the letter from Fredersdorf's hands and broken theseal. The prince turned pale, and the paper trembled in his hands Hehastily arose from his seat. 

"My friends, " said he, solemnly, "the feast is at an end. I must leavefor Potsdam immediately. The king is dangerously ill. Farewell!"

And offering his arm to his wife, he hastily left the saloon. Theguests, who but now were so merry, silently arose and betook themselvesto their chambers, and nothing could be heard save now and then astolen whisper or a low and anxious inquiry. Soon a deep and ominoussilence reigned in the castle of Rheinsberg. All slept, or at leastseemed to sleep. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

LE ROI EST MORT. VIVE LE ROI!

King Frederick William's end was approaching. Past was his power andgreatness, past all his dreams of glory. Long did the spirit fightagainst the body; but now, after months of secret pain and torture, hehad to acknowledge himself overpowered by death. The stiff uniform isno longer adapted to his fallen figure. Etiquette and ceremony had beenbanished by the all-powerful ruler--by death. He is no longer a king, but a dying man--nothing more. A father taking leave of his children, ahusband embracing his wife for the last time; pressing his last kissesupon her tearful face, and pleading for forgiveness for his harshnessand cruelty. Frederick William has made his peace with God and theworld; his proud spirit is broken; his hard heart softened. Long he hadstriven in the haughtiness of his heart before acknowledging his sins, but the brave and pious Roloff approached his couch, and withaccusations and reproaches awakened his slumbering conscience. At firsthe had but one answer to the priest's accusations, and that was proudlygiven: "I have ever been true to my wife. " Roloff continued to speak ofhis extortions, oppressions, and inhumanity. Frederick William was atlast convinced that he must lay down his crown and approach God withdeep repentance, humbly imploring pardon and mercy. 

Now that he had made his peace with God, there remained nothing for himto do but to arrange his earthly affairs, and take leave of his wife, and children, and friends. They were all called to his room that hemight bid them farewell. By the side of the arm-chair, in which theking was reclining, wrapped in his wide silk mantle, stood his wife andthe prince royal. His hands rested in theirs, and when he raised hisweary eyes, he always met their tear-stained faces, their looks ofunutterable love. Death, that would so soon separate them forever, hadat last united in love father and son. Weeping loudly, FrederickWilliam, folded the prince royal in his arms, and with a voice full oftears, exclaimed: "Has not God in his great mercy given me a nobleson?" Prince Frederick bowed his head upon his father's breast, andprayed deeply and earnestly that his life might be spared. 

But the end was approaching; the king knew and felt it. He had the longcoffin, the same in which he had laid himself for trial a few monthsbefore, brought into his room, and looking at it sadly, said, with apeaceful smile: "In this bed I shall sleep well!" He then called hissecretary, Eichel, and ordered him to read the programme of hisfuneral, which he had himself dictated. 

It was a strange picture to see this king, lying by the side of thecoffin, surrounded by his children and servants, his weary headreclining on the shoulder of his wife, listening attentively to thisprogramme, that spoke of him a still living and thinking being, as of acold, dead, senseless mass. Not as for a sad festival, but for a grandparade, had the king arranged it, and it made a fearful, half-comicimpression upon the auditors, when was added, at the especial requestof the king, that, after his laying out, a splendid table should be setin the great hall for all who had been present at the ceremony, andthat none but the best wines from his cellar should be served. 

After having provided for his corpse, Frederick William still wished toleave to each of his favorites, the Prince of Dessau and Baron Hacke, ahorse. He ordered the horses to be led from their stalls to the court. He then desired his chair to be rolled to an open window, where hecould see the entire court, and give a farewell look to each of theseanimals which had so often borne him to feasts and parades. Oh! whatcostly, glorious days those were, when he could lightly swing himselfupon these proud steeds, and ride out into God's fresh, free air, to behumbly welcomed by his subjects, to be received with the roll of drumsand the sound of trumpets, and every moment of his life be made awareof his greatness and power by the devotion and humility of those whosurrounded him! And that was all set aside and at an end. Never againcould he mount his horse, never again could he ride through the streetsof Berlin, and rejoice over the beautiful houses and stately palacescalled into life by his royal will. Never again will he receive thehumble welcome of his subjects; and when on the morrow drums arebeating and cannon thundering, they will not salute the king, but hiscorpse. 

Oh! and life is so beautiful; the air is so fresh and balmy; theheavens of so clear and transparent a blue; and he must leave it all, and descend into the dark and lonely grave. 

The king brushed a tear from his eye, and turning his gaze from heavenand God's beautiful earth, looked upon the horses which a servant wasleading to and fro in the court. As he did this, his countenancebrightened, he forgot for the moment that death was near at hand, andlooked with eager attention to see which of the horses the gentlemenwould choose. When he saw the selection the Prince of Dessau had made, he smiled, with the pitying look of a connoisseur. 

"That is a bad horse, my dear prince, " he exclaimed; "take the otherone, I will vouch for him. "

After the prince had chosen the horse shown him by the king, and BaronHacke the other, he ordered the most magnificent and costly saddles tobe placed on them; and while this was being done, he looked on witheager interest. Behind him stood the minister Rodewills, and thesecretary of state, whom the king had summoned to his presence toreceive his resignation, by which he transferred the kingly authorityto his son the prince royal. Behind him stood Frederick and the queen, the generals and the priests. The king was unconscious of theirpresence; he had forgotten that he was dying; he thought only of hishorses, and a dark cloud settled on his face as the groom buckled asaddle covered with blue velvet over the yellow silk housing of PrinceAnhalt's horse. 

"Oh, if I were only well, how I would beat that stupid boy!" exclaimedthe king, in a loud, menacing voice. "Hacke, have the kindness to beathim for me. "

The horses pointed their ears and neighed loudly, and the servantstrembled at the voice of their master, who was speaking to them asangrily as ever, but in a deep, sepulchral voice. 

But his anger was of short duration, and he sank back into his chair, breathing heavily and brokenly. He had not the strength to sign hisresignation, and demanded to be taken from his chair and placed uponthe bed. 

There he lay motionless, with half-closed eyes, groaning and sighing. Afearful stillness reigned in the chamber of death. All held theirbreath; all wished to hear the last death-sigh of the king; all wishedto witness the mysterious and inscrutable moment when the soul, freeingitself from its earthly tenement, should ascend to the spring of lightand life as an invisible but indestructible atom of divinity. Pale andtrembling the prince leaned over his father; the kneeling queen prayedin a low voice. With earnest and sorrowful faces the generals andcavaliers, physicians and priests, looked at this pale and ghost-likebeing, who but a few moments before was a king, and was now a clod ofthe valley. But no, Frederick William was not yet dead; the breath thathad ceased returned to his breast. He opened his eyes once more, andthey were again full of intelligence. He ordered a glass to be givenhim, and looked at himself long and attentively. 

"I don't look as badly as I thought, " said he, with the last flutteringemotion of human vanity. "Feel my pulse, doctor, and tell me how long Ihave still to live. "

"Your majesty insists on knowing?"

"I command you to tell me. "

"Well, then, your majesty is about to die, " said Ellert, solemnly. 

"How do you know it?" he asked, composedly. 

"By your wavering pulse, sire. "

The king held his arm aloft, and moved his hand to and fro. 

"Oh, no, " said he, "if my pulse were failing I could not move my hand;if--"

Suddenly he ceased speaking, and uttered a loud cry, his uplifted armsinking heavily to his side. 

"Jesus, Jesus!" murmured the king, "I live and die in Thee. Thou art mytrust. "

The last fearful prayer died on his lips, the spirit had flown, andFrederick was no longer a living, thinking being, but senseless, powerless clay. 

The prince royal conducted the weeping queen from the apartment. Thecourtiers remained, but their features were no longer sad andsympathetic, but grave and thoughtful. The tragedy here was at an end, and all were anxious to see the drama from which the curtain was now tobe drawn in the apartments of the prince royal. Frederick William hadbreathed his last, and was becoming cold and stiff; he was only acorpse, with which one had nothing more to do. 

In unseemly haste they all crowded through the widely-opened foldingdoors of the death-chamber, and hastened into the ante-room that led tothe young king's apartments. 

Who will be favored, who receive the first rays of the rising sun? Theyall see a sunny future before them. A new period begins, a period ofsplendor, abundance, and joy; the king is young, and fond of displayand gay festivities; he is no soldier king, but a cavalier, a writer, and a learned man. Art and science will bloom, gallantry and fashionreign; the corporal's baton is broken, the flute begins her soft, melodious reign. 

Thus thought all these waiting courtiers who were assembled in theyoung king's ante-chamber. Thus thought the grand chamberlain Pollnitz, who stood next to the door that led to the chamber within. Yes, a newperiod must commence for him; his would be a brilliant future, for theprince royal had always been loving and gracious to him, and the youngking must remember that it was Pollnitz who induced Frederick Williamto pay the prince's debts. The king must remember this, and, for theservices he had rendered, raise him to honor and dignity; he must bethe favorite, the envied, feared, and powerful favorite, before whomall should bend the knee as to the king himself. The king was young, inexperienced, and easily led; he had a warm heart, a rich imagination, and an ardent love of pleasure and splendor. These qualities must becultivated in the young king; by these reins he would control him; andwhile intoxicated with pleasure and delight, he lay on hissweet-scented couch, strengthening himself for new follies, Pollnitzwould reign in his stead, and be the real king. 

These were no chimeras, no vain dreams, but a well-considered plan, inwhich Pollnitz had a powerful abettor in the person of Fredersdorf, chamberlain of the young king, who had promised that he should be thefirst that the king should call for. 

For this reason Pollnitz stood nearest the door; for this reason he soproudly regarded the courtiers who were breathlessly awaiting theopening of that door. 

There, the door opens, and Fredersdorf appears. 

"Baron Pollnitz!"

"Here I am, " exclaimed Pollnitz, casting a triumphant look at hiscompanions, and following Fredersdorf into the royal presence. 

"Well, have I not kept my promise?" said Fredersdorf, as they passedthrough the first room. 

"You have kept yours, and I will keep mine; we will reign together. "

"Step in, the king is there, " said Fredersdorf. 

The young king stood at the window, his forehead resting on the sash, sighing and breathing heavily, as if oppressed. As he turned, Pollnitznoticed that his eyes were red with weeping, and the courtier's heartmisgave him. 

A young king, just come into power, and not intoxicated by hisbrilliant fortune, but weeping for his father's death! It augured illfor the courtier's plans. 

"All hail and blessing to your majesty!" exclaimed Pollnitz, bowingwith apparent enthusiasm to kiss the king's robe. 

The king stepped aside, motioned him off, and said, with a slightsmile, "Leave these ceremonies until the coronation. I need you now forother things. You shall be master of etiquette and ceremonies at mycourt, and you will commence your duties by making the necessaryarrangements for my father's funeral. Unhappily, I must begin my reignby disobeying my father's commands. I cannot allow this simple andmodest funeral to take place. The world would not understand it, andwould accuse me of irreverence. No, he must be interred with all thehonors due to a king. That is my desire; see that it is accomplished. "

The grand chamberlain was dismissed, and passed out of the royalchambers lost in contemplation of his coming greatness, when, suddenlyhearing his name, he turned and perceived the king at the door. 

"One thing more, Pollnitz, " said the king, his eye resting with apiercing expression on the smiling countenance of the courtier; "onething more--above all things, no cheating, no bad jokes, no overrating, no accounts written with double chalk. I will never forgive any thingof this kind, remember that. "

Without awaiting an answer, the king turned and re-entered his room. 

Baron Pollnitz stared after him with widely-distended eyes; he felt asif a thunderbolt had destroyed his future. 

This was not the extravagant, voluptuous, and confiding monarch thatPollnitz had thought him, but a sober, earnest, and frugal king, thateven mistrusted and saw through him, the wily old courtier. 

CHAPTER XV. 

WE ARE KING. 

Two days and nights had passed, and still no news from the princeroyal. King Frederick William still lived, and the little court ofRheinsberg was consumed with impatience and expectation. All means ofdissipation were exhausted. Time had laid aside its wing, and put onshoes of lead. She flew no longer, but walked like an aged woman. Howlong an hour seems, when you count the seconds! How terribly a daystretches out when, with wakeful but wearied eyes, you long for itsclose!

Kaiserling's wit and Chazot's merry humor, where are they? Why isBielfeld's ringing laugh and the flute of Quantz silenced? All isquiet, all are silent and waiting, dreaming of the happiness in storefor them, of the day of splendor, power, and magnificence that willdawn for the favorites and friends of the prince royal when he ascendsthe throne. 

Is it not a proud and delightful thing to be the confidant andcompanion of a king--to spend with him his treasures and riches, toshare with him the devotion and applause of the people?

Until now they had been forced to disguise their friendship anddevotion for the prince royal. They trembled for fear of exciting theking's anger, and were in daily terror of being banished by him fromthe presence of their prince. 

When the prince royal ascends the throne they will be his powerful andinfluential favorites, and their favor will be courted by all. Theywill be his co-regents, and through and with him will rule the nation. 

It is, therefore, not astonishing that they look forward to hisaccession to the throne with longing and impatience; not astonishingthat they curse these sluggish, slowly-passing hours, and would fainhave slept, slept on until the great and blessed moment when theyshould be awakened with the news that their friend Prince Frederick hadascended the throne of his fathers, and was King of Prussia. 

In the midst of this excitement the princess royal alone seemed quietand unconstrained. She was calm and composed; she knew that the eventsof the next few days would determine her whole life; she feared thather happiness hung on the slender thread which bound the dying king tolife. 

But Elizabeth Christine had a brave heart and a noble soul; she hadpassed the night on her knees weeping and praying, and her heart wasfull of misery. She had at last become quiet and composed, and wasprepared for any thing, even for a separation from her husband. IfFrederick expressed such a wish, she was determined to go. Where?Anywhere. Far, far away. Whichever route she took, she was certain toreach her destination, and this destination was the grave. If she couldnot live with him, she would die! She knew this, and knowing it, shewas tranquil, even happy. 

"I invite all the ladies and gentlemen of the court to spend theevening in my room, " she said, on the second day of this painfulexpectation; "we will endeavor to imagine that the prince royal is inour midst, and pass the hours in the usual manner; we will first goyachting; afterwards we will all take tea together, and Baron Bielfeldwill read us a few chapters from the 'Henriade. ' We will then playcards, and finish the evening with a dance. Does this programme meetwith your approbation?" All murmured some words of assent and thanks, but their faces were nevertheless slightly clouded. Perceiving this, the princess royal said: "It seems that you are not pleased, that mysuggestion does not meet with your approbation. Even the face of mylittle Louise von Schwerin is clouded, and the countenance of my goodCountess Katsch no longer wears its pleasant smile. Well, what is it? Imust know. Baron Bielfeld, I appoint you speaker of this discontentedcommunity. Speak, sir. "

The baron smiled and sighed: "Your highness spoke a few days since ofyour gift of prophecy, and in fact you are a prophetess, and have seenthrough us. It is certainly a great happiness and a great honor tospend the evening in the apartments of the princess royal. But if yourhighness would allow us to ask a favor, it would be that our exaltedmistress would condescend to receive us either in the garden saloon ormusic room, and not in your private apartments; for these apartments, beautiful and magnificent as they are, have one great, one terribledefect. "

"Well, " said the princess, as Bielfeld concluded, "I am curious to knowwhat this defect is. I believed my rooms to be beautiful and charming;the prince royal himself regulated their arrangement, and Pesne andBuisson ornamented them with their most beautiful paintings. Quickthen, tell me of this great defect!"

"Your highness, your apartments are in the right wing of the castle. "The princess looked at him inquiringly, astonishment depicted in hercountenance, and then laughed. 

"Ah, now I see, my apartments are in the right wing of the castle; thatis, from there you cannot watch the great bridge, over which all thatcome from Berlin or Potsdam must pass. You are right, this is a greatdefect. But the music room is in the left wing, and from there you cansee both the bridge and the road. Let us, then, adjourn to the musicroom for our reading, and when it becomes too dark to see, we will playcards in my apartments. "

They all followed the princess to the music room, where by chance orout of mischief the princess chose the seat farthest from the window, and thus compelled the company to assemble around her. As they followedher, they all looked longingly through the window and toward thebridge, over which the messenger of happiness might at any moment pass. 

Bielfeld took the book selected by the princess, and commenced reading. But how torturing it was to road, to listen to these pathetic andmeasured Alexandrines from the "Henriade, " while perchance in this samehour a new Alexander was placing the crown upon his young and noblehead! In fact, but little was heard of these harmonious verses. Alllooked stealthily toward the window, and listened breathlessly to everysound that came from the road. Bielfeld suddenly ceased reading, andlooked toward the window. 

"Why do you not read on?" said the princess. 

"Excuse me, I thought I saw a horse's head on the bridge!"

Forthwith, as if upon a given signal, they all flew to the windows; theprincess herself, in the general commotion, hastened to one. 

Yes! Between the trees something was seen moving. There it is coming onthe bridge now! A peal of laughter resounded through the rooms. An ox!Count Bielfeld's courier had transformed himself into an ox!

They all stole back to their seats in confusion, and the reading wasrecommenced. But it did not last long; again Bielfeld came to a stop. 

"Pardon me, your highness, but now there is positively a horse on thebridge. "

Again they all rushed anxiously to the window. It certainly was ahorse, but its rider was not a royal messenger, but a common peasant. 

"I see, " said the princess, laughing, "that we must discontinue ourreading. Let us walk in the left wing of the garden, and as near thegate as possible. "

"Will the sun never set?" whispered Bielfeld to Count Wartensleben, asthey walked up and down. "I fear another Joshua has arrested itscourse. "

But it set at last; it was now evening, and still no courier had passedthe bridge. They accepted the princess' invitation, and hastened to herapartments and to the card-tables. And on this occasion, as heretofore, the cards exercised a magic influence over the inhabitants ofRheinsberg, for they were striving to win that, from the want of which, not only the prince but all his courtiers had so often suffered--gold!Count Wartensleben had lately arrived and brought with him awell-filled purse, which Bielfeld, Kaiserling, and Chazot were anxiousto lighten. 

The princess played with her maids of honor a game called Trisset, inher boudoir, while the rest of the company, seated at several tables inthe adjoining room, played their beloved game of quadrille. The doorsuddenly opened, and a valet appeared. In passing the table at whichCount Wartensleben, Bielfeld, and several ladies were playing, hestealthily showed them a letter with a black seal, which he was aboutto deliver to the princess. 

"The king is then dead!" murmured they, hastily throwing their cards onthe table; the counters fell together, but they looked at them indisdain. What cared they for a few lost pennies, now that their princehad become king?

Count Wartensleben arose and said in a solemn voice: "I will be thefirst to greet the princess as queen, and I will exert every effort toutter the word 'majesty' in a full, resounding tone. "

"I will follow you, " said Bielfeld, solemnly. 

And both advanced to the open door, through which the princess could beseen still occupied in reading her letter. She seemed unusually gay, and a bright, smile played upon her lips. Accidentally looking up, sheperceived the two cavaliers advancing slowly and solemnly toward her. 

"Ah, you know, then, that a courier has at last crossed that fatalbridge, and you come for news of the prince royal?"

"Prince royal?" repeated Wartensleben, in amazement. "Is he still theprince royal?"

"You then thought he was king!" exclaimed the princess, "and came togreet me as your queen?"

"Yes, your highness, and the word 'majesty' was already on my lips. "

They all laughed heartily, and jested over this mistake, but werenevertheless thankful when they were at last dismissed and were allowedto retire to their rooms. When entirely alone, the princess drew fromher bosom the letter she had received, to read it once more; she cast aloving and tender glance at the characters his hand had traced, and asher eyes rested on his signature, she raised the paper to her lips andkissed it. 

"Frederick, " whispered she, "my Frederick, I love you so deeply that Ienvy this paper which has been touched by your hand, and upon whichyour glorious eyes have rested. No, no, " said she, "he will not cast meoff. Is it not written here--'In a few days I and the people will greetyou as Queen. ' No, he could not be so cruel as to set the crown on myhead, and then cover it with ashes. If he acknowledges me as his wifeand queen before his people, and before Germany, it must be hisintention never to disown me, but to let me live on by his side. Oh, hemust surely know how truly I love him, although I have never had thecourage to tell him so. My tears and my sighs must have whispered tohim the secret of my love, and he will have compassion with a poor wifewho asks but to be permitted to adore and worship him. And who knowsbut that he may one day be touched by this great love, that he will oneday raise up the poor woman who now lies trembling at his feet, andpress her to his bosom. Oh, that this may be so, my God; let it be, andthen let me die!"

She sank back on her couch, and, pressing the letter to her lips, whispered softly: "Good-night, Frederick, my Frederick!" She smiledsweetly as she slept. Perhaps she was dreaming of him. 

A deep silence soon reigned throughout the castle. All the lights wereextinguished. Sleep spread its wings over all these impatient andexpectant hearts, and fanned them into forgetfulness and peaceful rest. 

All slept, and now the long-expected courier is at last passing overthe bridge, which trembled beneath his horse's feet, but none hear him, all are sleeping so soundly. His knocks resound through the entirecastle. It is the herald of the new era, which sheds its first brightmorning rays over the evening of the dark and gloomy past. 

Now all are awake, and running to and fro through the halls, each oneburning with eagerness to proclaim the joyful news: "Frederick is nolonger prince royal. Frederick is king and the ruler of Prussia!"

Bielfeld is awakened by a loud knocking; he springs hastily out of bedand opens the door to his friend Knobelsdorf. "Up, up, my friend, "exclaims the latter. "Dress quickly. We must go down and congratulatethe queen; we must be ready to accompany her immediately to Berlin. Frederick William is dead, and we will now reign in Prussia. "

"Ah, another fairy tale, " said Bielfeld dressing hastily; "a fairytale, by which we have been too often deceived to believe in its truth. "

"No, no, this time it is true. The king is dead, quite dead! Jordan hasreceived orders to embalm the corpse, and once in his hands, it willnever come to life again. "

Bielfeld being now ready, the two friends hurried to the ante-chamberthat led to the princess royal's apartments. The entire court of thenew queen had assembled in this chamber, and they were endeavoring tosuppress their joy and delight, and to look grave and earnest inconsideration of the solemnity of the occasion. They conversed inwhispers, for the bed-chamber of the princess was next to this room, and she still slept. 

"Yes, the princess royal sleeps, but when she awakes she will be aqueen! She must be awakened, to receive her husband's letter. "

The Countess Katsch, with two of Elizabeth's maids of honor, enteredher bed-chamber, well armed with smelling-bottles and salts. ElizabethChristine still slept. But on so important an occasion the sleep evenof a princess was not considered sacred. The countess drew back thecurtains, and Elizabeth was awakened by the bright glaring light. Shelooked inquiringly at the countess, who approached her with a low andsolemn courtesy. 

"Pardon me for waking your majesty--"

"Majesty, why 'your majesty?'" said the princess, quickly. "Has anotherox or horse crossed the fatal bridge?"

"Yes, your majesty, but it was Baron Villich's horse, and he broughtthe news that King Frederick William expired yesterday at Potsdam. Ihave a smelling-bottle here, your majesty; allow me to hold--"

The young queen pushed back the smelling-bottle; she did not feel inthe least like fainting, and her heart beat higher. 

"And has the baron brought no letter for me?" said she, breathlessly. 

"Here is a letter, your majesty. "

The queen hastily broke the seal. It contained but a few lines, butthey were in her husband's handwriting, and were full of significance. To her these few lines indicated a future full of splendor, happiness, and love. The king called her to share with him the homage of hissubjects. It is true there was not a word of tenderness or love in theletter, but the king called her to his side; he called her his wife. 

Away, then, away to Berlin, where her husband was awaiting her; wherethe people would greet her as their queen; where a new world, a newlife would unfold itself before her; a life of proud enjoyment! ForElizabeth will be the queen, the wife of Frederick. Away, then, toBerlin!

The queen received the congratulations of her court in the music-room. And now to Berlin, where a new sun has risen, a King Frederick theSecond!

CHAPTER XVI. 

ROYAL GRACE AND ROYAL DISPLEASURE. 

The cannon thundered, the bells rang loudly and merrily; the garrisonin Berlin took the oath, as the garrison in Potsdam had done the daybefore. 

The young king held his first great court to-day in the White Saloon. From every province, from every State, from every corporation, deputations had arrived to look upon the long-hoped-for king, theliberator from oppression, servitude, and famine. Delight and pureunqualified joy reigned in every heart, and those who looked upon thefeatures of Frederick, illuminated with kindliness and intellect, feltthat for Prussia it was the dawning of a new era. 

But who was called to assist in organizing this new movement? Whom hadthe king chosen from amongst his friends and servants? whom had he setaside? upon whom would he revenge himself? Truth to tell, there weremany now standing in the White Saloon who had often, perhaps, inobedience to the king's command, brought suffering and bitter sorrowupon the prince royal; many were there who had humbled him, misused hisconfidence, and often brought down his father's rage and scorn upon him. 

Will the king remember these things, now that he has the power topunish and revenge his wrongs? Many had entered the White Saloontrembling with anxiety; timidly keeping in the distance; glad that theeye of the king did not rest upon them; glad to slip unseen into acorner. 

But nothing escaped the eye of Frederick; he had remarked the groupstanding in the far-off window; he understood full well their restless, disturbed, and anxious glances. A pitiful and sweet smile spread overhis noble features, an expression of infinite gentleness illumined hisface; with head erect he drew near to this group, who, with theinstinct of a common danger, pressed more closely together, and awaitedtheir fate silently. 

Who had so often and so heavily oppressed the prince as ColonelDerchau? who had mocked at him and persecuted him so bitterly? who hadcarried out the harsh commands of the king against him sounrelentingly? It was Derchau and Grumbkow who presided at the firstcruel trial of "Captain Fritz, " and had repeated to him the hard andthreatening words of the king. "Captain Fritz" had wept with rage, andsworn to revenge himself upon these cruel men. Will the king rememberthe oath of the captain? The king stood now near the colonel; his cleareye was fixed upon him. This man, who had prepared for him so manywoes, now stood with bowed head and loudly-beating heart, completely inhis power. Suddenly, with a rash movement, the king extended his hand, and said, mildly:

"Good-day, Derchau. " It was the first time in seven years thatFrederick had spoken to him, and this simple greeting touched hisheart; he bowed low, and as he kissed the outstretched hand, a hot tearfell upon it. "Colonel Derchau, " said the king, "you were a faithfuland obedient servant to my royal father; you have punctually followedhis wishes and given him unconditional obedience. It becomes me toreward my father's faithful subject. From to-day you are amajor-general. "

As the king turned, his eye fell upon the privy councillor Von Eckert, and the mild and conciliating expression vanished from his features; helooked hard and stern. 

"Has the coat-of-arms been placed upon the house in Jager Street?" saidthe king. 

"No, your majesty. "

"Then I counsel you not to have it done; this house is the property ofthe crown, and it shall not be sacrificed by such folly. Go home, andthere you will receive my commands. "

Pale and heart-broken, Eckert glided from the group; mocking laughterfollowed his steps through the saloons; no one had a word of regret orpity for him; no one remembered their former friendship andoft-repeated assurances of service and gratitude. He passed tremblinglythrough the palace; as he reached the outer door, Pollnitz steppedbefore him; a mocking smile played upon his lips, and his glancebetrayed all the hatred which he had been compelled to veil or concealduring the life of Frederick William. 

"Now, " said he, slowly, "will you send me the wine which you promisedfrom your cellar? You UNDERSTAND, the wine from your house in JagerStreet, for which I arranged the coat-of-arms! Ah, those were charmingdays, my dear privy councillor! You have often broken your word ofhonor to me, often slandered me, and brought upon me the reproaches ofthe king. I have, however, reason to be thankful to you; this housewhich you have built in Jager Street is stately and handsome, and largeenough for a cavalier of my pretensions. You have, also, at the cost ofthe king, furnished it with such princely elegance that it is in allthings an appropriate residence for a cavalier. Do you not remember mydescription of such a house? The king called it then a Spanishair-castle. You, great-hearted man, have made my castle in the air asplendid reality, and now that it is finished and furnished, you will, in your magnanimity, leave that house to me. I shall be your heir! Youknow, my dear Eckert, that the privy councillor is dead, and only thechimney-builder lives; and even the adroit chimney-builder is banishedfrom Berlin, and must remain twenty miles away from his splendid home. But tell me, Eckert, when one of my chimneys smokes, may I not send amessenger to you, will you not promise me to come and put things inorder for me?"

Eckert muttered some confused words, and tried to force Pollnitz fromthe door, before which the hard-hearted, spiteful courtier had placedhimself, like the angel with the avenging sword. 

"You wish to go, " said he, with assumed kindliness. "Oh, without doubtyou wish to see the royal commands now awaiting you at your house. Ican tell you literally the sentence of the king: you have lost youroffice, your income, your rank, and you are banished from Berlin! thatis all. The king, as you see, has been gracious; he could have had youexecuted, or sent to Spandau for life, but he would not desecrate hisnew reign with your blood. For this reason was he gracious. "

"Let me pass, " said Eckert, trembling, and pale as death. "I amchoking! let me out!"

Pollnitz still held him back. "Do you not know, good man, that athousand men stand below in the courtyard? do you not hear their shoutsand rejoicings? Well, these hurrahs will be changed into growls of ragewhen the people see you, my dear Eckert; in their wild wrath they mightmistake you for a good roast, with which to quiet their hunger. Youknow that the people are hungry; you, who filled the barns of the kingwith grain, and placed great locks and bars upon the doors, lest thepeople, in their despairing hunger, might seize upon the corn! You evenswore to the king that the people had enough, and did not need his cornor his help! Listen, the people shout again; I will not detain you. Goand look upon this happy people. The king has opened the granaries andscattered bread far and wide, and the tax upon meal is removed for amonth. [8] Go, dear Eckert, go and see how happy the people are!"

[8] See King's "History of Berlin, " vol. V. The king's own words. 

With a wild curse Eckert sprang from the door; Pollnitz followed himwith a mocking glance. "Revenge is sweet, " he said, drawing a longbreath; "he has often done me wrong, and now I have paid him back withusury. Eckert is lost. Would that I had his house! I must have it! Iwill have it! Oh, I will make myself absolutely necessary to the king;I will flatter, I will praise, I will find out and fulfil his mostsecret, his unspoken wishes. I will force him to give me hisconfidence--to make me his maitre de plaisir. Yes, yes, the house inJager Street shall be mine! I have sworn it, and Fredersdorf haspromised me his influence. And now to the king; I must see for myselfif this young royal child can, like Hercules in his cradle, destroyserpents on the day of his birth; or, if he is a king, like all otherkings, overcome by flattery, idle and vain, knowing or acknowledging nolaws over himself, but those of his own conscience and his bon plaisir. But hark! that is the king's voice; to whom is he speaking?"

Pollnitz hastened into the adjoining room; the king was standing in themidst of his ministers, and a deputation of magistrates of Berlin, andwas in the act of dismissing them. 

"I command you, " said the king, in conclusion, turning to hisministers, "as often as you think it necessary to make any changes inmy orders and regulations, to make known your opinions to me freely, and not to be weary in so doing; I may, unhappily, sometimes lose sightof the true interests of my subjects; I am resolved that whenever infuture my personal interest shall seem to be contrary to the welfare ofmy people, their happiness shall receive the first consideration. "

"Alas, it will be very difficult to tame this youthful Hercules!"murmured Pollnitz, glancing toward the king, who was just leaving theapartment; "the serpents that we will twine about him must be strongand alluring; now happily Fredersdorf and myself are acquainted withsome such serpents, and we will take care that he finds them in hispath. "

In the mean time the king had left the reception-room, and retired tohis private apartments, where the friends and confidants fromRheinsberg awaited him with hopeful hearts. They were all ready toreceive the showers of gold, which, without doubt, would rain down uponthem. They were all convinced that the young king would lay upon them, at least, a corner of the mantle of ermine and purple with which hisshoulders should be adorned. They alone would be chosen to aid inbearing the burden of his kingly crown and royal sceptre. They were alldreaming of ambassadorships, presidencies, and major-generals'epaulettes. 

As the king entered, they received him with loud cries of joy. TheMargrave Henry, who had often borne a part in the gay fetes atRheinsberg, hastened to greet the king with gay, witty words, and bothhands extended. Frederick did not respond to this greeting; he did notsmile; looking steadily at the Margrave, he stepped back and said:

"Monsieur, now I am the king; no longer the gardener at Rheinsberg. "The king read the pained astonishment in the faces of his friends who, one moment before, had been so HOPEFUL, so assured; he advanced andsaid, in a kindly tone, "We are no longer in Rheinsberg. The beautifulproverb of Horace belongs to our past. 'Folly is sweet in its season. 'There I was the gardener and the friend--here I am the king; here allmust work, and each one must use his talents and his strength in theservice of the State, and thus prove to the people that the prince hadreason to choose him for a friend. "

"And may I also be a partaker of that grace and be counted amongst thefriends of the king?" said the old Prince of Anhalt Dessau, who, withhis two sons, had just entered and heard the last words of Frederick;"will your majesty continue to me and my sons the favor which yourever-blessed father granted to us during so many long and happy years?Oh, your majesty, I beseech you to be gracious to us, and grant us theposition and influence which we have so long enjoyed. " So saying, theold prince bent his knee to his youthful monarch. The king bowed hishead thoughtfully, and a smile played upon his lips; he gave his handto the prince, and commanded him to rise. 

"I will gladly leave you your place and income, for I am sure you willserve me as faithfully and zealously as you did my father. As regardsthe position and influence which you desire, I say to you all, no manunder my reign will have position but I myself, and not even my bestfriend will exercise the slightest influence over me. "

The friends from Rheinsberg turned pale, and exchanged stolen glanceswith each other. There was no more jesting; the hand of ice had beenlaid upon their beating hearts, and the wings of hope were broken. Theking did not seem to remark the change; he drew near to his friendJordan, and taking his arm, walked to the window, and spoke with himlong and earnestly. 

The courtiers and favorites looked after their happy friend withenvious glances, and observed every shade in the countenances of theking and Jordan. The king was calm, but an expression of painfulsurprise settled like a cloud upon Jordan. Now the king left thewindow, and called Bielfeld to him; spoke with him also long andgravely, and then dismissed him, and nodded to Chazot to join him;lastly he took the arm of the Duke of Wartensleben, and walked backwardand forward, chatting with him. The duke was radiant with joy, but theother courtiers looked suspicious and lowering; with none of them hadhe spoken so long; no other arm had he so familiarly taken. It wasclear that Wartensleben was the declared favorite of the king; he haddriven them from the field. 

The king observed all this; he had read the envy, malice, rage, andmelancholy in the faces of his friends; he knew them all too well; hadtoo long observed them, not to be able to read their thoughts. It hadpleased him to sport awhile with these small souls, so filled withselfishness, envy, and every evil passion; he wished to give them alesson, and bring them down from their dizzy and imaginary heights tothe stern realities of life. The king had used Wartensleben as hisinstrument for this purpose, and now must the poor duke's wings beclipped. The mounting waves of his ambition must be quieted by the oilof truth. 

"Yes, " said the king, "I am the ruler of a kingdom; I have a great armyand a well-filled treasury, you cannot doubt that it is my highest aimto make my country blossom as the rose; to uphold the reputation of myarmy, and to make the best use of my riches. The gold is there tocirculate; it is there to reward those who faithfully serve theirfatherland; but above all other things it is there for those who aretruly my friends. "

The features of the young duke were radiant with expectation; as theking saw this, a mocking smile flashed from his eye. 

"I will, however, naturally know how to distinguish between my friends, and those who do not need gold will not receive it. You, for example, my dear duke, are enormously rich; you will content yourself, therefore, with my love, as you will naturally never receive a dollarfrom me. " So speaking, he nodded kindly to the duke, passed into thenext room, and closed the door behind him. Grave and dumb, the friendsfrom Rheinsberg gazed upon each other; each one regarded the other ashis successful rival, and thought to see in him what he had notbecome--a powerful favorite, a minister, or general. All felt theirlove growing cold, and almost hated the friends who stood in their way. Jordan was the first who broke silence. Reaching his hand to Bielfeld, he said:

"It must not be thought that disappointed hopes have hardened ourhearts, and that envy blinds us to the advantages of our friends. Ilove you, Bielfeld, because of your advantages and talents; and Iunderstand full well why the king advances you before me. Receive alsomy good wishes, and be assured that from the heart I rejoice in yoursuccess. "

Bielfeld looked amazed. "My success!" said he. "Dear friend, you neednot be envious; and as to my advancement, it is so small an affair thatI can scarcely find it. The king said he intended me for a diplomatist, but that I needed years of instruction. With this view he had selectedme to accompany Duke Truckfess to Hanover. When I returned from there, I would receive further orders. This is my promotion, and you mustconfess I make a small beginning. But you, dear Jordan, what importantposition have you received? You are the king's dearest friend, and hehas without doubt advanced you above us all. I acknowledge that youmerit this. Tell us also what are you?"

"Yes, " cried they all eagerly, "what are you? Are you minister of Stateor minister of Church affairs?"

"What am I?" cried Jordan, laughing. "I will tell you, my friends. I amnot minister of Church affairs; I am not minister of State. I am--ah, you will never guess what I am--I belong to the police! I must removethe beggars from the streets of Berlin, and found a workhouse for them. Now, dear friends, am I not enviable?" For a moment all were silent;then every eye was fixed upon Wartensleben. 

"And you, dear duke, are you made happy? You have cut open the goldenapple; you have the longed-for portfolio. "

"I!" cried the duke, half angry, half merry. "I have nothing, and willreceive nothing. I will tell you what the king said to me. He assuredme earnestly and solemnly that I was rich enough, and would neverreceive a dollar from him. "

At this announcement they all broke out in uproarious laughter. "Let usconfess, " said Bielfeld, "that we have played to-day a rare comedy--afarce which Moliere might have written, and which must bear the titleof La Journee des Dupes. Now, as we have none of us becomedistinguished, let us all be joyful and love each other dearly. Butlisten! the king plays the flute; how soft, how melting is the sound!"

Yes, the king played the flute; he cast out with those melodiousstrains the evil spirit of ennui which the tiresome etiquette of theday had brought upon him. He played the flute to recover himself--toregain his cheerful spirit and a clear brow. Soon he laid it aside, andhis eye rested upon the unopened letters and papers with which thetable was covered. Yes, he must open all these letters, and answer themhimself, he alone. Nobody should do his work; all should work onlythrough him; no one should decree or command in Prussia but the king. Every thing should flow from him. He would be the heart and soul of hiscountry. 

Frederick opened and read the letters, and wrote the answer on themargin of the paper, leaving it to the secretary to copy. And now thework was almost done; the paper with the great seal, which he nowopened, was the last. 

This was a declaration from the Church department, which announcedthat, through the influence of the Catholic schools in Berlin, manyProtestants had become Catholics. Did not his majesty think it best toclose these schools? A pitiful smile played upon the lips of Frederickas he read. "And they say they believe in one God, and their priestsand ministers preach Christian forbearance and Christian love, whilethey know nothing of either. They have not God, but the Church, alwaysbefore their eyes; they are intolerant in their hearts, imperious, andfull of cunning. I will bend them, and break down their assumed power. My whole life will be a battle with priests; they will mock at me, andcall me a heretic. Let the Church be ever against me, if my ownconscience absolves me. Now I will begin the war, and what I now writewill be a signal of alarm in the tents of all the pious priests. "

He took up the paper again and wrote on the margin, "All religionsshall be tolerated. The magistrates must have their eyes open, and seethat no sect imposes on another. In Prussia each man shall be saved inhis own way. "[9]

[9] Busching. The king's words. 

BOOK II. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE GARDEN OF MONBIJOU. 

The excitement of the first days was quieted. The young king hadwithdrawn for a short time to the palace in Charlottenburg, while hiswife remained in Berlin, anxiously expecting an invitation to followher husband. 

But the young monarch appeared to have no care or thought but for hiskingdom. He worked and studied without interruption; even his belovedflute was untouched. 

Berlin was, according to etiquette, draped with mourning for a fewdays; it served in this instance as a veil to the joy with which alllooked forward to the coronation of the new king. All appeared earnestand solemn, but every heart was joyful and every eye beaming. Thepalace of the king was silent and deserted; the king was, as we havesaid, at Charlottenburg; the young queen was in the palace formerlyoccupied by the prince royal, and the dowager queen Sophia Dorothea hadretired with the two princesses, Ulrica and Amelia, to the palace ofMonbijou. All were anxious and expectant; all hoped for influence andhonor, power and greatness. The scullion and the maids, as well as thecounts and princes, and even the queen herself, dreamed of happy andglorious days in the future. 

Sophia Dorothea had been too long a trembling, subjugated woman; shewas rejoicing in the thought that she might at length be a queen. Herson would doubtless grant to her all the power which had been deniedher by her husband; he would remember the days of tears and bitternesswhich she had endured for his sake; and now that the power was in hishands she would be repaid a thousandfold. The young king would hold thesceptre in his hands, but he must allow his mother to aid in keeping itupright; and if he found it too weighty, the queen was ready to bear itfor him, and reign in his stead, while her dreamy son wrote poems, orplayed on the flute, or philosophized with his friends. Frederick wascertainly not formed to rule; he was a poet and a philosopher; hedreamed of a Utopia; he imagined an ideal which it was impossible torealize. The act of ruling would be a weary trial to him, and thesounds of the trumpet but ill accord with his harmonious dreams. 

But happily his mother was there, and was willing to reign for him, tobear upon her shoulders the heavy burdens and cares of the kingdom, towork with the ministers, while the king wrote poetical epistles toVoltaire. 

Why should not Sophia Dorothea reign? Were there not examples in alllands of noble women who governed their people well and honorably? Wasnot England proud of her Elizabeth, Sweden of her Christina, Spain ofIsabella, Russia of Catharine? and even in Prussia the queen SophiaCharlotte had occupied a great and glorious position. Why could notSophia Dorothea accomplish as much or even more than her predecessor?

These were the thoughts of the queen as she walked up and down theshady paths of the garden of Monbijou, and listened with a proud smileto the flattering words of Count Manteuffel, who had just handed her aletter of condolence from the Empress of Austria. 

"Her majesty the empress has sent me a most loving and tender letterto-day, " said the dowager queen, with an ironical smile. 

"She has then only given expression to-day, to those sentiments whichshe has always entertained for your majesty, " said the count, respectfully. 

The queen bowed her head smilingly, but said, "The houses ofHohenzollern and Hapsburg have never been friendly; it is not in theirnature to love one another. "

"The great families of Capulet and Montague said the same, " remarkedCount Manteuffel, "but the anger of the parents dissolved before thelove of the children. "

"But we have not arrived at the children, " said the queen proudly, asshe thought how her husband had been deceived by the house of Austria, and recalled that, on his death-bed he had commanded his son Frederickto revenge those treacheries. 

"Pardon me, your majesty, if I dare to contradict you; we have mostsurely arrived at the children, and the difficulties of the parents areforgotten in their love. Is not the wife of the young king thedeeply-loved niece of the Austrian empress?"

"She was already his wife, count, as my husband visited the emperor inBohemia, and it was not considered according to etiquette for theemperor to offer his hand to the King of Prussia. "[10]

[10] Seckendorf's Leben. 

"She was, however, not his wife when Austria, by her repeated andenergetic representations, saved the life of the prince royal. For yourmajesty knows that at one time that precious life was threatened. "

"It was threatened, but it would have been preserved without theassistance of Austria; for the mother of Frederick was at hand, andthat mother was sister to the King of England. " And the queen cast onthe count so proud and scornful a glance that his eyes fellinvoluntarily to the ground. Sophia Dorothea saw this, and smiled. Thiswas her triumph; she would now show herself mild and forgiving. "Wewill speak no more of the past, " she said, in a friendly manner. "Thedeath of my husband has cast a dark cloud over it, and I must thinkonly of the future, that my son, the young king, may not always beholdme with tears in my eyes. No, I will look forward, for I have a greatpresentiment that Prussia's future will be great and glorious. "

"Would that it might be thus for the whole of Germany!" cried thecount. "It must be so, if the houses of Hohenzollern and Hapsburg willforget their ancient quarrels, and live together in love and peace. "

"Let Hapsburg extend to us the hand of love and peace; show us hersympathy, her justice, and her gratitude, in deeds, not words. "

"Austria is prepared to do so, your majesty! the question is, whetherPrussia will grasp her hand and place upon it the ring of love. "

The queen glanced up so quickly that she perceived the dark andthreatening look of the count. "Austria is again making matrimonialplans, " she said, with a bitter smile. "She is not satisfied with onemarriage, such as that of her imperial niece, she longs for arepetition of this master-work. But this time, count, there is no dearone to be saved at any cost from a prison, this time the decision canbe deferred until the arrival of all the couriers. " And the queen, dismissing the count with a slight bow, recalled her ladies of honor, who were lingering at a short distance, and passed into one of theother walks. 

Count Manteuffel remained where the queen had left him, looking afterher with an earnest and thoughtful countenance. "She is prouder andmore determined than formerly, " he murmured; "that is a proof that shewill be influential, and knows her power. What she said of the courierwas without doubt an allusion to the one who arrived an hour too late, with the consent of England, on the betrothal day of the prince royal. Ah! there must be other couriers en route, and one of them was mostprobably sent to England. We must see that he arrives an hour too late, as the former one did. " At this instant, and in his immediate vicinity, Manteuffel heard a soft and melodious voice saying, "No, count, you cannever make me believe in your love. You are much too blond to lovedeeply. "

"Blond!" cried a manly voice, with a tone of horror. "You do not likefair hair, and until now I have been so proud of mine. But I will haveit dyed black, if you will promise to believe in my love. " The ladyreplied with a light laugh, which brought an answering smile to thecountenance of Count Manteuffel. "It is my ally, Madame von Brandt, " hesaid to himself. "I was most anxious to see her, and must interrupt hertender tete-a-tete with Count Voss for one moment. " So speaking, thecount hurried to the spot from which he had heard the voices of Madamevon Brandt and her languishing lover. The count approached the ladywith the most delighted countenance, and expressed his astonishment atfinding his beautiful friend in the garden of the dowager queen. 

"Her majesty did me the honor to invite me to spend a few weeks here, "said Madame von Brandt. "She knew that my physician had ordered me tothe country, as the only means to restore my health; and as she knowsof my great intimacy with Mademoiselle von Pannewitz, one of her ladiesof honor, she was so kind as to offer me a few rooms at Monbijou. Now Ihave explained to you the reason of my presence here as minutely as ifyou were my father confessor, and nothing remains to be done but topresent you to my escort. This is Count Voss, a noble cavalier, a sanspeur et sans reproche, ready to sacrifice for his lady love, if not hislife, at least his fair hair. "

"Beware, my dear count, " said Manteuffel, laughing, "beware that thecolor of your hair is not changed by this lovely scoffer--that it doesnot become a venerable gray. She is sufficiently accomplished in theart of enchantment to do that; I assure you that Madame von Brandtplays a most important role in the history of my gray hairs. "

"Ah! it would be delightful to become gray in the service of Madame vonBrandt, " said the young count, in so pathetic a tone that hiscompanions both laughed. "As often as I look at my gray hair I wouldthink of her. " And the young count gazed into the distance, like oneentranced, and his smiling lips whispered low, unintelligible words. 

"This is one of his ecstatic moments, " whispered Madame von Brandt. "Hehas the whim to consider himself an original; he imagines himself aPetrarch enamored of his Laura. We will allow him to dream awhile, andspeak of our own affairs. But be brief, I beg of you, for we must notbe found together, as you are a suspicious character, my dear count, and my innocence might be doubted if we were seen holding aconfidential conversation. "

"Ah, it is edifying to hear Madame von Brandt speak like a young girlof sixteen, of her threatened innocence. But we will tranquillize thistimidity, and be brief. In the first place, what of the young queen?"

"State of barometer: cold and damp, falling weather, stormy, withunfulfilled hopes, very little sunshine, and very heavy clouds. "

"That means that the queen is still fearful of being slighted by herhusband. "

"She is no longer fearful--he neglects her already. The king is atCharlottenburg, and has not invited the queen to join him. As ahusband, he slights his wife; whether as king he will neglect hisqueen, only time will reveal. "

"And what of Madame von Morien?"

"The king seems to have forgotten her entirely since that unhappy quidpro quo with the poem at Rheinsberg; his love seems to have cooled, andhe converses with her as harmlessly and as indifferently as with anyother lady. No more stolen words, secret embraces, or amorous sighs. The miserable Morien is consumed with sorrow, for since she has beenneglected she loves passionately. "

"And that is unhappily not the means to regain that proud heart, " saidCount Mantcuffel, shrugging his shoulders. "With tears and languishingshe will lose her influence, and only gain contempt. You who are themistress of love and coquetry should understand that, and instruct yourbeautiful pupil. Now, however, comes the most important question. Whatof the marriage of the Prince Augustus William?"

Madame von Brandt sighed. "You are really inexorable. Have you nocompassion for the noble, heartfelt love of two children, who are aspure and innocent as the stars in heaven?"

"And have you no compassion for the diamonds which long to repose uponyour lovely bosom?" said Count Manteuffel; "no compassion for thecharming villa which you could purchase? You positively refuse toexcite the envy of all the ladies at court by possessing the mostcostly cashmere? You will--"

"Enough, Count Devil! you are in reality more a devil than a man, foryou lead my soul into temptation. I must submit. I will become aserpent, reposing on the bosom of my poor Laura, poisoning her love andlacerating her heart. Ah, count, if you knew how my consciencereproaches me when I listen to the pure and holy confession of herlove, when trembling and blushing she whispers to me the secrets of heryouthful heart, and flies to me seeking protection against her ownweakness! Remember that these two children love each other, withoutever having had the courage to acknowledge it. Laura pretends not tounderstand the deep sighs and the whispered words of the prince, andthen passes the long nights in weeping. "

"If that is the case, it is most important to prevent an understandingbetween these singular lovers. You must exert all your influence withthe young lady to induce her to close this romance with an heroic act, which will make her appear a holy martyr in the eyes of the prince. "

"But, for example, what heroic act?"

"Her marriage. "

"But how can we find a man so suddenly to whom this poor lamb can besacrificed?"

"There is one, " said the count, pointing to Count Voss, who appeared tohave forgotten the whole world, and was occupied writing verses in hisportfolio. 

Madame von Brandt laughed aloud. "He marry the beautiful Laura!"

"Yes, " said the count, earnestly, "he seeks a Laura. "

"Yes, but you forget that he considers me his Laura. "

"You can, therefore, easily induce him to make this sacrifice for you;he will be magnified in his own eyes, if, in resigning you, he giveshimself to the lady you have selected. "

"You are terrible, " said Madame von Brandt. "I shudder before you, forI believe you have no human emotions in your heart of iron. "

"There are higher and nobler considerations, to which such feelingsmust yield. But see, the count has finished his poem. To work now, mybeautiful ally; today you must perfect your masterpiece; and now, farewell, " said the count, kissing her hand, as he left her side. 

Madame von Brandt approached the young count, who seemed to be againlost in thought. She placed her hand lightly on his shoulder, andwhispered, half tenderly, half reproachfully, "Dreamer, where are yourthoughts?"

"With you, " said the count, who trembled and grew pale at her touch. "Yes, with you, noblest and dearest of women; and as that tiresomegossip prevented me from speaking to you, I passed the time he was herein writing. "

"But you did not remember, " said she, tenderly, "that you werecompromising me before Count Manteuffel, who will not hesitate todeclare in what intimate relationship we stand to one another. Onlythink of writing without apology, while a lady and a strange gentlemanwere at your side!"

"The world will only exclaim 'What an original!'" said Count Voss, witha foolish, but well-pleased smile. 

"But it will also say that this original shows little consideration forMadame von Brandt; that he must, therefore, be very intimate with her. The reputation of a woman is so easily injured; it is like the wing ofthe butterfly, so soon as the finger touches it or points at it, itloses its lustre; and we poor women have nothing but our good name andunspotted virtue. It is the only shield--the only weapon--that wepossess against the cruelty of man, and you seek to tear that from us, and, then dishonored and humiliated, you tread us under foot!"

"You are weeping!" cried the count, looking at his beloved, in whoseeyes the tears really stood--"you are weeping! I am truly a greatcriminal to cause you to shed tears. "

"No, you are a noble but most thoughtless man, " said Madame von Brandt, smiling through her tears. "You betray to the world what only God andwe ourselves should know. "

"Heavens! what have I betrayed?" cried the poor frightened count. 

"You have betrayed our love, " whispered Madame von Brandt, as sheglanced tenderly at the count. 

"What! our love?" he cried, beside himself with delight; "you admitthat it is not I alone who love?"

"I admit it, but at the same time declare that we must part. "

"Never! no, never! No power on earth shall part us, " said he, seizingher hand, and covering it with kisses. 

"But there is a power which has the right to separate us--the power ofmy husband. He already suspects my feelings for you, and he will beinexorable if he discovers that his suspicions are correct. "

"Then I will call him out, and he will fall by my hand, and I shallbear you in triumph as my wife to my castle. "

"But if you should fall?"

"Ah! I had not thought of that, " murmured the count, turning pale. "That would be certainly a most unhappy accident. We will not temptfate with this trial, but seek another way out of our difficulty. Ah, Iknow one already. You must elope with me. "

She said, with a sad smile, "The arm of the king extends far and wide, and my husband would follow us with his vengeance to the end of theworld. "

"But what shall we do?" cried the count, despairingly; "we love eachother; separated, we must be consumed with grief and sorrow. Ah! ah!shall I really suffer the fate of Petrarch, and pass my life in aneternal dirge? Is there no way to prevent this?"

Madame von Brandt placed her hand with a slight but tender pressure onhis. "There is one way, " she whispered, "a way to reassure, not only myhusband, but the whole world, which will cast a veil over our love, andprotect us from the wickedness and calumny of man. "

"Show me this way, " he exclaimed, "and if it should cost half of myfortune I would walk in it, if I could hope to gain your love. "

She bent her head nearer to him, and, with a most fascinating andtender glance, whispered, "You must marry, count. "

He withdrew a step, and uttered a cry of horror. "I must marry! Youdesire it--you who profess to love me?"

"Because I love you, dearest, and because your marriage will break thebands of etiquette which divide us. You must marry a lady of myacquaintance, perhaps one of my friends, and then no one, not even myhusband, will consider our friendship remarkable. "

"Oh! I see it; there is no other way, " sighed the count. "If I wereonly married now!"

"Oh! you ungrateful, faithless man, " cried Madame von Brandt, indignantly. "You long already for your marriage with the beautifulyoung woman, in whose love I shall be forgotten. "

"Oh! you are well aware that I only wish to be married because youdesire it. "

"Prove this by answering that you will not refuse to marry the lady Ishall point out to you. "

"I swear it. "

"You swear that you will marry no other than the one I name? You swearthat you will overcome all obstacles, and be withheld by no prayers orreproaches?"

"I swear it. "

"On the word of a count?"

"On the word of a count. Show me the lady, and I will marry her againstthe will of the whole world. "

"But if the lady should not love you?"

"Why should I care? Do I love her? Do I not marry her for your sakealone?"

"Ah! my friend, " cried Madame von Brandt, "I see that we understand oneanother. Come, and I will show you your bride. "

She placed her arm in his, and drew him away. Her eye gleamed with awild, menacing light, and she said sneeringly to herself, "I haveselected a rich husband for my beautiful Laura, and have bartered mysoul for diamonds and cashmeres, and the gratitude of an empress. "

CHAPTER II. 

THE QUEEN'S MAID OF HONOR. 

After her interview with Count Manteuffel, the queen Sophia Dorothealeft the garden, and retired to her chamber. She dismissed her maids ofhonor for a few hours, requesting them to admit no one to her presence. She wished to consider and develop her plans in undisturbed quiet. Shefelt that Austria was again prepared to throw obstacles in the way ofher favorite project--an English marriage for one of her children. Shewished to sharpen her weapons, and marshal her forces for theapproaching combat. 

For a few hours, therefore, the maids of honor were free to followtheir own inclinations, to amuse themselves as they thought fit. 

Laura von Pannewitz had declined accompanying the other ladies in theirdrive. Her heart required solitude and rest. For her it was a rare andgreat pleasure to listen in undisturbed quiet to the sweet voices whichwhispered in her heart, and suffused her whole being with delight. 

It was so sweet to dream of him--to recall his words, his smiles, hissighs; all those little shades and signs which seemed so unimportant tothe careless, but which convey so much to the loving observer!

He had written to her yesterday, and she--she had had the cruel courageto return his letter unopened. But she had first pressed it to her lipsand to her heart with streaming eyes, and had then fallen on her kneesto pray to God, and to implore him to give her strength and courage toovercome her heart, to renounce his love. 

Since then an entire day had passed, and she had not seen him, hadheard nothing of him. Oh, he must be sad and very angry with her; hewished never to see her again. And because he was angry, and wished tohold himself aloof from her, he, the loving and attentive son, had evenneglected to pay the accustomed morning visit to his royal mother, which he had never before omitted. 

Her heart beating hurriedly, and weeping with anguish, Laura had beenstanding before her window curtain awaiting him, and had prayed to Godthat she might see him, or at least hear his voice in the distance. Butthe prince did not arrive, and now the time had passed at which he wasaccustomed to come. The queen had already retired to her study, andwould admit no one. 

Laura could, therefore, no longer hope to see the prince AugustusWilliam on this day. As she thought of this, she felt as if a sword hadpierced her bosom, and despair took possession of her heart. She threwherself on her knees, wrung her hands, and prayed to God, not forstrength and courage to renounce him as before, but for a littlesunshine on her sad and sorrowful love. Terrified at her own prayer, she had then arisen from her knees, and had hurried to the room ofMadame von Brandt, to take refuge from her own thoughts and sorrows inthe bosom of a friend. 

But her friend was not there, and she was told that Madame von Brandthad gone down into the garden. Laura took her hat and shawl, and soughther. As she walked down the shady avenue, her glowing cheeks andburning eyes were cooled by the gentle breeze wafted over from theriver Spree, and she felt soothed; something like peace stole into herheart. Laura had forgotten that she had come to the garden to seek herfriend; she felt only that the calm and peace of nature had quieted herheart; that solitude whispered to her soul in a voice of consolationand of hope. Hurriedly she passed on to the denser and more solitarypart of the garden, where she could give herself up to dreams of himwhose image still filled her heart, although she had vainly endeavoredto banish it. 

She now entered the conservatory at the foot of the garden, which hadbeen converted into a beautiful and charming saloon, for the exclusiveuse of the queen and her maids of honor. There were artificial arborsof blooming myrtle and orange, in which luxurious little sofas invitedto repose; grottoes of stone had been constructed, in the crevices ofwhich rare mountain plants were growing. There were little fountainswhich murmured and flashed pleasantly, and diffused an agreeablecoolness throughout the atmosphere. Laura seated herself in one of thearbors, which was covered with myrtle, and, in a reclining position, her head resting on the trunk of an aged laurel-tree, which formed partof the framework of the arbor, she closed her eyes that she might seenothing but him. 

It was a lovely picture, the beautiful and noble countenance of thisyoung girl, enclosed as it were in a frame of living myrtle; herdelicate but full and maidenly figure reclining against the trunk ofthe tree, to which the chaste and timid love of a virgin had once givenlife. She also was a Daphne, fleeing from her own desires, fleeing fromthe sweetly-alluring voice of her lover, who, to her, was the god ofbeauty and of grace, the god of learning and the arts--her Apollo, whomshe adored and believed in, whom she feared, and from whom she fledlike Daphne, because she loved him. For a woman flees only from himwhom she loves; she fears him only who is dangerous, not because hiswords of tenderness and flattery are alluring, but because her ownheart pleads for him. 

Laura was still sitting in the arbor, in a dreamy reverie. His imagefilled her thoughts; her love was prayer, her prayer love. Her handslay folded in her lap; a sweet, dreamy smile played about her lips, andfrom under her closed eyelids a few tears were slowly rolling down hersoft, rosy cheeks. She had been praying to God to give her strength toconquer her own heart, and to bear, without murmuring and withoutbetraying herself, the sorrow, the anger, and even the indifference ofthe prince. Still she felt that her heart would break if he shoulddesert and forget her. An alluring voice whispered that it would be amore blissful end to die, after an hour of ecstatic and intoxicatinghappiness, than to renounce his love, and still die. 

But the chaste Laura did not wish to hear this voice; she would drownit with her prayers; and still, even while she prayed, she thought howgreat and sublime a happiness it would be to kiss the lips of herbeloved, to whisper in his ear the long-concealed, long-buried secretof her love. And then his kiss still on her lips, and in the sunshineof his eyes, to fall down and die!--exchanging heaven for heaven;redeeming bliss with bliss. And sweeter dreams and more painfulfantasies came over her; heavier and heavier sank her eyelids; a weightof sorrow rested on her heart, and made it weary unto death; until atthe last, like the disciples on the Mount, she slept for very sorrow. 

The silence was profound. Suddenly stealthy footsteps could be heard, and the figure of a man appeared at the entrance of the grotto. Cautiously he stepped forward, and cast an inquiring glance through thetrailing vines which overhung the grotto, to the young girl who stillslumbered, reclining on the trunk of the laurel-tree. It was FritzWendel, the gardener of Rheinsberg. Queen Sophia Dorothea had desiredto have her greenhouses and flower-beds arranged in the style of thoseat Rheinsberg. And, by command of the young king, several of the mostexpert gardeners of Rheinsberg had been sent to Berlin to superintendthis arrangement in the garden of Monbijou. Fortune had favored theyoung gardener, and had again brought him near her he loved. For thelittle maid of honor, Louise von Schwerin, was not only the favorite ofQueen Elizabeth, but Queen Sophia Dorothea also loved this saucy andsprightly young girl, who, because she was a child, and as such wasexcusable, was allowed to break in upon court etiquette with her merrylaughter, and to introduce an element of freshness and vivacity intothe stiff forms of court life. Moreover, by her thoughtless andpresumptuous behavior at Rheinsberg, she had lost favor with the youngcouple who now reigned in Prussia. Queen Elizabeth could not forgetthat it was through Louise she had learned the name of her happy rival. And the king was angry with her, because, through her, the secret ofhis verses to Madame von Morien had been discovered. Louise vonSchwerin was rarely with Queen Elizabeth. Sophia Dorothea, however, kept this young girl near her person for whole days. Her childish waysamused the queen, and her merry pranks drove the stiff and formalmistress of ceremonies, and the grave and stately cavaliers and ladiesof the court, to despair. And the little maid of honor came to thequeen willingly, for Monbijou had for her a great charm since thehandsome gardener, Fritz Wendel, had been there. The romance with thisyoung man had not yet come to an end; this secret little love affairhad a peculiar charm for the young girl; and as no other admirer hadbeen found for the little Louise, she for the present was very wellpleased with the adoration of the young gardener, to whom she was notthe "little Louise, " but the bewitching fairy, the beautiful goddess. It was Fritz Wendel who appeared at the entrance of the grotto, andlooked anxiously toward the sleeping Laura. He had been occupied inarranging the plants and flowers in this conservatory, which had beenconfided to his especial care. As the queen never entered the garden atthis time, this hour had been set apart for his labors. 

In the midst of his occupation he was interrupted by the entrance ofLaura von Pannewitz, and had hastily retired to the grotto, intendingto remain concealed until the lady should have left the conservatory. From his hiding-place, concealed by the dense Indian vines, he couldsee the myrtle arbor in which the beautiful Laura reposed; and now, seeing that she slept, he advanced slowly and cautiously from thegrotto. He listened attentively to her slow and regular breathing--yes, she really slept; he might therefore stealthily leave the saloon. 

"Ah, if it were she!" he murmured; "if it were she! I would not leavehere so quietly. I would find courage to fall down at her feet and toclasp her to my arms, while pressing my lips to hers, to suppress hercry of terror. But this lady, " said he, almost disdainfully, turning tothe sleeping Laura, "is so little like her--that she is--"

The words died on his lips, and he hastily retreated to the entrance ofthe grotto. He thought he heard footsteps approaching the conservatory. The door of the vestibule creaked on its hinges, and again--FritzWendel slipped hastily into the grotto, and concealed himself behindthe dense vines. 

On the threshold of the saloon stood a young man, who lookedsearchingly around. His tall and graceful figure was clad in theuniform of the guards, which displayed his well-knit form to greatadvantage. The star on his breast, and the crape which he wore on hisarm, announced a prince of the royal house; his beautifully-formed andhandsome features wore an expression of almost effeminate tenderness. The glance of his large blue eyes was so soft and mild, that those whoobserved him long, were involuntarily touched with an inexplicablefeeling of pity for this noble-looking youth. His broad brow showed somuch spirit and determination that it was evident he was not alwaysgentle and yielding, but had the courage and strength to follow his ownwill if necessary. 

It was Prince Augustus William, the favorite of the deceased king, onwhose account the elder brother Frederick had suffered so much, becausethe king had endeavored to establish the former as his successor to thethrone in the place of his first-born. [11]

[11] Dr. Fred. Busching, page 172. 

But the prince's inclinations were not in accordance with the wishes ofhis father; Augustus William desired no throne, no earthly power; inhis retiring modesty he disliked all public display; the title of royalhighness had no charm for him, and with the indifference of a truephilosopher he looked down upon the splendor and magnificence ofearthly glory. 

In his brother Frederick, the disdain of outward pomp might beattributed to his superior mind and strength of understanding; whileAugustus William was actuated by a depth of feeling, a passionate andardent sensitiveness. He had come to pay the queen, his mother, thecustomary morning visit, but when told she had desired that no oneshould be admitted to her presence, he was not willing that anexception should be made in his favor. "He had time to wait, " he said, "and should be announced and called up from the garden only when thequeen was again at leisure. "

After giving this order he had gone down into the garden, where alover's instinct had conducted him to the conservatory, in which, tohim, the most beautiful of all flowers, the lovely Laura von Pannewitz, reposed. He did not dream of finding her there, supposing she hadaccompanied the other ladies on their drive; he had sought thisbuilding that he might pass a few moments in undisturbed quiet--that hemight think of her and the unrequited love which he had vainlyendeavored to tear from his heart. 

It was therefore not her he sought when, on entering the conservatory, he looked searchingly around. He only wished to know that he was alone, that no one observed him. But suddenly he started, and a deep redsuffused his countenance. He saw the beautiful sleeper in the arbor. Inthe first ecstasy of his delight he was on the point of throwinghimself at her feet, and awakening her with his kisses. He startedforward--but then hesitated, and stood still, an expression of deepmelancholy pervading his features. 

"She will not welcome me, " murmured he, "she will repel me as she didmy letter yesterday. She does not love me, and would never forgive meif I should desecrate her pure lips with mine. " He bowed his head andsighed. "But I love her, " said he, after a long pause, "and will atleast look at and adore her, as the Catholics worship the Virgin Mary. "And with a beaming smile, which illumined his whole countenance, theprince slowly and noiselessly stepped forward. 

"Well, " murmured Fritz Wendel in his hiding-place, "I have somecuriosity to know what the prince has to say to this sleeping beauty;but, nevertheless, I would give a year of my life if I could slip awayunobserved, for if the prince discovers me here I am lost!"

He retired to that part of the grotto where the foliage was thickest, still however securing a place from which he could observe all thattook place in the myrtle arbor. 

CHAPTER III. 

PRINCE AUGUSTUS WILLIAM. 

The prince entered the myrtle arbor, and, perceiving the lovelysleeper, he approached her with a joyful countenance. 

"Madonna, my Madonna, let me pray to you, let me look at you, " hemurmured. "Listen to my pleadings, and let a ray of your love sink intomy heart. " Laura moved in her sleep, and uttered a few indistinctwords. The prince kneeled motionless before her, and watched all hermovements. The dreams that visited her were not bright; Laura moanedand sighed in her sleep; her countenance assumed an expression so sadand painful that the eyes of the prince filled with tears. "She issuffering, " he murmured; "why should she suffer? what is it that causesmy beloved to sigh?" Suddenly she opened her eyes, arose, and fastenedher astonished and half-dreamy gaze upon the prince, who with foldedhands was still kneeling before her, and gazing on her with tender, pleading eyes. A trembling seized her whole being, as the oceantrembles when touched by the first ray of the sun. A sweet, blissfulastonishment was painted on every feature. "Am I still dreaming?" shemurmured, passing her hand across her brow, and pushing aside her longdark hair--"am I still dreaming?"

"Yes, you are dreaming, " murmured Prince Augustus, seizing her handsand pressing them to his lips, "you are dreaming, Madonna, let me dreamwith you, and be forever blessed. Oh! withdraw not your hand, be notangry, let us still dream for one blessed moment. " But she hastily sether hands free and arose from her seat; grandly and proudly she stoodbefore him, and her flashing eyes rested with a severe and reproachfulexpression upon the still kneeling prince. 

"Arise, my prince; it is not proper that the brother of the king shouldkneel before me; arise, and have the kindness to inform me whatcircumstances procured me the rare and unsolicited favor of beingsought by your royal highness. But no, I divine it; you owe me noexplanation; the queen has asked for me, and your highness was sogracious as to seek for the tardy servant, who is sleeping while hermistress calls; allow me to hasten to her. " Laura, feeling her strengthfailing, and suppressing with pain the tears that sprang from her heartto her eyes, endeavored to pass the prince. 

But he held her back; the timidity that had so often made him appearshy and embarrassed had vanished; he felt that at this moment he facedhis destiny, and that his future depended upon the result of thisinterview. "No, " he said earnestly, "the queen did not call you, shedoes not need you; remain, therefore, mademoiselle, and grant me a fewmoments of your time. " His solemn voice and determined expression madeher tremble, but still entranced; her soul bowed in humility and fearbefore him. She had always seen him humble and pleading, alwayssubmissive and obedient; now his glance was commanding, his voiceimperious; and she, who had been able to withstand the entreaties of alover, found no courage to resist the angry and commanding man. "Remain, " he repeated; "be seated, and allow me to speak to youhonestly and truly. "

Laura seated herself obediently and tremblingly; the prince stoodbefore her, and looked at her with a sad smile. 

"Yesterday you returned my letter unopened, but now you must hear me, Laura; I wish it, and no woman can withstand the strong will of the manwho loves her. "

Laura trembled and grew pale; she feared that if at this moment he badeher forsake all, cast away, and trample under foot her honor, herreputation, her innocence and pure conscience, she would obey him as atrue and humble slave, and follow and serve him her whole life. 

"Yes, you shall hear me; I will know my fate--know if you reallydespise my great and devoted love, if you are without pity, withoutsympathy for my suffering, my struggles and despair. I should thinkthat true, genuine love would, like the music of Orpheus, have power toanimate stones and flowers, and my love cannot even move the heart of anoble, feeling girl. What is the reason? why do you fly from me? Is it, Laura, because you deem me unworthy of your love? because your heartfeels no emotion for me? are you cold and severe because you hold mefor a bold beggar, who longs for the treasure belonging to another, whom you despise because he begs for what should be the free gift ofyour heart? Or has your heart never been touched by love? If this isso, Laura, and my love has not the power to awaken your heart, then donot speak, but let me leave you quietly. I will try to bear my miseryor die; I shall have no one but myself to reproach, for God has deniedme the power of winning love. But if this is not the reason of yourcoldness, if we are only separated by the vain prejudices of rank andbirth, O Laura, I entreat you, if this is all that separate us, speakone single word of comfort, of hope, one single low word, and I willconquer the whole world, break down all prejudices and laws, and castthem from me. I will be as great and strong as Hercules, to clear theway, and make it smooth for our love. I will present you to the worldas my betrothed, and before God and my king call you my wife. Speak, Laura, is it so? Do you fly from me because of this star upon mybreast--because I am called a royal prince? I implore you, tell me, isit so? if not, if you cast me from you because you do not love me, saynothing and I will go away for ever. "

A long, painful silence ensued. The prince watched the pained, frightened countenance of the young girl, who sat before him with bowedhead, pale and motionless. 

"It is decided, " he sighed, after a long pause; "farewell, I accept mydestiny, you have spoken my sentence; may your heart never accuse youof cruelty!" He bowed low before her, then turned and walked across thesaloon. 

Laura had remained motionless; she now raised her head; she followedhim with a glance that, had he seen it, would have brought him back toher--a look that spoke more than words or protestations. 

The prince had reached the door once more; he turned, their looks met, and a trembling delight took possession of her whole being; forgettingall danger, she longingly extended her arms toward him, and murmuredhis name. 

With a cry of delight he sprang to her side, and folded her withimpassioned tenderness in his arms. Laura concealed her tear-stainedface upon his breast, and murmured, "God sees my heart, He knows howlong I have prayed and struggled; may He be more merciful, morecompassionate than man! I shall be cast off, despised; let it be, Ishall think of this hour, and be happy. "

"No one shall dare to insult you, " he said proudly; "from this hour youare my affianced, and some day I shall present you to the world as mywife. "

Smiling sadly, she shook her head. "Let us not speak of the future; itmay be dark and sorrowful. I will not complain, I will bear my crossjoyfully, and thank God for your love. "

He kissed the tears from her eyes, and murmured sweet and holy promisesof love and faith. It was a moment of blissful joy, but Laura suddenlytrembled and raised her head from his breast to listen. The beating ofdrums and quickly-rolling carriages were heard without. "The king!"cried the young girl. "The king, " murmured Prince Augustus, sadly, andhe ventured no longer to hold the young girl in his arms. They wereboth awakened from their short, blessed dream, both were reminded ofthe world, and the obstacles that lay in their path. In their greathappiness they had appeared small, but now were assuming giant-likeproportions. 

"I must hasten to the queen, " said Laura, rising; "her majesty willneed me. "

"And I must go and meet the king, " sighed the prince. 

"Go quickly; let us hasten, and take different paths to the castle. "

He took her hand and held it to his lips. "Farewell, my beloved, mybride; trust me, and be strong in love and hope. "

"Farewell, " she murmured, and endeavored to pass him. 

Once more he detained her. "Shall we meet here again? will you let meenjoy here another hour of your dear presence? Oh, bow not your head;do not blush; your sweet confession has made of this place a temple oflove, and here I will approach you with pure and holy thoughts. " Helooked long into her beautiful, blushing face. 

"We will see each other here again, " she murmured; "every day I shallawait you here at the same hour; now hasten, hasten. "

Both left the saloon; it was again silent and deserted; in a fewmoments Fritz Wendel stepped out from the grotto with glowing cheeksand sparkling eyes. 

"This is a noble secret that I have discovered--a secret that willbring me golden fruits. Louise von Schwerin is not more widelyseparated from the poor gardener, Fritz Wendel, than MademoisellePannewitz from Prince Augustus William. A gardener can rise and becomea nobleman, but Mademoiselle Pannewitz can never become a princess, never be the wife of her lover. Louise von Schwerin shall no longer beashamed of the love of Fritz Wendel; I will tell her what I have seen, I will take her into the grotto, and let her witness the rendezvous ofthe prince and his beloved, and whilst he is telling Laura of his love, I will be with my Louise. "

CHAPTER IV. 

THE KING AND THE SON. 

Laura was not mistaken. It was the king whom the castle guard weresaluting with the beat of the drum. It was the king coming to pay hisfirst visit to his mother at Monbijou. He came unannounced, and theperplexed, anxious looks of the cavaliers showed that his appearancehad caused more disturbance and terror than joy. With a slight laugh heturned to his grand chamberlain, Pollnitz. 

"Go tell her majesty that her son Frederick awaits her. " And followedby Kaiserling and the cavaliers of the queen, he entered the gardensaloon. 

Queen Sophia Dorothea received the king's message with a proud, beamingsmile. She was not then deceived, her dearest hopes were to befulfilled; the young king was an obedient, submissive son; she was forhim still the reigning queen, the mother entitled to command. The son, not the king, had come, disrobed of all show of royalty, to wait humblyas a suppliant for her appearance. She felt proud, triumphant! Aglorious future lay before her. She would be a queen at last--a queennot only in name, but in truth. Her son was King of Prussia, and shewould be co-regent. Her entire court should be witness to this meeting;they should see her triumph, and spread the news far and wide. 

He came simply, without ceremony, as her son, but she would receive himaccording to etiquette, as it beseemed a queen. She wore a long, blacktrailing gown, a velvet ermine-bordered mantle, and caught up the blackveil that was fastened in her hair with several brilliants. Allpreparations were at last finished, and the queen, preceded byPollnitz, arrived in the garden saloon. 

Frederick, standing by the window, was beating the glass impatientlywith his long, thin fingers. He thought his mother showed but littleimpatience to see her son who had hurried with all the eagerness ofchildlike love to greet her. He wondered what could be her motive, andhad just surmised it as the door opened and the chamberlain announcedin a loud voice--"Her majesty, the widowed queen. " A soft, mockingsmile played upon his lips for a moment, as the queen entered in hersplendid court dress, but it disappeared quickly, and hat in hand headvanced to meet her. 

Sophia Dorothea received him with a gracious smile, and gave him herhand to kiss. 

"Your majesty is welcome, " said she, with a trembling voice, for itgrieved her proud heart to give her son the title of majesty. The king, perceiving something of this, said: "Continue to call me your son, mother, for when with your majesty I am but an obedient, grateful son. "

"Well, then, welcome, welcome my son!" cried the queen, with anundisguised expression of rapture, and throwing her arms around him, she kissed his forehead repeatedly. "Welcome to the modest house of apoor, sorrowful widow. "

"My wish, dear mother, is, that you shall not think of yourself as asad widow, but as the mother of a king. I do not desire you to becontinually reminded of the great loss we have all sustained, and thatGod sent upon us. Your majesty is not only the widowed queen, youbelong not to the past, but to the present; and I beg that you will becalled from this moment, not the widowed queen, but the queen-mother. Grand chamberlain Pollnitz, see that this is done. "

For a moment the queen lost her proud, stately bearing; she was deeplytouched. The king's delicate attentions made her all the mother, andfor a moment love silenced all her proud, imperious wishes. 

"Oh, my son, you know how to dry my tears, and to change the sorrowingwidow into a proud, happy mother, " said she, pressing his hand tenderlyto her heart. 

The king was so overjoyed at his mother's unfeigned tenderness that hewas prepared to agree to all her demands, and humor her in every thing. 

"Ah, " said he, "I, not you, ought to render thanks that you are sowilling to enter into my views. I will put your magnanimity stillfurther to the test, and state a few more of my wishes. "

"Let us hear them, my son, " said the queen, "but first let me ask afavor. "

"Let us be seated. "

The king led her to an arm-chair near a window, from which there was abeautiful view of the garden. The queen seated herself, and the youngking remained standing in front of her, still holding his hat. SophiaDorothea saw this, and was enraptured at this new triumph. Turning tothe king, she said:

"Let us now hear your wishes, and I promise joyfully to fulfil them. "

"I wish, " said he, "your majesty to surround herself with a larger andmore brilliant court. Two maids of honor are not sufficient for thequeen-mother, for if by chance one were sick, and the other fretful, there would be no one to divert and amuse your majesty. I thereforepropose that you have six instead of two maids of honor. "

The queen looked at him in tender astonishment. 

"My son, " said she, "you are a veritable magician. You divine all mywishes. Thanks--many, many thanks. But your majesty is not seated, "said she, as if just perceiving this. 

"Madame, " said he, laughing, "I awaited your permission. " He seatedhimself, and said, "You agree to my proposal, mother?"

"I agree to it, and beg your majesty to point out to me the ladies youhave decided upon as my six maids of honor. Your majesty has freechoice, and all I wish is, to be told when you have decided. I onlyfear, " said the queen, "that with my enlarged court there will not beroom for the ladies to have their separate apartments at Monbijou. "

"Your majesty is no longer to live in this house, " said the king; "itis large enough for a passing summer visit, but it does not answer forthe residence of the queen-mother. I spoke some time since toKnobelsdorf, and already a magnificent palace is being built for you. "

The queen blushed with pleasure; all her wishes seemed to be fulfilledto-day. She must know whether Sophia Dorothea was to be queen-regent aswell as queen-mother. She thanked her son tenderly for this new proofof his love and kindness. 

"And still, " said she, sighing, "perhaps I ought not to accept of yourkindness. My husband's death should remind me of the transitory natureof life, and should lead me to pass the remainder of my days inseclusion, devoting my time to God. "

The king looked so anxious, so shocked, that the queen repented havinggiven the conversation this gloomy turn. 

"It is cruel, mother, " said he, "not to let me enjoy the pleasure ofbeing with you without a drop of wormwood. But I see by your rosycheeks and bright smile that you only wished to frighten me. Let thearchitects and masons continue their work: God will be merciful to me, and grant a long life to the noblest and best-beloved of mothers!"

He kissed her hand and rose; Sophia Dorothea was terrified. The kingwas leaving, and she still did not know how far her influence was toreach and what were to be its limits. 

"You will already leave me, my son?" said she, lovingly. 

"I must, your majesty. For from here I can hear the Governmentmachinery creaking and groaning; I must hasten to supply it with oil, and set it in motion again. Ah! madame, it is no easy task to be aking. To do justice to all his obligations, a king must rise early andretire late; and I think truly it is much more pleasant to be reignedover than to reign. "

The queen could scarcely suppress her delight; the king's words werebalm to her ambitious heart. 

"I can well see that it is as you say, " said she, "but I think that theking has a right to amuse himself; I think that a mother has someclaims on her son, even if he is a king. You must not leave now, myson. You must grant me the pleasure of showing you my new conservatory. Give me your arm, and comply with my request. "

"Madame, you now see what power you have over me, " said he, as shelaughingly took his arm. "I forget that I am the servant of my country, because I prefer being the servant of my queen. "

The large glass door was opened, and, leaning on the king's arm, thequeen entered the garden. 

At some distance the princesses with their brother and the rest of thecourt followed. They were all silent, eagerly listening to theconversation of the royal couple. But the queen did not now care to beheard by her court. They had seen her triumph, but they should not bewitness to a possible defeat. She now spoke in a low tone, and hurriedher steps, to put a distance between herself and the courtiers. Shespoke with the king about the garden, and then asked if he thought ofpassing the summer at Rheinsberg. 

"Alas, " said he, "I will not have the time. For a king is but the firstofficer of his State, and as I receive my salary I must honestly fulfilthe duties I have undertaken. "

"But I think your majesty does too much, " said the queen. "You shouldallow yourself more relaxation, and not let State matters rest entirelyupon your own shoulders. To one who is accustomed to associate withpoets, artists, and the sciences, it must be very hard suddenly to buryhimself in deeds, documents, and all sorts of dusty papers; you shouldleave this occasionally to others, and not work the State machineryyourself. "

"Madame, " said the king, "this machine has secrets and peculiaritiesthat its architect can intrust to no workman, therefore he must leadand govern it himself; and if at times the wheels creak and it is notin perfect order, he has only himself to thank. "

"But you have your ministers?"

"They are my clerks--nothing more!"

"Ah, I see, you intend to be a rock and take counsel from no one, " saidthe queen, impatiently. 

"Yes, your majesty, from you always; and with your gracious permissionI will now consult you. "

"Speak, my son, speak, " said the queen, in breathless expectation. 

"I wish your advice upon theatrical matters. Where must the newopera-house be built?"

The queen's face darkened. 

"I am not a suitable adviser for amusements, " said she, pointing to herblack gown. "My mourning garments do not fit me for such employment, and you well know I do not care for the theatre; for how many cold, dull evenings have I passed there with your father!"

"Ah, madame, " said the king, "I was not talking of a German theatre, which I dislike quite as much as yourself. No, we will have a Frenchtheatre and an Italian opera. The French alone can act and only theItalians can sing, but we Germans can play; I have therefore chargedGraun to compose a new opera for the inauguration of the newopera-house. "

"And undoubtedly this inauguration will take place on a festiveoccasion, " said the queen, going directly to the point. "Perhaps at thewedding of one of your sisters?"

"Ah, " said he, "your majesty is thinking of a wedding?"

"Not I, but others. Yesterday I received from London a letter from myroyal brother. And a few moments ago Count Manteuffel brought meletters of condolence from the Empress of Austria. It seems the countwas, besides this, commissioned to sound me as to a possible marriagewith Prince Augustus. "

"It is very unnecessary for the count to burden you with matters whichare happily beyond the reach of your motherly duties. For, alas! themarrying of princes is a political affair, and is not determined by themother's heart, but by the necessities of the kingdom. "

The queen bit her lip until it bled. "Your majesty is, undoubtedly, thinking of performing this political obligation, and have chosen abride for the prince, " said she, sharply. 

"Forgive me, " said the king laughing, "I am not now thinking ofmarrying, but of unmarrying. "

Sophia Dorothea looked anxiously at the king. "How, my son, are youthinking of a divorce?" said she, tremblingly. 

"Not of one, but of many, mother. Does your majesty know that I haveabolished the torture?"

"No, " said the queen impatiently, "I did not--politics do not concernme. "

"That is in conformity with the true womanly character of my mother, "said he. "There is nothing so insipid and tiresome as a woman who givesup the graces and muses to excite herself with politics. "

"And still your majesty was just initiating me into politics. "

"Ah, yes, I told you I had abolished the torture. "

"And I ask, how does that concern me?"

"You ask why I am thinking of divorces? Well, I told you that I hadabolished the torture, and in doing this it was but natural that Ibusied myself about marriage. For your majesty will grant me that thereis no severer rack, no more frightful torture, than an unhappymarriage. "

"It seems as if with the torture you will also abolish marriage, " saidthe queen, terrified. 

The king laughed. "Ah, no, madame, I am not pope, and have not receivedthe right from God to decide over men's consciences, though perhaps themajority would be inclined to call me holy, and to honor me withgodlike worship, if I would really abolish the torture of matrimony. But I am not ambitious, and renounce all claim to adoration. But whileengaged in abolishing the torture, I could but see that when themarriage chains had ceased to be garlands of roses, and weretransformed into heavy links of iron, there should be some means foundto break them. I have therefore commanded that if two married peoplecannot live harmoniously, a divorce shall not be denied them. I hopethat my royal mother agrees with me. "

"Ah, there will soon be many divorce cases, " said the queen, with acontemptuous smile. "All who are not thoroughly happy will hasten tothe king for a divorce. Who knows but that the king himself will setthe people a good example?"

"With God's help, madame, " said the king, gravely. "My noble motherwill always wish me to set my people a good example. A king is but theservant of a nation. "

"That is, indeed, an humble idea of a king, a king by the grace of God. "

"Madame, I do not crave to be called a king by the grace of God. Iprefer being king by my own right and strength. But forgive me, mother. You see how these politics mix themselves up with every thing. Let themrest. You were speaking, I think, of the marriage of one of theprinces?"

"We were speaking of the marriage of Prince Augustus William, " said thequeen, who, with the obstinacy of a true woman, always returned to thepoint from which she had started, and who, in the desire of gaining herpoint, had lost all consideration and presence of mind. "I was tellingyou that I received yesterday a letter from my royal brother, and thatKing George the Second is anxious to form an alliance between ourchildren. "

"Another marriage with England!" said the king, dejectedly. "You knowthere is no good luck in our English marriages. The courier who bringsthe English consent is always too late. "

The queen was enraged. "You mean that you have decided upon a bride formy son, that again my darling wish of intermarrying my children withthe royal house of England is not to be realized? Ah, your father'sexample must have been very satisfactory to you, as you follow soquickly in his footsteps. "

"I truly find, madame, that the king acted wisely in not regarding inthe marriage of the prince royal the wishes of his heart and hisfamily, but political interests, which he was bound to consider. I willcertainly follow his example, and take counsel over the marriage of theprince royal, not with my own heart, not even with the wishes of myroyal mother, but with the interests of Prussia. "

"But Augustus William is not prince royal, " cried the queen, withtrembling lips. "The prince is only your brother, and you may have manysons who will dispute with him the succession to the throne. "

An expression of deep sorrow lay like a dark veil upon the handsomeface of the king. "I will have no children, " said he, "and PrinceAugustus William will be my successor. "

The queen had not the heart to reply. She looked at her son inamazement. Their eyes met, and the sad though sweet expression of theusually clear, sparkling eyes of her son touched her, and awoke themother's heart. With a hasty movement she took his hands, pressed themto her heart, and said: "Ah, my son, how poor is this life! You areyoung, handsome, and highly gifted, you are a king, and still you arenot happy. "

The king's face was brighter, his eyes sparkled as before. 

"Life, " said he, smiling, "is not a pleasure, but a duty, and if wehonestly perform this duty we will be happy in the end. It is now timeto return to my prison and be king once more. "

He embraced his mother tenderly, laughed and jested for a few momentswith his sisters Ulrica and Amelia, then left, followed by hiscavaliers. Sophia Dorothea remained in the garden, and Ulrica, herfavorite daughter, followed her. 

"Your majesty looks sad and grave, " said she, "and you have everyreason to look happy. The king was remarkably kind and amiable. Onlythink of it, you will have six maids of honor, and a beautiful palaceis being built for you!"

"Oh, yes, " said the queen, "I will be surrounded with outward glory. "

"And how anxious the king seemed for you to forget the past!" saidPrincess Amelia, who, with Prince Augustus William, had joined hermother and sister, "you are not the widowed queen but the queen-mother. "

"Yes, " murmured Sophia Dorothea to herself, "I am queen-mother, but Iwill never be queen-regent. Ah, my children, " cried she, passionately, "the king, your brother, was right. Princes are not born to be happy. He is not so, and you will never be!"

CHAPTER V. 

THE QUEEN'S TAILOR. 

A dreary silence had reigned for some time in the usually gay and happyfamily circle of the worthy court tailor. No one dared to speak orlaugh aloud. M. Pricker, the crown and head of the house, was sad andanxious, and the storm-cloud upon his brow threw a dark reflection uponthe faces of his wife and two children, the beautiful Anna, and theactive, merry Wilhelm, Even the assistants in the work-room wereaffected by the general gloom; the gay songs of the apprentices weresilenced, and the pretty house-maids looked discontented and dull. 

A tempest lowered over the house, and all appeared to tremble at itsapproach. When Wilhelm, the son and heir of the house, returned fromhis work, he hastened to his mother's room, and casting a curiousglance upon the old woman, who was seated on a sofa, grim-looking, andsupporting her head upon her hand, he said, mysteriously--

"Not yet!"

Mother Pricker shook her head, sighed deeply, and replied:

"Not yet!"

The beautiful Anna was generally in her elegant room, painting orsinging, and did not allow herself to be disturbed; but now when thebell rang, or a strange step was heard, she hastened to her mother, andsaid:

"Well, has it come?"

Again Mother Pricker sighed, shook her head, and answered--

"Not yet!"

M. Pricker asked nothing, demanded nothing; silent and proud he sat inthe midst of his family circle; stoically listened to the ringing ofthe bell, and saw strangers enter his counting-room, too proud to showany excitement. He wrapped himself in an Olympian silence, andbarricaded himself from the curious questions of his children by thestern reserve of parental authority. 

"I see that he suffers, " said his wife to her daughter Anna; "I seethat he looks paler every day, and eats less and less; if this painfulanxiety endures much longer, the poor man will become dangerously ill, and the king will be answerable for the death of one of his noblest andbest subjects. "

"But why does our father attach such importance to this small affair?"said Anna, with a lofty shrug of her shoulders. 

Mother Pricker looked at her with astonishment. 

"You call this a small affair, which concerns not only the honor ofyour father, but that of your whole family; which affects the positionand calling enjoyed by the Pricker family for a hundred years? It is aquestion whether your father shall be unjustly deprived of hishonorable place, or have justice done him, and his great servicesacknowledged!"

Anna gave a hearty laugh. 

"Dear mother, you look at this thing too tragically; you are making acamel of a gnat. The great and exalted things of which you speak havenothing to do with the matter; it is a simple question of title. Thegreat point is, will our father receive the title of 'court tailor' tothe reigning queen, or be only the tailor of the queen-dowager. Itseems to me the difference is very small, and I cannot imagine why somuch importance is attached to it. "

"You do not understand, " sighed Mother Pricker; "you do not love yourfamily; you care nothing for the honor of your house!"

"Pshaw! to be the daughter of a tailor is a very poor and doubtfulhonor, " said Anna, drearily, "even if he is the tailor of one or eventwo queens. Our father is rich enough to live without this contemptiblebusiness; yes, to live in style. He has given his children such aneducation as nobles only receive; I have had my governess and mymusic-teacher; my brother his tutor; my father has not allowed him towalk through the streets, fearing that he might fall into the hands ofthe recruiting-officers. We have each our private rooms, beautifullyfurnished, and are the envy of all our friends. Why, notwithstandingall this, will he condemn us to be and to continue to be the childrenof a tailor? Why does he not tear down the sign from the door; thissign, which will be ever a humiliation, even though 'court tailor'should be written upon it! This title will never enable us to appear atcourt, and the noble cavaliers will never think of marrying thedaughter of a tailor, though many would seek to do so if our fatherwould give up his needlework, buy a country seat, and live, as rich anddistinguished men do, upon his estate. "

"Child, child, what are you saying?" cried Mother Pricker, clasping herhands with anguish. "Thy father give up his stand, his honorable stand, which, for more than a hundred years, has been inherited by the family!Thy father demean himself to buy with his honorably-earned gold ason-in-law from amongst the poor nobles, who will be ever thinking ofthe honor done us in accepting thee and thy sixty thousand dollars! Thyfather buy a country-seat, and spend in idleness that fortune which hisforefathers and himself have been collecting for hundreds of years!That can never be, and never will your father consent to your marriagewith any other man than an honest burgher; and he will never allowWilhelm to have any other calling than that of his father, hisgrandfather, and his great-grandfather, a court tailor. "

The beautiful Anna stamped involuntarily upon the floor, and a flush ofscorn spread itself over her soft cheek. "I will not wed a burgher, "said she, tossing her head proudly back, "and my brother Wilhelm willnever carry on the business of his father. "

"Then your father will disinherit you--cast you out amongst strangersto beg your bread, " said the old woman, wringing her hands. 

"God be thanked, " said Anna proudly, "there is no necessity for beggingour bread; we have learned enough to carry us honorably through theworld, and when all else fails, I have a capital in my voice whichassures me a glittering future. The king will found an opera-house, andsplendid singers are so rare that Prussia will thank God if I allowmyself to be prevailed upon to take the place of prima donna. "

"Oh! unhappy, wretched child!" sobbed Mother Pricker, "you willdishonor your family, you will make us miserable, and cover us withshame; you will become an actress, and we must live to see ourrespectable, yes, celebrated name upon a play-bill, and pasted uponevery corner. "

"You will have the honor of hearing all the world speak of yourdaughter, of seeing sweet flowers and wreaths thrown before herwhenever she appears, and of seeing her praises in every number ofevery journal in Berlin. I shall be exalted to the skies, and theparents called blessed who have given me life. "

"These are the NEW ideas, " gasped out her mother--"the new ideas whichare now the mode, and which our new king favors. Alas! wailing andsorrow will come over our whole city; honor and principle willdisappear, and destruction like that of Sodom and Gomorrah will fallupon Berlin! These are the alluring temptations with which BaronPollnitz fills your ear and crushes in your heart the worthy and seemlyprinciples of your family. That, "--suddenly she stopped and listened;it seemed to her the bell rung; truly there was a step upon the stairs, and some one asked for M. And Madame Pricker. 

"Pollnitz, " whispered Anna, and a glowing blush overspread her face, throat, and neck. 

"The Baron Pollnitz, the master of ceremonies, " said Madame Pricker, with a mixture of joy and alarm. 

The door flew open, and with a gay, frolicsome greeting, Pollnitzdanced into the room; Anna had turned to the window, and made no replyto his greeting. Madame Pricker stepped toward him, and greeted himwith the most profound reverence, calling him master of ceremonies andmaster of the bed-chamber. 

"Not so, " said Pollnitz; "why so much reverence and so many titles? Iam indeed master of ceremonies, but without the title. His majesty, theyoung king, has no special fondness for renewing the titles lent to usby his blessed father, and every prayer and every representation tothat effect has been in vain; he considers titles ridiculous andsuperfluous. "

Madame Pricker turned pale, and murmured some incomprehensible words. Anna, however, who had up to this time been turned toward the window, suddenly looked at the two speakers, and fixed her great eyesquestioningly upon the baron. 

"Ah, at last I have the honor to see you, fair, beautiful Anna!" saidPollnitz; "I knew well some magic was necessary to fix those splendideyes on me. Allow me to kiss your hand, most honored lady, and forgiveme if I have disturbed you. " Ho flew with an elegant pirouette to Anna, and took her hand, which she did not extend to him, and, indeed, struggled to withhold; he then turned again to Madame Pricker, andbowing to her, said, with a solemn pathos: "I am not here to-day simplyas the friend of the house, but as the ambassador of the king; and Ibeseech the honored Madame Pricker to announce to her husband that Iwish to speak to him, and to deliver a message from the queen. "

Madame Pricker uttered a cry of joy, and forgetting all otherconsiderations, hastened to the counting-room of her husband, to makeknown to him the important information. 

Baron Pollnitz watched her till the door closed, then turned to Anna, who still leaned immovable in the window. "Anna, dearest Anna, "whispered he tenderly, "at last we are alone! How I have pined for you, how happy I am to see you once again!"

He sought to press her fondly to his heart, but the maiden waved himproudly and coldly back. "Have you forgotten our agreement?" said she, earnestly. 

"No, I have held your cruelty in good remembrance; only, when I havefulfilled all your commands, will you deign to listen to my glowingwishes; when I have induced your father to employ for you anothersinging-master, and arranged for your glorious and heavenly voice to beheard by the king and the assembled court?"

"Yes, " cried Anna, with glowing eyes and burning cheeks, "that is myaim, my ambition. Yes, I will be a singer; all Europe shall resoundwith my fame; all men shall lie at my feet; and princes and queensshall seek to draw me into their circles. "

"And I will be the happiest of the happy, when the lovely nightingalehas reached the goal. From my hand shall she first wing her flight tofame. But, when I have fulfilled my word, when you have sung in theroyal palace before the queen and the court, then will YOU fulfil yourpromise? Then Pollnitz will be the happiest of mortals. "

"I will fulfil my word, " she said, as proudly and imperiously as if shewere already the celebrated and grace-dispensing prima donna. "On theday in which I sing for the first time before the king--the day inwhich the tailor's daughter has purified herself from the dishonor ofher humble birth, and becomes a free, self-sustaining, distinguishedartist--on that day we will have no reason to be ashamed of our love, and we can both, without humiliation, present our hearts to each other. Baron Pollnitz can take for his wife, without blushing, the womanennobled by art, and Prima Donna Anna Pricker need not be humbled bythe thought that Baron Pollnitz has forgotten his rank in his choice ofa wife. "

Baron Pollnitz, courtier as he was, had not his features so completelyunder control as to conceal wholly the shock conveyed by the words ofhis beautiful sweetheart. He stared for a moment, speechless, into thatlovely face, glowing with enthusiasm, ambition, and love. A mocking, demoniac smile appeared one moment on his lips, then faded quickly, andPollnitz was again the tender, passionate lover of Anna Pricker. "Yes, my dearly-beloved Anna, " whispered he, clasping her in his arms, "onthat blessed and happy day you will be my wife, and the laurelsentwined in your hair will be changed into a myrtle-wreath. " Heembraced her passionately, and she resisted no longer, but listenedever to his words, which, like sweet opium, poisoned both the ear andheart of the young girl. But Pollnitz released her suddenly, andstepped back, colder and more self-possessed than Anna. He had heard alight, approaching step. "Some one comes; be composed, dear one; yourface betrays too much of your inward emotion. " He danced to the openpiano and played a merry strain, while Anna hid her blushes in thebranches of a geranium placed in the window, and tried to cool herglowing cheeks on the fresh green leaves. 

Madame Pricker opened the door, and bade the master of ceremonies enterthe adjoining room, where M. Pricker awaited him. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE ILLUSTRIOUS ANCESTORS OF A TAILOR. 

Pollnitz offered his arm to the lovely Anna, and followed MadamePricker, laughing and jesting, into the next room. This was a longhall, which had an appearance of gloom and solemnity in itsarrangements and decorations. The high walls, hung with dark tapestry, were poorly lighted by two windows. Several divans, covered with aheavy silken material, the same color as the tapestry, were placedagainst the sides of the room, and over them hung a few oil paintingsin black frames, each representing the figure of a man with a mostsolemn expression and bearing. The remarkable resemblance which thesepictures bore to each other convinced you that they must be theportraits of one family. In each appeared the same countenance, thesame short, clumsy figure, and only the costumes served to point out bytheir various styles the different periods at which they had beenpainted. A figure, closely resembling the pictures, stood in the centreof the hall; it had the same countenance, the same short, clumsyfigure, and even the same dress as that represented in one of thepictures. You might have supposed that some galvanic experiment hadgiven life and motion to the painted form, and that as soon as thispower was exhausted it would become lifeless, and return to its placeamong the other pictures. But this figure was certainly living, for itgreeted the grand chamberlain, without, however, leaving the roundtable which stood in the centre of the room. 

"I welcome you to the house of my fathers, " it said, with greatdignity. Pollnitz threw a laughing, jesting glance toward Anna, who hadleft his side on entering the room, and had withdrawn to one of thewindows. 

"Why are you so earnest and solemn to-day, my dear Pricker?" said he, turning to the old gentleman. 

"Are you not here as the ambassador of the royal court?" he replied. "Iwished to receive you with all honor, and therefore desired you to comeinto this hall, that I might hear the royal message in the midst of myancestors. Tell me now how can I serve the house of my sovereign. "

"You can serve it, my dear Pricker, " said Pollnitz, smiling, as hedisplayed a large sealed paper, "by altering the sign upon your door. In the place of 'court tailor of the queen and princess royal, ' itshould read--'court tailor of the dowager and of the reigning queen. 'Here is the patent, my dear sir. "

The old man quietly took the paper; not a feature of his cold, solemnface moved. 

Madame Pricker, however, could not conceal her joy. With a cry ofdelight she hurried to her husband, to embrace and congratulate him onhis appointment. 

Pricker waved her proudly back. 

"Why do you congratulate me?" he said. "The house of Hohenzollern hasonly done justice to my house, that is all. The title of court tailorto the reigning queen has become an inheritance in my family, and itwould be a great ingratitude in the house of Hohenzollern to withholdit from me. For more than a century the Hohenzollerns have been dressedby my family; we have prepared their apparel for every ball andwedding, every baptism or burial; and if they were arrayed withelegance, it was entirely owing to our taste and dexterity. The proverbsays, 'The tailor makes the man, ' and it is true. We made thecoronation dresses of both the queens; it follows that they could nothave been crowned without our assistance, for which we, of course, deserve their gratitude. "

"I assure you, however, my dear friend, " said Pollnitz, "that it waswith much difficulty I obtained this appointment for you, and you oweme some acknowledgments. All of my eloquence was necessary to inducethe queen to grant my prayer. "

Pricker grew pale, and his countenance lost its calm dignity. 

"Take back your patent, " he said, proudly, handing the baron the sealedpaper; "I will not accept this title if it is not given willingly. "

"No, no, keep it, " cried Pollnitz; "you merit it; it is your right; Ionly mentioned the difficulty with which I obtained it, that I mightwin your heart, and incline you to grant a request which I wish tomake. "

"I suppose you allude to the five hundred dollars which I lent you lastmonth, " said Pricker, smiling, "Speak of that no more--the debt iscancelled. "

"Thank you, " said Pollnitz, "but I was not thinking of that smallaffair; it was quite another request I wished to make. "

"Let me hear it, " said the tailor, with a most gracious inclination ofthe head. 

"It concerns a young artist, who I would like to recommend to yourprotection, " returned the crafty Pollnitz, with a side glance at Anna. "He is a young and talented musician, who desires to gain a livelihoodby giving instruction, but unfortunately he is a stranger here, and hasfound but few patrons. I thought, therefore, that if you, who are sowell known, would interest yourself in him, and give him yourpatronage, it would greatly benefit him, for doubtless many otherswould hasten to follow your example. If you will allow him to givesinging-lessons to your daughter Anna, his fortune is assured. "

"I grant your request, " said Pricker, solemnly, not for an instantdoubting the motive of the baron. "I will bestow my protection uponthis young artist; he can give my daughter a daily lesson, that is, ifAnna is willing to show this kindness to the poor young man. "

Anna could scarcely restrain her laughter, as she replied:

"You have commanded it, and I will obey, as a daughter should do. "

"Very well, " said her father, majestically; "that matter is arranged. And now, baron, I beg you will inform me at what time the coronationwill take place, that I may make my preparations, and not be the causeof any delay on that solemn occasion. "

"The day of the coronation has not been decided, but it will certainlynot be fixed before the first of August. You will have time to make allyour preparations. Later we will hold a consultation with her majestythe queen, and decide the style, color, and material of the costumes. Iwill only give you a single word of counsel, my dear friend. Accommodate yourself to the new era. Remember that we have a new king, who is the counterpart of his father. The father hated and despisedelegance and fashion--the son adores them; the father was the swornenemy of French manners--the son has a perfect passion for them; and ifyou would please the son, you must lay aside your old German habits andcustoms, as we have all done, and walk in the new path. I tell you anew era is approaching, a period of glory and splendor. Every thingwill be altered, but, above all, we will have new fashions. In thefirst place, you must rid yourself of your German apprentices, andreplace them as quickly as possible with French workmen from Paris. That is the only means of retaining the court favor. "

Pricker listened to all this with horror and astonishment. His cheekswere white, and his voice trembled with anger, as he cried:

"Never shall that happen! Never will I adopt the innovations which arenow the fashion. Shall I lay aside my respectable dress, to replace itwith a monkey-jacket, and become a laughing-stock to all honest men?Shall I so far forget my God, my forefathers, and my native land, as tocall French workmen into my German work-room? Shame on me if I everconduct myself in such a godless and unchristian manner! Never shall aFrench foot cross the threshold of my dwelling! never shall a Frenchword be spoken there! I was born a German, and I will die a German. True to my fathers, and to the commands of my sainted sovereign, whohated and despised these frivolous French fashions, it shall be mypride to retain the good old German customs, and never shall a dresscut in the French style be made in my work-room. "

"If you act in this manner, the time of your good fortune is past, "said Pollnitz. 

Pricker paid no attention to him, but looking at the pictures whichhung on the wall, he bowed respectfully before one of them. 

"Look!" he said, pointing to one of the portraits, "that is mygreat-great-grandfather. He was a German, and the best and ablest ofmen. With him began the connection between the houses of Hohenzollernand Pricker. For him the Prince George William created the title ofcourt tailor, and he would wear no garment that was not made by hisfavorite. He remembered him in his will, and from that time began theimportance of the Prickers. 

"Then look at the next picture. It is the portrait of his son, who wasthe court tailor of Frederick William, the great elector. He made thesuit worn by the elector at the battle of Fehrbellin; it was, however, the unhappy duty of his son to make the burial-dress of this great man. 

"But with this portrait begins a new era for Prussia; this was thetailor of Frederick the Third, and he made the robe and mantle whichFrederick wore on the day of his coronation. His son succeeded him, andnow began a new era for the Prickers. 

"The son did not follow the example of his father; he was of a softer, a more poetical nature. He loved flowers and poetry, and adored beauty;he therefore became a lady's tailor. The princess royal, SophiaDorothea, appointed him her tailor. He made the coronation robe of thequeen, and the wedding-dress of the Margravine of Baireuth. 

"When he died he was succeeded by his son, the now living Pricker. Imade the wedding-dress of the Duchess of Brunswick, and the mourning ofthe present dowager-queen. And now, in the very presence of myancestors, you tempt me to become a traitor to them and to theircustoms. No, I am a German, and I remain a German, even should it causemy ruin!"

He bowed to the amused and astonished baron, and walked proudly throughthe hall to his work-room. His wife followed him with folded hands andheavy sighs. 

Pollnitz and the lovely Anna were again alone. 

"What an absurd man!" said Pollnitz, laughing. "If Moliere had knownhim he would have worked his character into a charming farce. "

"You forget that this absurd man may soon be your father-in-law, " saidAnna, sternly, as she left his side. 

"That is true, " said Pollnitz, smiling; "we will spare him. Come, onelast kiss, my beautiful Anna--one kiss as a reward for my successfulacting. To-morrow you will have a singing-master, who is no poorwretch, but a celebrated and influential musician, who has undertakento instruct you out of pure kindness for me, for he is not a teacherbut a composer. Graun himself will be your instructor, and it restswith you to crown our love with the happiest results. "

CHAPTER VII. 

SOFFRI E TACI. 

The most ardent desire of the young queen was about to be accomplished;she was to have a private and unconstrained interview with her husband. The days of resignation, of hope deferred, and of hidden sorrow, werenow over. The dearly-beloved and longed-for husband had at lastreturned to her! She need no longer hide her head in shame from her ownservants, who, she imagines, are secretly laughing at and mocking her, because the young king is so cold and indifferent. She need no longerenvy the poor woman she saw in the street yesterday, carrying dinner toher laboring husband. She will also have a husband, and will feel theguiding and supporting arm of a strong man at her side. No longer willshe be a poor, neglected queen, but a proud and happy wife, envied ofall the world. 

He had written that he desired to pay her a visit, and had requestedher not to lock her door, as important business would prevent hiscoming until quite late. He would, however, certainly come, as hedesired to have a private interview with her on this very evening. 

How wearily the hours of this day have passed, how slowly the sun sankto rest! It is at last evening; night is coming on. Elizabeth can nowdismiss her attendants, and retire to her private apartments to awaither husband. He shall see how joyfully she will receive him, how happyhe has made her. She will adorn herself, that he may be pleased; shewill be beautiful, that he may smile upon her. 

The queen, with the assistance of her astonished maids, attires herselffor the first time in one of the charming negligees recently sent bythe Empress of Austria; for the first time she dons her prettily-workedand coquettish little cap, and encloses her tiny feet ingold-embroidered white satin slippers. This neglige? is reallycharming, and the queen's waiting-maids assure her that she neverlooked better, and was never more becomingly attired. But the queendesires to assure herself of this fact, and stepping forward to themirror, she examines her dress with the careful eye of a connoisseur;then bending down, she regards her face attentively, and an expressionof satisfaction flits over her features. Elizabeth sees that she isyoung and pretty, and for the first time rejoices in her beauty. Themaids regarded with astonishment these unusual preparations. Why wasElizabeth now so much rejoiced at the beauty of which she had neverbefore seemed conscious?

The toilet is at an end; the queen seats herself on the light bluesofa, and dismisses her maids with a mute gesture. But when the firstmaid approaches the door, and as usual drew the key from the lock inorder to secure it from the outside, Elizabeth awakes from her dreamystate and arises from her reclining position; a glowing color suffusesher cheek, and a happy smile plays around her lips. 

"Do not lock the door to-day, " said she, with emotion; "I await theking. "

As if astonished at her new happiness, she sinks back on the cushions, and covers her glowing face with her handkerchief, as if to shut outthe dazzling light. The waiting-maids courtesy respectfully, and leavethe room. In the ante-chamber this respectful expression vanishes fromtheir features, and they turn to each other with mocking and derisivelaughter. 

"Poor queen! she wishes to make us believe that the king, while healtogether neglects her in public, sometimes pays her a secret visit. She wishes to make us believe that she is really the wife of thehandsome young king; and we all know--yes, we all know--"

And all three shrugged their shoulders derisively, and hurried off totheir associates, to gossip with them about the poor, despised, neglected queen. 

But what was that? Did they not hear a carriage driving into the innercourt, and the guard presenting arms amid the rolling of drums? Couldit be as the queen had said? was the king really coming to his wife?The waiting-maids stood and listened; they heard steps on the grandstaircase. Yes, it was the king, who, preceded by his pages, carryingsilver candelabras with wax candles, walked hastily down the corridorto his chambers, and from thence to those of the queen. 

What the queen had said was therefore true. He did not despise her;perhaps he loved her! The astonished waiting-maids hurried off toinform their friends that the king loved his wife passionately, and theroyal pair was the happiest couple on earth. Elizabeth Christine alsoheard the equipages drive in to the court. With a cry of delight shesprang from her seat and listened. A fervent glow of happiness shotthrough her veins. She pressed her hands to her heart to still itsrapid beating; her countenance was illumined with joy. But thesefeelings were so novel they almost terrified her, and filled her heartwith tremulous anxiety. 

"My God, " murmured she, "give me strength to bear this happiness, as Ihave borne misery!"

But her prayer died on her lips, for she heard the door of the corridoropen. She was no longer the queen, no longer the resigned and timidwife; she was now the happy and joyful woman hurrying to meet thehusband of her love. And with uplifted head and proud satisfaction shemight now confess without shame that she loved him; for he loved heralso. He had requested a rendezvous, and was coming as a lover-herfirst love meeting. She will not be shy and silent to-day, now that sheknows he loves her; her tongue will no longer be chained; she will havecourage to confess all, to tell him how ardently she loves him, and howlong and vainly she has struggled with her heart; how the flames hadever broken out anew; how his glances had ever renewed the ardor of herlove. 

There--he knocked at the door--she could scarcely breathe; she couldscarcely bid him enter; she could not move, and stood transfixed in themiddle of the room; she could only stretch out her arms longingly, andwelcome him with her smiles and tearful glances. 

The door opened; now he entered. The light of the wax candles fell onhis face. It was handsome as ever, but his eye was cold, and his lipsuttered no loving greeting. He walked forward a few steps, stood still, and bowed in a stiff and formal manner. A chill of horror crept overElizabeth; her arms sank down, and the smile vanished from her pallidface. 

"Madame, " said the king, and his voice sounded harsher and colder thanshe had ever before heard it--"madame, I must first beg your pardon forhaving disturbed you at so unseemly a time, and for having robbed youof an hour's sleep. But you see that I am a repentant sinner, and youwill forgive me when I assure you that, as this is my first, it shallalso be my last violation of your retirement!"

The queen uttered a low cry, and pressed her hand to her heart. Shefelt as if a sword had pierced her breast, as if she were dying. 

The king raised his large blue eyes with a surprised look to the pale, trembling face of his wife. 

"You are pale, you are ill, " said he, "and my presence is undoubtedlyannoying; I will retire and send your waiting-maids to your assistance. "

While he was speaking the queen prayed to God for courage and strength;she called her womanly pride to her assistance, and struggled againsther tears and her despair. The king, who in vain had waited for ananswer, now hastily approached the door, murmuring a few impatientwords. 

But Elizabeth's courage had now returned, she had conquered her heart. 

"Remain, sire, " she said; "I beg you to remain; I feel well again. Itwas only a passing spasm from which I often suffer, and for which Icrave your indulgence. "

"If I may then remain, " said the king, smiling, "permit me to conductyou to a seat. "

She accepted the king's proffered arm and followed him to the sofa onwhich she had awaited him with such blissful anticipations, and onwhich he was now about to put her heart to the torture. 

The king did not seat himself by her side, but rolling an arm-chairforward, seated himself at some distance in front of her. 

"Madame, " said he, "is it credible that we two have been married forseven long years, and still have never been as man and wife to eachother? Our lips were forced to pronounce vows of which our hearts knewnothing. Having been forced into this marriage, you must have hated me. You can never have forgiven me for having led you to the altar. At thefoot of the altar we did not vow eternal love to each other, buteternal coldness and indifference; and to this hour, madame, you, atleast, have faithfully kept this vow. "

The queen sank back, murmuring a few incomprehensible words, and herhead fell wearily upon her breast. 

The king continued: "I come to-day to solicit your forgiveness for theinvoluntary injustice which I committed. I have made you unhappy, foryou were forced to give your hand to an unloved man, of whom you knewthat he loved you not. Madame, it is unfortunately true, an abyss liesbetween us, and this abyss is filled with the blood of the dearestfriend of my youth. Oh, madame, forgive me this wrong, for the sake ofwhat I have suffered! I then had a soft and tender heart, but it wastrodden under foot, and has become hardened. I placed full confidencein the world, and it has deceived me terribly. I have suffered morethan the poorest beggar; I was forced to regard my own father as acruel enemy, who watched me unceasingly, awaiting a favorable moment togive me a death-blow. It was necessary that I should be continually onmy guard, for the smallest fault, the slightest thoughtlessness, atrifle, a mere nothing, was sufficient to condemn me. Oh, if you knewwith what vermin I have been publicly calumniated and accused! Afterdoing their utmost to make me odious to the world, and fearing theymight perhaps still fail, they resorted to another expedient to compassmy ruin, and endeavored to kill me with their ridicule. Soffri e taci, this Italian proverb was then the motto of my life. And believe me, itis hard to obey this seemingly so dry maxim; it has a grandsignificance. "[12]

[12] The king's own words. See Oeuvres, etc. , tom. Xvi. , p. 161. 

The king, oppressed as it were by these reminiscences, leaned back inhis chair and breathed heavily. With downcast eyes and in silence thequeen still sat before him, charmed by the music of his words, whichfound an echo in her heart like the dying wail of her youth. 

"I do not tell you this, " continued the king, after a pause, "in orderto play the role of a martyr in your sight, but because I wish you tounderstand by what means my spirit was at last broken, and my will madesubservient to that of my father. I purchased my freedom, madam, bychaining you to myself. But in doing this, I vowed you should no longerbe bound when it should be in my power to release you. This moment hascome, and true to my vow, I am here. I know that you do not, cannotlove me, madame. The question arises, is your aversion to me so greatthat you insist on a separation?"

The queen raised her head and looked wonderingly into the mild andsorrowful countenance of her husband. She could no longer restrain thecry which trembled on her lips, no longer stem the tide of tears whichgushed in torrents from her eyes. 

"My God! my God!" she exclaimed, with a plaintive wail, "he asks me ifI hate him!"

There was something in the tone of her voice, in this despairing cry ofher soul, which ought to have betrayed the long-hidden secret of herlove to the king. But perhaps he knew it already, and did not wish tounderstand. Perhaps, in the nobility and native delicacy of his soul, he wished to represent the indifference and coldness which heexperienced for his wife, as coming from herself. However, the king didnot seem to notice her tears. 

"No, madame, " said he, "I did not ask if you hated me, for I well knowthat your noble and womanly heart is not capable of this passion. Imerely asked if your aversion to me was so great that it demanded aseparation. I pray you to give me a short and decisive answer. "

But Elizabeth Christine had lost the power of speech; tears rained downher cheeks, and she could only give a mute assent. 

"You are, then, willing to be my wife before the world?" asked theking. "You are willing to remain Queen of Prussia, and nominally thewife of the king? You do not demand that my reign shall be inauguratedwith the exposure of our domestic misfortunes, and that your chaste andvirtuous name shall be branded about with mine before the calumniatingworld?"

"No, " said the queen, with feverish haste, for she feared her strengthmight fail her. "No, I do not demand it; I desire no separation!"

"I thank you for this word, " said the king, gravely. "It is worthy of aqueen. You then feel with me that we princes have not even the right tocast off the burden which weighs us down, but must bear it patiently ifit serve to secure the stability of our throne. Enviable are those whodare complain of their sufferings, and show their scars. But it becomesus to wrap ourselves in silence, and not to show to the miserable, pitiful, and drivelling world, which envies and abuses, even whileapplauding us, that a king can also suffer. I thank you, madame, andfrom this hour you will find in me a true friend, a well-meaningbrother, ever ready to serve you. Give me your hand to this contract, which shall be more lasting and holier than that blessed by priests, towhich our hearts did not say amen. "

In his proffered hand Elizabeth laid her own slowly and solemnly. Butwhen he clasped it in his own with a firm pressure, Elizabeth startedand a cry escaped her lips. She hastily withdrew her hand, and sinkingback on the sofa, burst into tears. Frederick allowed her tears toflow, regarding her with a look of deep sympathy. 

"You weep, madame, " said he, after a long and painful pause. "I honoryour tears; you weep for your lost youth; you weep because you are aqueen, and because reason has conquered your heart and forbids you tomake yourself free as any other woman except a princess might do. Weepon, madame, I cannot dry your tears, for like yourself I have beencheated of my happiness; like yourself I am well aware of the sacrificewhich we are both making to our royal standing. Ah, madame, if we wereonly private individuals, if we were not the rulers of Prussia, but hersubjects, we might now be happy. Feeling our own unhappiness, anddesiring to save our subjects from a like misfortune, I have made adivorce more easily attainable. "

Elizabeth arose from her reclining position and regarded the king witha mournful smile. 

"I thank your majesty, " said she. "It is noble in you to alleviate thatmisfortune for others, which you have determined to endure. "

"Ah, madame, " exclaimed the king, smiling, "you forget that I have inyou a noble friend and sister at my side, who will help me to bear thisevil. And then we are not altogether unhappy; if we do not love, neither do we hate each other. We are brother and sister, not by blood, but united by the word of the priest. But never fear, madame, I willregard you only as a sister, and I promise you never to violate therespect due to your virtue!"

"I believe you, " murmured the queen, blushing, and inwardly ashamed ofthe charming and coquettish negligee in which she had received the king. 

"Before the world we are still married, but I promise that this chainshall gall you as little as possible. In your private life you willonly be reminded that you are still my wife, when it is absolutelyunavoidable. At the coronation I must request your presence at my side. When this is over you will be as free and independent as circumstanceswill admit. You will have a court of your own, a summer and a winterresidence, in which I shall never intrude. "

"I shall then never see you again!" said the queen, in the sad voice ofresignation, which is often produced by an excess of pain. 

"Oh, I pray you, madame, to permit me to meet you at times whenetiquette demands it; but I shall take care that these meetings takeplace on official and neutral ground, and not in our private houses. Iwill never enter your house without your permission, and then only onparticular fete days--your birthday for instance; and I trust that youwill not refuse to receive me on such occasions. "

"No, I will not refuse, " replied the queen, regarding her husband witha sad and reproachful look. But Frederick did not see this look, orwould not see it. 

"I beg, " said the king, smiling, "that you will permit me to presentyou with the castle of Schonhausen, as a reminiscence of the hour inwhich you found a faithful brother, and I a noble sister. Accept thislittle gift as an earnest of our new bond of friendship. It has beenfitted up and prepared as a summer residence for your use, and you canretire to it immediately after the coronation, if you are so inclined. "

"I thank you, " said the queen in so low a voice that her words couldscarcely be distinguished. "I thank you, and I will go there on the dayafter the coronation;" a sigh, almost a sob, escaped her breast. 

The king regarded with a clear and penetrating glance the meek womanwho sat before him, who accepted her joyless and gloomy future withsuch heroic resignation. Her mute anguish excited his compassion. Hewished to throw a sunbeam into her dark future, to warm her heart witha ray of happiness. 

"Well, " said he, "I am on the point of making a little journeyincognito, in the meanwhile you can go to Schonhausen; but when Ireturn I desire to spend a few weeks in Rheinsberg in my family circle, and, as a matter of course, madame, you are a member of my family. Ibeg, therefore, that you will accompany me to Rheinsberg. "

Elizabeth's countenance was illumined with so beautiful and radiant asmile that even the king saw it and admired her beauty. She held outboth her hands and greeted him with a loving glance, but her tremblinglips refused to utter the words which her heart prompted. 

The king arose. "I must no longer deprive you of your repose, and Ialso need rest. We must both keep ourselves well and strong for thesake of our country and our subjects, for we both have a grand task toaccomplish. You will administer consolation to the miserable andsuffering; you will diffuse happiness and reap blessings; you willshine as a model of nobility and feminine virtue before all otherwomen, and through your example will give noble wives and mothers toPrussia's sons! And I, " continued the king, a ray of enthusiasmlighting up his handsome face, "I will make my people great; my countryshall have a place in the counsels of mighty nations. I will enlargePrussia and make her strong and powerful. My name shall be engraven ingolden letters in the book of history. As fate has destined me to be aking, and will not permit me to spend my days in retirement andphilosophic tranquillity like other and happier mortals, I will atleast endeavor to accomplish my mission with honor to myself andadvantage to my people. You will be a ministering angel to the needyand suffering of our subjects, and I will extend the boundaries ofPrussia and diffuse prosperity throughout the land! Farewell, Elizabeth! our paths will seldom meet, but if I were so fortunate as tobelieve in a hereafter, and your noble and gentle nature would almostpersuade me to do so, I would say: 'In heaven we will perhaps meetoftener, and understand each other better. ' Pray to God in my behalf. Ibelieve in God and in the efficacy of the prayers of the good andpious. Farewell!"

He bowed deeply. He did not see the deathly pallor and convulsivetrembling of the queen. He did not see how she, after he had turnedfrom her and was advancing toward the door, hardly knowing what shedid, stretched out her arms after him, and whispered his name in aplaintive and imploring tone. He hurried on, and without once turningleft the room. On the outside he stood still for a moment, and drew along breath of relief. 

"Poor woman! unfortunate queen!" he murmured, returning slowly to hischambers. "But why pity her? Is not her lot mine, and that of allprinces? A glittering misery--nothing else!"

A few minutes later and the royal equipage again drove through thecourt yard. 

The king was returning to his summer residence at Charlottenburg. Thequeen, who was on her knees, crying and sobbing, heard the carriage asit drove off. "Gone! he is gone!" she exclaimed, with a cry of anguish;"he has deserted me, and I am a poor discarded woman! He despises me, and I--I love him!" And wringing her hands, she sobbed aloud. For awhile she was tranquil and prayed, and then again burst into tears. Hersoul, which had suffered so long in silence, once mora rebelled. Thevoice of her youth made itself heard, and demanded in heart-rendingaccents a little sunshine, a little of the joy and happiness promisedto mankind. 

She was at last quieted; she accepted her destiny, and bowed her headin humility and patience. Morning was already dawning when ElizabethChristine arose from her knees, pale and trembling, but resigned. "Soffri e taci!" said she, sadly. "This was the motto of his youth, andthis shall be the motto of my whole life! Soffri e taci! how sad, andyet how grave are these words! Oh! Frederick, Frederick! why do youcondemn me to such torture; why has your heart no pity with me, no pitywith my love? But no!" she exclaimed, firmly, "I will weep no more. Heshall not despise me. I have accepted my destiny, and will bear it asbeseems a queen. Be still, my heart, be still. Soffri e taci!"

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE CORONATION. 

Berlin was resplendent; the streets were filled with happy faces andgayly-dressed people, and the houses garlanded with flowers. To-day wasthe young king's coronation festival. 

The citizens of Berlin were assembled to take the oath of allegiance, and the nobles and officials to do homage to Frederick as their king. Crowds were moving toward the castle; all were anxious to see the kingin his coronation uniform, to see him step upon the balcony to greetthe people with the queen at his side, the young and lovely lady withthe sweet smile and cloudless brow; all wished to see the richequipages of the nobility, and, if possible, to collect some of thecoins which, according to an old and time-honored custom, were to beshowered amongst the people. Thousands were standing before the castle, gazing intently upon the balcony where the king would soon appear. Thewindows of the surrounding houses were filled with lovely women richlydressed, holding wreaths and bouquets of fragrant flowers with which togreet their young and worshipped king. All were gay and joyous, allwere eager to greet the new king with shouts of gladness. The peoplewere ready to worship him who, during a few weeks of his reign, haddone so much for them; had showered upon them so many blessings; hadopened the granaries, diminished the taxes, and abolished the torture;who had recalled the religious sect so lately driven with derision fromBerlin, and declared that every man in Prussia should worship God andseek his salvation in his own way. Yes, all wished to greet thishigh-minded, high-souled king, who, being himself a philosopher and awriter, knew how to reward and appreciate the scholars and poets of hisown land. Frederick had recalled the celebrated philosopher Wolf, punished some time before by Frederick William. He had organized theAcademy of Science, and filled it with learned and scientific men ofthe day. All this had been done in a few weeks. How much could still behoped for?

The king loved pomp and splendor; this would promote the industry ofthe people. How much money would be conveyed through him and his gaycourt to the working classes! What a costly festal life would nowbecome the fashion in Berlin and what a rich harvest would themanufacturers and tradesmen reap! Not only the people dreamed of agolden era, but the noblemen and high officials, who now crowded thepalace, were hopeful and expectant, and saw a rare future of costlyfeasts and intoxicating pleasures. The stupid and frugal entertainmentsof Frederick William would give place to royal fetes worthy of theArabian Nights. 

Pollnitz, the Grand Chamberlain, was in his element; he wascommissioned with the arrangements for all the court balls, wasempowered to order every thing according to his own judgment and taste, and he resolved to lavish money with a liberal hand. Pollnitz wished torealize his great ideal; and he wished to see embodied in Frederick thepicture he had drawn, for the benefit of the old king, of a truecavalier. The king had given him the power and he was resolved to useit. He thought and dreamed of nothing, now that the court mourning wasdrawing to a close, but the costly feasts which he would give. Pollnitzwas ever searching, with an experienced and critical eye, amongst theladies and maids of honor for the fascinating beauty who should charmthe heart of the young king, and draw him into the golden net ofpleasure--the net Pollnitz was so anxious to secure for him. 

That the king did not love his wife was no longer a secret at court. Who, then, would win the love of this impassioned young monarch? Thiswas the great question with Pollnitz. There was the lovely MadameWreeckie, who had shown so much kindness to the prince during hisimprisonment. Madame Wreeckie was still young, still bewitching;perhaps it was only necessary to bring them together in order torekindle the old flame. There was Madame Morien, "Le Tourbillon, " whohad so often charmed the prince during his minority, and for whom hehad manifested a passionate preference. To be sure, since hiscoronation he had not noticed her, she had not received a singleinvitation to court. Then Dorris Ritter, the poor innocent young girlwho had been flogged through the streets of Berlin, her only faultbeing that she was the first love of the crown prince. Would the king, now that he was free to act, remember poor Dorris and what she hadsuffered for him; her sorrow, her shame, and her despair? Would notDorris Ritter now rise to power and influence, be prayed to as a lovelysaint, her shame being covered with a martyr's crown? Pollnitzdetermined to keep an eye on Dorris Ritter, and if the king showed nospecial interest in any other woman, to draw her from her exile andabasement. But, alas! the coronation threw no light upon this torturingsubject. Pollnitz had hoped in vain that a round of intoxicatingpleasures would begin with this day; in vain did he suggest to the kingthat a court ball should crown the solemnities of the day. 

"No, " said Frederick, "this shall be no day of thoughtless joy; itbrings me sad retrospective thoughts and the consciousness of weightyduties. On this day my father seems to me to die anew. Dismiss, therefore, your extravagant fancies to a more fitting time. I cannottrust you, Pollnitz, with the decorations of the throne, your taste istoo oriental for this occasion; I will therefore place this affair inthe hands of M. Costellan, who will order the simple decorations whichI deem most fitting. "

The grand chamberlain could only shrug his shoulders contemptuously, and rejoice that he was not compromised by these contemptiblearrangements; he grumbled to himself, and said scornfully: "Thispitiful saloon, with no gilded furniture, no paintings, no works ofart, with faded, shabby silk curtains: and that black, uncouthstructure, is that really a throne--the throne of a young king? A longplatform covered with cloth; an old arm-chair, black, worn, and rusty;a canopy covered with black cloth; faugh! it looks like a crow with hiswings spread. Can this be the throne of a king who receives for thefirst time the homage of his subjects?" A contemptuous mocking smilewas on the lips of Pollnitz as he saw the king and his three brothersenter the room. 

Pollnitz could hardly suppress a cry of horror, as he looked at theking. What, no embroidered coat, no ermine mantle, no crown, nothingbut the simple uniform of the guard, no decorations--not even the starupon his breast, to distinguish him from the generals and officials whosurrounded him! Nevertheless, as Frederick stood upon that miserableplatform with the princes and generals at his side, there was no onethat could be compared with him; he seemed, indeed, to stand alone, hisbearing was right royal; his countenance beamed with a higher majestythan was ever that lent by a kingly crown; the fire of genius was seenin the flashes of his piercing eye; proud and fearless thoughts wereengraved upon his brow, and an indescribable grace played around hisfinely-formed mouth. There stood, indeed, "Frederick the Great;" he didnot need the purple mantle, or the star upon his breast. God had markedhim with elevated kingly thoughts, and the star which was wanting onhis breast was replaced by the lustre of his eye. 

The solemn address of the minister of state, and the reply of PresidentGorner, were scarcely listened to. Frederick, though silent, had saidmore than these two ministers, with all their rounded periods; hisglance had reached the heart of every one who looked upon him, andsaid, "I am thy king and thy superior;" they bowed reverently beforehim, not because chance had made him their sovereign, they were subduedby the power of intellect and will. The oath of allegiance was takenwith alacrity. The king stood motionless upon his throne, betraying noemotion, calm, impassive, unapproachable, receiving the homage of hissubjects, not haughtily but with the composed serenity of a greatspirit accepting the tribute due to him, and not dazzled by theoffering. 

The coronation was at an end. Frederick stepped from the throne, andnodded to his brothers to follow him; the servants hastily opened thedoors which led to the balcony, and carried out the bags filled withthe gold and silver coins. The air resounded with the shouts of thepopulace. The king drew near to the iron railing, and greeted hissubjects with a cordial smile. "You are my children, " he said, "youhave a right to demand of your father love, sympathy, and protection, and you shall have them. " Then taking a handful of coin he scattered itamongst the crowd. Shouts of merriment and a fearful scuffling andscrambling was seen and heard below; each one wished to secure a cointhrown by the king himself, and they scarcely noticed the silver andgold which the young princes were scattering with liberal hands; allthese were worthless, as long as it was possible to secure one piecewhich had been touched by Frederick. The king saw this, and, muchflattered by this disinterested mark of love, he again scattered thecoin far and wide. 

While the men were struggling roughly and angrily for this lasttreasure, a weak, pallid woman sprang boldly into the thickest of thesurging crowd. Until now she had been cold and indifferent; the coinsthrown by the young princes, and which had fallen at her feet, she hadcast from her with disdain; now, however, as the king once more castthe coins in the midst of the gaping crowd, with a power which passiononly gives she forced her way amongst the wild multitude, and withoutstretched arms she shrieked out, "Oh! give me one of these smallcoins, only a silver one, give it to me as a keepsake! Oh! for God'ssake, give me one!" Suddenly strange murmurs and whispers were heardfrom amongst those who now recognized this poor outcast; they lookedaskance at her, they shrank from her as from a leper; and she who amoment before had sued to them so humbly, now stood in their midst likean enraged lioness. 

"It is she!--it is she!" they whispered; "she has come to see the king, for whom she suffered so much; for his sake she had been covered withshame; she has been driven from amongst the poor and innocent, and nowshe dares to come amongst us!" cried a harsh and pitiless voice. 

"We know how cruelly she was insulted and abused, " said another, "butwe all know that she was innocent; my heart is full of pity for her, and she has a right to a coin touched by the king. " The last speakerapproached the poor woman, and offered both a gold and silver coin. "Take these coins, I beg you, and may they be to you an earnest of abetter and happier future. "

She gazed with a hard and tearless eye upon the good-natured, kindlyface. "No, there is no happy future for me--nothing but want, andmisery, and despair; but I thank you for your pity, and I accept thesecoins as a memento of this hour. " She took them and laid them in hertattered dress, walked erect through the circle which gathered around, and was soon lost in the crowd. 

She was soon forgotten. The king with his brilliant suite was stillupon the balcony, they had not noticed the scene passing amongst thepeople below; none of them remarked this poor creature, who, havingmade her way through the crowd, now leaned against one of the pillarsof the spire, and gazed earnestly upon the king. The money wasexhausted, the king had shown himself to the people sufficiently, andnow, according to etiquette, he must leave the balcony and make thegrand tour of the saloons, greeting with kind and gracious words theassembled nobles. He motioned, however, to his followers to leave him, he wished to remain a few moments alone, and look thoughtfully uponthis sea of upturned faces. Frederick gazed eagerly below. That was noinanimate and pulseless creation moved to and fro by the wind, which henow looked upon, but a living, thinking, immortal people; with heartsto hate or love, with lips to bless or curse, their verdict would oneday decide the great question as to his fame and glory as a monarch, orhis neglect of holy duty, and the eternal shame which follows. Theyseemed to Frederick to be pleading with him; they demanded butlittle--a little shade to rest in when weary with their daily labor;prompt justice and kindly protection, the right to live in peace, bearing the burden and sorrow of their lives patiently; pity for theirnecessities, forbearance for their weakness and folly. What did he, their king, demand of them? That alone, which a million of people, hispeople, could bestow, immortal fame!--they must give him the laurel ofthe hero, and crown him with the civic wreath; he would make hissubjects strong, healthy, and happy--they must make his greatness knownto all the world, and future ages. 

Such were the thoughts of the king as he stood alone upon the balcony. His eye often wandered across to the spire, and as often as it did thewretched woman who was leaning against the pillar trembled fearfully, and her lips and cheeks became deadly pale. The king did not see her;he saw nothing of the outer world, his eye was turned within, readingthe secrets of his own heart. 

In the grand saloons the nobles stood waiting in grim and angry silencethe return of Frederick; a cloud rested upon every brow; even Pollnitzcould no longer retain his gracious and stereotyped smile; he felt itto be a bitter grievance that the king should keep the nobility waitingwhile he stood gazing at a dirty mass of insignificant creatures calledhuman beings! Looking around the circle, Pollnitz saw displeasuremarked upon every face but three. "Ah, " said he to himself, "there arethe three Wreeckies; no doubt they have come to be rewarded forservices rendered the crown prince; they were doubtless dangerousrivals for us all; they suffered much for the prince, and were banishedseven years from court on his account. The king must indemnify them forall this, and who knows, perhaps he may give them the house in JagerStreet, the house I am in the habit of calling mine! Well, I must drawnear them and hear all the king promises. " So saying, Pollnitz drewquietly near the Messieurs Wreeckie. At this moment there was amovement in the vast assembly, and all bowed low; as the king steppedinto the saloon he commenced the grand tour of the room; he had a kindand friendly word for all; at last he reached the Messieurs Wreeckie, and remained standing before them. All glances were now directed tothis group; all held their breath, not wishing to lose a word whichFrederick should say to these formidable rivals. 

The king stood before them, his eye was severe, and his brow clouded. "Gentlemen, " he said, "it has been a long time since I have seen you atthe court of the King of Prussia. I suppose you seek the prince royal;I do not think you will find him here. At this court you will only finda king who demands, above all things, that his majesty should berespected; that you subjugate yourselves to him in silent obedience;even when his orders appear harsh and cruel they must not be questionedfor a moment; he who opposes the will of the king deserves punishment;I will not bear opposition at my court. There is but one will, but onelaw; that is the will and law of the king!" And, without furthergreetings, he passed on. 

The Wreeckies stood pale and trembling, and the face of Pollnitz wasradiant with contentment. "Well, those poor fellows will not receive myhouse in Jager Street, " he said to himself, "they have fallen intodisgrace; it appears the king wants to punish all those who renderedgood service to the prince royal. Louis the Fourteenth said: 'It ismost unworthy of a French king to punish any wrong done to the crownprince;' here the rule is reversed--the King of Prussia deems itunworthy to reward the services rendered the prince royal. But what isthe meaning of that crowd over there?" he exclaimed, interruptinghimself, "why is the lord marshal approaching his majesty with such aneager, joyful air? I must know what is going on. " Again Pollnitz madehis way through the courtiers and arrived safely, right behind theking, just as my lord marshal was saying in an excited voice: "Yourmajesty, there is a young man in the next room who begs your highnessto allow him to throw himself at your feet and take the oath ofallegiance; he has come from America to greet you as king. So soon ashe heard of the illness of your father, he left his asylum and hastravelled night and day; he has finished his journey at a mostfortunate moment. "

The eye of the king rested coldly, unmoved on the speaker; and evenafter he ceased speaking, regarded him sternly. "What is the name ofthis young man, for whom you show so lively an interest?" said theking, after a pause. 

The lord marshal looked perplexed and frightened; he thought the king'sheart should have told him who stood without; who it was that had lefthis asylum in America and longed to greet the new king. "Sire, " hesaid, hesitatingly, "your majesty demands to know the name of thisyoung man?"

"I demand it. "

The lord marshal breathed quickly. "Well, your majesty, it is mynephew; it is Lieutenant Keith, who has come from America to throwhimself at your majesty's feet. "

Not a muscle of the king's countenance moved. "I know no LieutenantKeith, " he said, sternly; "he who was once known to me by that name wasstricken from the officers' roll with the stigma of disgrace and shame, and was hung by the hangman in effigy, upon the gallows. If Mr. Keithis still living, I advise him to remain in America, where no one knowsof his crime, or of his ignominious punishment. "

"Your majesty will not receive him, then?" said the lord marshal, witha trembling voice. 

"You may thank God, sir, that I do not receive him--above all, that Iignore his being here; if I should know that he still lived, I shouldbe forced to execute the sentence to which he was condemned by thecourt-martial. " Slightly nodding to the lord marshal, the king passedon and spoke a few indifferent words to some gentlemen standing near. 

"Well, Mr. Keith will not get my house in the Jager Street, " saidPollnitz, laughing slightly. "What is the matter with this king, heseems to have lost his memory? God grant he may not forget who it wasthat induced Frederick William to pay the debts of the prince royal, and to present him with the Trakener stud. "

CHAPTER IX. 

DORRIS RITTER. 

When the king had left the balcony, a poor young woman, who had beensitting on the steps of the cathedral, arose and looked fearfullyaround her. The sight of the king had carried her far away, she hadbeen dreaming of the blissful days of the past. His disappearancebrought her back to the present--the sad, comfortless present. The kinghad left the balcony. What had she to do in this mob, that might againmock, insult, or commiserate her! she could stand neither their sneersnor their pity, she must flee from both. 

With a hasty movement she drew her shawl tighter around her poorslender figure, and hurried through the crowd. She came at last to amiserable small house. The low narrow door seemed unfriendly, inhospitable, as if it would permit no one to pass its threshold andenter its dreary, deserted rooms, from which no sound of lifeproceeded. But this small, quiet dwelling ought to have been a house oflabor and occupation, and would not have been so poor and pitifullooking if the large iron bell hanging over the door had been oftenerin motion, and filled the silent space with its cheerful sound. 

Behind this door there was a shop, but the bell was generally silent, and purchasers rarely came to buy in this miserable little store thearticles which could be purchased more reasonably in one of the largeshops belonging to wealthy merchants. The house seemed to have seenbetter days. It had some claims to comfort and respectability. In thewindows were placed bright shells and cocoanuts; there were the largeblue china pots, in which the costly ginger is brought; there werequantities of almonds, raisons, citron, and lemons in glass shells;neat paper bags for coffee, and small Chinese chests that had held realChinese tea. But these bags and chests were empty; the lemons andfruits were dried and hard; the ginger-pots held no more of theirstrengthening contents; even the dusty, faded sign over the door, whichpresented a wonderfully-ornamented negro engaged in unrolling driedtobacco leaves, was but a reminiscence of the past, for the tobacco hadlong since disappeared from the chests, and the little that was lefthad fallen to dust. The store contained but a few unimportant things:chicory for the poor, who could not pay for coffee; matches, and smallhome-made penny lights, with which poverty illuminated her misery andwant; on the table, in glass cans, a few hardened, broken bits ofcandy; a large cask of old herring, and a smaller one of syrup. Thiswas the inventory of the shop, these the possessions of this family, who alone occupied this house with their misery, their want, and theirdespair; whose head and only stay was the poor young woman now leaningwearily against the steps, dreading to enter her house of woe andwretchedness. She arose at length and hastily entered. The bells'hoarse creaking ring was heard, and a poor, pale boy hastened forwardto inquire the comer's wants. He stopped and looked angrily at the poorwoman who had entered. 

"Ah, it is you, mother, " said he, peevishly. "I hoped it was some onewishing to buy, then I could have bought some bread. "

"Bread!" said the mother anxiously; "did I not, before I went out, giveyou the money to buy bread for you and your little sister?"

"Yes, but when father came home he threatened to beat me if I did notgive up the money at once; I was frightened, and gave it; then he left, and Anna and I have been crying for bread, while our father is amusinghimself at the alehouse and our mother has taken a holiday, and hasbeen looking at the festivities which I also would have been glad tosee, but could not, because I must stay at home and watch the shop intowhich no one has entered, and take care of my little sister, who criesfor bread, which I cannot give her. " As he finished he threw an angrylook at his mother, who, deeply grieved, had fallen back on a woodenbench. She looked lovingly at her son, and holding out her arms to him, said:

"Come, give me a kiss, and reward me for all my pain and suffering. "

"Give us bread, then perhaps I will kiss you, " said he, harshly. 

She looked terrified into his hard, cold face. She pressed her hand toher high, pale forehead, as if she would force back the madness thatthreatened her; she held the other hand to her heart, whose wild, feverish throbbings were almost choking her. 

"My God! my God!" murmured she, "am I then already mad? Am I dreaming?Is this my son, my Karl, who loved me so dearly--my boy, who was theonly comfort in my misery, the confidant of my tears and wretchedness?Can I, whom he looks at with such dark glances, be his mother--hismother, who joyfully bears for him the scorn of the world, who hassuffered and hungered for him, worked for him during the long, coldwinter nights--his mother, whose love for him was so great that she waswilling not to die, but for his sake to live on in her woe? Karl, myson, come to your mother, for you well know how tenderly she loves you, and that she will die if you do not love her. "

"No, mother, " said he, not moving, "you do not love me, nor my littlesister Anna; for if you loved us, you would not have left us to-day, and joined the gay people who were making merry while your poorchildren were at home groaning and crying. "

"Oh, my child! my child! I did not go, out of idle curiosity, " saidshe, sadly. "I went to consult the oracle of your future, and to see ifthere was not to be some hope, some comfort for my children; if thiswould not be the beginning of brighter days. I wished to read all thisin a man's face; I wished to see if he still had a heart, or if, likeall princes, he had become hard and pitiless. "

She had forgotten that she was speaking to her son; she was addressingherself, and had entirely forgotten that he was present. 

"Ah, " said he, sneeringly, "you thought he would now give you money foryour shame; but father told me that all the gold in the world would notwipe out this shame, and that brandy was the only way besides deaththat could make us forget that we are despised and accursed. Fathertold me--"

The boy stopped and retreated a few steps; his mother had risen fromher seat and stood before him, deadly pale, with widely-opened, flashing eyes, with trembling lips; every muscle of her face in play;her whole form trembling in a paroxysm of rage and frightful torture. It was not the head of a woman, but a Medusa; not the look of a tender, loving mother, but of a wild, angry, threatening mad woman. 

"What did your father tell you?" cried she, wildly, to the tremblingboy before her. "What did he say? I will, I must know! You are silent;speak, or I dash my brains out against the wall, and you will be guiltyof your mother's death. "

"You will beat me if I tell you, " said he insolently. 

"No, no, I will not beat you, " said she, breathlessly; and folding herhands as if to pray, she continued: "My child, my child, have mercy onyour mother. Tell me what he said; with what words he poisoned yourheart, and made the love for your poor mother die so quickly. Tell meall, my son; I will not beat but bless you, though your words shouldcut my heart like a knife. "

She wished to press him to her heart, but he resisted passionately. 

"No, " said he, "you shall not kiss me; father said you made all youtouched unhappy and despised, and that we would be well, happy, andrich if you were not our mother. "

She shuddered; her arm fell powerless to her side, a hollow groanescaped her, her eyes were fixed and tearless. 

"What more did he tell you?" murmured she; "with what other tales didhe amuse my child?" She looked at him with such a sad, painful smile, that he trembled and glanced timidly down; he now saw what torture hewas preparing for her. 

"Father was drunk, " said he; "when he heard that you had gone out, hewas furious; he cursed you so dreadfully that Anna and I both cried, and I begged him not insult you so, for it hurt me, for then I stillloved you. "

"Then he still loved me!" said his mother, wringing her hands. 

"But he laughed at me, and said you did not deserve our love; that youwere the cause of all our misery and want; he had become poor andwretched because he had married you, and taken to drink so as not tohear or see men pointing and laughing at you when you passed. But, mother, you look so pale, you tremble so! I will say no more; I willforget all father said; I will love you, mother; but do not look at meso dreadfully, and do not tremble in that way. "

The boy wept from grief and terror. His old love had awakened; heapproached his mother to kiss her, but now she pushed him back. 

"I do not tremble, " said she, though her teeth were chattering. "I donot tremble, and you must not forget what your father said; you musttell me all again. Speak on, speak! I must hear all, know all. Whatmore did he say?"

The boy looked at her sadly. His voice, which before had been insolentand rude, was now quiet and gentle, and his eyes were full of tears. 

"He said he married you out of pity, and because you brought him a fewthousand dollars. But this gold brought no blessing with it, but acurse; and that since then it had gone worse with him than with theexecutioner, whom all despise, and who dares not enter an honest man'shouse. But that you were more despised and disgraced than the miserableman who had stripped you in the open market and whipped you through thestreets; that the boys had pelted you with mud, and that the streetsbecame red with the blood that flowed down your back. "

The poor woman gave a piercing shriek, and fell as if struck bylightning to the floor. The boy threw himself weeping by her side; andthe little girl, who had been sleeping in another corner of the room, awakened by the scream, came running toward them crying for bread. 

But the mother moved not; she lay there pale, with closed eyes; she wascold and lifeless; she did not hear her poor little girl cry; she didnot feel the hot kisses and tears of her son, who was imploring her inanxious, tender, loving words, to open her eyes, to tell him that shewas not angry, that she had forgiven him. But he suddenly stopped andlistened eagerly; he thought he heard the well-known sound of the bell. 

"There it was again; if it is father, he will beat me to death, "murmured he, as he went toward the shop door. "He forbade me to repeata word of all that to mother. "

He opened the door, and there stood not his father but a richly-dressedgentleman, who, with a friendly gesture, pushed the boy aside andentered the shop. 

"I want some tobacco, my little fellow, " said he; "therefore call Mr. Schommer to give me some from his best canister. "

"My father is not at home, " said the boy, staring at the handsome, friendly gentleman. 

"Well, I did not come precisely on his account, " said the gentleman, with a strange laugh. "Call your mother, Madame Schommer, and tell herI wish to make a purchase. "

"Mother is lying in the back room on the floor, and I believe she isdead!" said Karl, sobbing. 

The gentleman looked at him with amazement. "Did you say dead? Thatwould be very inconvenient, for I have greatly counted on her life. What did she die of? Is a physician with her?"

"No one is with her but my little sister; you can hear her crying!"

"Yes, I can hear her; and it is in truth no edifying music. No oneelse, did you say? Where, then, are your friends? where is your father?"

"Father is at the ale-house, and friends we have none; we live allalone, for no one will live with us. "

"Well, if you are alone, I may go to your mother, " said he, with acareless laugh. "It is likely your mother has fainted; and as I amlearned in these feminine swoons, it is very possible I may call herback to life. Show the way, little Cupid, and lead me to your mother, the fainting Venus. " And laughing, he followed the astonished boy intothe back room. 

She still lay without movement on the floor, and little Anna, kneelingby her side, was praying for bread. 

"That is your mother, Madame Schommer?" asked the strange gentleman, looking curiously at the pale woman. 

"Yes, that is my mother, " said the boy. "Mother, mother, wake up!" saidhe, covering her face with kisses. "Wake up, I do not believe whatfather said. I will love you! He was drunk! Ah, my dear, dear mother, only wake up!"

"She will awake, " said the stranger, who was bending over her, layinghis hand on her heart and temples, "she is, as I thought, not dead butin a swoon. "

The boy laughed aloud with glee. "My mother is not dead, " said he, crying and laughing at once. "She will wake up and love me; we will allbe so happy!"

"Mother, mother, give me some bread!" whimpered poor little Anna. 

"Are you then so hungry?" said the stranger, who was getting tired ofthis scene. 

"Yes, " said the boy, "she is hungry; we are both hungry. We have hadnothing to eat all day. Mother gave us money before she went out to buybread and milk, but father came and took it to buy brandy for himself. "

"A worthy father, " said the stranger, handing him something. "Here, myson, is some money. Take your sister, go to the baker's, and getsomething to eat, then seat yourselves and eat; and do not come backhere until I call you. But if you see your father coming, then come andtell me. "

The children joyfully hurried to the door; they were not now thinkingof their poor, fainting mother, but of the bread they would buy tosatisfy their hunger. 

"But who, " said the boy, turning around, "will watch the shop?"

"Well, I will, " said the stranger; "I will watch your mother and yourshop; go!"

The children hurried away, and the stranger was alone with the faintingwoman. 

CHAPTER X. 

OLD AND NEW SUFFERING. 

The cavalier stood quietly some minutes, showing no sympathy for thepoor insensible woman, and making no effort to arouse her toconsciousness; he examined her face searchingly and curiously, not fromsympathy for her sad condition, but with cold egotism, thinking only ofhis own special object. 

"Hum, " murmured he, "in spite of pallor and attenuation, there are yettraces of great beauty. I am sure if well nourished and well clothedshe may yet allure the heart which must be ever touched with pity forher mournful fate; besides, she is poor--hopelessly, despairingly poor. The husband is a drunkard, the children cry for bread; she is so poorlyclad, so pale, so thin; hunger has been her only lover. Under thesecircumstances she will readily adopt my plans, and be my willing tool;she will acknowledge me as her master, and by God I will teach her howto bind this headstrong fool in chains. He has so far escaped all thepitfalls which Fredersdorf and myself have so adroitly laid for him. Dorris shall be the Delilah who will tame this new Samson. Truly, " hecontinued, as he cast a look of contempt upon the senseless form lyingbefore him, "truly it is a desperate attempt to transform this dirty, pale, thin woman into a Delilah. But the past is powerfully in herfavor, and my Samson has a heart full of melting pity and sensibility;moreover all previous efforts have failed, and it is pardonable to seekfor extraordinary means in our despair. So to work! to work!"

He took from his pocket a small phial of English salts, held it to hernose, and rubbed her temples with a small sponge. "Ah, she moves, " hesaid, resting for a moment from his work, and looking coldly andcuriously upon the poor woman, who, with a shudder of newly-awakenedlife, now turned her head, and whose convulsed lips uttered short sighsand piteous complaints. Pollnitz rubbed her temples again with thestrong salts, and then, as he saw that consciousness was more and morerestored, he raised her from the floor, and placed her softly in achair. "Auso armes, auso armes, " muttered he. "La battaille commencera. "

The woman opened her eyes, and they wandered with an anxious andquestioning look here and there, then fell upon the stranger, who, witha smiling and observant glance, followed every movement. Her eyes werefixed and staring, her features expressed terror and scorn, her wholeform was convulsed, she was still half dreaming, half unconscious. Buther eye was immovably placed upon him, and she murmured in low tones, "I know this face--yes, I know this cold, smiling face, I have FELT ittwice! When was it? was it only in fearful dreams, or was it afrightful reality? When, where did I see this cold, devilish smile, this face so cold and heartless, so full of iron egotism?"

"Truly, she does not flatter, " murmured Pollnitz, but without changingfor one moment his watchful but friendly mien. "I am curious to see ifshe will at last recognize me. "

"Pollnitz!" cried she at last, with flaming eyes. "Yes, it is you! Iknow you! you are Baron Pollnitz! Who gave you the right to enter thishouse? what brings you here?"

"I repeat your question, " he replied, smiling, "what brought you here, here in this gloomy, miserable room; here where hunger and wailing havetheir dwelling; here where misery grins upon you with hollow-eyedterror? What do you here, Dorris Ritter?"

She trembled convulsively at this name, her cheeks were dyed purple, and in another moment became ghastly pale. "Why do you call me DorrisRitter?" she cried, with gasping breath, "why remind me of the past, which stands like a dark spectre ever behind me, and grins upon me withbloody and shameful horrors?" Lost wholly in these fearfulremembrances, she stared before her, thinking no more of Pollnitz, forgetting that his watchful and heartless eyes were ever fixed uponher. "Dorris Ritter!" she cried, slowly, "Dorris Ritter! where are you?why do they call you by thy name? Can they not remember that you are asleep walker wandering on the edge of a precipice, into which you mustfall headlong if awakened by the sound of your name, Dorris Ritter?"she said, more loudly, fixing her eye upon Pollnitz; "how dare you callmy name, and tear me shrieking from my grave!"

"Now, that is exactly what I wish, " said Pollnitz; "I will raise youfrom this lowly and forgotten grave; you shall forget what you havesuffered; you shall be rich, happy, distinguished, and envied. "

"I!" cried she, with mocking laughter, "and you will make that of me!You, Baron Pollnitz, you, who were partly the cause of my misery, andwho looked smilingly upon my shame! What, then, what have I done todeserve so much shame and sorrow? My God!" cried she, in heartrendingtones, "my heart was pure and innocent; I dared raise my head withoutfear, and look God and my parents in the face; even before HIM, myprince, I needed not to cast down MY eyes; I was innocent, and he lovedme because he could also respect me. Alas! it was so silent, soresigned a love; it asked for nothing, it had no speech. Was it ourfault that others saw and pointed out this love without words, andwhich eyes of innocence only expressed? We stood far removed from eachother, and a gulf lay between us, but heavenly music formed a goldenstarry bridge over this abyss, and the holy and melodious toneswhispered to our young hearts, the complaints and longings of aspeechless, self-renouncing love. Only thus, only thus, a sweet dream, and nothing more! Then you came to awaken us, to accuse the prince ofhigh treason, to make of me a miserable prostitute. You cast my love, which I had only confessed to my Father in heaven, like a dirty libeland foul fruit in my face; you wished to spot and stain my whole being, and you succeeded; you crushed my existence under your feet, and leftme not one blossom of hope! Oh, I will never forget how you tore mefrom the arms of my poor father! how you cast me into prison andchained my hands, because in the anguish of my shame and my despair Itried to take that life which you had dishonored! They came at last, and dragged me before the king. Two men were with him, one with acommon red and swollen visage, with thick, lascivious lips, with redand watery eyes--that was Grumbkow; the other, with the fine friendlyface, with the everlasting deceitful smile, the cold, contemptuous, heartless glance, that was you, Baron Pollnitz. Ah, with what horribleglances did these three men look upon me! what mockery and contempt didtheir cruel voices express! I threw myself at the feet of the king; Iprayed to him for mercy and grace; he kicked me from him, and shamed mewith words and accusations which made my soul blush. I swore that I wasinnocent; that no sin lay upon me; that I had never been the beloved ofthe prince; that I had never spoken to him but in the presence of myfather. Then laughed they, and mocked me, and loudest of all laughedBaron Pollnitz, and his words of scoffing and insult pierced my heartlike a poisoned arrow, and checked my flowing tears. "

"It is true, " murmured Pollnitz; "she has forgotten nothing. "

"Forgotten!" cried she, with a wild laugh, "can I forget that I wasdriven through the streets like a wild beast; that I was stripped bythe rough hands of the hangman's boy; that I heard behind me thescoffings and insults of the wild mob hired for the occasion; that Ifelt upon my naked back the cruel blows of the executioner's whip? Oh, I have borne, and I have suffered; I did not become a maniac, I did notcurse God, but I prayed to my Father in heaven as I ran like a baitedwild beast through the streets. I saw that all the houses were closed, that no one stood at the windows; no one had the courage to look uponmy path of martyrdom, and it comforted me even in the midst of mytorture, and I blessed those men who were pitiful to me, and whoappeared to bear testimony to my innocence by refusing to witness mycruel punishment, and I ran further, and the hot blood flowed down myback. Suddenly I came upon a house which was not closed, the door wasopen, before it stood the servants and pointed the finger of scorn atme, and mocked and jeered at me. On the balcony stood Baron Pollnitz, with his stony, heartless face! Then I uttered a cry of rage andrevenge, then my prayers were hushed or changed into wild curses, and Iyelled and howled in my heart: he is guilty of my shame, he with hiscruel jests, his pitiless sneers, has poisoned the ear of the king, hasdestroyed the last doubt of my guilt in the heart of his majesty. Disgrace and shame upon Baron Pollnitz! may he be despised, lonely, andneglected in the hour of death; may remorse, the worm of conscience, feed upon his soul, and drive him hither and thither, restless andhomeless all his life long!"

She uttered a wild cry, and sank back powerless and broken in her chair. 

Baron Pollnitz was self-possessed and smiling throughout; he laid hishand upon the nerveless arm of the sobbing woman, and said with a soft, flattering tone:

"It is true I have done you injustice, but I have come to make amendsfor the past. You shall yet raise your head proudly, and no one shalldoubt of your innocence. "

She shook her head sadly. "How can that help me? My father died ofshame; my husband, who married me from pity and because I had a poortwo thousand crowns, could not bear that men should flee from me asfrom a branded culprit; this grief drove him to drink, and when hecomes home drunk at night, he beats me and shames me; the next morninghe prays, with strong crying and tears, for forgiveness, but goes againand begins anew the same sad existence. My children!"

She could say no more; her words were choked with tears, as she thoughtof the hard and frightful language her little boy had used to her thatmorning. 

Pollnitz was weary of the complaints and sobs of this wretched woman. 

"Weep no more, " said he; "weeping makes the eyes red, and you musthenceforth be lovely and attractive; if you will follow my advice youand your children will once more be joyful and happy. I will send youbeautiful clothing, and I know an adroit person who will make youcharmingly attractive, and at the same time arrange your toilet withsuch enchanting grace that you will pass for the 'Mater dolorosa' andthe beautiful Magdalen in the same person. Then will I lead you to theking; then will he read in your lovely and noble face the touching andinnocent story of his first love; it will then rest with you, who haveso long been covered with dust and ashes, to kindle again the spark ofyour dead love, and find in his tenderness the reward and compensationfor all the bitter past. "

She looked at him with flaming eyes, and her glance was so piercingthat even Pollnitz felt a little embarrassed, and involuntarily casthis eyes to the ground. 

"Has the king sent you here with this message?"

"No, not the king; but I know that he thinks of you with love and pity, and that he would be happy to find you. "

"If that is so, let him come to seek me. I will not go to him--I am theinjured and dishonored one; it is his duty to repair my wrongs. But hewill not come--I know it. I read it to-day in his face. The world haskilled his heart; it has turned to stone in his breast--a gravestonefor his dear-loved Katt and for Dorris Ritter. "

"He will come; I say to you he will! Hear me, Dorris; you will not goto him? Well, then, expect him here, and prepare yourself in such a wayto receive him as to make an impression upon his heart; study carefullyyour part; revolve every word which you will say to him; consider everyglance with which you will look upon him; put on the clothes which Iwill send you, and banish your husband and your children. "

"My children!" cried she, trembling; "no, no, only as a mother--onlyunder the protection of their innocent presence will I ever see him;only for my children will I receive his sympathy and grace. "

Pollnitz stamped involuntarily with his feet upon the floor, andmuttered curses from between his tightly-pressed lips. 

"Do you not understand that our whole scheme will fail unless you doexactly as I tell you; that you will attain nothing unless you beginwisely and prudently? You say the king has no heart; well, then, he hasintellect, and this you must flatter; through this you may, perhaps, warm his stony heart; you must not trust wholly to the majesty of yourmisfortunes, but advance to meet him in the grace and glory of yourbeauty; by your soft eyes you must work upon his heart; not with yourtears, but by enchanting smiles, he may be won. "

She looked at him with proud and contemptuous glances. 

"Go!" said she; "go! we have nothing to do with each other. I wouldcurse you and seek to revenge myself upon you for the new dishonorwhich you have put upon me by your shameless words, but I know I havenot the right to resent. I am a degraded, dishonored woman, and all menbelieve they have the right to insult me and to mock at my misfortunes. Go!"

"You command me, then, to leave you; you will not heed the voice of awell-meaning friend; you--"

"Baron Pollnitz, " said she, with a voice tremulous with scorn, "I saygo! drive me not to extremity. Shall I call upon the neighbors torelieve me from the presence of one I abhor, who disregards thesanctity of my poor house, and abuses and sneers at a woman who hateshim? Go, and let me never see your face or hear your voice again!"

"Well, then, I will go; farewell, dear Madame Schommer; but I will comeagain, and perhaps I may be so happy as to find in your place theenchanting Dorris Ritter, that sentimental young maiden of the past, who loved the crown prince so passionately, and was so well pleased toreceive his love and his presents. "

He laughed aloud, and left the dreary room with a courtly pirouette;with quick steps he hastened through the shop, and opening the doorwhich led into the street, he kicked the two children who were sittingon the threshold to one side, and rushed into the street. 

"She is truly proud yet, " murmured he, shrugging his shoulders. "Thehangman's whip did not humble her--that pleases me; and I am more thanever convinced we will succeed with her; she must and shall be belovedof the king; and as she will not go to him, well, then, I will bringhim to her. To-morrow the king will visit the site chosen for thepalace of the queen-mother: that will be a glorious opportunity toinduce him to enter her hut. "

Dorris Bitter had risen, and with uplifted arm and a proud glance shehad followed Pollnitz. Her whole being was in feverish excitement. Inthis hour she was no more a poor, disheartened woman, from whom allturned away with contempt, but a proud wife conscious of her honor andher worth, who commanded her persecutor from her presence; who asked nomercy or grace, and demanded a recognition of her purity. 

As the steps of the baron faded away, and Dorris was again alone, herfeverish excitement subsided, and she was again a poor, pallid, trembling, humble woman. With a cry of the most profound woe she sankback in her chair, and stared long before her. Suddenly she murmuredfrom between her tightly-compressed lips: "Woe to him! woe to him! whenhe forgets what I have suffered for him; woe to him, if he does notremove the shame which crushes me! woe to him, if he despises me asothers do! Then will Dorris Eitter be his irreconcilable enemy, and shewill take vengeance so true as there is a God over us!"

CHAPTER XI. 

THE PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE. 

"Courage, my dear friend, " said Madame von Brandt to Count Voss, whostood before her with the most mournful expression, and seemed so lostin grief as to be scarcely aware of the presence of his charming andbewitching Armida. 

"I do not understand how you can laugh and be gay, if you love me, " hesaid, sadly. 

"I love you truly, and therefore I am gay. We have almost gained ourend; soon the suspicions of the world will be lulled, for who woulddream that the husband of the young and beautiful Laura von Pannewitzcould possibly love the old and ugly Madame von Brandt?"

"You old! you ugly!" cried the young count, indignantly. "It is wellthat it is you who utter such a blasphemy; if any other did, I shoulddestroy him. "

"You would do very wrong, dear count, for that would betray our love tothe world. No, no, if any one should speak so to you, you must shrugyour shoulders, and say, 'I am not acquainted with Madame von Brandt, Iam indifferent whether she is handsome or ugly. She may be as old asMethuselah, it does not concern me. "

"Never will I say that, never will I be induced to utter so miserableand dishonorable a falsehood. No, dearest, you cannot demand that. Yousee your power over me, and treat me most cruelly. You condemned me tobe married, and I have obeyed your commands, although my heart wasbreaking as I made my proposal to the queen. Now I entreat that youwill not torture me by demanding that I shall revile and caluminateyou. No, no, I pray on my knees that you will be kind and merciful!"

He threw himself on his knees before her, leaning his head upon thedivan on which she was sitting. 

She placed her hand upon his head and played with his fair hair. "I amnot cruel, I am only cautious, " she whispered, almost tenderly. "Trustme, Alexander, you must not doubt my boundless love. "

"No, no, you do not love me, " he sighed; "you are always hard andcruel, you have never granted me the smallest favor, you have neveraccepted one of my presents. "

A slight but scornful smile played upon the lips of this beautifulwoman, while the enthusiastic and impassioned young man spake thus. Sheturned aside her face, that he might not see its expression. 

But he thought she was again angry with him. "Ah, " he said, despairingly, "you will not allow me even to behold your heavenlycountenance; do you wish to drive me to distraction? What have I doneto deserve this new torture? Are you so offended because I entreatedyou to accept a gift from me? Oh, it is so sweet to compel the one welove to think of us; to place a ring upon her finger, and bid her dreamof him who loves her when she looks upon it; to bind a chain upon herneck, and whisper, 'You are fettered, my love enchains you, you aremine!' A man can only believe in the affection of his beloved when shecondescends to accept something from him. "

"And would that give you faith in my love?" she said, in a tender, melting voice, as she turned smilingly toward him. 

"Yes!" he exclaimed, "it would increase my faith. "

"Well, then, give me some little thing that will remind me of you, thatI can wear, as the spaniel wears the collar which bears the name of itsmaster. "

She offered him her hand, which he covered with fervent kisses, andthen drew from his bosom a large and heavy etui, which he placed in herhands. 

"But this contains not merely a ring, " she said, reproachfully; "youhave deceived me, misused my kindness; instead of presenting me with asmall souvenir, with the pride of a king you wish to overwhelm me withyour rich gifts. Take back your case, count, I will not look at itscontents; I will not behold how far your extravagance and pride haveled you; take your treasures, and give me the simple ring that Ipromised to accept. " She stood up, and handed him the etui with the airof an insulted queen, without once glancing at its contents, and onlydivining their value by the size and weight of the case. 

Her poor lover regarded her with a truly despairing expression. "If youdesire to destroy me, do it quickly and at once, not slowly, day byday, and hour by hour, " he said, almost weeping. "I fulfil yoursmallest desire, I marry at your command, and you refuse to show me theslightest kindness. " He was now really weeping, and turned aside thatshe might not behold his tears. Then suddenly recovering himself, hesaid with the boldness of despair: "I will learn from you the use ofthe word no. If you refuse to accept this case, then I will refuse tomarry Mademoiselle von Pannewitz. If you compel me to receive againthose miserable stones, I will go at once to the queen, and tell herthat I was mistaken, that I cannot and will not marry Mademoiselle vonPannewitz; that I have given up my plan, and am determined to leaveBerlin immediately. "

"No! no! you must not go! you shall not leave me!" she cried, withevery appearance of terror; "give me the case, I will accept it. Youmust not leave Berlin!"

The young count uttered a cry of delight, and hurried to her side. 

"I will accept this etui, " she said smiling, "but will not open itwhile we are together, for fear we might again disagree. "

Count Voss was beside himself with joy and gratitude, and vowed hewould marry Mademoiselle von Pannewitz that very day, to obtain thekiss which Madame von Brandt had promised him at his wedding. 

"Love might perhaps remove mountains, " she said, "but it cannot givewings to the tongue of a queen. You have placed your proposals in thehands of her majesty, you selected this lofty lady to sue for you, andnow you must wait until it pleases her to make your proposals known tothe lady. "

"The queen promised to do that to-day. It was necessary for me to makemy proposals to her, for the family of Mademoiselle von Pannewitzdemanded that I should obtain the consent of the queen to my marriagebefore I could hope for theirs. "

"And Laura, have you obtained her consent?"

"Oh, " said the vain count, shrugging his shoulders, "I am certain ofthat; she is poor and entirely dependent on the proud dowager-queen; Iwill make her a countess, and insure her freedom; she will liveindependently upon her estates, and be surrounded with wealth andluxury; she will have every thing but a husband. "

"Poor Laura!" said Madame von Brandt, softly. "But you have been withme already too long; it might be remarked, and give rise to suspicion;go, now, I will work for you, and you must work for yourself. Let nodifficulties frighten you. "

The count left her slowly, while Madame von Brandt was scarcely able toconceal her impatience to be alone. She looked after him with acontemptuous smile, and murmured to herself: "Vain fool, he deserves tobe deceived. But now at last I will see what this precious etuicontains. " She flew to the table and hastily lifted the cover of thecase. A cry of astonishment arose to her lips, and her eyes beamed asclearly and brightly as the diamonds resting upon the satin cushionwithin. "Ah! this is really a royal present, " she whispered, breathlessly, "more than royal, for I am confident King Frederick wouldnever present any woman with such diamonds; but I deserve them for mywonderful acting. This poor count is convinced that I am the noblest, most unselfish, and most loving of women. How well conceived, how wiseit was to decline his first gift! I knew that he would replace it withsomething more costly and elegant, hoping to move me to change myresolution. How my heart bounded with delight when he drew forth thisgreat case! I could scarcely withhold my hands from grasping the costlytreasure. I concealed my impatience, and would not open the case in hispresence, fearful that he might read my delight in my eyes, and thatmight have undeceived the poor fool as to my disinterestedness. Trulyit was very wise and very diplomatic in me; even Manteuffel could nothave acted more discreetly. " She bent again over the flashing diamonds, and pressed her burning lips to the cold stones. "Beautiful stones, "she whispered tenderly, "your cold kiss animates my whole frame; I loveyou more than any human being, and when you are upon my neck I willdesire no warmer embrace. Welcome, then, beloved, to my house and mybosom. You shall be well cared for, I shall exert myself to provide youwith worthy companions; many of your family are lying loosely about inthe world, and you doubtless desire the company of your brothers andsisters. I myself share that desire, and will seek to accomplish it bybringing together more and more of your relations; I will invite yourcousins, the pearls, and you shall be united. My diamonds and pearlsshall have a gayer and more splendid wedding than Count Voss andbeautiful Laura von Pannewitz. " She laughed aloud in the joy of herheart, then closed the case and locked it carefully in herwriting-desk. "And now to the queen-mother, " she said; "the train islaid, it is only necessary to apply the match and await the explosion. I must point out to the queen that this marriage of the lovely Laurawith Count Voss is necessary to prevent a difficulty in the royalfamily, I must--EH BIEN! NOUS VERRONS. I hear the voice of the queen;she is taking her promenade, and I must not fail to be present. " Shetook her hat and shawl, and hurried to the garden. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE QUEEN AS A MATRIMONIAL AGENT. 

The queen-mother was taking a walk in the garden of Monbijou. She wasunusually gay today, and her countenance wore an expression ofhappiness to which it had long been a stranger. And the queen had goodreason to be gay, for she seemed on the point of realizing the proudanticipations she had indulged in for so many weary years. Her son wascarrying into execution the promises which he had made on his firstvisit, and in which she had hardly dared to believe. She had alreadyreceived the first monthly payment of her income as queen-dowager, which her son had largely increased. New appointments had been made toher court, and it had been placed on a truly royal footing; andyesterday the king had told her that he had already chosen a site forher new palace. Moreover, the homage she received from the entirecourt, and more especially from the king's favorites, bore evidence tothe fact that her influence was considered great, and that muchimportance was attached to her grace and favor. While Queen Elizabethwas passing her time joylessly at the Castle of Schonhausen, to whichshe had retired, the entire court was assembling at Monbijou, andhastening to do homage to the queen-mother. Even the young king, whohad not yet paid a single visit to his wife at Schonhausen, waited onthe queen his mother daily, accompanied by a brilliant suite ofcavaliers. [13]

[13] Thiebault, ii. , page 84. 

The queen Sophia Dorothea had good reason to be gay, and to entertainthe happiest anticipations in regard to the future. To-day for thefirst time she could take her morning walk attended by her brilliantsuite, for the last appointments had only been made on the precedingday. When the queen now looked around, and she did so from time totime, she no longer saw the two maids of honor of earlier days walkinglanguidly behind her. Six of the most beautiful ladies, all of thefirst nobility, had been appointed to the queen's service, and were nowengaged in a merry conversation with the four cavaliers in attendanceon the queen, who had been selected for this office by the kinghimself. While conversing with her marshal, Count Rhedern, she couldhear the merry laughter of the newly-appointed maid of honor Louise vonSchwerin, and the soft, melodious voice of the beautiful Laura vonPannewitz, whose grace and loveliness had even excited the admirationof her husband the king, and for a few weeks thrown him into a state towhich he was entirely unaccustomed. [14]

[14] Memoires de Frederique Wilhelmine de Baireuth, vol. Ii. , p. 308. 

The queen, as we have said, was unusually gay, for she had justreceived a new proof of her own importance, and of the influence shewas supposed to exert on the young king her son. 

Count Rhedern had solicited the assistance of the queen-mother in avery delicate and important matter, and had requested her to advocatehis cause with King Frederick. The count desired to marry, but thepermission of the king was still wanting, and would probably be verydifficult to obtain, for the count's chosen was unfortunately not of anoble family, but had the misfortune to be the daughter of a Berlinmerchant. 

"But, " said the queen, after this confidential communication, "I do notunderstand why it is that you wish to marry this girl. I should thinkthe nobility of our kingdom was not so poor in beautiful andmarriageable ladies that a Count Rhedern should find it necessary tostoop so low in search of a wife. Look behind you, count, and you willsee the loveliest ladies, all of whom are of pure and unblemisheddescent. "

"True, your majesty. These ladies are beautiful, of good birth, youngand amiable, but one thing is wanting to make them perfect. Mademoiselle Orguelin is neither beautiful nor of good birth, neitheryoung nor amiable, but she has the one thing which those fairies lack, and for the sake of this one thing I am forced to marry her. "

"Count, you speak in riddles, and as it seems to me in riddles ofdoubtful propriety, " said the queen, almost angrily. "What is this onething which Mademoiselle Orguelin has, and on account of which you arecompelled to marry her?"

"Your majesty, this one thing is money. "

"Ah, money, " said the queen, smiling; "really, it well becomes acavalier to marry beneath him for the sake of money!"

"Your majesty, it is because I am mindful of the duties which my rankimpose on me, and of the demands which a cavalier of my standing shouldmeet, that I have determined to make this misalliance. Your majestywill be indulgent if I dare open before you the skeleton closet, andunveil the concealed misery of my house. The Counts Rhedern are an oldand illustrious race. My ancestors were always rich in virtues but poorin gold. Economy seems to have been the one virtue they ever possessed;they were too generous to reject any appeal made to them, and too proudto limit their expenditures to their small income. Outwardly theymaintained the pomp suitable to their standing, while they gnawedsecretly and unseen at the hard crust of want. Thus from father to sonthe debts were constantly increasing, and the revenues becoming smallerand smaller. If I do not make an end of this, and sever the Gordianknot like Alexander, instead of attempting the wearisome task ofuntying it, I shall soon present to the court and nobility the sadspectacle of a Count Rhedern who is compelled to give up his hotel, hisequipage, his furniture, and his servants, and live like a beggar. "

"Ah, this is really a sad and pressing affair!" exclaimed the queen, sympathizingly, "but are there no heiresses among the nobility, whosefortunes might save you?"

"None, your majesty, who like Mademoiselle Orguelin would bring me afortune of three millions. "

"Three millions! That is a great deal, and I can now perfectly wellunderstand why you are compelled to marry this Orguelin. You have myconsent, and I think I can safely promise you that of my son the king. Make your arrangements and fear nothing. I guarantee that the king willnot refuse your request. "

"After what your majesty has said, I feel assured on this point, "exclaimed Count Rhedern, with a sigh. 

"How, and you still sigh, count?"

"Your majesty, I need the permission of one other person--theacceptance of the bride. And to this acceptance is appended acondition, the fulfilment of which again depends upon your majesty'skindness. "

"Well, truly, this is a strange state of affairs. You speak gravely ofyour approaching marriage, and as yet are not even engaged. You speakof your bride, but Mademoiselle Orguelin has not yet accepted you, andwhether she will or not, you say, depends on me. "

"Yes, on your majesty, for this girl, who is as proud of her threemillions as if it were the oldest and most illustrious pedigree, consents to be my wife only on the condition that she is acknowledgedat court, and has access, as Countess Rhedern, to all courtfestivities. "

"Truly this is a great pretension!" exclaimed the queen, angrily. "Apedlar's daughter who carries arrogance so far as to wish to appear atthe court of the King of Prussia! This can never be, and never could Iadvocate such an innovation: it is destructive, and only calculated todiminish the prestige of the nobility, and to deprive it of itsgreatest and best privilege--that privilege which entitles it alone toapproach royalty. It was this view which prevented me from receivingthe so-called Count Neal at my court, although my son the king admitshim to his presence, and desires that I also should recognize thiscount of his creation. But, as a queen and a lady, I can never do this. There must be a rampart between royalty and the low and common world, and a pure and unblemished nobility alone can form this rampart. Yousee, therefore, my poor count, that I cannot accede to this request. "

"Have compassion on me, your majesty. If your majesty will but rememberthat I am ruined; but I am a beggar if this union does not take place, if I do not marry the three millions of Mademoiselle Orguelin. "

"Ah, certainly, I had forgotten that, " said the queen, thoughtfully. 

"Moreover, " continued the count, somewhat encouraged, "this is adifferent affair altogether, and I do not believe that a principle ishere at stake, as was the case with the so-called Count Neal. A manrepresents himself and his house, and no power on earth can give himbetter or nobler blood than already flows in his veins. But with awoman it is different. She receives her husband's name and his rank;she becomes blood of his blood, and can in no manner affect hisnobility. The sons of Countess Rhedern will still be the CountsRhedern, although the mother is not of noble birth. "

"True, " said the queen, "this case is different from that of theadventurer Neal. The rank of her husband would be sufficient to permitus to draw a veil over the obscure birth of this new-made countess. "

"And your majesty would then be the noble protectrice of our family, "said the count, in a sweet and insinuating tone; "your majesty wouldnot only restore my house to its ancient prestige, but you would retainthe three millions of Mademoiselle Orguelin in Prussia; for if I shouldnot be able to fulfil the condition which this lady has made, Mademoiselle Orguelin will marry a rich young Hollander, who is thecommercial friend of her father, and has come here for the especialpurpose of suing for the hand of his daughter. "

"Ah, if that is the case, it becomes almost a duty to give you thisgirl, in order to prevent her millions from leaving the country, " saidthe queen, smiling. "Be hopeful, count, your wish will be granted, andthis little millionnaire, who longs to appear at court, shall have herdesire. I will speak with my son on this subject to-day; and you maytake it for granted that your request will meet with a favorableresponse. "

And the queen, who was proud and happy to have an opportunity ofshowing the count how great was her influence with her royal son, graciously permitted him to kiss her hand, and listened well pleased tohis exclamations of gratitude and devotion. 

She then dismissed him with a gracious inclination of her head, requesting him to inform Madame von Brandt, whose laughing voice couldbe heard at a short distance, that she desired to see her. 

While the count hurried off to execute the commission of his royalmistress, the queen walked on slowly and thoughtfully. Now that she waspermitted to be a queen, her woman's nature again made itself felt; shefound it quite amusing to have a hand in the love affairs which weregoing on around her, and to act the part of the beneficent fairy inmaking smooth the path of true love. Two of the first noblemen of hercourt had to-day solicited her kind offices in their love affairs, andboth demanded of her the reestablishment of the prosperity and splendorof their houses. 

The queen, as before said, felt flattered by these demands, and was inher most gracious humor when Madame von Brandt made her appearance. Their conversation was at first on indifferent subjects, but Madame vonBrandt knew very well why the queen honored her with this interview, and kept the match in readiness to fire the train with which she hadundermined the happiness and love of poor Laura von Pannewitz. 

"Do you know, " asked the queen suddenly, "that we have a pair of loversat my court?"

"A pair of lovers!" repeated Madame von Brandt, and so apparent was thealarm and astonishment depicted in her countenance that the queen wasstartled. 

"Is this, then, so astonishing?" asked the queen, smiling. "You expressso much alarm that one might suppose we were living in a convent, whereit is a crime to speak of love and marriage. Or were you only a littleannoyed at not having heard of this love affair?"

"Your majesty, " said Madame von Brandt, "I knew all about this affair, but had no idea that you had any knowledge of it. "

"Certainly you must have known it, as Mademoiselle von Pannewitz isyour friend, and has very naturally made you her confidant. "

"Yes, I have been her confidant in this unhappy and unfortunate love, "said Madame von Brandt, with a sigh; "but I can assure your majestythat I have left no arguments, no prayers, and even no threats untriedto induce this poor young girl to renounce her sad and unfortunatelove. "

"Well, you might have saved yourself this trouble, " said the queen, smiling; "for this love is not, as you say, a sad and unfortunate one, but a happy one! Count Voss came to me this morning as a suitor for thehand of Mademoiselle von Pannewitz. "

"Poor, unhappy Laura!" sighed Madame von Brandt. 

"How!" exclaimed the queen, "you still pity her, when I assure you thathers is not an unhappy, but a happy love, reciprocated by Count Voss, who is a suitor for her hand?"

"But what has Count Voss to do with Laura's love?" asked Madame vonBrandt, with such well-acted astonishment that the unsuspecting queenmight very well be deceived. 

"Truly this is a strange question, " exclaimed the queen. "You have justtold me that Mademoiselle von Pannewitz entertains an unfortunateattachment for Count Voss; and when I inform you that so far from hersbeing an unfortunate attachment, it is returned by Count Voss, who isat this moment a suitor for her hand, you ask, with an air ofastonishment, 'What has Count Voss to do with Laura's love?'"

"Pardon me, your majesty, I did not say that my poor friend loved CountVoss. "

"How!" exclaimed the queen, impatiently; "it is then not Count Voss?Pray, who has inspired her with this unfortunate love? Who is he? Doyou know his name?"

"Your majesty, I know him; but I have vowed on the Bible never tomention his name. "

"It was very inconsiderate in you to make such a vow, " exclaimed thequeen, impatiently. 

"Your majesty, she who demanded it of me was my friend, and in view ofher sorrow and tears I could not refuse a request by the fulfilment ofwhich she would at least have the sad consolation of pouring out hersorrow and anguish into the bosom of a true and discreet friend. Butthe very friendship I entertain for her makes it my bounden duty toimplore your majesty to sustain the offer of Count Voss with all themeans at your command, and, if necessary, even to compel my poor Laurato marry him. "

"How! You say she loves another, and still desire that I should compelher to marry Count Voss?"

"Your majesty, there is no other means of averting evil from the headof my dear Laura; no other means of preserving two noble hearts fromthe misery their unfortunate passions might produce. Laura is a nobleand virtuous girl, but she loves, and would not long be able towithstand the passionate entreaties of her lover; she would hear novoice but that of him she loves. "

"This love is then returned?" asked the queen. 

"Oh, your majesty, Laura's maidenly pride would preserve her from anunrequited love. "

"And still you call this love an unfortunate one?"

"I call it so because there are insurmountable obstacles in its way; anabyss lies between these lovers, across which they can never clasphands. In order to be united they would have to precipitate themselvesinto its depths! Every word of love which these unfortunates utter is acrime--is high treason. "

"High treason!" exclaimed the queen, whose eyes sparkled with anger. "Ah, I understand you now. This proud, arrogant girl raises her eyes toa height to which a princess of the blood alone can aspire. In herpresumption this girl thinks to play the role of a La Valliere or aMaintenon. Yes, I now comprehend every thing--her pallor, her sighs, her melancholy, and her blushes, when I told her I expected the kingand his court here to-day. Yes, it must be so. Mademoiselle vonPannewitz loves the--"

"Your majesty, " exclaimed Madame von Brandt, imploringly, "have thegoodness not to mention the name. I should have to deny it, and thatwould be an offence to your majesty; but if I should acknowledge it, Iwould be false to my vow and my friendship. In your penetration, yourmajesty has divined what I hardly dared indicate, and my noble queennow comprehends why an early marriage with Count Voss would be the bestmeans of preserving the happiness of two noble hearts. "

"Mademoiselle von Pannewitz will have to make up her mind to become thebride of Count Voss within the hour!" exclaimed the queen, imperiously. "Woe to her if in her arrogance she should refuse to give up a loveagainst which the whole force of my royal authority shall be brought tobear. "

"May your majesty follow the suggestions of your wisdom in all things!I only request that your majesty will graciously conceal from poorLaura that you discovered her unhappy secret through me. "

"I promise you that, " said the queen, who, forgetful of her royaldignity, in her angry impatience turned around and advanced hastilytoward her suite, who, on her approach, remained standing in arespectful attitude. 

At this moment a lacquey, dressed in the royal livery, was seenadvancing from the palace; he approached the maid of honor then onduty, Mademoiselle von Pannewitz, and whispered a few words in her ear. 

Hurrying forward, this young lady informed the queen that her majestythe reigning queen had just arrived, and desired to know if her majestywould receive her. The queen did not reply immediately. She lookedscornfully at the young girl who stood before her, humbly andsubmissively, with downcast eyes, and although she did not look up atthe queen, she seemed to feel her withering and scornful glances, forshe blushed deeply, and an anxious expression was depicted on hercountenance. 

The queen observed that the blushing Laura was wonderfully beautiful, and in her passionate anger could have trodden her under foot for thispresumptuous and treasonable beauty. She felt that it was impossiblelonger to remain silent, longer to defer the decision. The queen'sanger fairly flamed within her, and threatened to break forth; she wasnow a passionate, reckless woman, nothing more; and she was guided byher passion and the power of her angry pride alone. 

"I am going to receive her majesty, " said Sophia Dorothea, withtrembling lips. "Her majesty has presented herself unceremoniously, andI shall therefore receive her without ceremony. All of you will remainhere except Mademoiselle von Pannewitz, who will accompany me. "

CHAPTER XIII. 

PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE. 

The greeting of the two queens was over; the inquiries of politenessand etiquette had been exchanged; Sophia had offered Queen Elizabethher hand and conducted her into the small saloon, where she was in thehabit of receiving her family. 

The door leading to the conservatory was open, and the two maids ofhonor could be seen within, standing with Laura, and asking questionsin a low tone, to which she replied almost inaudibly. She felt that thedecisive hour of her destiny was at hand, and she prayed that God wouldstrengthen her for the coming trial. She trembled not for herself, butfor her lover; for his dear sake she was determined to bear the worst, and bravely meet the shock; she would not yield, she would not die, forhe would perish with her; in her heart of hearts, she renewed the oathof eternal love and eternal faith she had taken, and nerved herself forpersecution and endurance. Suddenly she heard the harsh voice of thequeen calling her name; she looked up, and saw her standing in the door. 

"I beg the maids of honor to join the ladies in the garden; you, mademoiselle, will remain here; I have a few words to say to you. "

The ladies bowed and left the conservatory. Laura remained alone; shestood with folded hands in the middle of the room; her cheek was deadlypale, her lips trembled, but her eyes were bright, and filled with aheroic and dreamy excitement. As Sophia called her name, Laura laid herhand upon her heart, as if to suppress its stormy beating, and with herhead bowed meekly upon her breast she advanced submissively at the callof her mistress. At the door of the second saloon she remainedstanding, and awaited the further commands of the queen. As Sophia didnot speak, Laura raised her eyes and looked timidly at the two queens, who were seated on a sofa opposite the door; they were both gazing ather, the queen-mother severely, with a proud and derisive smile, butQueen Elizabeth regarded with unutterable pity this poor girl, whoreminded her of a broken lily. 

"Mademoiselle von Pannewitz, " said Sophia, after a long silence, "Ihave a matter of great importance to communicate to you, and as itadmits of no delay, her majesty has allowed me to speak to you in herpresence. Listen attentively, and weigh well my words. I have treatedyou with affectionate kindness; you have always found in me a friendand mother. I therefore require of you unconditional and silentobedience--an obedience that as your queen and mistress I have a rightto demand. You are of a noble but poor family, and your parents cannotsupport you in the style suitable to your birth. I have adopted you, and will now establish for you a future which will be both splendid andhappy. A rich and gallant cavalier has proposed for your hand, and asit is a most fitting and advantageous offer, I have accepted it foryou, and promised your consent. "

The queen ceased and looked piercingly at the young girl, who was stillleaning against the door, silent and dejected. This dumb submission, this weak resignation revolted the queen; instead of softening heranger, she took this silence for defiance, this humility forstubbornness. 

"You are not at all anxious, it appears, to learn the name of yourfuture husband, " she said, sharply; "perhaps the rapture of joy bindsyour tongue, and prevents you from thanking me for my motherly care. "

"Pardon, your majesty, " said Laura, raising her soft eyes to the harshand severe countenance of the queen; "it was not joy that closed mylips, but reverence for your majesty; I feel no joy. "

"You feel no joy!" cried the queen, with the cruel rage of the lion whoseizes his prey and tears it in pieces when there is none to deliver. "Well, then, you will marry without joy, that is decided; and as youare too far above all womanly weakness to appear curious, I shall beobliged to name the happy man whose loving bride you are soon to be, that you make no mistakes, and perhaps, in the tenderness of yourheart, render another than your appointed husband happy in yourembraces. " Laura uttered a low cry of anguish, and her cheeks, colorless until now, were dyed red with shame. 

"Have pity, your majesty, " murmured Elizabeth Christine, laying herhand softly on the shoulder of the queen; "see how the poor girlsuffers. "

Sophia shrugged her shoulders contemptuously. "Nonsense! do we not allsuffer? have not I suffered? Is there a woman on God's earth whoseheart is not half melted away with hot and unavailing tears?"

"It is true, " said Elizabeth; "we have but one exclusive privilege--toweep and to endure. "

The queen-mother turned again to Laura, who had checked her tears, butwas still standing bowed down, and trembling before her. 

"Well, " said Sophia, "it still does not suit you to inquire the name ofyour lover, then I shall name him; mark well my words: it is Count Vosswho has chosen you for his wife, and to him alone you have now todirect your heart and your tenderness. "

Laura now raised her eyes and fixed them steadily upon this cruelmistress; her glance was no longer soft and pleading, but determined. The imperious manner of the queen, instead of intimidating the pale andgentle girl, awakened her to the consciousness of her own dignity. "Majesty, " she said, with cool decision, "love is not given by command, it cannot be bestowed arbitrarily. "

"By that you mean to affirm that you do not, and cannot love CountVoss, " said the queen, suppressing her fury with difficulty. 

"Yes, your majesty. I do not, I cannot love Count Voss. "

"Well, then, " cried Sophia, "you will marry him without love, and thatspeedily!"

Laura raised her head passionately; her eye met the queen's, but thistime not humbly, not timidly, but decisively. From this moment, SophiaDorothea was to her no longer a queen, but a cruel, unfeeling woman, who was trampling upon her soul and binding it in chains. 

"Pardon, your majesty, as I have said that I do not love Count Voss, itfollows of course that I will never marry him. "

The queen sprang from her seat as if bitten by a poisonous reptile. "Not marry him!" she shrieked; "but I say you shall marry him! yes, ifyou have to be dragged with violence to the altar!"

"Then at the altar I will say no!" cried Laura von Pannewitz, raisingher young face, beaming with courage and enthusiasm, toward heaven. 

The queen uttered a wild cry and sprang forward; the lion was about toseize upon its prey and tear it to pieces, but Elizabeth Christine laidher hand upon the raised arm of the queen and held her back. "Majesty, "she said, "what would you do? you would not force this poor girl tomarry against her will; she does not love Count Voss, and she is rightto refuse him. "

"Ha! you defend her?" cried Sophia, brought to extremities by theresistance of the queen; "you have then no presentiment why she refusesthe hand of Count Voss; you do not comprehend that when a poordependent maid of honor refuses to marry a rich and noble cavalier, itis because she believes she has secured her future in anotherdirection--because in the haughtiness of her vain, infatuated heart, she hopes through her beauty and well-acted coquetry to secure forherself a more brilliant lot. But, mark me! however charming andalluring that prospect may appear outwardly, even in its success therewould be found nothing but infamy! She can never have the madness tobelieve that any priest in this land would dare to bind with theblessings of the Holy Church a love so boldly impudent, so traitorous;she can never hope to set her foot where only the lawful wife of a kingcan stand--where the sister of the king of England has stood! yes, where she still stands, and from whence she is resolved to repulse thismiserable coquette, who hopes to conquer a throne through her shamelessallurements. "

Laura uttered a piercing scream, and with hands raised to heaven, sheexclaimed, "My God! my God! can I bear this and live?"

The queen broke into a wild, mocking laugh. Elizabeth Christine looked, questioningly, at this scene, which she did not comprehend, but whichtouched her heart by its tragic power. 

"It is a hard and cruel accusation which your majesty is bringingagainst this young girl; let us hope that Laura will know how to defendherself. "

"Defend herself! look at her! look how my words have crushed her! howher proud, aspiring soul is checked! Believe me, Elizabeth, she, whomyou so generously pity, understands my words better than your majesty;and she knows well of what I accuse her; but you, my daughter, shallknow also; you have a right to know. "

"Mercy! your majesty, mercy!" cried Laura, falling upon her knees andraising her arms pleadingly toward the queen; "speak no more! humble meno further! Do not betray my secret, which in your mouth becomes adenunciation! Let me remain even on the brink of the precipice, whereyou have dragged me! that is appalling, but cast me not down! So lowand dust-trodden a creature is no longer worthy of the honor ofapproaching your majesty, I see that, and beg humbly for my dismissal, not as your majesty supposes, to lead an independent and happy, ifstill a shameful life, but to flee to some corner of the world, wherealone and unseen I may weep over the beautiful and innocent dreams ofmy life, from which your majesty has awakened me so cruelly. "

She was wonderfully beautiful in this position; those raised arms, thatnoble, transparently pale, tear-stained countenance. Sophia Dorotheasaw it, and it made her feel more bitter, more cruel. 

"Ah, she dares to reproach me, " she cried, contemptuously; "she stillhas a slight consciousness of her shame; she trembles to hear what shedid not tremble to do! Listen, my daughter, you that have for her sowarm, so pitiful a heart; you who, when I have spoken, will detest andcurse her as I do, and as you are entitled to do. Believe me, Elizabeth, I know all your suffering, all your sorrow; I know thesecret history of your noble, proud, and silent heart. Ask that girlthere of your grief and misery; ask her the reason of your lonely, tearful nights; demand of her your broken happiness, your crushedhopes; demand of her your husband's love, your soul's peace. Mademoiselle von Pannewitz can return them all to you, as she has takenthem from you, for she is the mistress of the king. "

"Mistress of the king!" said Elizabeth, with a painful cry, while Lauralet her hands glide from her face, and looked at the queen with anastonished expression. 

"Yes, " repeated Sophia Dorothea, whose hot blood rushed so violentlythrough her veins that her voice faltered, and she was scarcely able toretain an appearance of self-control; "yes, she is the mistress of theking, and therefore refuses to marry Count Voss! But patience, patience, she shall not triumph! and if she dares to love my son, theson of the queen, King Frederick of Prussia, I will remind her ofDorris Ritter, who loved him, and was beloved by him! This Dorris wasflogged through the streets of Berlin, and cast out from amongst men. "

Laura uttered so loud and fearful a cry that even the queen-mother wasstartled, and for a moment touched with pity for the poor, broken-hearted girl who lay at her feet, like a poor, wounded gazellein the convulsive agonies of death. 

But she would not give way to this pity; would not betray a weakness, of which she was ashamed. Taking the hand of the young queen andcasting a look of disdain at Laura, she said, "Come, my daughter, wewill no longer bear the presence of this person, whose tears, I hope, spring from repentance and acknowledgment of her offence; may sheobtain our pardon by resolving to-day, of her own free will, andwithout forcing us to harsher measures, to accept the hand of CountVoss; come, my daughter. "

The two queens stepped to the door. Sophia threw it open violently, andpassed immediately into the boudoir, but Elizabeth did not follow her. She looked back at the poor sobbing girl lying upon the floor. The paleand noble face touched her womanly heart. 

"Pardon, your majesty, if I do not follow immediately; I should like tosay a few words to Mademoiselle von Pannewitz; I think I have a rightto do so. "

The queen-mother experienced a cruel pleasure at these words. 

"Oh, my daughter, even your forbearance is exhausted, and you feel thatforgiveness is impossible; yes, speak to her, and let her feel thewhole weight of your righteous indignation. Words of reproach andaccusation from your gentle lips will have a crushing power. But nodelay--you know the king will soon be here. "

The queen closed the door. She wished to hear nothing that passedbetween Elizabeth and Laura; she needed rest, in order to receive theking with composure. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE MISUNDERSTANDING. 

The young queen, the reigning queen, as she was called, was now alonewith Laura von Pannewitz. She was for a moment speechless; strange, tempestuous feelings burned in the bosom of this gentle woman; she feltall the torments of rage and jealousy, and the humiliation ofunrequited love. 

Leaning against the wall, she looked frowningly at Laura, who waskneeling before her, wringing her hands and weeping piteously. Howcould a woman weep who could call that happiness her own--to possesswhich Elizabeth would cheerfully give years of her life? She had atlast found the rival for whom she was despised; the destroyer of herhappiness; the envied woman loved by Frederick!

As she saw this woman bathed in tears at her feet, an exulting joy forone moment filled her heart. But this violent emotion soon disappeared. Elizabeth was too true and noble a woman to give herself up long tosuch resentment. She felt, indeed, a melancholy pleasure in knowingthat it was not coldness of heart, but love for another, whichestranged the king from her; in the midst of her wild grief she wasstill just; and she acknowledged that this woman, whom the king loved, was more charming and more beautiful than herself. 

The love Elizabeth bore her husband was so unselfish, so resigned, somagnanimous, that she felt grateful to the woman who could impart ahappiness to the king it had never been in her power to bestow. 

With a truly noble expression she approached the maid of honor, who, unconscious of the queen's presence, was still lying on the floor andweeping bitterly. 

"Arise, Laura, " said Elizabeth, gently. "How can a woman loved by theking be sad, or shed tears?"

Laura's hands fell slowly from her face; she checked her tears andlooked piteously at the queen. "God, then, has heard my prayers, " shesaid; "He does not wish your majesty to despise and condemn me; Hepermits me to clear myself before you!"

"Clear yourself, " said Elizabeth. "Oh, believe me, in my eyes you needno justification. You are young, gay, beautiful, and witty; you havethe rare art of conversation; you are cheerful and spirited. This hasattracted Frederick; for this he loves you; in saying this, all issaid. It is impossible for a woman to resist his love. I forgive youfreely, fully. I have but one prayer to make you: resolve all yourduties into one; fill your soul with one thought, make the king happy!This is all. I have nothing more to say; farewell!"

She was going, but Laura held her back. "Oh, your majesty, " she criedimploringly, "listen to me! do not leave me under this cruelmisconception--these insulting suppositions. Do not think I am sodegenerate, so base, so entirely without womanly feeling, as not tofeel myself amenable to the laws of the land and of the Church. Oh, believe me, the husband of my queen is sacred in my eyes! and even if Iwere so unhappy as to love the king, otherwise than as a true, devotedsubject, I would rather die than cast one shadow on the happiness ofyour majesty. Unhappy and guilty as I am, I am no criminal. His majestynever distinguished me by word or look. I honored him, I revered him, and nothing more. "

"Alas!" said the queen, "you are faint-hearted enough to deny him. Youhave not the courage to be proud of his love; you must, indeed, feelguilty. "

"My God! my God!" cried Laura, passionately, "she does not believe me!"

"No, I do not believe you, Laura. I saw how you trembled and paled whenthe queen charged you with your love to her son, but I did not hear youjustify yourself. "

"Alas, alas!" murmured Laura, in so low a voice as not to be heard bythe queen, "I did not know her majesty was speaking of her sonFrederick. "

"Deny it no longer, " said Elizabeth; "acknowledge his love, for whichall women will envy you, and for which I forgive you. "

"Do not believe what the queen-mother told you!" cried Laura, passionately; "I have done you no wrong, I have no pardon to ask!"

"And I, " said Elizabeth--"I make no reproaches; I do not wail and weep;I do not pass my nights, as the queen said, sleeplessly and in tears; Ido not mourn over my lost happiness. I am content; I accept myfate--that is, if the king is happy. But if, perchance, this is not so, if you do not make his happiness your supreme object, then, Laura, Itake back the forgiveness so freely given, and I envy you in my heart. Farewell. "

"No, no, you must not, you shall not go! believe my words! have somepity, some mercy on me! O Heavenly Father, I have suffered enoughwithout this! It needed not these frightful accusations to punish mefor a love which, though unwise, yes, mad, is not criminal. As truly asGod reigns, it is not the king I love. You turn away, you do notbelieve me still! Oh, your majesty. " She stopped, her whole frametrembled--she had heard her lover's voice; God had sent him to deliverher, to clear her from these disgraceful suspicions. 

The door opened, and Prince Augustus William entered; his countenancewas gay and careless, he had come to see the queen-mother, and had beendirected to this saloon. Already sportive and jesting words were on hislips, when he perceived this strange scene; Laura on her knees, paleand trembling, before the proud queen, who left her disdainfully in herhumble position. It was a sight that the proud lover could not endure. The hot blood of the Hohenzollerns was raging. Forgetful of allconsequences, he sprung to her side, raised her from the floor andclasped her to his heart. Then, trembling with anger, he turned to thequeen. "What does this mean? Why were you in that position? Why wereyou weeping, Laura? You on your knees, my Laura! You, who are soinnocent, so pure, that the whole world should kneel before and worshipyou! And you, Madame, " turning to Elizabeth, "how can you allow thisangel to throw herself in the dust before you? How dare you wound her?What did you say to bring anguish to her heart and flood her face withtears? Madame, I demand an answer! I demand it in the name of honor, justice, and love. Laura is my bride, it is my right to defend her. "

"Now, now, " said Laura, clinging wildly to her lover, "she will nolonger believe that I love her husband. "

"Your bride!" said the queen, with a sad sweet smile; "how young andtrusting you are, my brother, to believe in the possibility of such amarriage. "

"She will be my wife!" cried he passionately; "I swear it, and as trulyas there is a God in Heaven I will keep my oath! I have courage to dareall dangers, to trample under foot all obstacles. I do not shun theworld's verdict or the king's power. My love is pure and honest, it hasno need to hide and veil itself; it shall stand out boldly before God, the king, and the whole world! Go, then--go, Madame, and repeat mywords to the king; betray a love which chance, undoubtedly, revealed toyou. It was, I suppose, the knowledge of this love which led you towound and outrage this noble woman. "

"It is true, " said the queen, gently; "I did her injustice--I doubtedher words, her protestations; but Laura knows that this offence wasinvoluntary, it all arose from a mistake of the dowager-queen. "

"How! my mother knows of our love!" said the prince, in amazement. 

"No, she is convinced that Laura von Pannewitz loves and is beloved bythe king; for this reason she heaped reproaches upon her, and commandedher to marry Count Voss, who has just proposed for her hand. "

The prince clasped Laura more firmly. "Ah, they would tear you from me;but my arms will hold you and my breast will shield you, my darling. Donot tremble, do not weep, my Laura; arm in arm we will go to the king. I will lead you before my mother and the court, and tell them that youare my betrothed--that I have sworn to be true to you, and will neverbreak my oath. "

"Stop--be silent, for God's sake!" said Elizabeth; "do not let yourmother hear you--do not let the king know your sad, perilous secret. Ifhe knows it you are lost. "

"Your majesty does not then intend to make known what you have heard, "said the prince. "Have you the courage to conceal a secret from yourhusband?"

"Ah!" said the queen, with a sigh, "my life, thoughts, and feelings area secret to him; I will but add this new mystery to the rest. Guardthis secret, which will in the end bring you pain and sorrow. Becautious, be prudent. Let the dowager queen still think that it is theking whom Laura loves, she will be less watchful of you. But now listento my request; never speak to me of this love that chance revealed, andwhich I will seek to forget from this moment; never remind me of anengagement which in the eyes of the king and your mother would beunpardonable and punishable, and of which it would be my duty to informthem. As long as you are happy--that will be as long as your love isunder the protection of secrecy--I will see nothing, know nothing. Butwhen disaster and ruin break over you, then come to me; then you, mybrother, shall find in me a fond, sympathizing sister, and you, poor, wretched girl, will find a friend who will open her arms to you, andwill weep with you over your lost happiness. "

"Oh, my queen!" cried Laura, pressing her hand to her lips; "how noble, how generous you are!"

Elizabeth drew the poor trembling girl to her heart and kissed her palebrow. "For those who weep and suffer there is no difference of rank, astrong bond of human sympathy unites them. I am for you, not the queen, but the sister who understands and shares your griefs. When you wearyof hidden agony and solitary weeping come to me at Schonhausen; youwill find there no gayeties, no worldly distractions, but a silentshady garden, in which I sometimes seem to hear God's voice comfortingand consoling me. Here you can weep unnoticed, and find a friend whowill not weary you with questions. "

"I thank you, and I will come. Ah! I know I shall soon need thiscomfort, my happiness will die an early death!"

"And may I also come, my noble sister?" said the prince. 

"Yes, " said Elizabeth, smiling, "you may also come, but only when Laurais not with me. I now entreat you, for your own safety, to close thisconversation. Dry your eyes, Laura, and try to smile, then go to thegarden and call my maids of honor; and you, brother, come with me tothe queen-mother, who is in her boudoir. "

"No!" said the prince, fiercely; "I cannot see her now, I could notcontrol myself. I could not seem quiet and indifferent while I amsuffering such tortures. "

"My brother, " said the queen, "we princes have not the right to showhow we suffer; it is the duty of all in our station to veil ourfeelings with a smile. Come, the queen, who is indignant and angry, will yet receive us with a smile; and we, who are so sorrowful, willalso smile. Come. "

"One word more to Laura, " said the prince; and leading the young girl, who was endeavoring to suppress her emotion, to another part of theroom, he threw his arm around her slender form, and pressed a kiss uponher fair cheek. "Laura, my darling, do you remember your oath? Will yoube true and firm? Will my mother's threats and commands find you strongand brave? You will not falter? You will not accept the hand of CountVoss? You will let no earthly power tear you from me? They can kill me, Laura, but I cannot be untrue to myself or to you!" Augustus laid hishand upon her beautiful head; the whole history of her pure and holylove was written in the look and smile with which she answered him. "Doyou remember that you promised to meet me in the garden?"

"I remember, " said she, blushing. 

"Laura, in a few days we will be separated. The king wishes to make anexcursion incognito--he has ordered me to accompany him; I must obey. "

"Oh, my God! they will take you from me! I shall never see you again!"

"We will meet again, " said he encouragingly. "But you must grant me thecomfort of seeing you once more before my departure, otherwise I shallnot have the courage to leave you. The day for our journey is not yetdetermined; when it is fixed I will come to inform my mother of it inyour presence. The evening before I will be in the conservatory andawait you; will I wait in vain?"

"No, " whispered Laura, "I will be there;" and as if fleeing from herown words, she hurried to the garden. 

Prince Augustus William looked for his sister-in-law to accompany herto the queen; but she had withdrawn, she did not wish to witness theirparting. Seeing this, the prince was on the point of following Laura tothe garden, when the beating of drums was heard from without. 

CHAPTER XV. 

SOIREE OF THE QUEEN DOWAGER. 

"The king is coming, " whispered Augustus William, and he steppedtowards the cabinet of the queen-mother. But the door was alreadyopened, and the two queens hastened out; they wished to reach thegarden saloon and there to welcome the king. 

The expression of both ladies was restless and anxious. Sophia Dorotheafeared the meeting with her son, who would, perhaps, in the inflamed, eyes of his beloved, read the history of the last hours; his kinglyanger would be kindled against those who brought tears to her eyes. Thequeen confessed that she had gone too far--had allowed herself to bemastered by her scorn; she was embarrassed and fearful. 

Elizabeth Christine was not restless, but deeply moved; her heart beatquickly at the thought of this meeting with her husband; she had notseen him since the day of the coronation, had not exchanged one singleword with him since the ominous interview in her chamber at Rheinsberg. Not once on the day of the coronation had the king addressed her; andonly once had he taken her hand. After the coronation he led her in themidst of the assembled court, and said with a clear and earnest voice:"Behold, this is your queen. "

These ladies were so excited, so filled with their own thoughts thatthey hastened through the saloons, scarcely remarking the prince, whohad stepped aside to allow them to pass. The queen-mother noddedabsently and gave him a passing greeting, then turned again toElizabeth, who had scarcely patience to conform her movements to theslow and measured steps of the queen-mother; she longed to look uponher husband's face once more. 

"If Laura von Pannewitz complains to the king, we will have a terrificscene, " said Sophia. 

"She will not complain, " replied Elizabeth. 

"So much the worse, she will play the magnanimous, and I could lessreadily forgive that, than a complaint. "

At this moment the door opened. The king, followed by his attendantsand those of the two queens, entered the saloon. The two ladies greetedthe king with smooth brows and thoughtless laughter. Nothing betrayedthe restless anxiety reigning in their hearts. Frederick hastened tomeet his mother, and bowing low he greeted her with loving andrespectful words, and tenderly kissed her hand; then turning to hiswife he bowed stiffly and ceremoniously; he did not extend his hand, did not utter a word. Elizabeth bowed formally in return, and forcedback the hot tears which rushed into her eyes. 

The face of the queen-mother was again gay and triumphant. The kingknew nothing as yet; she must prevent him from speaking with Lauraalone. She glanced around at the maid of honor, and saw that the youngmaiden, calm and unembarrassed, was conversing with the Prince AugustusWilliam; her majesty was more than happy to see her son Williamentertaining the beautiful Laura. "Ah! now I know how to prevent theking from speaking to her alone, " thought she. 

Sophia was never so animated, so brilliant; her sparkling wit seemedeven to animate the king. There was a laughing contest, a war of words, between them; piquant jests and intellectual bon mots, which seemed tothe admiring courtiers like fallen stars, were scattered to right andleft. The queen would not yield to her son, and indeed sometimes shehad the advantage. 

Queen Elizabeth stood sad and silent near them, and if by chance theeye of the king fell upon her, she felt that his glance wascontemptuous; her pale cheeks grew paler, and it was with great effortshe forced her trembling lips to smile. 

The queen-mother proposed to her son and Elizabeth to walk in thegarden, and then to have a simple dance in the brilliant saloons. Thecourt mourning would not allow a regular ball at this time. 

"But why should we seek for flowers in the garden, " said the king; "canthere be lovelier blossoms than those now blooming on every side?" Hiseye wandered around the circle of lovely maids of honor, who cast theireyes blushingly to the ground. 

Six eyes followed this glance of Frederick with painful interest. 

"He scarcely looked at Laura von Pannewitz, " said the queen, with arelieved expression. 

"He did not once glance toward me, " thought Elizabeth, sighing heavily. 

"His eye did not rest for more than a moment upon any woman here, "thought Pollnitz; "so it is clear he has no favorite in this circle. Iwill, therefore, succeed with my beautiful Dorris. "

Frederick wished to spare his mother the fatigue of a walk in thegarden--she was lame and growing fleshy; he therefore led her to aseat, and bowing silently, he gave his left hand to his wife and placedher by his mother. 

Sophia, who watched every movement and every expression of her royalson, observed the cruel silence which he maintained toward his wife, and she felt pity for the poor, pale, neglected queen. Sophia leanedtoward the king, who stood hat in hand behind her divan, and whispered:

"I believe, my son, you have not spoken one word to your wife!"

The king's face clouded. "Madame, " said he, in a low but firm tone, "Elizabeth Christine is my queen, but not my wife!" and, as if hefeared a further explanation, he nodded to the Marquis Algarotti andDuke Chazot to come forward and take part in the conversation. 

Suddenly a lady, who had not before been seen in the court circle, approached the two queens. This lady was of a wondrous pallor; she wasdressed in black, without flowers or ornament; her deep sunken eyeswere filled with feverish fire, and a painful smile played upon herlips, which were tightly pressed together, as if to force back a cry ofdespair. 

No one recognised in this pale, majestic, gentle lady, the"Tourbillon, " the joyous, merry, laughing Madame von Morien; no onecould have supposed that her fresh and rosy beauty could, in a fewmonths, assume so earnest and sad a character. This was the first timeMadame von Morien had appeared at the court of the queen-mother; shewas scarcely recovered from a long and dangerous illness. No one knewthe nature of her disease, but the witty and ill-natured courtiersexchanged many words of mockery and double meaning on the subject. 

It was said Madame von Morien was ill from the neglect of the king. Shesuffered from a chill, which, strange to say, had attacked the king, and not the beautiful coquette. Her disease was a new and peculiarcold, which did not attack the lungs, but seized upon the heart; thesame disease, indeed, which prostrated Dido, upon the departure of thecruel AEneas. 

The queen-mother received this pale, but still lovely woman, mostgraciously; gave her the royal hand to kiss, and smiled kindly. 

"It is an age since we have seen you, fair baroness; it appears as ifyou will make yourself invisible, and forget entirely that we rejoiceto see you. "

"Your royal highness is most gracious to remind me of that, " saidMadame von Morien, in a low tone; "death had almost made me forget it, and assuredly I had not dared to approach you with this pale, thinface, had not your majesty's flattering command given me courage to doso. "

There was something in the low, suffering voice of Madame von Morienwhich awakened sympathy, and even disarmed the anger of the queenElizabeth. What bitter tears had she shed, what jealous agony endured, because of this enchanting woman! She saw her now for the first timesince the fete at Rheinsberg. Looking into this worn and sorrowfulface, she forgave her fully. With the instinct of a loving woman, thequeen understood the malady of her rival; she felt that Madame vonMorien was suffering from unrequited affection, and that despair wasgnawing at her heart. 

The king had now no glance, no greeting for his "enchanting Leontine;"he continued the conversation with Algarotti and Chazot quietly, anddid not consider her profound and reverential salutation as worthy ofthe slightest notice. 

Elizabeth Christine was pitiful; she gave her hand to be kissed, andspoke a few friendly, kindly words, which touched the heart of thebeautiful Morien, and brought the tears to her eyes. The king, althoughstanding near, did not appear even to see her. 

"I have some news to announce to your majesty, " he said, turning to thequeen-mother. "We are about to make Berlin a temple of science and art, the seat of learning and knowledge. The Muses, should they desire toleave Olympus, shall receive a most hospitable reception. Now listen tothe great news. In autumn Voltaire will visit us; and Maupertius, thegreat scholar, who first discovered the form of the earth, will come, as President of our Academy; and Buncauson, who understands some of themysteries of God, will also come to Berlin. The celebrated Eulert willsoon belong to us. "

"This is indeed glorious news, " said Sophia; "but I fear that yourmajesty, when surrounded with so many scholars, philosophers, andhistorians, will entirely forget the poor ignorant women, and banishthem from your learned court. "

"That would be to banish happiness, beauty, mirth, and the graces; andno one would expect such barbarism from the son of my noble and exaltedmother, " said Frederick. "Even the Catholic Church is wise enough tounderstand that in order to draw men into their nets, the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is not sufficient, they have also called alovely woman to their assistance, whose beauty and pure mysteriousmaidenhood is the finest, most piquant and intoxicating perfume oftheir gaudy religion. And what would the great painters have beenwithout women--without their lovely, their bewitching sweethearts, whomthey changed into holy maidens? From luxurious women were designed themodest, shrinking Magdalens, before whose mysterious charms the wisechildren of men bow the knee in adoration. Ah, how many Madonnas hasRaphael painted from his Fornarina! and Correggio had the art to changehis bewitching wife into a holy saint. I must confess, however, we oweCorreggio but small thanks; I should have been more grateful had hepainted us a glowing woman, radiant with beauty, grace, and love. I, for my part, have a true disgust for weeping, sighing Magdalens, who, when wearied with earthly loves and passions, turn half way to heaven, and swear to God the same oaths they have a thousand times sworn to menand a thousand times broken. Now, if I were in God's place, I would notaccept these wavering saints. For my part I hate these pale, tearful, sighing, self-destroying beauties, and the farcical exhibition of theirsufferings would never soften my heart. "

While the king was speaking his eye turned for the first time towardMadame von Morion, and his glance rested long, with a cold and piercingexpression, upon her. She had heard every word he had spoken, and everyword was like a cold poisoned dagger in her heart; she felt, althoughher eyes were cast down, that his stern look rested upon her; she wasconscious of this crushing glance, although she saw it not; she had thepower not to cry out, not to burst into passionate tears, but to replyquietly to the queen, who in fact questioned her, only with thegood-humored intention of drowning the hard and cruel words of the king. 

The queen wished to lead the conversation from the dangerous topic ofreligion and give it another direction. "My son, " she said, "you haveforgotten to mention another great surprise you have prepared for us. You say nothing of the German and French journals which you havepresented to our good city of Berlin; but I assure you I await withtrue impatience the day on which these journals appear, and I amprofoundly interested in these new and charming lectures which make ofpolitics an amusing theme, and give us all the small events of the day. "

"Let us hope, " said Frederick, "that these journals will also tell usin the future of great events. " Then assuming a gay tone he said: "Butyour majesty forgets that you promised the ladies a dance, and see howimpatiently the little princesses look toward us; my sister Amelia istrying to pierce me with her scornful glances, because I have forcedher to sit in her arm-chair like a maid of honor, for such a wearytime, when she longs to float about like a frolicsome zephyr. To put astop to her reproaches I will ask her to give me the first dance. "

The king took his sister's hand and led her into the dancing saloon. 

The queens and court followed. "Now without doubt he will seek anopportunity to speak to Laura von Pannewitz, " thought the queen-mother;"I must take measures to prevent it. " She called Prince AugustusWilliam to her side. "My son, " said she, "I have a favor to ask of you. "

"Oh, your majesty has only to command. "

"I know that you are a good son, willing to serve your mother. Listen;I have important reasons for wishing that the king should not converseto-night, at least not alone, with Laura von Pannewitz; I will explainmy reasons to you another time. I beg you, therefore, to pay court toLaura, and not to leave her side should the king draw near. You willappear not to see his angry glances, but without embarrassment join inthe conversation, and not turn away from Laura until the king has takenleave. Will you do this for me, my son?"

"I will fulfil your royal commands most willingly, " said the prince, "only it will be said that I am making love to Laura von Pannewitz. "

"Well, let them say so, Laura is young and lovely, and does credit toyour taste. Let the court say what it will, we will not make ourselvesunhappy. But hasten, my son, hasten; it appears to me the king is evennow approaching Laura. "

The prince bowed to his mother, and with joy in his heart he placedhimself by the side of his beloved. 

The queen-mother, entirely at ease, took her seat at the card-tablewith her daughter-in-law and their cavaliers, while the king amusedhimself in the ball-room, and danced a tour with almost every lady. Hedid not dance with Leontine; not once did his eye meet hers, though herglances followed him everywhere with a tender, beseeching, melancholyexpression. 

"So sad!" whispered Madame von Brandt, who, glowing with beauty andmerriment, having just danced with the king, now took a seat by herside. 

Madame von Morien with a sigh held out her small hand. "Dear friend, "said she, in a low voice, "you were right. I should not have come here;I thought myself stronger than I am; I thought my mourning would touchhim, and awaken at least his pity. "

"Pity!" laughed Madame von Brandt; "men never have pity for women: theyworship or despise them; they place us on an altar or cast us in thedust to be trodden under foot. We must take care, dear Leontine, tobuild the altar on which they place us so high, that their arms cannotreach us to cast us down. "

"You are right; I should have been more prudent, wiser, colder. Butwhat would you? I loved him, and believed in his heart. "

"You believed in the heart of a man! Alas! what woman can boast thatshe ever closed that abyss and always retained the keys?"

"Yes, the heart of man is an abyss, " said Madame von Morien; "in thebeginning it is covered with flowers, and we believe we are resting inParadise; but the blossoms wither, and will no longer support us; wefall headlong into the abyss with wounded hearts, to suffer and to die. "

Madame von Brandt laid her hand, glittering with jewels, upon theshoulder of her friend, and looked derisively into the poor pale face. "Dear Morien, " said she, "we cannot justly cast all the blame upon themen, when the day comes in which they make themselves free from thebonds of love. The fault is often the woman's. We misuse our power, ordo not properly use it. It is not enough to love and to be loved. Withlove we must also possess the policy of love. This policy is necessary. The women who do not know how to govern the hearts which love them willsoon lose their power. So was it with you, my dear friend; in your loveyou were too much the woman, too little the politician and diplomatist;and instead of wisely making yourself adored, by your coldness andreserve you yielded too much to your feelings, and have fallen intothat abyss in which, poor Leontine, you have for the moment lost yourhealth and strength. But that must not remain the case; you shall risefrom this abyss, proud, triumphant, and happy. I offer you my hand; Iwill sustain you: while you sigh I will think for you; while you weep Iwill see for you. "

Madame von Morien shook her head sadly. "You will only see that henever looks at me--that I am utterly forgotten. "

"But when I see that, I will shut my eyes that I may not see it; andwhen you see it, you must laugh gayly and look the more triumphant. Dear friend, what has love made of you? Where is your judgment and yourcoquetry? My God! you are a young maiden again, and sigh like a childfor your first love. However tender we may be, we must not sacrificeall individuality; besides, being a woman you must still be a coquette, and in a corner of your most tender and yielding heart you must everconceal the tigress, who watches and has her claws ready to tear inpieces those whom you love, if they ever seek to escape from you. Cease, then, to be the neglected, tear-stained Magdalen, and be againthe revengeful, cruel tigress. You have, besides, outside of your love, a glittering aim--a member of the Female Order of Virtue. To wear thecross of modesty upon your chaste breast, what an exalted goal! And youwill reach it. I bring you the surest evidence of it; I bring you, asyou wished, a letter from the empress, written with her own hand. Yousee all your conditions are fulfilled. The empress writes to you andassures you of her favor; she assures you that the Order of Virtue willsoon be established. The king has not separated from his wife, and forthis reason you receive a letter from the empress. Now help to bringabout the marriage of the Prince Augustus William with the Princess ofBrunswick, and you will be an honored member of the Austrian Order ofVirtue. Here, take at once this letter of the empress. "

Madame von Brandt put her hand in her pocket to get the letter, butturned pale, and said, breathlessly: "My God! this letter is not in mypocket, and yet I know positively that I placed it there. A short timebefore I joined you I put my hand in my pocket, and distinctly felt theimperial seal. The letter was there, I know it. What has become of it?Who has taken it away from me? But no, it is not possible, it cannot belost! I must have it; it must still be in my pocket. "

Trembling with anxiety, with breathless haste Madame von Brandt emptiedher pocket, hoping that the luckless letter might be sticking to hergold-embroidered handkerchief, or fastened in the folds of her fan. Shedid not remember that her anxiety might be observed; and truly no onenoticed her, all were occupied with their own pleasures. All around herwas movement, life, and merry-making; who would observe her? Shesearched again in vain, shook her handkerchief, unfolded the large fan;the letter could not be found. An indescribable anxiety overpoweredher; had she lost the letter? had it been stolen from her? Suddenly sheremembered that while engaged a short time before with Pollnitz she haddrawn out her fan; perhaps at the same time the letter had fallen uponthe floor, and Pollnitz might have found it, and might now be lookingfor Madame von Morien in order to restore it. She searched in everydirection for Pollnitz. 

Madame von Morien had not remarked the anguish of her friend, or hadforgotten it. She was again lost in dreams; her eyes fastened on theface of the young king, she envied every lady whose hand he touched inthe dance, to whom he addressed a friendly word, or gave a gracioussmile. "I see him no more, " said she sadly. 

"Who?" said Madame von Brandt, once more searching her pocket. 

"The king, " Morien answered, surprised at the question; "he must haveleft the saloon; I saw him a few moments since in conversation withPollnitz. "

"With Pollnitz, " said she eagerly, and she searched again in everydirection for him. 

Suddenly Madame von Morien uttered a low cry, and a rosy blushoverspread her fair pale face; she had seen the king, their eyes hadmet; the sharp, observant glance of the king was steadily and sternlyfixed upon her. 

The king stood in a window corner, half hidden by the long, heavy silkcurtains, and gazed ever steadily at the two ladies. 

"I see the king, " murmured Madame von Morien. 

"And I see Pollnitz standing near him, " said Madame von Brandt, whoseeyes had followed the direction of her friend's. She thrust herhandkerchief into her pocket and opened her fan in order to hide herreddened face behind it; the king's piercing look filled her withalarm. "Let us walk through the saloons, dear Morien, " said she, risingup, "the heat chokes me, and I would gladly search a little for theletter; perhaps it may yet be found. "

"What letter?" asked Madame von Morien, indifferently. Her friendstared at her and said:

"My God! you have not heard one word I have said to you!"

"Oh, yes, that you had a letter to give me from the Empress of Austria. "

"Well, and this letter I have lost here in these saloons. "

"Some one will find it; and as it is addressed to me, will immediatelyrestore it. "

"Dear Morien, I pray you in God's name do not seem so quiet andindifferent. This is a most important affair. If I did not leave thisletter in my room, and have really lost it, we are in danger of beingsuspected; in fact, in the eyes of the king we will be considered asspies of Austria. "

At the name of the king Madame von Morien was attentive and sympathetic. 

"But no one can read this letter. Was it sealed?"

"Yes, it was sealed; but, look you, it was sealed with the private sealof the empress, and her name stands around the Austrian arms. Withoutopening the letter it will be known that it is from the Empress ofAustria, and will awaken suspicion. Hear me further; this letter wasenveloped in a paper which had no address, but contained some wordswhich will compromise us both if it is known that this letter wasaddressed to me. "

"What was written in this paper?" said Madame von Morien, still lookingtoward the king, who still stood in the window niche, and kept his eyesfixed upon the two ladies. 

"The paper contained only the following words: 'Have the goodness todeliver this letter; you see the empress keeps her word; we must do thesame and forget not our promises. A happy marriage is well pleasing inthe sight of God and man; the married woman is adorned, the man crownedwith virtue. '"

"And this letter was signed?"

"No, it was not signed; but if it falls into the hands of the king, hewill know from whom it comes; he is acquainted with the handwriting ofManteuffel. "

"Come! come! let us look to it!" said Madame von Morien, now full ofanxiety; "we must find this unfortunate paper; come!"

She took the arm of her friend and walked slowly through the saloons, searching everywhere upon the inlaid floor for something white. 

"You are right, " said the king, coming from the window and followingthe ladies with his eyes; "you are right. They are both searchinganxiously, and it was surely Madame von Brandt to whom the outercovering of this letter was directed. Let them seek; they will find aslittle as the eleven thousand virgins found. But now listen, baron, towhat I say to you. This whole affair remains a secret known to no one. Listen well, baron; known to no one! You must forget that you foundthis letter and gave it to me, or you will believe it to be a dream andnothing more. "

"Yes, your majesty, " said Pollnitz, smiling; "a dream, such as Eckertdreamed, when he supposed the house in Jager Street to be his, andawaked and found it to belong to your highness!"

"You are a fool!" said the king, smiling; he nodded to Pollnitz andjoined the two queens, who had now finished their game of cards andreturned to the saloon. 

The queen-mother advanced to meet her son, and extended her hand tohim; she wished now to carry out her purpose and fulfil the promisegiven to Duke Rhedern. She did not doubt that the king, who receivedher with so much reverence and affection, would grant her request, andthe court would be again witness to the great influence, and indeed theunbounded power which she had over her son. She stood with the kingdirectly under the chandelier, in the middle of the saloon; near themstood the reigning queen and the princes and princesses of the royalhouse. It was an interesting picture. It was curious to observe thisgroup, illuminated by the sharp light, the faces so alike and yet sodifferent in expression; blossoms from one stem, and yet so unlike ingreatness, form, and feature. The courtiers drew near, and inrespectful silence regarded the royal family, who, bathed in a sea oflight, were in the midst of them but not of them. 

"My son, " said the queen, in a clear, silvery voice, "I have a requestto make of you. " The king kissed his mother's hand. 

"Madame, you well know you have no need of entreaty; you have only tocommand. " Sophia smiled proudly. 

"I thank your majesty for this assurance! Listen, then, my chamberlain, Duke Rhedern, wishes to marry. I have promised him to obtain yourconsent. "

"If my royal mother is pleased with the choice of her chamberlain, Iam, of course, also content; always provided that, the chosen bride ofthe duke belongs to a noble family. What is the rank of this bride?"

The queen looked embarrassed, and smiling, said: "She has no rank, yourmajesty. "

The king's brow darkened, "She was not born, then, to be a duchess. Your chamberlain would do better to be silent over this folly than toforce a refusal from me. I hate misalliances, and will not suffer themat my court. "

These loudly spoken and harsh words produced different impressions uponthe family circle of the king; some were cast down, others joyful; somecheeks grew pale, and others red. Sophia blushed from pleasure; she wasnow convinced that the king would not seek a divorce from his wife, inorder to form a morganatic marriage with Laura von Pannewitz; and thequeen-mother was of too noble and virtuous a nature herself to believein the possibility of a mistress at the court of Prussia. The love ofthe king for the lovely Laura appeared now nothing more than a poeticalidyl, which would soon pass away--nothing more! The words of the kingmade a painful impression upon Augustus William; his brow clouded, hisfeatures assumed a painful but threatening expression; he was in theact of speaking, and opposing in the name of humanity and love thosecruel words of the king, as Elizabeth Christine, who stood near him andobserved him with tender sympathy, whispered lightly:

"Be silent, my brother; be considerate. "

The prince breathed heavily, and his glance turned for comfort towardthe maids of honor. Laura greeted him with her eyes, and then blusheddeeply over her own presumption. Strengthened by this tender glancefrom his beautiful bride, Augustus was able to assume a calm andindifferent mien. 

In the meantime the queen-mother was not silenced by the words of theking. Her pride rebelled against this prompt denial in the face of herfamily and the court. Besides, she had given her royal word to thecount, and it must be redeemed. She urged, therefore, her request withfriendly earnestness, but the king was immovable. Sophia, angry at theopposition to her will, was even the more resolved to carry out herpurpose. She had a few reserved troops, and she decided to bring themnow into the field. 

"Your majesty should, without doubt, protect your nobles from unworthyalliances; but there are exceptional cases, where the interest of thenobility would be promoted by allowing such a union. " Sophia Dorotheadrew nearer to her son, and whispered lightly: "Count Rhedern isruined, and must go to the ground if you forbid this marriage. "

The king was now attentive and sympathetic. "Is the lady very rich?"

"Immensely rich, sire. She will bring the duke a million dollars; sheis the daughter of the rich silk merchant Orguelin. "

"Ah, Orguelin is a brave man, and has brought much gold into Prussia byhis fabrics, " said the king, who was evidently becoming more yielding. 

"It would be a great pity if this gold should be lost to Prussia, " saidthe queen. 

"What do you mean, madame?"

"This Mademoiselle Orguelin, thanks to her riches, has many lovers, andat this time a young merchant from Holland seeks her hand; he has theconsent of her father, and will also obtain hers, unless the countknows how to undermine him, " said the queen, thus springing her lastmine. 

"This must not be, " said the king; "this Orguelin shall not marry therich Hollander! Those millions of crowns shall not leave Prussia!"

"But your majesty cannot prevent this girl from marrying the man of herchoice, and you cannot forbid her father to give her a portion of hisfortune. "

The king was silent a moment, and appeared to consider. He then said tohis mother: "Madame, you are an eloquent advocate for your client, andno man can withstand you. I give way, therefore; Count Rhedern has myconsent to marry the Orguelin. "

"But even THAT is not sufficient, " said the queen; "there is yetanother condition, without the filling of which this proud millionnairerefuses to give her hand to the duke. "

"Ah, look you, the little bourgeoise makes conditions before she willwed a count. "

"Yes, sire, she will become the wife of the count only with the count'sassurance that she will be presented at court, and be receivedaccording to her new rank. "

"Truly, " said the king, with ironical laughter, "this littlemillionnaire thinks it an important point to appear at my court. "

"It appears so, sire; it seems that this is a greater glory than topossess a count for a husband. "

The king looked thoughtfully before him, then raised his eyes to hismother with a mocking smile. "Mother, you know I can refuse younothing; and as you wish it, Mademoiselle Orguelin, when she ismarried, shall be received at my court as a newly baked countess. Butpetition for petition, favor for favor. I promise you to receive thisnew baked countess if you will promise me to receive the Count Neal atyour court?"

"Count Neal, " said the queen, "your majesty knows--"

"I know, " said the king, bowing, "I know that Count Neal is of as goodfamily as the new Countess of Rhedern; that he possesses many millionswhich I have secured to Prussia by granting him his title. So weunderstand each other. The new baked countess will be as well receivedat my court as Count Neal will at yours. "

He gave the queen his hand, she laid hers unwillingly within it, andwhispered: "Ah, my son, you have cruelly overreached me. "

"Madame, we secure in this way three millions for Prussia, and theyweigh more than a few countly ancestors. The Prussia of the future willtriumph in battle through her nobles; but she will become greater, morepowerful, through the industry of her people than by victory on thebattle-field. "

CHAPTER XVI. 

UNDER THE LINDENS. 

Linden Street, of Berlin, which is now the most brilliant and mostbeautiful thoroughfare of that great city, was, in the year 1740, awild and desolate region. 

Frederick the First loved pomp and splendor. His wife, when told uponher death-bed how much the king would mourn for her, said, smiling: "Hewill occupy himself in arranging a superb funeral procession; and ifthis ceremony is very brilliant, he will be comforted. "

Frederick the First planted the trees from which this street takes itsname, to render the drive to the palace of Charlottenburg moreagreeable to the queen, and to conceal as much as possible the desolateappearance of the surroundings; for all this suburb lying between thearsenal and the zoological garden was at that time a desolate andbarren waste. The entire region, extending from the new gate to thefar-distant Behren Street, was an immense mass of sand, whose drearappearance had often offended Frederick while he was still the princeroyal. Nothing was to be seen, where now appear majestic palaces andmonuments, the opera house and the catholic church, but sand and heapsof rubbish. Frederick William the First had done much to beautify thispoor deserted quarter, and to render it more fitting its nearneighborhood to the palaces, which were on the other side of thefortifications; but the people of Berlin had aided the king very littlein this effort. None were willing to banish themselves to this desolateand remote portion of the city, and the few stately and palatialbuildings which were erected there were built by the special order ofthe king, and at his expense. Some wealthy men of rank had also put upa few large buildings, to please the king, but they did not reside inthem, and the houses themselves seemed almost out of place. One ofthese large and stately houses had not been built by a Count Dohna, ora Baron von Pleffen, or any other nobleman, but by the most honorableand renowned court tailor Pricker; and for the last few days this househad rejoiced in a new and glittering sign, on which appeared in largegilt letters, "Court Tailor to her majesty the dowager queen, and toher majesty the reigning queen. " But this house, with its imposinginscription, was also surrounded by dirty, miserable cabins. In itsimmediate neighborhood was the small house which has already beendescribed as the dwelling of poor Anna Schommer. 

A deep and unbroken silence reigned in this part of Berlin, and theequipages of the royal family and nobility were rarely seen there, except when the king gave an entertainment at Charlottenburg. 

But to-day a royal carriage was driven rapidly from the palace throughthis desolate region, and toward the Linden Avenue. Here it stopped, and four gentlemen alighted. They were the king; the royal architect, Major Knobelsdorf; the grand chamberlain, Von Pollnitz; and Jordan, thehead of police and guardian of the poor. 

The king stood at the beginning of the Linden Avenue, and lookedearnestly and thoughtfully at the large desolate surface spread outbefore him; his clear bright glance flew like lightning here and there. 

"You must transform this place for me, Knobelsdorf; you must showyourself a very Hercules. You have the ability, and I will furnish themoney. Here we will erect a monument to ourselves, and make a glorioussomething of the nothing of this desert. We will build palaces andtemples of art and of religion. Berlin is at present without everything which would make it a tempting resort for the Muses. It is youraffair, Knobelsdorf, to prepare a suitable reception for them. "

"But the Muses are willing to come without that, " said Pollnitz, withhis most, graceful bow, "for they would discover here the young godApollo, who, without doubt, found it too tiresome in heaven, and hascondescended to become an earthly king. "

The king shrugged his shoulders. "Pollnitz, " he said, "you are justfitted to write a book of instructions for chamberlains and courtcircles; a book which would teach them the most honied phrases and themost graceful flatteries. Why do you not compose such a work?"

"It is absolutely necessary, your majesty, in order to write a book tohave a quiet study in your own house, Where you can arrange every thingaccording to your own ideas of comfort and convenience. As I do not atpresent possess a house, I cannot write this book. "

The king laughed and said: "Well, perhaps Knobelsdorf can spare a smallspot here, on which to erect your Tusculum. But we must first build thepalace of the queen-mother, and a few other temples and halls. Do younot think, Jordan, that this is a most suitable place on which torealize all those beautiful ideals of which we used to dream atRheinsberg? Could we not erect our Acropolis here, and our temples toJupiter and Minerva?"

"In order to convince the world that it is correct in its supposition, "said Jordan, smiling, "that your majesty is not a Christian, but aheathen, who places more faith in the religion of the old Greeks thanin that of the new Church fathers. "

"Do they say that? Well, they are not entirely wrong if they believethat I have no great admiration for popery and the Church. This Churchwas not built by Christ, but by a crafty priesthood. Knobelsdorf, onthis spot must stand the temple of which I have so often dreamed. Thereis space to accomplish all that fancy could suggest or talent execute. "

"Then the palace of the dowager queen must not be placed here?" askedKnobelsdorf. 

"No, not here; this place has another destination, of which I willspeak further to you this evening, and learn if my plan has yourapproval. I dare say my most quarrelsome Jordan will make someobjections. Eh bien, nous verrons. We will proceed and seek a situationfor the palace of the queen. "

"If your majesty will permit me, " said Pollnitz, while the king withhis three companions passed slowly down the Linden Avenue, "I will takethe liberty of pointing out to you a spot, which appears most suitableto me for this palace. It is at the end of the avenue, and at theentrance to the park; it is a most beautiful site, and there would besufficient room to extend the buildings at will. "

"Show us the place, " said the king, walking forward. 

"This is it, " said Pollnitz, as they reached the end of the avenue. 

"It is true, " said the king, "here is space enough to erect a palace. What do you think, Knobelsdorf, will this place answer?"

"We must begin by removing all those small houses, your majesty; thatwould, of course, necessitate their purchase, for which we must obtainthe consent of the possessors, who would, many of them, be leftshelterless by this sudden sale. "

"Shelterless!" said the king; "since Jordan has become the father ofthe poor, none are shelterless, " as he glanced toward his much-belovedfriend. "This spot seems most suitable to me. The palace might stand onthis side; on that a handsome public building, perhaps the library, anduniting the two a lofty arch in the Grecian style. We will convert thatwood into a beautiful park, with shady avenues, tasteful parterres, marble statues, glittering lakes, and murmuring streams. "

"Only a Frederick could dream it possible to convert this desolate spotinto such a fairy land, " said Jordan, smiling. "For my part, I seenothing here but sand, and there a wood of miserable stunted trees. "

The king smiled. "Blessed are they who believe without having seen, " hesaid. "Well, Knobelsdorf, is there room here to carry out our extensiveplans?"

"Certainly; and if your majesty will furnish me with the requisitefunds, the work can be begun without delay. "

"What amount will be required?"

"If it is all executed as your majesty proposes, at least a million. "

"Very well, a million is not too much to prepare a pleasure for thequeen-mother. "

"But, " said Pollnitz, "will not your majesty make those poor peopleacquainted with their fate, and console them by a gracious word forbeing compelled to leave their homes? It has only been a short timesince I was driven by the rain to take shelter in one of those houses, and it made me most melancholy, for I have never seen such want andmisery. There were starving children, a woman dying of grief, and adrunken man. Truly as I saw this scene I longed to be a king for a fewmoments, that I might send a ray of happiness to brighten this gloomyhouse, and dry the tears of these wretched people. "

"It must have been a most terrible sight if even Pollnitz wasdistressed by it, " cried the king, whose noble countenance wasovershadowed with sorrow. "Come, Jordan, we will visit this house, andyou shall assist in alleviating the misery of its inhabitants. You, Knobelsdorf, can occupy yourself in making a drawing of this place. Lead the way, Pollnitz. "

"My desire at last attained, " thought Pollnitz, as he led the kingacross the common. "It has been most difficult to bring the king here, but I am confident my plan will succeed. Dorris Ritter doubtlessexpects us; she will have considered my words, and yielding to hernatural womanly coquetry, she will have followed my counsel, and havemade use of the clothing I sent her yesterday. "

They now stood before the wretched house which Pollnitz had indicated. 

"This house has truly a most gloomy appearance, " said the king. 

"Many sad tears have been shed here, " said Pollnitz, with theappearance of deep sympathy. 

The door of the shop was merely closed; the king pushed it open, andentered with his two companions. No one came forward to meet them;silence reigned in the deserted room. 

"Permit me, your majesty, to go into that room and call the woman; sheprobably did not hear us enter. "

"No, I will go myself, " said the king; "it is well that I shouldoccasionally seek out poverty in its most wretched hiding-place, that Imay learn to understand its miseries and temptations. "

"Ah! my king, " said Jordan, deeply touched, "from to-day your peoplewill no longer call you their king, but their father. "

The king stepped quickly to the door which Pollnitz had pointed out;the two gentlemen followed, and remained standing behind him, glancingcuriously over his shoulder. 

The king crossed the threshold, and then stood motionless, gazing intothe room. "Is it possible to live in such a den?" he murmured. 

"Yes, it is possible, " replied a low, scornful voice; "I live here, with misery for my companion. "

The king was startled by this voice, and turned toward that side of theroom from which it proceeded; only then seeing the woman who sat in thefarthest corner. She remained motionless, her hands folded on her lap;her face was deadly pail, but of a singularly beautiful oval; the hairencircling her head in heavy braids, was of a light, shining blond, andhad almost the appearance of a halo surrounding her clear, pale face, which seemed illumined by her wonderful eyes. 

"She has not made use of the things which I sent, " thought Pollnitz;"but I see she understands her own advantages. She is really beautiful;she looks like a marble statue of the Virgin Mary in some poor villagechurch. "

The king still stood gazing, with an earnest and thoughtful expression, at this woman, who looked fixedly at him, as if she sought to read histhoughts. But he remained quiet, and apparently unmoved. Did the kingrecognize this woman? did he hear again the dying melodies of his earlyyouth? was he listening to their sweet, but melancholy tones? NeitherPollnitz nor Dorris Ritter could discover this in his cold, proud face. 

Jordan broke this silence by saying gently, "Stand up, my good woman, it is the king who is before you. "

She rose slowly from her seat, but her countenance did not betray theleast astonishment or pleasure. 

"The king!" she said; "what does the king desire in this den of povertyand misery?"

"To alleviate both poverty and misery if they are undeserved, " said theking softly. 

She approached him quickly, and made a movement as if she would offerhim her hand. "My wretchedness is undeserved, " she said, "but not evena king can alleviate it. "

"Let me, at least, attempt to do so. In what can I assist you?"

She shook her head sadly. "If King Frederick, the son of FrederickWilliam the First, does not know, then I do not. "

"You are poor, perhaps in want?"

"I do not know--it is possible, " she said absently; "how can I among somany pains and torments distinguish between despair and anguish, andwant and privation?"

"You have children?"

"Yes, " she said, shuddering, "I have children, and they suffer fromhunger; that I know, for they often pray to me for bread, when I havenone to give them. "

"Why does not their father take care of them; perhaps he is not living?"

"He lives, but not for us. He is wiser than I, and forgets his grief indrink, while I nourish the gnawing viper at my heart. "

"You have, then, nothing to ask of me?" said the king, becomingindignant. 

She gazed at him long and searchingly, with her great piercing eyes. "No, " she said harshly. "I have nothing to ask. "

At this moment the door was thrown open, and the two children, Karl andAnna, ran in, calling for their mother; but they became silent onperceiving the strangers, and crept shyly to her side. Dorris Ritterwas strangely moved by the appearance of her children; her countenance, which had borne so hard an expression, became mild and gentle. Shegrasped the hands of the two children, and with them approached theking. 

"Yes, your majesty, I have a petition to make. I implore your pity formy children. They are pure and innocent as God's angels; let not theshame and misery of their parents fall upon their heads. KingFrederick, have pity on my children!"

And overcome by her emotions and her anguish, this unhappy woman sankwith her children at the feet of the king. The king regarded herthoughtfully, then turned to Jordan. 

"Jordan, " said he, "to you I intrust the care of these children. "

The wretched woman started to her feet, and pressed her children to herarms with an expression as terrified and full of agony as that of thenoble and touching statue of the Greek Niobe. 

"Ah! you would tear my children from me! No, no, I ask nothing; we needno mercy, no assistance; we will suffer together; do not separate us. They would cease to love me; they would learn to despise me, theirmother, who only lives in their presence; who, in the midst of all hersorrow and grief, thanks God daily upon her bended knees that he gaveher these children, who alone have saved her from despair and death. "

"You have uttered very wild and godless words, " said the king. "Youshould pray to God to make your heart soft and humble. To be poor, tosuffer from hunger, to have a drunken husband, are great misfortunes, but they can be borne if you have a pure conscience. Your childrenshall not be parted from you. They shall be clothed and taught, and Iwill also see what can be done for you. And now farewell. "

And the king, bowing slightly, turned toward the door, and in doing soplaced a few pieces of gold on the table. Dorris had watched everymovement; she started wildly forward and seized the gold, which shehanded to the king. 

"Your majesty, " she said, with flashing eyes, "I only implored mercyfor my children; I did not beg for myself. My sufferings cannot bewiped out with a few pieces of gold. "

The countenance of the king assumed a most severe expression, and hethrew an annihilating glance on this bold woman, who dared to opposehim. 

"I did not give the gold to you, but to your children, " he said; "youmust not rob them. " He then continued more gently: "If you should everneed and desire assistance, then turn to me; I will remember yourpoverty, not your pride. Tell me your name, therefore, that I may notforget. "

The poor, pale woman glanced searchingly at him. "My name, " she saidthoughtfully, as if to herself, "King Frederick wishes to know my name. I am called--I am called Anna Schommer. "

And as she replied, she placed her hand upon the head of her littledaughter, as if she needed a support. Thus she stood trembling, butstill upright, with head erect, while the king and his suite turnedtoward the door. Her son, who had kept his eyes upon the king, nowfollowed him and lightly touched his mantle. 

His mother saw it, and raising her arm threateningly, while with theother she still supported herself by leaning on her child, she cried:"Do not touch him, my son. Kings are sacred. "

Frederick, already standing on the threshold, turned once more; hisgreat, luminous eyes rested inquiringly on this pale, threateningfigure. An indescribably sad smile played upon his features, but hespoke no word; and slowly turning, he passed through the door, andhurried silently from the shop. 

Dorris Ritter uttered a low cry when she no longer saw him; her handsslid powerless from the head of her child, and hung heavily at herside. The child, thus set at liberty, hurried out to gaze at the kingand his escort. 

The poor woman was all alone--alone with her grief and painfulmemories. She stood for a long time motionless and silent, as ifunconscious, then a dull, heavy groan escaped from her breast, and shefell as if struck by lightning. "He did not even know me, " she cried. "For him I suffer pain and misery, and he passes by, and throws me thecrumbs of benevolence which fall from his bountiful table. " For manyminutes she lay thus broken and trembling; then, suddenly excited bypride and revenge, she arose, with a wild gleam in her eyes. She raisedher hand as if calling upon God to witness her words, and saidsolemnly, "He did not recognize me to-day, but a day will come on whichhe shall recognize me--the day on which I avenge my wretched andtormented life! He is a royal king and I a poor woman, but the sting ofa venomous insect suffices to destroy even a king. Revenge I will have;revenge for my poisoned existence. "

CHAPTER XVII. 

THE POLITICIAN AND THE FRENCH TAILOR. 

Without, the scene had changed in the meanwhile. The attention of thepeople had been attracted to the king's presence by the royal equipagewhich was slowly driving down the street, and one and all hurried fromtheir houses to see and greet their handsome young monarch. Men andwomen, young and old, were running about confusedly, each one inquiringof his neighbor why the king had come, and where he might now be, ashis carriage was apparently awaiting him. And why was that fat man, whowas seated on the sidewalk, sketching this sandy place with its poorlittle houses?

Even the proud and self-satisfied Mr. Pricker had not considered itbeneath his dignity to descend to the street door, where he took hisstand surrounded by his assistants and apprentices. 

"It is said the king has gone into the house of Schommer, the grocer, "said one of his assistants, returning from a reconnoissance he had madeamong the noisy and gossiping multitude. 

Mr. Pricker shook his head gravely. "He must have been misinformed, forhe undoubtedly intended coming to this house and paying me a visit, anintention which would be neither novel nor surprising in my family. None of the rulers of the house of Hohenzollern have as yet neglectedto pay a visit to the house of Pricker. The present king will not failto observe this noble custom, for--"

The worthy Mr. Pricker was interrupted by the shouts of the people. Theking had appeared upon the streets, and was greeted with vociferouscheers, amid the waving of hats and handkerchiefs. 

Mr. Pricker, observing with intense satisfaction that the king hadturned and was advancing in the direction of his house, stepped forwardwith a self-gratulatory smile, and placed himself immediately at theside of the king's path. But the king passed by without noticing him. On this occasion he did not return the greeting of the people in quiteso gracious a manner as usual; his eye was dim, and his brow clouded. Without even favoring the smiling and bowing Pricker with a glance, hepassed on to the carriage which awaited him in front of the courtdressmaker's. The king entered hastily, his cavaliers following him, and the carriage drove off. The shouting of the populace continued, however, until it disappeared in the distance. 

"Why do these poor foolish people shout for joy?" grumbled Mr. Pricker, shrugging his shoulders. Now that the king had taken no notice of him, this man was enraged. "What do they mean by these ridiculous cries, andthis waving of hats? The king regarded them as discontentedly as ifthey were vermin, and did not even favor them with a smile. Howlow-spirited he is! his not recognizing me, the court dressmaker of hiswife, shows this conclusively. It must have been his intention to visitme, for his carriage had halted immediately in front of my door; in hisdepression he must have entirely forgotten it. "

The crowd had begun to disperse, and but a few isolated groups couldnow be seen, who were still eagerly engaged in discussing the king'sappearance. 

At a short distance from Mr. Pricker were several grave and dignifiedcitizens, dressed in long coats ornamented with immense ivory buttons, and wearing long cues, which looked out gravely from the three-corneredhats covering their smooth and powdered hair. 

Mr. Pricker observed these citizens, and with a friendly greetingbeckoned to them to approach. "My worthy friends, did you also come tosee the king?"

"No, we were only passing, but remained standing when we saw the king. "

"A very handsome young man. "

"A very wise and learned young king. "

"And still--"

"Yes, and still--"

"Yes, that is my opinion also, worthy friends, " sighed Mr. Pricker. 

"The many innovations and ordinances; it terrifies one to read them. "

"Every day something new. "

"Yes, it is not as it was in the good old times, under the latelamented king. Ah, we then led a worthy and respectable life. One kneweach day what the next would bring forth. He who hungered to-day knewthat he would also do so on the morrow; he who was rich to-day knewthat he would still be so on the morrow. Ours was an honest andvirtuous existence. Prudence and propriety reigned everywhere; as ahusband and father, the king set us an exalted example. "

"It is true, one ran the risk of being struck occasionally; and if aman had the misfortune to be tall, he was in danger of being enrolledamong the guards, " said another. "But this was all. In other respects, however, one lived quietly enough, smoked his pipe, and drank his potof beer, and in these two occupations we could also consider the kingas our model and ideal. "

"But now!"

"Yes, now! Every thing changes with the rapidity of the wind. He whobut yesterday was poor, is rich to-day; the man who was rich yesterday, is to-day impoverished and thrown aside; this was the fate of the PrivyCounsellor von Eckert. I worked for him, and he was a good customer, for he used a great many gloves, almost a dozen pair every month; andnow I have lost this good customer by the new government. "

"But, then, Eckert deserved it, " said the fat beer brewer. "Heoppressed the people, and was altogether an arrogant puffed-up fellow, who greeted nobody, not even myself. It serves him right that the kinghas taken the new house in Jager Street away from him; there wasjustice in that. "

"But the late lamented king had given it to him, and his last willshould have been honored. "

"Yes, that is true; the last will of the late lamented monarch shouldhave been honored, " they all exclaimed with earnest gravity. 

"Oh, we will have to undergo a great many trials, " sighed Mr. Pricker. "Could you believe, my friends, that they contemplate depriving us ofour respectable cue, and replacing it with a light, fantastic, andtruly immoral wig?"

"That is impossible! That can never be! We will never submit to that!"exclaimed the assembled group, with truly Grecian pathos. 

"They wish to give us French fashions, " continued Pricker; "Frenchfashions and French manners. I can see the day coming when we will haveFrench glovemakers and shoemakers, French hair-dressers andbeer-brewers; yes, and even French dressmakers. I see the day comingwhen a man may with impunity hang out a sign with French inscriptionsover his shop-door, and when he who intersperses his honest German withFrench phrases, will no longer be well beaten. Ah, the present kingwill not, like his lamented predecessor, have two girls arrestedbecause they have said 'charmant;' he will not, with his own hands, belabor the young lads who have the assurance to appear on the streetsin French costumes, as the deceased king so often did. Every thing willbe different, but not better, only more French. "

"Yes, could it be believed, " exclaimed the fat beer-brewer, "that theythink of crying down beer, the favorite beverage of the late lamentedking, which, at all events, should be holy in the sight of his son? Atcourt no more beer will be drank, but only French wines; and he whowishes to be modern and acceptable at court will turn up his nose atthe beer-pot, and drink mean and adulterated wines. Yes, even coffee iscoming into fashion, and the coffee-house keeper in thepleasure-garden, who, up to the present time, was only permitted tomake coffee for the royal family and a few other rich people at court, has not alone received permission to serve coffee to everybody, butevery innkeeper may do the same thing. "

"And have you heard, " asked the glovemaker gloomily, "that the twohotel-keepers in Berlin, Nicolai and St. Vincent, have their rivals, and will no longer keep the only houses where a good dinner can be hadfor money? Two French cooks have already arrived, and one of them hasopened a house in Frederick Street, the other one in King Street, whichthey call 'Restauration. '"

"Yes, " said the shoemaker with a sigh, "I went to the French house inFrederick Street yesterday, and ate a meal out of curiosity. Ah, myfriends, I could have cried for rage, for I am sorry to say that it wasa better meal than we could ever get at Nicolai's or St. Vincent's;moreover I paid less for it. "

"It is a shame. A Frenchman comes here and gives a better and cheaperdinner than a native of Berlin, " said Mr. Pricker. "I tell you we willall have much to endure; and even my title is insufficient to protectme from insult and humiliation, for it might happen that--"

Mr. Pricker suddenly became silent and stared toward the centre of thestreet, astonishment and curiosity depicted on his countenance and onthat of his friends, who followed the direction of his glances. 

And in truth a very unusual spectacle presented itself to these worthyburghers. A carriage was slowly passing along the street drawn by twoweary and smoking horses. This carriage was of the elegant and modernFrench make, now becoming fashionable at court, and was called achaise. As the top was thrown back, its occupants could very well beseen. 

On the front seat were three persons. The first was a man of grave andearnest demeanor and commanding appearance. His tall and well-madefigure was clad in a black velvet coat with little silver buttons, ornamented on the sleeves and breast with elegant lace ruffles. Hishair, which was turning gray, was twisted in a knot at the back of hishead, from which a ribbon of enormous length was pendant. A smallthree-cornered hat, of extraordinary elegance, rested on the toupet ofcurls which hung down on either side of his head and shaded theforehead, which displayed the dignity and sublimity of a Jupiter. 

At his side sat two females, the middle one an elderly, grave-lookinglady; the other a beautiful young girl, with smiling lips, glowingblack eyes, and rosy cheeks. The elegant and graceful attire of theseladies was very different from the grave and sober costume of the womenof Berlin. Their dresses were of lively colors, with wide sleevesbordered with lace, and with long waists, the low cut of which in frontdisplayed in the one the beauty and freshness of her neck; and in theother, the richness of a guipure scarf with which her throat wascovered. Their heads were covered with immense toupets of powderedhair, surmounted by little velvet hats, from which long and wavingribbons hung down behind. 

On the back seat were three other young ladies dressed in the samestyle, but less richly. This first carriage was followed by a second, which contained six young men in French costumes, who were lookingaround with lively curiosity, and laughed so loudly that the worthyburgher who stood in front of Pricker's house could hear every wordthey uttered, but unfortunately could understand nothing. 

"Frenchmen!" murmured Mr. Pricker, with a slight shudder. 

"Frenchmen!" echoed his friends, staring at this novel spectacle. 

But how? Who was that standing by the first carriage which had haltedin front of Mr. Pricker's house? Who was that speaking with the younggirl, who smilingly leant forward from the carriage and was laughingand jesting with him? How? Was this young man really the son and heirof Mr. Pricker? Was he speaking to these strangers, and that, too, inFrench? Yes, Mr. Pricker could not deceive himself, it was his son; itwas William, his heir. 

"How? Does your son speak French?" asked the glovemaker, in areproachful tone. 

"He so much desired to do so, " said Mr. Pricker, with a sigh, "that Iwas forced to consent to give him a French teacher. "

William, who had observed his father, now hurried across the street. The young man's eyes glowed; his handsome face was enlivened with joy;his manner denoted eagerness and excitement. 

"Father, " said he, "come with me quickly! These strangers are soanxious to speak with you. Just think how fortunate! I was passingalong the Charlottenburg road when I met the travellers. They addressedme in French, and inquired for the best hotel in Berlin. It was luckythat I understood them, and could recommend the 'City of Paris. ' Ah, father, what a beautiful and charming girl that is; how easy andgraceful! In the whole city of Berlin there is not so beautiful a girlas Blanche. I have been walking along by the side of the carriage forhalf an hour, and we have been laughing and talking like old friends;for when I discovered who they were, and why they were coming toBerlin, I told them who my father was directly, and then the oldgentleman became so friendly and condescending. Come, father, Mr. Pelissier longs to make your acquaintance. "

"But I do not speak French, " said Mr. Pricker, who, notwithstanding hisantipathy to Frenchmen, still felt flattered by this impatience to makehis acquaintance. 

"I will be your interpreter, father. Come along, for you will also beastonished when you hear who this Mr. Pelissier is. " And William drewhis father impatiently to the carriage. 

Mr. Pricker's friends stood immovable with curiosity, awaiting hisreturn with breathless impatience. At last he returned, but a greatchange had taken place in Mr. Pricker. His step was uncertain andreeling; his lips trembled, and a dark cloud shaded his brow. Headvanced to his friends and regarded them with a wild and vacant stare. A pause ensued. The hearts of all beat with anxiety, and an expressionof intense interest was depicted on every countenance. At last Mr. Pricker opened his trembling lips, and spoke in deep and hollow tones:

"They are Frenchmen! yes, Frenchmen!" said he. "It is the new tailorsent for by the king. He comes with six French assistants, and willwork for the king, the princes and the cavaliers of the court. But heis not only a tailor but also makes ladies' clothing; and his wife anddaughter are the most celebrated dressmakers of Paris; they also areaccompanied by three female assistants, and expect to work for thequeen, the princesses, and the entire court. "

"But that is impossible, " exclaimed his friends. "The laws of our guildprotect us. No woman can carry on the business of a tailor. "

"Nevertheless they will do so, " said Pricker; "the king has accordedthem this privilege. Yes, every thing will now be different, handsomerand better. The king summons these French dressmakers to Berlin, andthe monsters ask my advice. They wish to know of me how they are todemean themselves toward the members of the guild. The new Frenchdressmaker asks advice of me, of the court dressmaker Pricker! Ha, ha, ha! is not that laughable?" And Mr. Pricker broke out into a loud, wildlaugh, which made his friends shudder, and then sunk slowly into thearms of the glover. His son William, who had been a witness of thisscene, hurried to his father's assistance, and carried him into thehouse. 

From his carriage Mr. Pelissier looked proudly down upon the poortailor. "The good master has fainted, " said he with an Olympic smile. "And he has good reason, for ruin is before him. He is a lost man; forhow could he, an unknown German tailor, dare to compete with Pelissier, the son of the celebrated tailor of Louis the Fourteenth? That wouldevince an assurance and folly with which I could not credit even aGerman brain. "

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE DOUBLE RENDEZVOUS. 

The little maid of honor, Louise von Schwerin, was walking with quicksteps up and down her room; she had locked her door to secure herselffrom interruption. She wished to read once more the mysterious notefound yesterday in the bunch of flowers, and once more to meditateundisturbed upon its contents. Louise knew the note was from thehandsome gardener Fritz Wendel; from him came the beautiful flowers shefound daily upon the sill of her window, and he only could haveconcealed the note amongst them. There were but a few lines, entreatingher to meet him that night at eight o'clock, in the grotto of theconservatory, where she should learn an important and dangerous secret. 

"What can the secret be?" asked Louise of herself, after reading thenote again and again. "Perhaps, " she said, with a roguish smile, "perhaps he thinks that his love for me is a secret. Dangerous itcertainly is for him and for me, but a secret it is not. I am certainthat he loves me, but it must be very sweet to be told so; to hear hislips confess at last what until now I have only read in those eloquenteyes. Alas! is it not fearful, intolerable, to wait so long for adeclaration of love? Two months so near each other, but not one momentof sweet, unrestrained intercourse; always hemmed in by this cold, ceremonious, stupid court life; surrounded by spies and eavesdroppers;never alone, never free. Is it not terrible to have a sweetheart, andnever to have refused him a kiss, because he has never had theopportunity to demand one? They say there is rapture in the first kissof your lover--in his first embrace. I must know this for myself, thatthey may no longer laugh and say I am a silly child without experience. I will have my experience! I will have my love affairs as well as theother ladies of the court, only mine shall be more extraordinary, moreromantic. To be loved by a baron or a count is indeed commonplace; butto be adored by a gardener, who is beautiful as the god Apollo, andwhose obscure birth is his only fault--this is original, this ispiquant. Ah, Madame von Brandt laughed at me yesterday, at my stupidityand innocence; she was merry at my expense, because I had never beenkissed, never received a stolen embrace, which she declared to be themost charming event in a woman's life. All the ladies laughed at me asshe said this, and called me an unbaked roll left out in thecold--which never felt the fire. They shall laugh at me no longer, "cried Louise, with spiteful tears in her eyes and stamping her littlefoot. "No one shall mock at me again; and if they do, I will tell themI too have a lover; that I have had a declaration of love, and havereceived my lover's first kiss. I must be able to say this, andtherefore I will meet Fritz this evening in the grotto of theconservatory. " Even while saying this she was seized with a coldtrembling; one moment her heart stood still, and then almost suffocatedher with its rapid beating. A soft voice seemed to warn her againstthis imprudence; she seemed to see the pale face of her mother, and tohear her living counsels: "Do not go, Louise, Frit Wendel is no loverfor Louise von Schwerin. " Her guardian angel spread once more his whitewings around her, longing to protect and save. But, alas! she heardanother voice, breathing flattering words and sweet promises. She saw abeautiful youth with his soft, large, hazel eyes fixed imploringly uponher. Louise felt the irresistible charm of the forbidden, thedisallowed, the dangerous. Louise closed her ear to the warning voice;her good genius had no power over her. "I will go, " she said, and arosy blush suffused her childish cheeks; "nothing shall prevent me!"Louise was now quite resolved; but she was not at peace with herself, and from time to time she hoped some unexpected occurrence, someunconquerable obstacle, would prevent her from taking this imprudentstep. No difficulty arose; chance seemed to favor her meeting with herobscure lover. 

Sophia Dorothea was to visit her daughter-in-law at Schonhausen, not asa queen, but without pomp and splendor. The two eldest maids of honoronly would accompany her. Neither Louise von Schwerin nor Laura vonPannewitz were to be of the party. Sophia was glad that at least for afew hours she would not see the lovely, sad face, and soft, melancholyeyes of Laura, nor hear the low and plaintive tones of her accusingvoice. The king had gone to Potsdam, it was therefore unnecessary towatch Laura. Indeed, of late the queen scarcely believed in this love, of which she had been so confident; she had tried in vain to discoverany trace of an understanding between Laura and the king. Frederickscarcely noticed Laura, and had spoken to her but once since thatstormy day; then he had laughingly asked her why she was so pale andlanguishing, and if it was an unhappy love which made her look somournful. Since that day the queen no longer believed in the passion ofthe king for Laura, and she reproached Madame von Brandt with havingmisled her. 

Madame von Brandt smiled mysteriously. "I did not say, your majesty, that the king loved Laura; your suspicions fell upon him, and I did notundeceive you. "

"And why not?" said the queen angrily; "why did you not make known tome the name of Laura's lover?"

"Because I had solemnly sworn not to disclose it, " said Madame vonBrandt. 

"Is it not the king? then all the better for my poor Laura. "

"Still, I venture to implore your majesty to induce my dear youngfriend to accept the hand of Count Voss; she will thus perhaps be curedof her unhappy and hopeless passion. "

Sophia was resolved to follow this advice; she therefore drove toSchonhausen to see the young queen, and consult with her as to the mostefficacious means of accomplishing this result. Louise von Schwerinthought the queen might still change her mind and command her toaccompany her; she hoped and feared this at the same time. She wouldhave wept bitterly at this result, but she knew it would be best forher. Between anxiety and hope, doubts and fears, the time passed slowly. 

"There rolls a carriage from the court, " said Louise; she heard theloud cries of the guard and the beating of the drums. 

It was the queen leaving for Schonhausen. Louise was now free, nowunobserved; nothing could prevent her from going to the grotto. Withtrembling steps and a quickly beating heart she slipped through thedark alleys of the garden and entered the conservatory. All was stilland wrapped in a sweet twilight. The delightful odor of orange blossomsfilled the place; which, like the subtle vapor of opium, intoxicatedher senses. Breathless with fear and expectation she entered thegrotto; her eyes were blinded by the sudden darkness, and she sank tothe ground. 

"Thank God, " she murmured softly, "I am alone, he is not here! I shallhave time to recover, and then I can return; I am so frightened--Iought not to have come. Perhaps the ladies of the court have arrangedthis practical joke at my expense. Yes, that is it. It was folly tobelieve he would dare to ask me to meet him; he is too timid--toohumble. Yes, it is a trap laid for me, and I have fallen into it. "

She rose hastily to fly back to the palace; but it was too late; astrong arm was gently thrown around her neck, and she was drawn back toher seat. She tried to free herself, but could not; she heard the loudbeating of his heart, which found an echo in her own; she felt his lipspressed to hers, but her childish modesty was aroused; she found shehad the wish and courage to free herself. 

"Let me go!" she cried breathlessly; "let me go! do not hold me amoment! I will go! I will go this instant! How dare you treat me inthis manner? How and why did you come?" and Louise, who was now free, remained standing to hear his reply. 

"How did I come here?" said the handsome gardener, in a submissive butpleading tone. "Every night for four weeks I have worked upon thissubterranean alley; this dark path, which should lead me here unseen. While others slept and dreamed I worked; and also dreamed with workingeyes. Mine were happy dreams. My work was done, and I could reach thisconsecrated spot unseen. I saw in my vision an angel, whom I adore, andto whom I have consecrated every hour, every moment of my life. Look, Mademoiselle, at the opening behind that large orange tree, that is theway to my paradise; through that opening I can reach a staircase, leading to a small cellar; another pair of steps takes me to atrap-door leading directly to my room. You can well imagine it requiredtime, and strength, and courage to prepare this way. "

Louise approached the opening curiously. This strange path made for hersake affected her more than all Fritz Wendel's words. Only a mightylove could have moved a man in the darkness and alone to such a task. Louise wished to conquer her confusion and to hide her embarrassmentwith light mockery and jesting. 

"Truly, " she said, laughing, "this is a dark and mysterious passage, but any one with a light would discover it. You know her majesty hasthe saloon illuminated occasionally in the evening, and takes her teahere. "

"No one will find this opening, " said the gardener. He pushed thewooden tub, in which the orange-tree grew, with his foot; it gave wayto a slight touch, and turned round over the opening. "Look, Mademoiselle, the tree covers my secret. "

"Open it! open it! I pray you, I must see it!"

"I will do so if you promise me not to leave me immediately. "

"I promise! I promise!"

Fritz Wendel pushed back the orange-tree, then lifting Louise gently inhis arms, he carried her to the grassplot, and seating her, he threwhimself on his knees before her, and bowed, as if in adoration. 

"You are my queen, the sovereign of my soul! I lay myself at your feet, as your slave. You alone can decide my fate. You can raise me to theheaven of heavens, or cast me in the dust. Say only the little words 'Ilove you!' this will give me strength and power to brave the wholeworld. I will acquire fame and honor, and at no distant day before Godand the whole world I will demand your hand! If you say, 'Remain whereyou are, at my feet is your proper place; I despise the poor gardener, who dares to love the high-born lady!' then I will die; if I live Ishall go mad. My brain reels at the thought of such wretchedness. I candie now, and bless you in dying; if I live in my madness I shall curseyou for your cruelty. "

He ceased, and raised his handsome face pleadingly to hers. Louise wasspeechless; she was intoxicated with the music of his voice andimpassioned words. 

"You do not answer me! Oh! before you cast me off consider my agony. The heart you despise contains a treasure of love and tenderness. Noother man can love you as I do. You are my light and life. You arebeautiful and fascinating; many will love you and seek your hand. Whobut the poor gardener will die for you if you say no? To me you aremore than the most lovely of women, you are a goddess! Oh, you know notwhat you have already made of me! what you will still make of me! WhenI saw you for the first time I was a poor, ignorant gardener, lovingnothing but my flowers; knowing no language. The great book of naturewas my only study. Since that glorious day in which I looked upon youas a radiant, heavenly vision, I have realized my poverty; I haveblushed at my ignorance. My life has been one great effort to makemyself worthy of you. Now, Louise, command me. What shall I do? Whatshall I become? If you do not despise and laugh at my love, if you loveme a little in return, if you have hope, courage, and patience to wait, I will be worthy of you!"

"Alas!" said Louise, "this is the dream of a madman. The king and mynoble and proud family would never consent that I should become yourwife. "

"As to the king, " said Fritz, carelessly, "I would find means to obtainhis consent, and honor and distinction, at his hands. "

"I understand, " said Louise, "the secret you intended to tell me--tellit now, " she exclaimed, with a child's eager curiosity. 

"Listen, " said he, rising from his knees--"listen, but do not let usbetray ourselves by loud words or exclamations. "

"I hear steps, " said Louise. "Oh, if we should be discovered!"

"Fear nothing; look there, Louise!" Her eye followed the direction ofhis hand. 

Under the laurel-tree sat Laura von Pannewitz, and before her kneltPrince Augustus William, radiant with happiness, and covering her handswith kisses. 

"Laura, my bride, my darling, when will the day come in which I cancall you mine to all eternity?"

"That day will come when I am dead, " said Laura, with a sad smile. "Yes, my prince, only when I am dead shall I be free to love you, andto pray for you. My freed spirit shall hover around you as yourguardian angel, and protect you from all dangers. Oh, if I could dienow, and fulfil this noble mission!" Louise was so absorbed in thisscene that she did not notice Fritz Wendel as he drew near and againthrew his arm around her. 

"Look at them, " he murmured; "he is a royal prince, and she only a poormaid of honor; he loves her, and she accepts his love, and fears noshame. "

Louise laid her hand impatiently upon his lips and whispered, "Hush!"he covered her hand with kisses; they listened with subdued breathingto the pure and ardent vows of the two lovers. 

For one moment Laura, carried away by her own feelings and the earnestwords of her lover, allowed him to press his lips to her cheek, andreturned his vows of love and constancy. But at this moment Louiseheard the soft voice of Laura entreating her lover to leave her, andnot to make her blush for herself. 

"Promise me, " she cried, "never again to embrace me; our love mustremain pure, and only when we fear not God's holy eye, dare we pray toHim for assistance. Let us retain the right to shed innocent tears overour unhappy love, and lay it as a sacrifice at the foot of God's thronein that day when the world shall separate and despise us. "

"No one shall dare to do that, Laura; you are my future wife; I shallbe ever near to defend you with my life's blood! But I promise what youask; I will restrain my heart; only in dreams will I embrace you; Iswear this, my beloved. But the day will come when you will cancel thisvow--the day when I will claim you before God and man as my wife!"

Laura took his hand with a sweet, confiding smile: "I thank you, darling, I thank you, but now we must part. "

"Part! alas, we shall not meet again for weeks. I am commanded toaccompany the king on a pleasure trip; for me there is but one earthlypleasure, to see you--to be at your side. "

"Go, " she said, smiling; "go without fear; we can never forget eachother; however widely separated, you are always before me; I am alwayswith you, although you see me not. "

"Yes, Laura, there is not one moment of my life in which I do not seeand hear you!"

"Well, then, go cheerfully with the king. Our hearts understand eachother; our souls are inseparable. "

The prince took her hand and pressed it to his heart, then silentlythey left the saloon. 

Louise had long since freed herself from her lover, and she now arose, resolved to return to the palace. Fritz Wendel tried to detain her, butthe weak and foolish child had gathered courage from the modest wordsand dignified example of Laura. 

"If you touch me again, you have seen me for the last time! I willnever again return to this grotto!" Fritz Wendel was encouraged by herwords; he had not asked her to return, and she had half promised to doso. 

"I will not dare to touch you again, " he said, humbly; "but will younot promise me to come again?"

"Well, I suppose I shall have to come again to hear the end of poorLaura's romance. "

"This romance can be of great use to us, " he said, seizing her hand andpressing it to his lips; "if mademoiselle accepts my love and allows meto hope I may one day become her husband, I will sell this secret tothe king, and thus obtain his consent. "

"You would not be so cruel as to betray them to the king?"

"Yes, there is nothing I would not do to obtain your hand. "

BOOK III. 

CHAPTER I. 

THE INTRIGUING COURTIERS. 

"You are right, " said Baron Pollnitz, "yes, you are right, dearFredersdorf; this is not the way to vanquish our Hercules or toinfluence him. He has no heart, and is not capable of love, and Iverily believe he despises women. "

"He does not despise them, " said Fredersdorf, "he is wearied with them, which is far worse. Women are always too ready to meet him; too manyhearts have been given him unasked; no woman will ever have power overhim. "

"How, what then, my dear friend?" cried Pollnitz. "There are means totame every living creature; the elephant and the royal lion can betamed, they become under skilful hands gentle, patient, and obedient:is there no way to tame this king of beasts and hold him in bondage?Unless we can ensnare him, we will be less than nothing, subject to hisarbitrary temper, and condemned to obey his will. Acknowledge that thisis not an enviable position; it does not correspond with the proud andambitious hopes we have both been for some time encouraging. "

"Is it possible that when the king's chamberlain and a cunning oldcourtier like myself unite our forces the royal game can escape ourartful and well-arranged nets?"

"Dear Fredersdorf, this must not, this shall not be. It would be aneverlasting shame upon us both. "

"What an unheard-of enormity, a king without a powerful and influentialfavorite!"

"Frederick shall have two, and as these places are vacant, it is butnatural that we should strive to occupy them. "

"Yes, " said Fredersdorf, "we will seize upon them and maintain ourposition. You called the king a young Hercules--well, this Herculesmust be tamed. "

"Through love of Omphale. "

"No, not exactly, but Omphale must lead him into a life of luxury, andput him to sleep by voluptuous feasts. Call to mind how the RomanEmperor Heliogabalus killed the proud and ambitious senators who wishedto curtail his absolute power. "

"I am not so learned as you are, my dear friend, and I confess withoutblushing that I know nothing of Heliogabalus. "

"Listen, then: Heliogabalus was weary of being but the obedientfunctionary of the senate; he wished to rule, and to have that powerwhich the senate claimed as its own. He kept his ambitious desires tohimself, however, and showed the senators a contented and submissiveface. One day he invited them to a splendid feast at his villa; heplaced before them the most costly meats and the choicest wines. Theywere sitting around this luxurious table, somewhat excited by drink, when the emperor arose and said with a peculiar smile: 'I must go nowto prepare for you an agreeable surprise and practical joke, which youwill confess has the merit of originality. ' He left the room, and thetipsy senators did not observe that the doors were locked and boltedfrom without. They continued to drink and sing merrily; suddenly aglass door in the ceiling was opened, and the voice of Heliogabalus washeard, saying: 'You were never satisfied with your power and glory, youwere always aspiring after new laurels; this noble thirst shall now besatisfied. ' A torrent of laurel wreaths and branches now fell upon thesenators. At first they laughed, and snatched jestingly at the flyinglaurels. The most exquisite flowers were now added, and there seemed tobe no end to the pelting storm. They cried out, 'Enough, enough, ' invain; the wreaths and bouquets still poured upon them in unceasingstreams; the floor was literally a bed of roses. At last, terror tookpossession of them; they wished to escape, and rushed to the doors, butthey were immovable. Through the sea of flowers, which already reachedtheir knees, they waded to the window, but they were in the secondstory, and below they saw the Roman legions with their sharp weaponspointed in the air. Flight was impossible; they pleaded wildly formercy, but the inexorable stream of flowers continued to flow. Higherand higher rose the walls around them; they could no longer even pleadfor pity; they were literally buried in laurels. At last nothing was tobe seen but a vast bed of roses, of which not even a fragrant leaf wasstirred by a passing breeze. Heliogabalus had not murdered hissenators; he had suffocated them with sweets, that was all. Well, whatdo you think of my story?" said Fredersdorf. 

"It is full of interest, and Heliogabalus must have been poetical; butI do not see the connection between the emperor and ourselves. "

"You do not?" said his friend impatiently; "well, let us follow hisexample. We will intoxicate this mighty king with enervating pleasures, we will tempt him with wine and women, we will stifle him with flowers. "

"But he has no taste for them, " said Pollnitz, sighing. 

"He does not care for the beauty of women, but he has other dangeroustastes; he has no heart, but he has a palate; he does not care for thelove of women, but he enjoys good living--that will make one link inhis fetters. Then he loves pomp and splendor; he has so long beenforced to live meanly that wealth will intoxicate him; he will wish tolavish honors and rain gold upon his people. Frederick William hasstowed away millions; we will help the son to scatter them. "

"This will be a new and thrillingly agreeable pastime, in the orderingof which he could not have a better adviser than yourself, baron. "

"While Frederick and yourself are building new palaces and planning newamusements, I will rule, and help him to bear the burden of stateaffairs. "

"You will help him to scatter millions, and I will collect from thegood Prussians new millions for him to scatter. It is to be hoped thatsome heavy drops from this golden shower will fall into my purse, " saidPollnitz. "My finances are in an unhealthy state, and my landlordthreatens to sell my furniture and my jewels, because for more than ayear I have not paid my rent. You see now, Fredersdorf, that I musthave that house in Jager Street. I count upon it so surely that I havealready borrowed a few thousand dollars from some confiding noblesouls, whom I have convinced that the house is mine. "

"You shall have it, " said Fredersdorf; "the king will give it to you asa reward for the plans you have drawn for the new palaces. "

"Has he seen them?"

"Yes, and approves them. The papers are in his desk, and need but hisroyal signature. "

"Ah!" said Pollnitz, "if they were but signed! What a glorious lifewould commence here! we would realize the Arabian Nights; and Europewould gaze with dazzled eyes at the splendor and magnificence of ourcourt. How vexed the treasurer, Boden, will be when the king commandshim to disburse for our revels and vanities the millions which hehelped the late king to hoard together for far different purposes! ThisBoden, " said Pollnitz thoughtfully, "will be our most dangerousopponent: you may believe this; I am somewhat versed in physiognomy. Ihave studied his countenance; he is a bold, determined man, who, whenirritated, would even brave the king. All the other ministers agreewith our plans, and will not stand in our way. They are not dangerous;I have made a compromise with them; they have resolved to think all wedo right. But Boden was inflexible; he would not understand my secretsigns or hints; flattery has no power over him, and he is alikeindifferent to promises and threats. All my dexterously aimed arrowsrebounded from the rough coat-of-mail with which his honesty hasclothed him. "

"Do not concern yourself about Boden, " cried Fredersdorf, "he is a lostman; he falls without any aid from us. The king hates him, and is onlywaiting for an opportunity to dismiss him. Have you not noticed howcontemptuously he treats him--never speaks to him or notices him, whilehe loves to chat with his other ministers? Frederick did not dismisshim from office at once, because the old king loved him. Boden was histreasurer and confidential friend, from whom he had no secrets; theking has therefore been patient; but his sun is set, of that you may beconvinced. The king, though he seems not to notice him, watches himclosely; one incautious movement and he will be instantly dismissed. This may happen this very day. "

"How?" said Pollnitz. 

"The king has adopted the plan, which he had ordered Knobelsdorf tosketch for him, for the new palace of the dowager-queen. It is to be acolossal wonder--the capitol of the north! the building of which willcost from four to five millions! These millions must come from Boden'streasury; he must respect the royal order. If he does, he is anunscrupulous officer, and the king can no longer put faith in him. Ifhe dares oppose the royal command, he is a traitor, and the king, whodemands silent and unconditional obedience from his officers, willdismiss him. The king feels this himself, and when he gave me thesedocuments, he said, with a peculiar smile, 'This is a bitter pill forBoden--we will see if he is able to swallow it. ' You see, now, that ourgood Boden stands between two pitfalls, from both of which he cannothope to escape alive. "

"Ah, if this is true, " said Pollnitz, gayly, "our success is assured. The house in Jager Street will be mine, and you will be an influentialminister. We will govern the ruler of Prussia, and be mighty in theland. Only think how all the courtiers will bow before us! The kingwill do nothing without our advice. I will make more debts. I will beas generous as Fouquet, and as lavish and luxurious as Lucullus; and ifat last all my resources fail, I will do as Heliogabalus did; if mycreditors become troublesome, the old Roman shall teach me how tosilence them by some refinement in hospitality. "

"And I, the lowly born, " said Fredersdorf, "who have so long been aslave, will now have power and influence. The king loves me; I will bea true and faithful servant to him. I will be inflexible to those whohave scorned me; those proud counts and barons, who have passed me byunnoticed, shall now sue to me in vain. The king's heart is mine, and Iwill be sustained by him. This tamed lion shall be drawn by prancingsteeds in gilded chariots; we will anoint him with honey and feed himwith nightingales' tongues; he shall bathe in Lachrymae Christi, andall that the most fantastic dream and the wildest flights of fancy canimagine shall be set before him. Those good epicurean Romans, who threwyoung maidens into their ponds for their eels to feed upon, in orderthat their meat might be tender and juicy, were sickly sentimentalistsin comparison with what I shall be--" he stopped, for the door opened, and Boden, their hated enemy, stood before them. They looked upon himindifferently, as a doomed adversary. Boden approached quietly, andsaid to Fredersdorf:

"Have the kindness to announce me to his majesty. "

"Has his majesty sent for you?" said Fredersdorf, carelessly. 

"He has not sent for me, but please say to his majesty that I am cometo speak with him on important business. "

Fredersdorf stepped into the adjoining room, and returned quickly, saying with a triumphant and malicious smile: "The king says he willsend for you when he wishes to speak with you. These were his exactwords; accommodate yourself to them in future. "

The minister's countenance was perfectly calm; his lip slightlytrembled; but he spoke in his usual grave, composed manner: "The kingmay not desire to see me; but I, as an officer and minister of state, have the most urgent reasons for desiring an audience. Go and tell himthis. "

"These are proud, disrespectful words, " said Pollnitz, smiling blandly. 

"Which I will faithfully report to his majesty, " said Fredersdorf. 

"I fear your excellency will pay dearly for this speech, " whisperedPollnitz. 

"Fear nothing for me, " said Boden, with a quiet smile. 

"His majesty awaits you, " said Fredersdorf, still standing at the door. Boden walked proudly by Fredersdorf, casting upon him a look ofcontempt, who returned it with a mocking grin. 

"The fox is caught, " he whispered, as the door closed upon him. 

"Do you think so?" said Pollnitz. "I am surprised and somewhat anxiousat the king's receiving him. "

"Fear nothing, he is but received to be DISMISSED. The king's eyeflamed, and his brow, usually so clear, was heavily clouded; thisbetokens storms; may they break upon Boden's devoted head! Come, let uswatch the tempest; there is nothing more instructive than a royalhurricane. "

"Let us profit by the occasion, then. "

The two courtiers slipped noiselessly to the door and pushed thecurtains carefully to one side, so as to see and hear clearly. 

CHAPTER II. 

THE KING AND SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. 

The king received the secretary with a solemn and earnest bow. He stoodleaning upon his writing-table, his arms folded, and his glance fixedupon Boden. Many a bold man had trembled at the eagle glance ofFrederick, but Boden looked up clear, and betrayed neither confusionnor hesitation. 

"You insisted positively upon seeing me, " said Frederick, sternly; "letme hear now what you have to say. "

"I have much to say, and I must bespeak patience and indulgence; I fearthat my words will seem dry and tedious to your majesty. "

"Speak; I will myself determine how far I can grant you patience andindulgence. "

"Your majesty is a fiery but noble and learned gentleman; besides this, you are young, and youth has a daring will--can renew the old andlumbering wheel and push the world forward in her progress. Yourmajesty will, can, and must do this; God has given you not only thepower, but the intellect and strength. Your majesty will change manythings and inaugurate new measures. The old times must give way beforethe new era. I saw that the first time I looked into my young king'seye--in that bold eye in which is written a great and glorious futurefor Prussia; I understood that we, who had served the sainted king, might not appear worthy or young enough to carry out the purposes ofthe royal successor of Frederick William. I waited, also, for mydismissal; but it came not. Your majesty did not remove me from myoffice, and I confess this gave me pleasure. I said to myself, Theking will not destroy, he will improve; and if he believes that hisfather's old servants can help him in that, so will we serve him andcarry out his purposes with a holy zeal. I know the secret machinery ofstate. The king concealed nothing from me. I will explain all this tothe young king; I will make him acquainted with this complicated andwidely spread power; I will have the honor to make known to him myknowledge of the revenue and its uses. I rejoiced in the hope that Imay yet serve my fatherland. '"

"These are very friendly and perhaps well-meant propositions which youare making me, " said the king, with a light laugh. "Happily, however, Ido not need them. I know already what is necessary, and as I have foundamongst the papers of my father all the accounts of the states-general, you can understand that I know exactly what I receive as revenue andwhat I am to disburse. Besides all this, I will not fatigue myself inminute details on this subject; I do not deem it of sufficientimportance. My time is much occupied, and I have more important andbetter things to do than to weary myself over dull questions offinance. "

"No, majesty, " cried Boden, "you have nothing more important or betterto do. The finances are the blood-vessels of the State, and the wholebody would sicken and die if these vessels should be choked orirregular in their action. "

"Then must we call the lancet to our aid, " said the king. "I am thephysician of this revenue, you are the surgeon only when I need thelancet; then will you strike the vein, and allow so much golden bloodto flow as I think good and necessary. "

"No, this will I not do!" said Boden, resolutely; "your majesty candismiss me, but you cannot force me to act against my conscience. "

"Boden!" cried the king in so loud and angry a tone that even the twolistening courtiers trembled and turned pale. 

"This man is already a corpse, " whispered Pollnitz. "I already smell, even here, the refreshing fragrance of his body. We will bury him, andbe his smiling heirs. "

"Look, look at the fearful glance of the king!" whispered Fredersdorf;"his eyes crush the over-bold, even as the glance of Jove crushed theTitans. Yes, you are right, Boden is a dead man. The king is so filledwith scorn, he has lost the power of speech. "

"No, he opens his lips, let us listen. "

"Boden, " said the king, "you forget that you speak with the son, andnot with the father. You were the favorite of Frederick William, butyou are not mine; and I will not suffer this inconsiderate andself-confident manner. Remember that, and go on. "

"So long as I am in your service, " said the minister, with a slightbow, "it is my first and my holiest duty to express my opinions freelyto your majesty, to give you counsel according to the best of mystrength and my ability. It remains with your majesty to reject myadvice and to act differently, but still according to the constitutionof the State. "

"The first duty of a servant is to give his counsel only when it isdemanded; as I did not desire yours, you might have spared yourselfthis trouble. "

"Your majesty did not ask my counsel, that is true, " said the minister;"you only remembered me when you had commands to give as to theemptying of the royal treasury. Your majesty thought you had no use foryour finance minister, as you had all the papers relating to the statesgeneral. Every one of your majesty's ministers is acquainted with thesematters, and yet they would not feel able to decide the question of thedisbursing of the kingly revenue, to say under what circumstances, andconformably to the powers of the States, this revenue should bedisposed of. This, my king, requires a special knowledge, and I, asminister of finance, dare boast that I understand this matter. "

The king's brow became more and more clouded. "That may be, " said he, impatiently, "but I am not willing to be restrained in my operations bynarrow-minded laws; I will not live meanly like my father, and thinkonly of gathering millions together. "

"Nor did King Frederick William live for that, " said the ministerboldly; "he lived economically, but where there was want, he knew howto give with a truly royal hand; this is proved by the provinces, bythe cities and villages which he built out of dust and ashes; this isproved by the half million of happy men who now inhabit them in peaceand comfort. More than three millions of dollars did the king give toLithuania, which was a howling wilderness, filled with famine andpestilence, until relieved by the generosity of their monarch; andwhile doing this he watched with close attention the accounts of hiscook and spent but little money on the royal table. No! The king didnot only gather millions together; he knew how to disburse themworthily. "

"This man must be crazy, " whispered Pollnitz; "he dares to praise thedead king at the expense and in the teeth of the living; that is indeedbold folly, and must lead to his destruction. The king has turned awayfrom him; see, he goes to the window and looks without; he will givehimself time to master his scorn and conquer the desire which he feelsto crush this daring worm to the earth. I tell you, " said Pollnitz, "Iwould give Boden a hundred glasses of champagne from my cellar in theJager Street if I could see the king punish him with his own hands. "

The king turned again to the minister, who looked at him like a man whodared all and was resigned to all; he thought, with Pollnitz andFredersdorf, that the king would crush him in his wrath. ButFrederick's face was calm, and a strangely mild glance beamed in hiseye. 

"Well, if you praise my father for disbursing millions, so will youalso be content with me, for it is my purpose zealously to imitate him. I will begin by putting my court upon a truly royal footing; I willlive as it becomes the King of Prussia. The necessary preparations arealready commenced, and a detailed plan lies now upon the table; I willsign it to-day. "

"May I read it, your majesty?" said Boden. 

The king nodded, Boden took the paper and glanced hastily over it, while the king folded his arms behind him and walked backwards andforwards. 

"I find the king wondrously wearisome and patient, " murmuredFredersdorf; "it is not his manner generally to withhold so long hiscrushing glances. "

"And with what derisive laughter that man there reads my plan!" saidPollnitz, gnashing his teeth; "truly one might think he was makingsport of it. "

"Have you read it?" said the king, standing still before Boden, andlooking at him sharply. 

"Yes, your majesty, I have read it. "

"Well, and what think you of it?"

"That only Pollnitz, who it is well known has no gold, and is onlyacquainted with debt, could have drawn out such a plan, for therealization of which, not only Prussian gold, but a fountain of goldfrom the Arabian Nights would be necessary. "

"I swear I will break this fellow's neck!" said Pollnitz. 

A faint smile might be seen on the lips of Frederick. "You do notapprove of this plan?" said he. 

"Your majesty, we have no strong box from which this sum can beabstracted, and if you are resolved to take from the State treasury thesum necessary for this purpose, so will this also be exhausted duringthe first year. "

"Well, let us leave this plan for the present, and tell me how youstand as to the means necessary to build the palace of thequeen-mother. Have you received my instructions?"

"I have received them. "

"And you have disbursed the sum necessary?"

"No, sire, I cannot. "

"How! cannot, when I your king and lord command it?"

Boden bowed respectfully. "Your majesty, there is a greater lord--thatis, my conscience; my conscience forbids me to take this sum from thestrong box designated. You require four millions of dollars, and youdesire that this sum shall be taken from the money set apart for themaintenance of the army and the assistance of famished and sufferingvillages and towns. I acknowledge that the court of his sainted majestywas somewhat niggardly, and that you, sire, may justly find somechanges necessary. If, however, it is determined to use for thispurpose the funds set apart for other important objects, then must yourmajesty impose new and heavy taxes upon your subjects, or you mustdiminish the army. "

"Diminish my army!" said the king; "never, never shall that be done!"

"Then, sire, if the building of a palace is absolutely necessary, takethe sum for this purpose from your royal treasury; it contains nowseven millions of dollars, and as there is no war in prospect, you maywell use four millions of the seven in building a castle. "

"No, this will not do!" said Frederick. "This money is set apart forother objects; you shall take these four millions from the designatedsources. "

"I have had already the honor to show your majesty the consequence ofsuch a course. You declare you will not diminish the army: it onlyremains then to impose a new tax. "

"Do that, then, " said the king, indifferently; "write a command for anew tax; that is your affair. "

The minister looked at the king in painful surprise, and a profoundsorrow was painted in his face. 

"If this must be so, your majesty, " said he, with a deeply moved voice, "then is the hour of my dismissal at hand, and I know what I have todo; I am no longer young enough to bear the burden of a portfolio; Ibelong to the old and cautious time, and my ideas do not suit the youngera. I ask your majesty, in all humility and submission, to give me mydismissal. Here is the paper which contains the plan of the palace; youwill readily find another who will obey your commands. I am notsufficiently GROWN for this post of finance minister. I beg also for mydismissal. "

"AT LAST, " said the king, with glistening eyes. 

"At last!" repeated Pollnitz; "truly it was a long time before thiscowardly man could be brought to the point. "

"Did I not tell you that the king was resolved to get rid of Boden?"said Fredersdorf; "but let us listen! no, why should we listen? Bodenhas handed in his resignation, and the king has accepted it. I confessmy back aches from this crouching position; I will go and drink a glassof champagne to the health of the new minister of finance. "

"You must not go. The king asked for you as Boden was announced, andcommanded that we should wait here in the ante-room until called, as hehad something of importance to communicate. Without doubt he willpresent me to-day with the deed of the house in Jager Street. Look! inthe last window niche I see a pair of very inviting chairs; let us makeourselves comfortable. "

The king had said "At last!" as Boden offered his resignation; after ashort silence he added: "It seems to me that you hesitated a long timebefore resigning. "

"It is true, " said Boden sadly; "I certainly had occasion to take thisstep earlier, but I still hoped I might be useful to my king. "

"And this hope has not deceived you, " said Frederick, drawing near toBoden, and laying his hand on his shoulder; "I cannot accept yourresignation. "

Boden looked up amazed. The king's face was beautiful to behold--atouching and gentle expression spoke in every noble feature; hislight-blue eye beamed with gladness and goodness. 

"How! Your majesty will not accept my resignation?"

"No, it would be great folly in me, " said Frederick, in a tone whichbrought tears to the eyes of the minister; "it would be great folly todeprive myself of so noble and faithful a servant. No, Boden, I am notso great a spendthrift as to cast away such a treasure. Now in orderthat you may understand your king, I will make you a confession: youhad been slandered to me, and my distrust awakened. It was said of youthat you filled the State treasury while the people hungered; it wassaid of you that you were resolved to hold on to your office, andtherefore carried out the commands of the king, even though unjust tothe people. I wished to prove you, Boden, to see if you had beenSLANDERED or justly charged; I handled you, therefore, contemptuously;I gave you commissions which were oppressive; I drew upon the treasuryso as to exhaust it fully; I wished to know if you were only asubmissive servant or an honest man; I had long to wait, and yourpatience and forbearance were great. To-day I put you to the extremestproof, and by God! if you had carried out my unjust and unwiseinstructions, I would not only have deprived you of your office, but Iwould have held you to a strict account. You would have been adishonest servant, who, in order to flatter the king, was willing tosin against the people. The welfare of my people is holy to me, andthey shall not be oppressed by new taxes. Praised be God! I can say Iunderstand my duties; may every ruler do the same. May they keep theireyes steadily fixed upon their great calling; may they feel that thisexaltation, this rank of which they are so proud, so jealous, is thegift of the people, whose happiness is intrusted to them; that millionsof men have not been created to be the slaves of one man, to make himmore terrible and more powerful. The people do not place themselvesunder the yoke of a fellow-man to be the martyrs of his humor and theplaythings of his pleasure. No, they choose from amongst them the onethey consider the most just, in order that he may govern them; THEBEST, to be their father; the most humane, that he may sympathize andassist them; the bravest, to defend them from their enemies; thewisest, that they may not be dragged without cause into destructivewars--the man, in short, who seems to them the best suited to governhimself and them; to use the sovereign power, to sustain justice andthe laws, and not to play the tyrant. These are my views of what a kingshould be, and I will fulfil my calling, so help me God! You, Boden, must stand by and give me honest help. "

In the eyes of the minister might be seen joyful tears and a nobleambition; he bowed low and kissed the extended hand of the king. 

"How gracious has God been to my fatherland in giving it such a prince!"

"You will not, then, insist upon your resignation?" said the king. "Youare content to serve me, provided I do not diminish my army, and do notimpose new taxes upon the people?"

"I will be proud and happy to serve my king, " said Boden, deeply moved. 

"I must tell you, Boden, this will be no light service, and myministers will be hereafter less important personages than they havesupposed themselves to be; I shall closely observe them all, and shallrequire much work of them, but I myself will be diligent. It seems tome an idle prince is a poor creature, that the world has little usefor. I am resolved to serve my country with all my powers; but I willstand alone, independent, self-sustaining. My ministers will only be myinstruments to carry out my purposes; they will have much to do, andhave no influence. I will have no favorite, and never consult any otherwill than my own; but I shall require of them to express their opinionsfrankly and without fear in answer to my questions, and that they shallnot fail to call my attention to any errors I may commit, eitherthrough haste or want of judgment. "

"All this I will do, " said Boden, deeply moved. "So truly as God willgive me strength, I will serve my king and my fatherland faithfully tothe end. "

"We are agreed, then, " said Frederick; "you will remain my minister. Ifyou had not demanded your dismissal, I should have given it to you. Ishould have seen that you were justly accused, and were determined toremain minister at any price. Thank God, you have proved to me that youare an honest man! But, " said the king, "you are not only an honestman, but a bold, unterrified, truthful man; a true friend, grateful forbenefits received, you do not cease to love your king and benefactor, even after his death. You have had the courage to defend the dead king, and to reproach his successor. The king cannot thank you for this; butas a son, I thank you--I say, 'Come to my heart, true and faithfulservant. ' We kings are too poor to reward our servants in any other waythan by confiding love. " The king opened his arms and pressed Boden tohis heart, who wept aloud. "And now, " cried the king, "we understandeach other, and know what we have to expect, and that is always a greatgain in this world, full of disappointment, hypocrisy, and cunning. Iwill now give you a proof that I do not close my ear to the reasonablecounsels of my minister, and that I am ready to offer up my personalwishes; I will not build this palace for my mother; you have convincedme that I have not the income to do so. I cannot take four millionsfrom the State treasury. This money will soon be needed for a moreimportant object. But some changes are absolutely necessary in theroyal palace; it must be made more worthy of a king. Take, therefore, these plans and designs; strike from them what you considersuperfluous. Let me know what additions you think it best to adopt, andfrom what source we can draw the necessary funds. "[15]

[15] "History of Berlin, " Thiebault. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE UNDECEIVED COURTIER. 

At the time that the king was placing the extravagant plans, whichBaron von Pollnitz had drawn up, into the hands of his minister offinance, the baron was waiting in the ante-room, in a state of smilingsecurity, entertaining his friend Fredersdorf with an account of hisown future splendor and magnificence, speaking especially of theentertainments which he intended giving in his new house in JagerStreet. When at length the door of the royal cabinet was opened, andthe minister of finance entered the ante-room, Pollnitz and Fredersdorfstood up, not however to greet the minister, but to pass him with acold, contemptuous smile on their way to the door of the cabinet. Thesmile died suddenly on Pollnitz's lips, and he stood as if transfixedbefore the minister. 

"What are those papers which you hold?" he asked, extending his hand asif he would tear the papers from Baron von Boden. 

The minister pushed him back, as he carelessly shrugged his shoulders. "These are papers which his majesty handed me, that I might examinetheir contents, and see if they contained any thing but folly. "

"Sir, " said Pollnitz, beside himself with rage, "these papers--" but hebecame suddenly silent, for the door of the cabinet was opened again, and the king entered the room. 

He glanced scornfully at Pollnitz, who was scarcely able to conceal hisanger, and approached Baron von Boden. "One thing more, minister, " saidthe king, "I had forgotten that I had prepared a little surprise foryou; I am aware that you are not rich, although you are the minister offinance, and I understand that you live in a limited way, scarcelyworthy of your rank. We must alter this, and happily I know a housewhich even Baron von Pollnitz declares is worthy a nobleman. I presentthis house to you, with its entire contents. From this moment it isyours, and Baron von Pollnitz must go with you, and show it to you; hecan point out to you all the advantages and conveniences which he hasso often praised to me. "

Pollnitz stood pale, trembling, and confused. "I do not know of whathouse your majesty speaks, " he stammered, "of what house I can havesaid that it was worthy of the minister of finance. "

"Not of the minister of finance, but of a nobleman, and Boden is anobleman, not only in name but in reality; and is entirely worthy topossess the house which I have presented to him. You are wellacquainted with it, Pollnitz; it is the house which my father had builtfor Eckert, the beautiful house in Jager Street. "

"The house in Jager Street!" cried Pollnitz, forgetting the restraintwhich the presence of the king usually imposed. "No, no, your majestyis pleased to jest. You do not mean the house in Jager Street, thathouse which--"

"That house, " interrupted the king, in a stern voice, "that house whichpleased you so well, that you, as foolish children sometimes do, confused reality with your dreams, and imagined that this house alreadybelonged to you, merely because you desired that it should do so. Iwould have smiled at this childish folly, if it had remained anamusement for your unemployed fancy; but you have deceived others aswell as yourself, and that is an unpardonable fault, and one which youmust repair immediately, if you do not wish to be dismissed from myservice. "

"I do not understand your majesty; I do not know how I have forfeitedthe favor of my king. "

The king glanced angrily at the pale, trembling courtier. "Youunderstand perfectly, Baron von Pollnitz, of which fault, amongst themany that you daily and hourly commit, I speak. You know that it haspleased you to declare the house, which I have just presented to Boden, to be yours, and that you have found credulous people who have lent youmoney on that representation. "

"Will your majesty grant me a favor?" said Minister von Boden, glancingkindly at Pollnitz, who stood near him crushed and trembling. 

The king consented by bowing silently, and the minister proceeded:

"Your majesty has just made me most rich and happy, and I consider itmy duty, as it is my pleasure, to share both riches and happiness withmy fellow-creatures. Baron von Pollnitz, by the commands of the lateking, executed the plans for the house which your majesty has so kindlypresented to me; he also selected the decorations and furniture, andthis may have led him to believe that the house, which had been builtand furnished according to his taste, might become his own. I am muchindebted to Pollnitz, for a man so plain and simple as I am would neverhave been able to make this house so tasteful and elegant. Permit me, therefore, your majesty, to liquidate this debt by considering thesmall mortgage which Baron von Pollnitz has put upon this house, as myaffair. "

"What reply do you make to this proposition?" said the king, turning toPollnitz. 

"That if your majesty allows me I will accept it with pleasure, and Imerely wish to ask the minister whether he will only take up thosemortgages which I have already put upon the house, or the others whichI intended putting?"

"Ah!" cried the king, laughing, "you are incorrigible. If poor Boden isto satisfy not only your old creditors but your new ones, the present Ihave made him would probably reduce him to beggary in a few months. No, no, this one mortgage is sufficient, and as it amounts to only a fewthousand dollars, it shall be paid from my purse; and that my gift toyou, Boden, may have no drawback, Pollnitz may consider himself thusrepaid for his trouble about the plans and arrangements of your house. But woe to you, Pollnitz, if I should again hear of such folly anddeceit; and if you do not give up such disgraceful conduct, and act ina manner becoming your rank and office, this is the last time that Iwill show any mercy for your folly. If there is a repetition of it, Iwill be inexorable, only a stern judge and king. "

"Your majesty plunges me into an abyss of despair, " said Pollnitz, swinging his hands. "You demand that I shall create no new debts; andhow is it possible to avoid that, when I have not even the money to paythe old ones? If your majesty desires that I should lead a new life, you should have the kindness to pay my old debts. "

The king paced the room silently for a short time, and then stoodbefore Pollnitz, and said:

"You are so shameless and absurd that I must either drive you away orcontent myself with laughing at you. I will, however, remember that myfather and grandfather laughed at you, and for the present I will alsolaugh, as I laugh at the silly pranks of merry Mr. Raths, my monkey. But even Mr. Raths was punished yesterday because he was too daringwith his monkey tricks. Mark this, Baron von Pollnitz, I will pay yourdebts this time; but if it should occur to you to make new ones, I willforget that you were the jester of my father and grandfather, and onlyremember that so reckless an individual cannot remain in my service. Now accompany the minister to the Jager Street, and show him his house. Your audience is at an end, gentlemen. "

After these gentlemen had left the room, the king stood for a long timeas if lost in thought. He did not appear to be aware that he was notalone, that Fredersdorf was standing in the window, to which he hadwithdrawn on the appearance of the king, and had been a trembling, despairing witness to this scene, which had disturbed his plans andhopes. Suddenly the king walked rapidly through the room, and stoodbefore Fredersdorf--his eyes, usually so clear and bright, veiled aswith a cloud, and an expression of deep melancholy upon his noble face. 

"Fredersdorf, " he said, with a voice so mild and gentle that his hearertrembled, and a deadly pallor overspread his countenance--"Fredersdorf, is it really true that you all think of me only as your king, never asyour fellow-man? that you have no love for your sovereign, only envyand hatred, only malice and cunning? And you, also, Fredersdorf, youwhom I have loved, not as a master loves his servant, but as a dearfriend, with whom I have often forgotten that I was a prince, and onlyremembered that I was with a friend, who had a feeling heart for mycares and sorrows, and entertained a little love not for the prince butfor the man. Are you all determined to make me cold-hearted anddistrustful? are you laboring to turn my heart to stone--to cut off mysoul from faith and love? A day will come when you will call me coldand relentless, and no one will say that it was those I loved andtrusted who made me thus. "

"Mercy! mercy! my king, " prayed Fredersdorf, sinking to the feet of theking. "Kill me! destroy me with your anger! only do not show me suchkindness and love. Oh! your majesty does not know how I love you, howmy heart is bound up in yours; but I have a wild and ambitious heart, and in the thirst of my ambition I was not satisfied to remain theservant of my king. I wished to become powerful and influential. Ilonged to mount high above those who now look down upon and despise mebecause I am a servant. This, my king, is my whole crime, theremorseful confession of my guilt. "

"You did not wish to betray your king, you only desired to be the lordof your lord. You wished to reign through me. Poor Fredersdorf, do youthink it such happiness to be a king? Do you not know that this royalcrown, which seems so bright to you, is only a crown of thorns, whichis concealed with a little tinsel and a few spangles? Poor Fredersdorf, you are ambitious; I will gratify you in this as far as possible, butyou must conquer the desire to control my will, and influence myresolutions. A king is only answerable to God, " proceeded the king, "and only from God can he receive control or commands. I am the servantof God, but the master of men. I will gratify your ambition, Fredersdorf, I will give you a title. You shall no longer be a mereservant, but a private secretary; and that you may be a master as wellas a servant, I present you the estate Czernihon, near Rheinsberg. There you will be lord of your peasants and workmen, and learn if it isnot a thankless office to rule. Are you satisfied, my poor Fredersdorf?"

Fredersdorf could not answer; he pressed his lips to the hand of theking, and wept aloud. 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE BRIDAL PAIR. 

Joy and exultation reigned in the house of the rich manufacturerOrguelin. The proud daughter had consented to become the wife of CountRhedern; she had at last accepted him, and the happy father, delightedat the prospect of soon becoming father-in-law to a count, busiedhimself with the preparations for the approaching wedding festivities, which were destined to excite the admiration and astonishment of theentire city by their magnificence and prodigal splendor. At thisfestival the future Countess Rhedern was to appear for the last time inthe circle of her old friends, and then to take leave of them forever;for as a matter of course the Countess Rhedern would have to form newfriendships and seek other society than that to which she had beenaccustomed as Mademoiselle Orguelin. But M. Orguelin desired to exhibitto his associates, the manufacturers and merchants, this splendidnobleman who had now become his son; he wished to excite the envy andadmiration of his friends by the princely magnificence of his house. 

But all this was far from being agreeable to Count Rhedern, who hadother plans. His creditors and his poverty compelled him to marry thisrich merchant's daughter, but he had no desire or intention of enteringinto any association or connection with the friends and relations ofhis wife; and even if it should be necessary to recognize his richfather-in-law, it did not follow that he would appear at his fetes toadd lustre to the entertainment and be shown off as a highly ornamentedacquisition. He trembled when he thought of the ridicule of the courtcavaliers, to whom it would be an inexhaustible subject of jest, thathe, the marshal of the queen, and a cavalier of old nobility, hadplayed this role at a fete of the bourgeoisie, and had conversed, eaten, and danced with manufacturers and tradespeople. That could notand should not be. To preserve the prestige of his house, a noblemanmight marry the daughter of a merchant, if she possessed a million, buthe could not stoop so low as to consider himself a member of herfamily, and to recognize this or that relative. Count Rhedern thoughtof some plan by which he could frustrate this scheme of hisfather-in-law in regard to the wedding festivities, which would bringhim into such undesirable and disagreeable association with personsbeneath his rank, as he desired to avoid as far as possible all eclatin this misalliance. With a smiling countenance he entered one morninginto the magnificent parlor of his affianced, who with her father'sassistance was engaged in making out a list of the wedding guests. Thecount seated himself near his future bride, and listened with inwardhorror to the terrible and barbarous names which were placed on thelist, the possessors of which could never appear at a knightlytournament or court festival, and were consequently excluded from allthe joys and honors of the world. 

"Well, " said the father exultingly, "what do you think of our fete? Itwill be perfectly magnificent, will it not? The richest merchants ofBerlin will be present; and if one were to estimate us by our wealth, it would be found that more millions would be assembled there thanGermany has inhabitants. You will readily understand, my dear son, thatin order to do honor to such guests, great preparations are necessary, for it is not easy to excite the astonishment and admiration of theseproud merchants. It is quite easy to surprise one of your barons orcounts; you are delighted when entertained with champagne or fineHolstein oysters, but a rich merchant turns scornfully from turtle-soupand Indian birds'-nests. Nevertheless, my proud guests shall besurprised; they shall have a fine dinner, the like of which they havenever seen. For this purpose I have ordered two of the best cooks fromParis, who will arrive in a few days. They have written that they willneed at least two weeks to make the necessary preparations for thewedding-dinner. For their services I will pay them a salary which isperhaps equal to the half-yearly pay of a marshal or chamberlain. Moreover, we will have fireworks, illuminations, splendid music; yes, Ihave even thought of having a stage erected, and of engaging a Frenchcompany to amuse our guests with a few comedies. "

"I am only afraid that but few of our guests will understand a word ofthese French plays, " exclaimed his daughter, laughing. 

"That is quite possible; nevertheless French is now the rage, and itwill attract attention if we have a French play. And you, my dear son, what do you say to all this? You look almost vexed. "

"I sigh because you wish to defer the wedding for so long a time. "

"Ah, that is a compliment for you, my daughter. Lovers are alwaysimpatient. "

"But I did not sigh only because I would so long be deprived of thehappiness of leading my dear Caroline to the altar, but because Ishould thereby lose the pleasure of presenting her to the court as mywife on the occasion of the large and most magnificent court ball withwhich the season will be opened. "

"A court ball is to take place?" asked Caroline Orguelin, withvivacity. "The king has, I believe, not yet returned from his journey. "

"But will do so in a few days, and as the court mourning is now at anend, the king will give a brilliant masquerade ball, which willprobably be the only one given this winter. "

"A masquerade ball!" exclaimed his bride; "and I have never seen one!"

"And this is to be a most magnificent one. Moreover, the queen-motherhas already promised me an invitation for my wife, and requested me topresent her to the entire court on this occasion. "

"And is it impossible to have the wedding any sooner?" asked Caroline, impatiently. 

"Quite impossible, " said M. Orguelin. 

"And why impossible?" said the count. "Could we not have the wedding atan early day, and the festival later? Could we not, as is now customaryin high circles, be married quietly, and have the festival at a laterday? These noisy weddings are a little out of fashion at the presentday, and it would be said at court that the wealthy and highlycultivated M. Orguelin showed his disregard for the customs of ouryoung and modern court by adhering to those of the old regime. "

"God forbid that I should do that!" exclaimed M. Orguelin, in aterrified voice. 

"Father, I detest noisy merry-makings, and insist on a quiet marriage. It shall not be said at court that Mademoiselle Orguelin, with all heracquaintances, had rejoiced over the inestimable happiness of becomingthe wife of a count. I will be married quietly; afterwards the countmay give a fete in honor of our marriage, which you, my father, canreturn. "

As usual, M. Orguelin submitted to his daughter's will, and it wasdetermined that a quiet wedding should take place in a few days, to befollowed on a later day by a magnificent fete in the house of thefather-in-law. 

"At which I shall certainly not be present, " thought Count Rhedern, while he expressed his entire satisfaction with this arrangement. 

Mademoiselle Orguelin's proudest wishes were about to be accomplished. She was to be introduced at court, and the queen-mother had graciouslydeclared her intention of presenting her to the king at the approachingmasquerade. There was now wanting but one thing, and that was asuitable costume for this important occasion, and Count Rhedern assuredher, with a sigh, that it would be very difficult to prepare it, as itwould be almost impossible to find a tailor who would undertake tomake, in so short a time, the gold-brocaded train which was necessary. 

"Pelissier, the new French tailor, has even refused to make a littlecloak for me, " said Count Rhedern, "and his female assistants, --who arethe most fashionable dress-makers, have been deaf to all entreaties forthe last week. They take no more orders for the masquerade, and it wasonly yesterday that I met Countess Hake, who had been with the prettyBlanche while I was with her father, descending the steps, wringing herhands and bathed in tears, because the proud dressmakers had replied toher prayers and entreaties with a cruel 'Impossible!'"

"I know, however, that M. Pricker, the court dressmaker of the twoqueens, would not make me this reply, " said Caroline Orguelin, proudly, "but that he would make whatever is necessary even if he should beforced to take several additional assistants. "

"Then let us drive to M. Pricker's, " said her affianced, smiling; "butwe must go at once, for we have no time to lose, and you can wellimagine that I would be inconsolable if, after our marriage, I couldnot present you to the court as my wife on the first suitable occasion. "

"Yes, we have no time to lose, " repeated Caroline, ringing a bell andordering her carriage. When, after a few minutes, Caroline Orguelin andthe count were alone in the carriage, she turned to him with a mockingsmile, and remarked: "The wedding is, then, to take place the day afterto-morrow. "

"Yes, my dearest Caroline, and on that day I will be the happiest ofmen. "

"Your creditors, " said she, shrugging her shoulders, "were thenbecoming so pressing that you suddenly experienced an ardent longingfor my dowry. "

"My creditors?" asked the count; "I do not understand you, dearestCaroline. "

"You understand me very well, " said she, with cutting coldness; "it is, moreover, time that we understand each other, once for all. Know, therefore, my dear sir, that I have not allowed myself to be deceivedeither by your tender protestations or by the role of an impatientlover, which you have acted so well. I am neither young nor prettyenough to awaken a passion in the breast of so noble and excellent acavalier as Count Rhedern. You are poor, but rich in debts, and youneeded therefore a rich wife; and as I happened to have more money thanany of the beautiful and noble ladies of the court, you determined tomarry me, deeming my rich dowry a sufficient compensation for thedisgrace inflicted on your noble house. In a word, you chose me becauseyou were tired of being dunned by your creditors, and of living in astate of secret misery; and I--I bought Count Rhedern with my millions, in order that I might appear at court. "

"Well, truly, these confessions are very curious, highly original, "said Count Rhedern, with a forced smile. 

"They are, however, necessary. We need no longer trouble ourselves withthis useless acting and hypocrisy. It is also but just that I shouldinform you why I so ardently desire to become a lady of quality, thatis, why I wish to be able to appear at court, for I hope you do notconsider me silly enough to buy a count for the mere sake of beingcalled countess?"

"I should consider this wish by no means a silly one, " murmured thecount. 

"No, " continued his bride. "I desired to become a countess that I mightobtain access to court and enjoy a happiness of which thousands wouldbe envious, although like the moth I could only flutter round thebrilliant and dazzling light until it burned me to death. I told you Iwas no longer young. I, however, still have a young heart, a fresherheart perhaps than all your proud and beautiful ladies of the court, for mine was as hard and clear as crystal, until--"

"Well, conclude, " said the count, as she hesitated; "continue theselittle confessions, which are certainly rarely made before, butgenerally after marriage. You spoke of your heart having been as hardand clear as crystal, until--"

"Until I had seen the king, " continued his bride, blushing, "until Ihad gazed in those wondrous eyes, until I had seen the smile, so proud, and yet so mild and gentle, with which he greeted his people from thebalcony. "

"It was then at the coronation that you formed the genial resolution ofloving the king. "

"Yes, it was on the coronation day that I for the first timecomprehended how grand, how noble and sublime a true man could be. Andmy soul bowed in humility and obedience before the commanding glance ofthis Titan, and my heart bowed in adoration at the feet of this man, whose smile was so wondrous, and whose eyes spoke such great things. Oh! had I been near him as you were, I would have fallen at his feetand have said to him: 'I accept you as my master and my divinity; youare my ideal, and I will adore you as such with a pure and nobleworship. ' But I was far off, and could only pray to him in thought. Idetermined that I would be near him at some day; and I, who had wishedto remain single, determined at this moment to marry--but to marry onlya cavalier of the court. I inquired of my companion the names of thecavaliers who stood behind the king, and the most of them were married, but you were not, and I was told that you possessed a great many debtsand very small means of paying them. On this day I told my father: 'Iwish to marry Count Rhedern, I desire that you should purchase him forme, as you recently purchased the handsome set of Nuremburg jewelry. '"

"Really, a very flattering and ingenious view of the matter, " said thecount, with a forced laugh. 

Caroline continued: "My father intrusted this affair to a broker whohad frequently done business for him before, and who proved to be anapt trader on this occasion, for you see he purchased the goods wedesired, and the business transaction has been concluded. Count, youwill now understand why I made the condition that I should be admittedat court, and recognized as your countess, before I determined tobecome your wife. "

"I understand perfectly well, " said the count, peevishly; "you made useof me as a bridge over which you might pass from your father's shop tothe royal palace, as I will make use of you to pay my debts, and toenable me to live a life worthy of a count. Ah, now that we understandone another so well, we will be perfectly at ease, and live a free andunconstrained life without annoying each other. "

"Still, my dear count, you will sometimes experience a slight annoyanceat my hands, " said the millionnairess, gently placing her hand on thecount's shoulder. "It was not only on account of your creditors thatyou desired so early a marriage, but mainly because the countconsidered it beneath his dignity to take part in the festivities ofmanufacturers and merchants. But I must inform you, dear sir, that Ishall never forget that my father is a merchant, and that all myfriends are the daughters of manufacturers and merchants. I will be agrateful daughter and a true friend, and I will compel you to show thesame respect to my father and friends that I will show to yours. "

"Compel!" exclaimed the count, "you will compel me?"

"I said compel, and you will soon perceive that it is in my power to doso. Listen: my father promised you that my dowry should be a million, out of which, however, your debts, and the expense of my trousseau, areto be defrayed. Your debts, including the mortgage on your estates, amount to two hundred thousand, and my trousseau, diamonds, and thefurnishing of my house will cost about the same sum. There will remain, therefore, but six hundred thousand, of which you will enjoy thebenefit, according to our marriage contract. But you will readilyunderstand that the interest of this small capital will not support thedaughter of a rich merchant respectably, and that if I should desire toentertain the king in my house, I would perhaps expend in one eveningthe half of my income. "

The count regarded his bride with admiration, almost with reverence. "You then think that we could not live on the interest of six hundredthousand dollars?" asked he. 

"I do not only think so, but I am sure of it, for I needed as much whena girl. Ah, my dear count, a great deal of money is necessary togratify one's humors and caprices. My father is well aware of thisfact, and has, therefore, given me as pin money a second million; thiswill, however, remain in his business, and I shall only receive theinterest in monthly payments. I must, however, remark that thisinterest is not a part of my dowry, but is my personal property, withwhich I can do as I see fit. I can, if I wish, give fetes with thismoney, pay your debts, purchase horses and equipages for you, or I cangive it to my father, who can make very good use of it in his business. And now pay attention: whenever you choose to neglect the proper anddutiful attention due to your wife, her father, or her friends, I willrelinquish my pin money to my father, and you must look to some othersource for the necessary funds. "

"But I shall always be an attentive and grateful husband, and a dutifulson to your father, " exclaimed the count, charmed with the prospect ofa second million. 

"Then you will do well, " said his bride, gravely, "for your monthlyincome will thereby be increased by four thousand dollars. You see I ama true merchant's daughter, and understand accounts. I have bought you, and know your worth, but I also desire to be properly esteemed andrespected by you. You must never think you have honored me by making mea countess, but must always remember that my father is a millionnaire, whose only daughter and heiress pays you for your amiability, yourtitle, and her admission to court. And now enough of these tediousaffairs. The carriage has stopped, and we have arrived at ourdestination; let us put on our masks again, and be the fond lovers whomarry for pure love and tenderness. "

"And in truth you deserve to be loved, " exclaimed the count, pressingher hand to his lips. "You are the most discreet and charming of women, and I have no doubt that I will love you ardently some day. "

"Poor count, " said she, laughing, "on that day you will deservecommiseration, for I shall certainly never fall in love with you. Aheart like mine loves but once, and dies of that love. "

"I hope that this death will at least be a very slow one, " said thecount, jumping out of the carriage, and assisting his bride elect todescend. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE FRENCH AND GERMAN TAILORS, OR THE MONTAGUES AND CAPULETS OF BERLIN. 

M. Pricker stood at his window; his face was sad, and he looked with atroubled gaze at the house on the other side of the street. This wasthe house of the new French tailor, Pelissier. Many splendid equipageswere drawn up before the door, and crowds of gayly dressed men andwomen were passing in and out. Alas for earthly grandeur! alas forpopular applause! Pricker stood at his window, no one rang his bell, not a carriage was to be seen at his door, since the arrival of theFrench tailor. Pricker was a lost man, wounded in his ambition, hismost sacred feelings trampled upon, and his just claim to the gratitudeof his generation disallowed. What advantage was it to him to be theacknowledged tailor of two queens? Since, in the ardor of hispatriotism, he had refused to employ French hands, not one of all thoseladies who had formerly confided to him the secrets of their toiletsremembered his discretion, or his ability to hide their defects, orsupply their wants. The fickle and ungrateful world had forsaken him. Even the Hohenzollerns had forgotten the great deeds and still greaterservices of the Prickers, and no longer knew how to reward true merit. Since Pelissier took the opposite house, Pricker's heart was broken;night and day he was consumed with anguish; but he made no complaint, he suffered in Spartan silence, and like a hero covered his bleedingwounds. One soft eye, one kindred heart discovered his silent sorrow;she, too, sorrowed as those without hope; she had not even the courageto offer consolation. In this hour of extremity poor Pricker sometimesthought of selling his house, but the next moment he would blush at hisweakness and cowardice in thus abandoning the field to his foe. 

In spiteful arrogance the French tailor had settled himself in theopposite house. It was a struggle for life or death offered byPelissier, and it should not be said that a Pricker ignominiouslydeclined the contest. Pricker must remain, he must defy his adversary, and yield only in death to this dandy Frenchman; he would thereforeremain in those ancestral halls, which had so long sheltered the tailorof the two queens. He remained, but the death-worm was gnawing at hisheart. Pricker still gazed across the street, and with an added pang hesaw another carriage rolling in that direction; but no, this time thecarriage turned to his side of the street. In the first joy of hisheart he sprang forward to open the door and aid the ladies indescending; he checked himself in time, however, remembering that thiswould compromise the dignity of his house. 

In a few moments Madame Pricker announced the rich MademoiselleOrguelin and her future husband. Pricker advanced to meet them withcalm composure, but there was tumultuous joy in his heart. 

"You will be surprised, my dear Pricker, that we did not send for you, but we should have lost time by that, and our affairs demand thegreatest haste. "

Pricker bowed proudly. "My house is accustomed to receive noblepersons; my grandfather had once the happiness to welcome a prince. Inwhat can I serve you?"

"I need two complete court toilets, " said Mademoiselle Orguelin--"therobes for a first presentation, and then for a great court ball. "

"Then you wish a robe with a brocade train; I would choose blue velvet, it is most becoming to blondes, and throws a heavenly light upon theircomplexions. "

"Then we will take sky blue, " said the millionnaire, "with a train ofsilver. For the ball dress, my father has given me a dress woven invelvet and gold. "

"Your toilets will be superb, and the appearance of the CountessRhedern will do honor to the house of Pricker. "

"You must promise to be ready in eight days. "

"In four, if necessary, " said Pricker, taking the long measure from hiswife and approaching the lady. 

"I leave the trimmings entirely to your taste, but of course my dressmust be of the newest French cut. "

Pricker had laid the measure around the slender waist of MademoiselleOrguelin; he now removed it violently. "You desire your dresses madeafter the latest French style?" he said, harshly. 

"Of course; that is surely understood; no decent tailor would work inany other style. I should indeed be ridiculous to appear at court in astiff old German costume. You must make me the tight-fitting Frenchwaist, the long points in front, the narrow sleeves reaching to theelbow and trimmed with rich lace. "

Pricker folded his measure with heroic determination and laid it uponthe table. 

"Your dress cannot be made in the house of Pricker, mademoiselle. "

"What, you refuse to work for me?"

"I will not adopt the French fashions! that would be an insult to myancestors. I will remain true to the good old German customs. "

"Reflect, " said Count Rhedern, "how much this obstinacy will cost you. You will lose all the patronage of the court; all the world adopts thenew French fashions. "

"That is true, " said the sorrowful Pricker; he approached and pointedthrough the window to the house opposite. "Once all those carriagesstood before my door; once I dressed all those noble people; a winkwould be sufficient to recall them. Would I be untrue to the customs ofmy fathers, would I employ French workmen, all those carriages would bearrayed before my door. I hold the destiny of that contemptibleFrenchman in my hands; a word from me, and he would be ruined; but Iwill not speak that word. Let him live to the disgrace and shame of theGermans who abandoned the time-honored customs of their fatherland. "

The count offered his arm to his bride, and said, mockingly:

"I thank you for your address. I see that a German tailor may be aconsummate fool! Come, my dear Caroline, we will go to M. Pelissier. "

Pricker remained alone; grand and proud he stood in the middle of thesaloon, and looked up, like a conquering hero, at the grim portraits ofhis ancestors. 

"Be satisfied with me, " he murmured; "I have made a new sacrifice toyour names. My house is German, and German it shall remain. "

At this moment there arose on the air the clear, full voice of hisdaughter, who was practising with Quantz a favorite Italian air of theking. "Nel tue giorni felice ricordati da me, " sang the beautiful Anna, while Father Pricker ran, like a madman, up and down the room, andstopped his ears, that he might not hear the hateful sound. He cursedhimself for allowing the monster Quantz to come to the house. 

"Alas! alas! I have closed my heart to the new era and its horrors, hutI shall lose my children; they will not wish to wander in my ways. "

At this moment Anna entered the room, with sparkling eyes and rosycheeks. 

"Father, " she said, hastily, "the supreme desire of my heart will nowbe fulfilled. Quantz has at last promised that I shall sing at the nextcourt concert. In eight days the king returns, and a concert will bearranged, at which I, your happy daughter, will sing an Italian song. "

"Italian!"

"She will sing Italian, " murmured Quantz, who was listening at thedoor. "She will give all the world an opportunity to laugh and ridiculeher; and I shall be held responsible; I would rather die!"

Anna was greatly excited, and did not notice her teacher; and, as hermother entered the room, she embraced her warmly. 

"Mother, mother, Quantz has pronounced me worthy to sing at the court. I shall cover myself with glory, and the daughter of the tailor willfill all Germany with her fame!"

"Unhappy child, do you not know that your father is present?"

"Oh, my father shall be proud of me!" cried Anna. 

Mother Pricker was frightened at the looks of her husband. Annascarcely noticed her parents; she said:

"Father, it is high time to think of my dress; it must be new andelegant. "

"You shall have it, " said her father, solemnly; "it is an honor to singbefore the king. I will make you a magnificent dress out of yourmother's bridal robe. "

Anna laughed contemptuously. "No, no, father; the time is past when wedared to wear the clothes of our great-grandmothers. The day is gone byfor family relics. How the ladies of the court would laugh at mymother's old flowered robe! Besides, the dress is too narrow for amodern hoop robe, the only style now tolerated. "

"A hoop robe!" cried the father, in tones of horror; "she wishes towear a hoop robe!"

"Yes, and why not?" said Anna. "Does not the beautiful Blanche wearone? and have not all the court ladies adopted them? No fashionablelady would dare now appear without a hoop robe. "

"Who is Blanche?" cried M. Pricker, rising from his chair and lookingthreateningly at Anna, "who is Blanche?"

"Do you not know, father? Oh, you are only pretending not to know!Dearest Blanche, whom I love like a sister, and to whom I can only paystolen visits, for her father is furious that you have not returned hisvisit, and has forbidden any of his family to enter our house. "

"He did right; and I also forbid you to cross his threshold. I thought, Anna, you had too much pride to enter the house of your father's enemy, or speak to his daughter. "

Anna shrugged her shoulders silently, and now quick steps were heardapproaching. 

"Oh, quel pleusir d'etre amoreuse, " sang a fresh, manly voice. 

"French!" cried Father Pricker, wild with rage. "William singingFrench!"

The door was hastily opened, and William, heir to the house of Pricker, stood upon the sill. He was arrayed in a most charming costume. Atight-fitting coat, short-waisted and long-tailed, wide sleeves, andlarge mother-of-pearl buttons; the cuffs and high-standing collar wererichly embroidered in silver; his vest was "coleur de chair, " andinstead of a long plait, William had covered his hair with a powderedwig. A small three-cornered hat, worn jauntily to one side, wasembroidered with silver, and ornamented with a black feather; in hishand he held a slight, graceful cane. William appeared before hisfather a complete model of a new-fashioned French dandy; rage andhorror choked the old man's utterance. 

"Well, father, do I please you? is not this attire worthy of anobleman? only I cannot wear the white feather, which they say belongsexclusively to the nobility. "

"Where did you get these clothes, William?" said his father, approaching him slowly; "who gave you the money to pay for them? It isa fool's costume! Who made it for you?"

"Well, you gave me the money, dear father, " said William, laughing;"that is, you will give it to me. This handsome suit has not yet beenpaid for. The name of Pricker has a silvery sound; Pelissier knowsthat, and credited me willingly; though at first he refused to work forme, and I thank Blanche that I have a costume from the celebrated shopof Pelissier. "

Old Pricker uttered a cry of rage, and seizing, with feverish violence, the long tails of his son's coat, he dragged him to and fro. 

"So Pelissier made this! he has dared to array my son, the son and heirof the house of Pricker, in this ridiculous manner! And you, William, you were shameless enough to receive this suit from your father'senemy. Alas! alas! are you not afraid that your ancestors will risefrom their graves to punish you?"

"Dear father, " said William, "it is only a costume, and has nothing todo with character or principle. "

"Never will I allow my son to be lost to me in this manner, " criedPricker; "and if in the blindness of his folly he has lost himself, Iwill bring him back with violence, if necessary, to the right path. Off, then, with this absurd coat! off with this fool's cap! off withall this livery!"

Pricker now began to pull and tear madly at his son's clothes; heknocked his hat off, and trampled it under his feet; he seized withboth hands the lace collar, and laughed when the shreds remained in hishands. William was at first dumb with terror, but the loud laugh of hissister, who found this scene amusing, restored his presence of mind;with mad violence he pushed his father from him. 

"Father, " he cried, "I am no longer a boy! I will not bear thistreatment; I will dress as I like, and as the fashions demand. "

"Well spoken, my brother, " said Anna, laughingly, springing to hisside; "we are children of the new era, and will dress as it demands. Why did our parents give us modern educations if they wished us toconform to old-fashioned prejudice?"

"'Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in theland which the Lord thy God giveth thee, '" said Pricker, solemnly. 

"Another Bible verse, " said Anna, mockingly. "The book is no longerfashionable; and it is not half so amusing as Voltaire. "

"Enough, enough, " said Pricker; "now listen to my last determination. Icommand you to live and dress as your father and mother have dressedbefore you! Woe to you if you despise my commands! woe to you if youdefy my authority! I will disown you--and my curse shall be yourinheritance; remember this. If you ever enter that house again, orspeak to any of its inhabitants--if I ever see you in this Frenchlivery again, or if you, Anna, ever appear before me in a hoop robe andtoupe, from that moment you cease to be my children. "

Father and mother left the room; the brother and sister remained alone. 

"Well, " said Anna, "do you intend to obey these commands? Will you wearthe queue and the narrow, coarse frock coat?"

"Nonsense, " said William, "that Blanche may ridicule me, and all theworld may laugh at me. You do not know, Anna, how much Blanche andmyself love each other; we have vowed eternal love and faith, and sheis to be my wife!"

"You will then become an honorable tailor, as your fathers were. "

William laughed. "I follow a trade! I who have received the educationof a nobleman! no, no, Anna, you are not in earnest; you cannot believethat. "

"Take care, William, you will be disinherited; father is in earnest. "

"Oh, he will have to submit, as old Pelissier must do; he will also befurious when he first learns that I am the husband of Blanche; he hasthreatened her with his curse if she marries me. But in spite of allthis we intend to marry; they must at last be reconciled. Oh, Blancheis beautiful as an angel!"

"Nevertheless she is a tailor's daughter, " said Anna. 

"Yes, like my beautiful and amiable sister Anna. "

"But I shall become a celebrated singer, and the wife of a nobleman. "

"Well, and who says that Blanche will not be the wife of a celebratedman, and that you will not be proud of me?"

"Will you be a man or a woman dressmaker?"

"Neither one nor the other! I shall be an actor; but silence, this ismy secret and I must keep it!"

CHAPTER VI. 

IN RHEINSBERG. 

The quiet castle of Rheinsberg was again alive with noise. Its hallsresounded with music and laughter; gay and happy faces were everywhereto be seen; bright jests to be heard on every side. The charming daysof the past, when Frederick was prince royal, seemed to have returned;the same company now filled the castle; the same sports and amusementswere enjoyed. All was the same, yet still, every thing was changed, transformed. Almost all of those who had left Rheinsberg with suchproud hopes, such great desires, were again there, but with annihilatedhopes. They had all expected to reign; they had claimed for themselveshonor and power, but the young king had allowed to none the privilegeof mounting the throne by his side. They were all welcome companions, loved friends. But none dared overstep the boundary of dependence andsubmission which he had drawn around them, and in the centre of whichhe stood alone, trusting to his own strength and will. They had gainednothing from the crown which rested upon Frederick's noble head; butthey had lost nothing. They returned to Rheinsberg not exalted, thoughnot humbled. 

But one heart was broken, one heart was bleeding from unseen pain. Itwas the heart of Elizabeth, the heart of that poor rejected woman whowas called the reigning queen, the wife of Frederick. 

The king, on returning from his excursion to Strasburg, had remindedher of her promise to follow him with her court to Rheinsberg. And thepoor sufferer, though she knew that the presence of the king would befor her a continual torment, an hourly renunciation, could not findstrength to resist the desire of her own heart. She had followed herhusband, saying to herself with a painful smile: "I will at least seehim, and if he does not speak to me I will still hear his voice. Mysufferings will be greater, but I shall be near him. The joy will helpme to bear the pain. Soffri e taci!" Elizabeth Christine was right; theking never spoke to her, never fixed those brilliant blue eyes, whichpossessed for her the depth and immensity of the skies, upon her palecountenance. With a silent bow he welcomed her daily at their meals, but he did not now lead her to the table and sit beside her. Thepresence of the Margrave and Margravine of Baireuth seemed to imposeupon him the duty of honoring his favorite sister, who was his guestmore than his wife the queen. He sat, therefore, between his sister andher husband the count, at whose side the queen was placed. He did notspeak to her but she saw him, and strengthened her heart by the sightof his proud and noble countenance. 

She suffered and was silent. She veiled her pain by a soft smile, sheconcealed the paleness of her cheek with artificial bloom, she coveredthe furrows that care already showed in her lovely and youthful face, with black, beauty-spots which were then the fashion. No one shouldthink that she suffered. No one should pity her, not even the king. Elizabeth Christine joined in all the pleasures and amusements atRheinsberg. She laughed at Bielfeld's jests, at Pollnitz's brightanecdotes; she listened with beaming eyes to Knobelsdorf's plans forbeautifying the king's residence; she took part in the preparations fora drama that was to be performed. Voltaire's "Death of Caesar, " and"The Frenchman in London, " by Boissy, had been chosen by the king to beplayed at Rheinsberg, and in each piece she played a prominent role. The young queen, as it seemed, had become an enthusiastic admirer ofthe theatre; she was never missing at any of the rehearsals, and aidedher beautiful maids of honor in the arrangements of their costumes. 

The king was now seldom to be seen in the circle of his friends andcompanions, and the tones of his flute were rarely to be heard. Hepassed the day in his library, no one dared disturb him, not evenGuentz. Madame von Brandt, who had accompanied the court to Rheinsberg, said, in one of her secret meetings with Count Manteuffel: "The king isunfaithful to his last sweetheart, he has abandoned and rejected hisflute. "

"But with what does the king occupy himself the entire day?" asked thecount. "What is it that takes him from his friends and fills up all histime?"

"Nothing but scientific studies, " said Madame von Brandt, shrugging hershoulders. "Fredersdorf told me that he busies himself with maps andplans, is surrounded by his military books, and is occupied like anengineer with astrolabes and land surveyors. You now see that these arevery innocent occupations, and that they can have no influence upon ouraffairs. The king, I promise you, will never be more divorced from hiswife than he now is; and concerning the marriage of Prince AugustusWilliam, my plans are so skilfully laid that there is no danger offailure, and poor Laura von Pannewitz will surely be sacrificed. All iswell, and we have nothing to fear from the king's innocent studies. "

"Ah, you call these innocent studies?" said the count; "I assure youthat these studies will greatly disturb the Austrian court, and I mustat once notify my friend Seckendorf of them. "

"You are making a mountain of a mole hill, " said Madame von Brandt, laughing. "I assure you, you have nothing to fear. It is true the kingpasses the day in his study, but he passes his evenings with us, and heis then as gay, as unconstrained, as full of wit and humor as ever. Perhaps he makes use of the solitude of his study to learn his role, for to-morrow, you know, we act the 'Death of Caesar, ' and the king is'Brutus. '"

"Yes, yes, " said Count Manteuffel, thoughtfully, "it strikes me theking is playing the part of Brutus; to the eye he seems harmless andgay, but who knows what dark thoughts pregnant with mischief are hid inhis soul?"

"You are always seeing ghosts, " said Madame von Brandt, impatiently. "But hear! the court clock is striking six; it is high time for me toreturn to the castle, for at seven the last rehearsal commences, and Ihave still to dress. " And Madame von Brandt hastily took leave of herally, and ran gayly to the castle. 

But she had no need to dress for the rehearsal. The king was not ableto act; the strong will was to-day conquered by an enemy who stands inawe of no one, not even of a king--an enemy who can vanquish the mostvictorious commander. Frederick was ill of a fever, which had tormentedhim the whole summer, which had kept him from visiting Amsterdam, andwhich confined him to his bed in the castle of Moyland, while Orttairewas paying his long expected visit, had again taken a powerful holdupon him and made of the king a pale, trembling man, who lay shiveringand groaning upon his bed, scoffing at Ellart, his physician, becausehe could not cure him. 

"There is a remedy, " said Ellart, "but I dare not give it to yourmajesty. "

"And why not?" said the king. 

"Because its strength must first be tested, to see if it can be usedwithout danger; it must first be tried by a patient upon whose life thehappiness of millions does not depend. "

"A human life is always sacred, and if not certain of your remedy, itis as vicious to give it to a beggar as to a king. "

"I believe, " said Ellart, "as entirely in this remedy as Louis theFourteenth, who bought it secretly from Talbot, the Englishman, andpaid him a hundred Napoleons for a pound. The wife of the King of Spainwas cured by it. "

"Give me this remedy, " said the king, with chattering teeth. 

"Pardon me, your majesty, but I dare not, though I have a smallquantity with me which was sent by a friend from Paris, and which Ibrought to show you as a great curiosity. This tiny brown powder is amedicine which was not distilled by the apothecary, but by Nature. "

"Then I have confidence in it, " said the king; "Nature is the bestphysician, the best apothecary, and what she brews is full of divinehealing power. How is this remedy called?"

"It is the Peruvian bark, or quinine, the bark above all barks which, by a divine Providence, grows in Peru, the land of fevers. "

But the king had not the strength to listen to him. He now lay burningwith fever; a dark purple covered his cheek, and his eyes, which, but afew moments before, were dull and lustreless, now sparkled with fire. The king, overpowered by the disease, closed his eyes, and occasionallyunconnected, senseless words escaped his dry, burning lips. 

Fredersdorf now entered, and through the open door the anxious, inquiring faces of Pollnitz, Bielfeld, Jordan, and Kaiserling could beseen. 

On tip-toe Ellart approached the private chamberlain. 

"How is the king?" said he, hastily. "Is he in a condition to hear someimportant news?"

"Not now. Wait an hour; he will then be free from fever. "

"We will wait, " said Fredersdorf to the four courtiers who had enteredthe room, and were now standing around the royal bed. 

"Is it bad news? If so, I advise you to wait until tomorrow. "

"Well, I do not believe the king will think it bad, " said Kaiserling, laughing. 

"And I am convinced the king will be well pleased with our news, " saidBielfeld. "I think so, because the king is a sleeping hero waiting tobe roused. "

"If you speak so loud, " whispered Pollnitz, "it will be you who willwake this hero, and the thunder of his anger will fall upon you. "

"Pollnitz is right, " said Jordan; "be quiet, and let us await hismajesty's waking. " And the group stood in silence around the couch, with eyes fixed upon the king. He at last awoke, and a smile playedupon his lip as he perceived the six cavaliers. 

"You stand there like mourners, " said he; "and to look at you one wouldthink you were undertakers!"

"Ah, sire, fever does not kill like apoplexy, " said Jordan, approachinghis friend and pressing his hand tenderly. 

"Your majesty called us undertakers, " said Pollnitz, laughing. "Asusual, the divine prophetic mind of our king is in the right. There iscertainly a funeral odor about us. "

"But God forbid that we should mourn, " said Bielfeld, "we are muchbetter prepared to sound the battlesong. "

All this passed while the physician was feeling the king's pulse, andFredersdorf was tenderly arranging his pillows. The king looked at himinquiringly. "Listen, Fredersdorf, " said he, "what meaning have allthese mysterious words and looks; why are you all so grave? Is one ofmy dogs dead? or are you only peevish because this abominable fever hascheated you of the rehearsal?"

"No, your majesty. The dogs are in excellent health. "

"The king's pulse is perfectly quiet, " said Ellart, "you cancommunicate your news to him. " Baron Pollnitz approached the king'scouch. 

"Sire, one hour ago a courier arrived who was the bearer of importantinformation. "

"Whence came he?" said the king, calmly. 

"From your majesty's ambassador in Vienna, Count Borche. "

"Ah!" said the king, "is the empress, our noble aunt, suffering?"

"The empress is perfectly well, but her husband, the emperor--"

"Well, why do you not continue?" said the king, impatiently. 

"Would your majesty not wish some restorative first?" said Fredersdorf;but the king pushed him angrily away. 

"I wish your phrase, Pollnitz. What of the Emperor of Austria?"

"Sire, Emperor Charles the Sixth is no more, he died the twentieth ofOctober. "

"Truly, " said Frederick, leaning back, "it was worth the trouble tomake so much to do about such insignificant news. If the emperor isdead, Maria Theresa will be Empress of Germany, that is all. It doesnot concern us. " He stopped and closed his eyes. 

The physician again felt his pulse. "It is perfectly quiet, " said he;"this prodigious news has not occasioned the slightest commotion orirregularity. "

"You are right, " said the king, looking up. "Neither is the death ofthe Emperor Charles to make the slightest change in our plans, but toexecute them I must be perfectly well. It must not be said that amiserable fever changed my intentions and condemned me to idleness; Imust have no fever on the day the news of the emperor's death arrives, or the good people of Vienna will believe that I was made ill withfright. Give me that powder, Ellart, I will take it. "

"But I told your majesty that I cannot, dare not give it to you, for Ihave not tried its effect yet. "

"Then try it on me, " said the king, positively. "Give me the powder. "

It was in vain that Ellart called upon the cavaliers to support hisopinion; in vain that they begged and implored the king not to take thepowder, not to put his life in danger. 

"My life is in God's hands, " said the king, earnestly; "and God, whocreated me, created also this bark. I trust more in God's medicine thanin that of man. Quick, give me the powder!" And as Ellart stillhesitated, he continued in a stern voice: "I command you, as your kingand master, to give it to me. On my head rests the responsibility. "

"If your majesty commands I must obey, but I take these gentlemen towitness that I but do it on compulsion. "

And amid the breathless silence of the room, the king took the medicine. 

"Now your majesty must rest, " said Ellart; "you must, by no means, return to Berlin; by my holy right of physician, I forbid it. "

"And why should I return to Berlin?" said the king, laughingly. "Whyshould our harmless pleasure and amusements be given up? Are we not toact Voltaire's 'Death of Caesar?' No, I will not return to Berlin. Atrifle such as the emperor's death should not create such greatdisturbances. We will remain here and renew our former happy days, andforget that we have any duty but our enjoyment. Now, gentlemen, leaveme, I am well. You see, Ellart, I did well to take that medicine; Iwill dress. Fredersdorf, remain here. Jordan, send me Secretary Eichel. I must dictate a few necessary letters, and then, gentlemen, we willmeet in the music room, where I am to play a duet with Quantz. I inviteyou as audience. "

The king dismissed his friends with a gracious smile, jested gayly withFredersdorf, and then dictated three letters to his secretary. One wasto Marshal von Schwerin, the other to the Prince of Anhalt Dessau, andthe third to Ambassador Podrilse. The three held the same words, thesame command, telling them to come immediately to Rheinsberg. He thenentered the music room, and never was Frederick so gay, so witty, andunconstrained; never did he play on his flute more beautifully than onthe day he heard of the death of the Emperor of Germany. The followingmorning the three gentlemen arrived from Berlin and were at onceadmitted into the king's library. Frederick met them with a proud, happy smile; his eye beamed with an unusual light; his forehead wassmooth and free from care; he seemed inspired. 

"The Emperor of Germany is dead, " said he, after the gentlemen wereseated. "The emperor is dead, and I have sent for you to see whatbenefit we can derive from his death!"

"Oh, your majesty would not think of benefiting by a death which throwsa royal house, nearly connected with you, into deep sorrow, and robsthe reigning queen of Prussia of an uncle!" cried the old Prince ofDessau, solemnly. 

"Oh, it is well known that you are an imperialist, " said the king, laughing. 

"No, your majesty, but a difficulty with Austria would be a greatmisfortune for us. "

Frederick shrugged his shoulders, and turned to the other two. 

"I also wish for your opinion, gentlemen, " said he; "you are all men ofexperience, soldiers, and statesmen, and you must not refuse to adviseone of my youth and inexperience. "

With a quiet smile he listened to their wise, peaceful propositions. 

"You then doubt my right to Silesia?" said he, after a pause. "You donot think I am justified in demanding this Silesia, which wasdishonestly torn from my ancestors by the Hapsburger?"

"But your ancestors still kept the peace, " said the Prince of Dessau;"they left Silesia in the undisturbed possession of the Austrians. "

"Yes, " said the king, in a firm voice, --"and when my ancestors, outwitted by the cunning intrigues of the Austrian court, accommodatedthemselves to this necessity, --when for rendered services they wererewarded with base ingratitude, with idle, unmeaning promises, thenthey called upon their descendants to revenge such injustice, suchinsults to their honor and rights. Frederick William, the greatElector, cried prophetically when the Austrian house deserted him anddenied her sworn promises--'A revenger will rise from my ashes;' and myfather, when he had witnessed to the full the ingratitude of theAustrian court, felt that there could be no peace between the houses ofAustria and Brandenburg, and he intrusted to me the holy mission ofpunishing and humiliating this proud, conceited court; he pointed meout to his ministers, and said: 'There stands one who will revenge me!'You see that my ancestors call me, my grandfather and father chose mefor their champion and revenger; they call upon me to perform thatwhich they, prevented by circumstances, could not accomplish; the hourwhich my ancestors designated has arrived--the hour of retribution! Thetime has come when the old political system must undergo an entirechange. The stone has broken loose which is to roll uponNebuchadnezzar's image and crush it. It is time to open the eyes of theAustrians, and to show them that the little Marquis of Brandenburg, whose duty they said it was to hand the emperor after meals the napkinand finger-bowl, has become a king, who will not be humbled by theAustrians, and who acknowledges none but God as his master. Will youhelp me; will you stand by me in this work with your experience andyour advice?"

"We will!" cried the three, with animation, borne away by the king'snoble ardor. "Our life, our blood, belong to our king, our country. "

Frederick laughingly shook hands with them. "I counted upon you, " saidhe, "nor will Zithen and Vinterfeldt fail us; we will not go to battlehastily and unprepared. All was foreseen, all prepared, and we have nowbut to put in execution the plans that have for some time beenagitating my brain. Here is the map for our campaign; here are theroutes and the plan of attack. We shall at last stand before theseAustrians in battle array; and as they dared say of my father, that hisgun was ever cocked but the trigger never pulled, we will show themthat we are ready to discharge, and thrust down the double eagle fromits proud pinnacle. The combat is determined and unalterable; let us besilent and prudent, no one must discover our plans; we will surprisethe Austrians. And now, gentlemen, examine these plans, and tell me ifthere are any changes to be made in them. "

CHAPTER VII. 

THE KING AND HIS FRIEND. 

For several hours the king remained in earnest council with hisadvisers. As they left him he called Jordan, and advanced to meet himwith both hands extended. 

"Well, Jordan, rejoice with me; my days of illness are over, and therewill be life and movement in this rusty and creaking machine of state. You have often called me a bold eagle, now we shall see if my wingshave strength to bear me to great deeds, and if my claws are sharpenough to pluck out the feathers of the double eagle. " "So mysuspicions are correct, and it is against Austria that my king willmake his first warlike movement?"

"Yes, against Austria; against this proud adversary, who, with enviousand jealous eyes, watches my every step; who is pleased to look uponPrussia as her vassal; whose emperor considered it beneath his dignityto extend his hand to my father, or offer him a seat; and now I willrefuse the hand to Austria, and force her from her comfortable rest. "

"For you, also, my king, will the days of quiet be over; your holy andhappy hours with poetry, philosophy, and the arts, must be given up. The favorite of Apollo will become the son of Mars; we who are leftbehind can only look after you, we can do nothing for you, not evenoffer our breasts as a shield against danger and death. "

"Away with such thoughts, " said Frederick, smiling; "death awaits usall, and if he finds me on the field of battle, my friends, mysubjects, and history will not forget me. That is a comfort and a hope;and you, Jordan, you know that I believe in a great, exalted, andalmighty Being, who governs the world. I believe in God, and I leave myfate confidently in His hands. The ball which strikes me comes fromHim; and if I escape the battle-field, a murderous hand can reach me, even in my bed-chamber; and surely that would be a less honorable, lessfamous death. I must do something great, decisive, and worthy ofrenown, that my people may love me, and look up to me with confidenceand trust. It is not enough to be a king by inheritance and birth, Imust prove by my deeds that I merit it. Silesia offers me a splendidopportunity, and truly I think the circumstances afford me a solid andsure basis for fame. "

"Alas! I see, " sighed Jordan, "that the love of your subjects, and theenthusiastic tenderness of your friends, is not sufficient for you; youwould seek renown. "

"Yes, you are right; this glittering phantom, Fame, is ever before myeyes. I know this is folly, but when once you have listened to herintoxicating whispers, you cannot cast her off. Speak not, then, ofexposure, or care, or danger; these are as dust of the balance; I amamazed that this wild passion does not turn every man's head. "

"Alas! your majesty, the thirst for fame has cost thousands of mentheir reasons and their lives. The field of battle is truly the goldenbook of heroes, but their names must be written therein in blood. "

"It is true, " said the king, thoughtfully, "a field of battle is a sadpicture for a poet and a philosopher; but every man in this world mustpursue his calling, and I will not do my work half way. I love war forthe sake of fame. Pity me not, Jordan, because these days of illnessand peace and gayety are over; because I must go into the rough field, while you amuse yourself with Horace, study Pausanias, and laugh andmake merry with Anacreon. I envy you not. Fame beckons me with heralluring glance. My youth, the fire of passion, the thirst for renown, and a mysterious and unconquerable power, tears me from this life ofindolence. The glowing desire to see my name connected with great deedsin the journals and histories of the times drives me out into thebattle-field. [16] There will I earn the laurel-wreaths which kings donot find in their cradles, or upon their throne, but which as men, andas heroes, they must conquer for themselves. "

[16] The king's own words. 

"The laurel will deck the brow of my hero, my Frederick, in all time, "said Jordan, with tears in his eyes. "Oh! I see before you a gloriousfuture; it may be I shall have passed away--but where will my spiritbe? When I stand near you and look upon you, I know that the spirit isimmortal. The soul, noble and god-like, will be ever near you; sowhether living or dead I am thine, to love you as my friend, to honoryou as my sovereign, to admire you as a gifted genius, glowing withgodly fire. "

"Oh, speak not of death, " said the king, "speak not of death; I haveneed of you, and it seems to me that true friendship must be strongenough even to conquer death! Yes, Jordan, we have need of each other, we belong to each other; and it would be cruel, indeed, to rob me of atreasure which we, poor kings, so rarely possess, a faithful andsincere friend. No, Jordan, you will be my Cicero to defend the justiceof my cause, and I will be your Caesar to carry out the cause happilyand triumphantly. "

Jordan was speechless; he shook his head sadly. The king observed himanxiously, and saw the deep, feverish purple spots, those roses of thegrave, upon the hollow cheeks of his friend; he saw that he grew dailyweaker; he heard the hot, quick breathing which came panting from hisbreast. A sad presentiment took possession of his heart, the smilevanished from his lips, he could not conceal his emotion, and walkingto the window he leaned his hot brow upon the glass and shed tearswhich none but God should see. "My God! my God! how poor is a prince! Ihave so few friends, and these will soon pass away. Suhm lies ill inMarschau; perhaps I shall never see him again. Jordan is near me, but Isee death in his face and he will soon be torn from my side. "

Jordan stood immovable and looked toward the king, who still leaned hishead upon the window; he did not dare to disturb him, and yet he hadimportant and sad news to announce. At last Jordan laid his hand uponhis shoulder. 

"Pardon, my king, " said he, in trembling tones, "pardon that I dare tointerrupt you; but a hero dare not give himself up to sad thoughtsbefore the battle, and when he thinks of death he must greet him withlaughter, for death is his ally and his adjutant; and even if his allygrasps his nearest and best beloved friend, the hero and the conquerormust yield him up as an offering to victory. "

The king turned quickly toward the speaker. "You have death news togive me, " said he curtly, leaning against the back of his chair. "Youhave death news for me, Jordan. "

"Yes, news of death, my prince, " said he, deeply moved; "fate willaccustom your majesty to such trials, that your heart may not falterwhen your friends fall around you in the day of battle. "

"It is, then, a friend who is dead, " said Frederick, turning pale. 

"Yes, sire, your best beloved. "

The king said nothing; sinking in the chair, and grasping the armsconvulsively, he leaned his head back, and in a low voice asked, "Is itSuhm?"

"Yes, it is Suhm; he died in Marschau. Here is his last letter to yourhighness; his brother sent it to me, that I might hand it to yourmajesty. "

The king uttered a cry of anguish, and clasped his hands before hispallid face. Great tears ran down his cheeks; with a hasty movement heshook them from his eyes, opened and read the letter. As he read it hesighed and sobbed aloud: "Suhm is dead! Suhm is dead! the friend wholoved me so sincerely, even as I loved him. That noble man, whocombined intellect, sincerity, and sensibility. My heart is in mourningfor him; so long as a drop of blood flows in my veins I will rememberhim, and his family shall be mine. Ah, my heart bleeds, and the woundis deep. "

The king, mastered by his grief, laid his head in his hand and weptaloud. Then, after a long pause, he raised himself; he was calm andstern. "Jordan, " said he, firmly, "death hath no more power over me, never again can he wring my heart; he has laid an iron shield upon me, and when I go to battle I must be triumphant; my friend has beenoffered up as a victim. Jordan, Jordan, my wound bleeds, but I willbind it up, and no man shall see even the blood-stained cloth withwhich I cover it. I have overcome death, and now will I offer battleand conquer as become a hero, and a king. What cares the world that Isuffer? The world shall know nothing of it; a mask before my face, andsilence as to my agony. We will laugh and jest while we sorrow for ourfriend, and while we prepare to meet the enemy. We will PLAY Caesar andAntonius now; hereafter we may really imitate them. Come, Jordan, come, we will try 'The Death of Caesar. '"

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE FAREWELL AUDIENCE OF MARQUIS VON BOTTER, THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR. 

This was to be a fete day in the royal palace of Berlin. The kingintended giving a splendid dinner, after which the court would takecoffee in the newly furnished rooms of the dowager queen, and a maskball was prepared for the evening, to which the court, the nobility, and higher officials were invited. 

The court mourning for the emperor was at an end, and every one wasdetermined to enjoy the pleasures of the carnival. Never had the courtled so gay, so luxurious a life. Even the good old citizens of Berlinseemed to appreciate this new administration, which brought so muchmoney to the poorer classes, such heavy profits to tradesmen. Theybelieved that this extravagant court brought them greater gains than aneconomical one, and were therefore contented with this new order ofthings. 

The king had refurnished the palace with an unheard of splendor. In theapartment of the queen-mother there was a room in which all theornaments and decorations were of massive gold. Even the French andEnglish ambassadors were astonished at this "Golden Cabinet, " anddeclared that such splendor and magnificence could not be found in thepalaces of Paris or London. The people of Berlin, as we have said, werebecoming proud of their court and their king, and they thought it quitenatural that this young ruler, who was only twenty-eight years old, should interest himself very little in the affairs of State, and shouldgive his time to pleasure and amusement. 

The king had accomplished his desire. No one suspected the deepseriousness that he concealed under this idle play. No one dreamed thatthis gay, smiling prince, on whose lips there was always a witty jestor bon mot; who proposed a concert every evening, in which he himselftook part; who surrounded himself with artists, poets, and gaycavaliers, with whom he passed many nights of wild mirth and gayety--noone dreamed that this harmless, ingenuous young prince, was on thepoint of overthrowing the existing politics of the European states, andof giving an entirely new form to the whole of Germany. 

The king had not raised his mask for a moment; he had matured his plansunder the veil of inviolate secrecy. The moment of their accomplishmenthad now arrived; this evening, during the mask ball which had beenprepared with such pomp and splendor, the king with his regiments wouldleave Berlin and proceed to Silesia. But even the troops did not knowtheir destination. The journals had announced that the army would leaveBerlin to go into new winter quarters, and this account was generallybelieved. Only a few confidants, and the generals who were to accompanythe king, were acquainted with this secret. The king, after a finalconference, in which he gave the last instructions and orders, said:

"Now, gentlemen, that we have arranged our business, we will think ofour pleasure. I will see you this evening at the ball; we will danceonce more with the ladies before we begin our war-dance. "

As the generals left him, his servant entered to assist at his toilet. Pelissier, the French tailor, had prepared a new and magnificentcostume for this evening, made in the latest Parisian style. The kingdesired to appear once more in great splendor before exchanging thesaloon for the camp. Never had he bestowed such care upon his toilet;never had he remained so patiently under the hands of the barber; heeven went to the large mirror when his toilet was completed, andcarefully examined his appearance and costly dress. 

"Well, " he said, smiling, "if the Marquis von Botter is not deceived bythis dandy that I see before me, it is not my fault. The good Austrianambassador must be very cunning indeed if he discovers a warrior inthis perfumed fop. I think he will be able to tell my cousin, MariaTheresa, nothing more than that the King of Prussia knows how to dresshimself, and is the model of fashion. "

The king passed into the rooms of the queen-mother, where the court wasassembled, and where he had granted a farewell audience to the Marquisvon Botter, the ambassador of the youthful Empress of Austria. Frederick was right: the marquis had been deceived by the mask ofharmless gayety and thoughtless happiness assumed by the king andcourt. He had been sent by the empress with private instructions tosound the intentions of the Prussian king, while his apparent businesswas to return her acknowledgments for the congratulations of the Kingof Prussia on her ascension to the throne. 

The Marquis von Botter, as we have said, had been deceived by the gayand thoughtless manner of the king, and Manteuffel's warnings andadvice had been thrown away. 

The marquis had withdrawn with Manteuffel to one of the windows, toawait the entrance of the king; the ladies and gentlemen of the courtwere scattered through the rooms of the queen-mother, who was playingcards with Queen Christine in the golden cabinet. 

"I leave Berlin, " said the marquis, "with the firm conviction that theking has the most peaceful intentions. "

"As early as to-morrow your convictions will be somewhat shaken, "replied Manteuffel, "for this night the king and his army depart forSilesia. "

At this moment the king appeared at the door of the golden cabinet. There was a sudden silence, and all bent low, bowing before thebrilliant young monarch. 

Frederick bowed graciously, but remained in the doorway, glancing overthe saloon; it appeared to afford him a certain pleasure to exhibithimself to the admiring gaze of those present. He stood a livingpicture of youth, beauty, and manliness. 

"Only look at this richly-dressed, elegant young man, " whisperedMarquis von Botter; "look at his youthful countenance, beaming withpleasure and delight; at his hands, adorned with costly rings, so whiteand soft, that they would do honor to the most high-bred lady; at thatslender foot, in its glittering shoe. Do you wish to convince me thatthis small foot will march to battle; that this delicate hand, which isonly fitted to hold a smelling-bottle or a pen, will wield a sword? Oh!my dear count, you make me merry with your gloomy prophecies. "

"Still I entreat you to believe me. As soon as your audience is over, hasten to your hotel, and return to Vienna with all possible speed;allow yourself no hour of sleep, no moment for refreshment, until youhave induced your empress to send her army to Silesia. If you do not, if you despise my advice, the King of Prussia will reach Silesia beforeyou are in Vienna, and the empress will receive this intelligence whichyou do not credit from the fleeing inhabitants of her province, whichwill have been conquered without a blow. "

The deep earnestness of the count had in it something so impressive, soconvincing, that the marquis felt his confidence somewhat shaken, andlooked doubtfully at the young monarch, who was now smiling andconversing with some of the ladies. 

But even in speaking the king had not lost sight of these two gentlemenwho were leaning against the window, and whose thoughts he read intheir countenances. He now met the eye of the marquis, and motioned tohim to come forward. The marquis immediately approached the king, whostood in the centre of the saloon, surrounded by his generals. 

Every eye was turned toward the glittering group, in which the youngking was prominent: for those to whom the intentions of the king wereknown, this was an interesting piece of acting; while for theuninitiated, who had only an uncertain suspicion of what was about tohappen, this was a favorable moment for observation. 

The Austrian ambassador now stood before the king, making a deep andceremonious bow. The king returned this salutation, and said:

"You have really come to take leave, marquis?"

"Sire, her majesty, my honored empress, recalls me, and I must obey hercommands, happy as I should be, if I were privileged, to sun myselfstill longer in your noble presence. "

"It is true, a little sunshine would be most beneficial to you, marquis. You will have a cold journey. "

"Ah! your majesty, the cold is an evil that could easily be endured. "

"There are, then, other evils which will harass you on your journey?"

"Yes, sire, there is the fearful road through Silesia, that lamentableAustrian province. Ah! your majesty, this is a road of which in yourblessed land you have no idea, and which is happily unknown in theother Austrian provinces. This poor Silesia has given only care andsorrow to the empress; but, perhaps, for that reason, she loves it sowell, and would so gladly assist it. But even Nature seems to preventthe accomplishment of her noble intentions. Heavy rains have destroyedthe roads which had, with great expense, been rendered passable, and Ilearn, to my horror, that it is scarcely possible for a traveller topass them without running the greatest danger. "

"Well, " said the king, quietly, "I imagine that nothing could happen tothe traveller that could not be remedied by a bath and a change ofdress. "

"Excuse me, sire, " cried the marquis, eagerly, "he would risk hishealth, yes, even his life, in crossing the deep marshes, covered withstanding water, which are common in that country. Oh! those are to beenvied who need not expose themselves to this danger. "

The king was wearied with this crafty diplomatic play; he was tired ofthe piercing glances with which the ambassador examined hiscountenance. In the firm conviction of his success, and the noble prideof his open and truth-loving nature, it pleased him to allow the maskto fall, which had concealed his heroic and warlike intentions from themarquis. The moment of action had arrived; it was, therefore no longernecessary to wear the veil of secrecy. 

"Well, sir, " said the king, in a loud, firm voice, "if you feel sogreat a dread of this journey, I advise you to remain in Berlin. I willgo in your place into Silesia, and inform my honored cousin, MariaTheresa, with the voice of my cannon, that the Silesian roads are toodangerous for an Austrian, but are most convenient for the King ofPrussia to traverse on his way to Breslau. "

"Your majesty intends marching to Breslau?" asked the horrified marquis. 

"Yes, sir, to Breslau; and as you remarked, the roads are too dangerousfor a single traveller, and I intend taking my army with me to protectmy carriage. "

"Oh!" exclaimed the marquis, "your majesty intends making a descent onthe lands of my exalted sovereign?"

The king glanced proudly and scornfully at this daring man. Aninvoluntary murmur arose among the courtiers; the hands of the generalssought their swords, as if they would challenge this presumptuousAustrian, who dared to reproach the King of Prussia. 

The king quieted his generals with a slight motion of his hand, andturning again to the marquis, he said, composedly, "You expressyourself falsely, marquis. I will make no descent upon the lands of theEmpress of Austria; I will only reclaim what is mine--mine byacknowledged right, by inheritance, and by solemn contract. The recordsof this claim are in the state department of Austria, and the empressneed only read these documents to convince herself of my right to theprovince of Silesia. "

"Your majesty, by this undertaking, may, perhaps, ruin the house ofAustria, but you will most certainly destroy your own. "

"It depends upon the empress to accept or reject the propositions whichI have made to her through my ambassador in Vienna. "

The marquis glanced ironically at the king, and said, "Sire, yourtroops are fair to see; the Austrian army has not that glitteringexterior, but they are veterans who have already stood fire. "

"You think my troops are showy, " he said, impetuously; "eh bien, I willconvince you that they are equally brave. "

Thus speaking, the king gave the Austrian ambassador a bow ofdismissal. The audience was at an end. The ambassador made aceremonious bow, and left the room, amid profound silence. 

Scarcely had the door closed behind him before the noble countenance ofthe king had recovered its usual calm and lofty expression. 

He said gayly: "Mesdames et messieurs, it is time to prepare for themask ball; I have thrown aside my mask for a moment, but you, doubtless, think it time to assume yours. Farewell until then. "

CHAPTER IX. 

THE MASQUERADE. 

The saloons were brilliantly illuminated, and a train of gaylyintermingled, fantastically attired figures were moving to and fro inthe royal palace. It seemed as if the representatives of all nationshad come together to greet the heroic young king. Greeks and Turks werethere in gold-embroidered, bejewelled apparel. Odalisks, Spanish, Russian, and German peasant women in every variety of costume;glittering fairies, sorceresses, and fortune-telling gypsies; gravemonks, ancient knights in silver armor, castle dames, and veiled nuns. It was a magnificent spectacle to behold, these splendidly decoratedsaloons, filled with so great a variety of elegant costumes; and had itnot been for the lifeless, grinning, and distorted faces, one mighthave imagined himself transported to Elysium, where all nations and allraces are united in unclouded bliss. But the cold, glittering maskswhich concealed the bright faces, sparkling with animation andpleasure, somewhat marred the effect of this spectacle, and recalledthe enraptured spectator to the present, and to the stern reality. 

Only in the last of these saloons was there an unmasked group. In thisroom sat the two queens, glittering with gems, for it was no longernecessary for Sophia Dorothea to conceal her jewels; without fear shecould now appear before her court in her magnificent diamonds; andElizabeth Christine, who knew well that her husband loved to see hisqueen appear in a magnificence befitting her dignity on festiveoccasions, had adorned herself with the exquisite jewelry which excitedthe admiration of the entire court, and which Baron Bielfeld declaredto be a perfect miracle of beauty. Next to the two queens and theprincesses Ulrica and Amelia, stood the king in his magnificent ballcostume. Behind the royal family stood their suite, holding their masksin their hands, for all were required to uncover their faces onentering the room in which the royal family were seated. 

The king and the queen were about to fulfil the promises they had madeeach other; Sophia Dorothea was about to receive Count Neal, while theking was to welcome the recently married Countess Rhedern to court. 

The loud and ironical voice of the master of ceremonies, BaronPollnitz, had just announced to the royal family the arrival of Countand Countess Rhedern and Count Neal, and they were now entering thesaloon, the sanctuary which was only open to the favored andprivileged, only to those of high birth, or those whose officesrequired them to be near the king's person. No one else could enterthis saloon without special invitation. 

The newly-made Countess Rhedern made her entrance on the arm of herhusband. Her face was perfectly tranquil and grave; an expression ofdetermination rested on her features, which, although no longerpossessing the charm of youth and beauty, were still interesting. Hercountenance was indicative of energy and decision. An expression ofbenevolence played around her large but well-formed mouth; and her darkeyes, which were not cast down, but rested quietly on the royal family, expressed so much spirit and intelligence that it was evident she wasno ordinary woman, but a firm and resolute one, who had courage tochallenge fate, and, if necessary, to shape her own destiny. 

But the proud and imperious Queen Sophia Dorothea felt disagreeablyimpressed by the earnest glances with which the countess regarded her. If she had approached her tremblingly, and with downcast eyes, crushed, as it were, by the weight of this unheard-of condescension on the partof royalty, the queen would have been inclined to pardon her want ofbirth, and to forget her nameless descent: but the quiet andunconstrained bearing of the newly created countess enraged her. Moreover, she felt offended by the elegant and costly toilet of thecountess. The long silver-embroidered train, fastened to her shoulderswith jewelled clasps, was of a rarer and more costly material than eventhe robe of the queen; the diadem, necklace, and jewelled braceletscould rival the parure of the queen, and the latter experienced almosta sensation of envy at the sight of the large fan which the countessheld half open in her hand, and with which the queen had nothing thatcould compare. The fan was of real Chinese workmanship, and ornamentedwith incomparable carvings in ivory, and beautiful paintings. 

The queen acknowledged the thrice-repeated courtesy of CountessRhedern, with a slight inclination of the head only, while QueenElizabeth Christine greeted her with a gracious smile. 

The king, who noticed the cloud gathering on his mother's brow, andvery well knew its cause, was amused to see the queen-mother, who hadso warmly advocated the reception of Countess Rhedern at court, nowreceive her so coldly; and wishing to jest with his mother on thesubject of this short-lived fancy, he greeted the countess verygraciously, and turning to his mother, said:

"You have done well, madame, to invite this beautiful countess tocourt; she will be a great acquisition, a great ornament. "

"A great ornament, " repeated Sophia Dorothea, who now considered thequiet and unconstrained bearing of the countess as disrespectful toherself; and fixing her proud and scornful glances upon her as shecontemptuously repeated the king's words, she said: "What a singulartrain you wear!"

"It is of Indian manufacture, " said the countess, quietly; "my fatheris connected with several mercantile houses in Holland, and from one ofthese I obtained the curious cloth which has attracted your majesty'sattention. "

Sophia Dorothea reddened with shame and indignation. This woman had theaudacity not only not to be ashamed of her past life, over which sheshould have drawn a veil, but she dared in this brilliant company, inthe presence of two queens, to speak of her father's businessrelations--even while the queen magnanimously wished to forget, andveil the obscurity of her birth. 

"Ah!" said the queen-mother, "you wear an article from your father'sshop! Truly, a convenient and ingenious mode of advertising yourfather's goods; and hereafter when we regard Countess Rhedern, we willknow what is her father's latest article of trade. "

The smile which the queen perceived upon the lips of her suite was asufficient reward for her cruel jest. The eyes of all were scornfullyfixed upon the countess, whose husband stood at her side, pale andtrembling, and with downcast eyes. But the young countess remainedperfectly composed. 

"Pardon me, your majesty, " said she, in a full, clear voice, "fordaring to contradict you, but my father's business is too well known toneed any such advertisement. "

"Well, then, in what does he deal?" said the queen, angrily. 

"Your majesty, " said the countess, bowing respectfully, "my father'sdealings are characterized by wisdom, honor, generosity, anddiscretion. "

The queen's eyes flashed; a shopkeeper's daughter had dared to justifyherself before the queen, and to defy and scoff at her anger. 

She arose proudly. She wished to annihilate this newly-created countesswith her withering contempt. But the king, who perceived the signs of acoming storm upon his mother's brow, determined to prevent thisoutbreak. It wounded his noble and generous soul to see a poor, defenceless woman tormented in this manner. He was too noble-minded totake offence at the quiet and composed bearing of the countess, whichhad excited his mother's anger. In her display of spirit andintelligence, he forgot her lowly birth, and laying his hand gentlyupon his mother's shoulder he said, with a smile:

"Does not your majesty think that Countess Rhedern does honor to herbirth? Her father deals in wisdom, honor, and generosity. Well, itseems to me that Countess Rhedern has inherited these noble qualities. My dear countess, I promise you my patronage, and will ever be adevoted customer of your house if you prove worthy of your father. "

"That I can promise your majesty, " said the countess, an expression ofproud delight flitting over her countenance, and almost rendering itbeautiful; "and will your majesty have the kindness, at some futuretime, " said she, taking her husband's arm, "to convince yourself thatthe house of Rhedern and Company, to which your majesty has sograciously promised his patronage, is in a condition to satisfy hisrequirements?"

The queen-mother could hardly suppress a cry of anger and indignation. The countess had dared to give the king an invitation. She hadcommitted a breach of etiquette which could only be accounted for bythe most absolute ignorance, or the greatest impertinence, and onewhich the king would assuredly punish. 

But Sophia Dorothea was mistaken. Bowing low, the king said, with thatkindliness of manner which was peculiar to himself: "I will take thevery first opportunity of paying your establishment a visit. "

Sophia Dorothea was very near fainting; she could stand this scene nolonger; and giving herself up entirely to her anger, she was guilty ofthe same fault which the countess had committed through ignorance. Forgetful of etiquette, she assumed a right which belonged to thereigning king and queen alone. Arising hastily from her seat, she said, impatiently:

"I think it is time we should join the dancers. Do you not find themusic very beautiful and enticing? Let us go. "

The king smilingly laid his hand on her arm. "You forget, madame, thatthere is another happy man who longs to bask in the sunshine of yourcountenance. You forget, madame, that Count Neal is to have the honorof an introduction. "

The queen gave her son one of those proud, resigned, and reproachfullooks which she had been in the habit of directing toward FrederickWilliam during her wedded life. She felt conquered, humbled, andpowerless. 

The imperious expression fled from her brow, and found refuge in hereyes only. "And this, too!" murmured she, sinking back on her seat. Shebarely heard Count Neal's introduction. She acknowledged his respectfulgreeting with a slight inclination of the head, and remained silent. 

The king, who to-day seemed to be in a conciliatory mood, again came tothe rescue. 

"Madame, " said he, "Count Neal is indeed an enviable man; he has seenwhat we will probably never see. He has been in the lovely, luxurious, and dreamy South; he has seen the sun of India; he was governor ofSurinam. "

"Pardon me, your majesty, " said the count, proudly; "I was not onlygovernor, but vice-regent. "

"Ah, " said the king, "and what are the prerogatives of a vice-regent?"

"I was there esteemed as your majesty is here. The governor of Surinamis approached with the same submission, humility, and devotion, heenjoys the same homage as the King of Prussia. "

"Ah, you are then an equal of the King of Prussia? Baron Pollnitz, youhave been guilty of a great oversight; you have forgotten to provide aseat for my brother, the King of Surinam. You must be indulgent thistime, my dear brother, but at the next ball we will not forget that youare a vice-regent of Surinam, and woe to the baron if he does not thenprovide a chair!"

He then took his mother's arm, and signing to Prince Augustus Williamto follow him with the reigning queen, proceeded to the ball-room. 

On arriving there he released his mother's arm and said: "If agreeableto you, we will lay aside etiquette for a short time and mingle withthe dancers. " And without awaiting an answer, the king bowed andhurried off into the adjoining room, followed by Pollnitz. He thereassumed a domino and mask. 

The entire court followed the king's example. The prince, and even thereigning queen, took advantage of his permission. 

The queen was deserted by her suite, and left almost entirely alone inthe large saloon. Her marshal, Count Rhedern, his wife, and the pagewho held her train, were the only persons who remained. Sophia Dorotheaheaved a deep sigh; she felt that she was no longer a queen, but a poorwidow who had vacated the throne. Happily, Countess Rhedern, the wifeof her marshal, was still there; upon her she could at least vent herrage. 

"Madame, " said she, looking angrily at the countess "your train is toolong; you should have brought some of the lads from your father's storeto carry this train for you, in order that it might be more minutelyexamined. "

The countess bowed. "Your majesty must pardon me for not having doneso, but my father's assistants are not at my disposal. But perhaps wecan find a remedy if your majesty really thinks I need a train-bearer. I suggest that some of my father's principal debtors should fill thisplace. I believe these gentlemen would willingly carry my train if myfather would grant them a respite. If your majesty agrees to thisproposition, I shall at once select two of your noblest cavaliers formy train-bearers, and will then no longer put your brilliant court toshame. "

The queen did not reply; she cast an angry glance at the quiet andcomposed countess, and then walked quietly toward the throne, aroundwhich the royal family had now assembled. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE MASKERS. 

The king, with the assistance of Pollnitz, had now completed histoilet; he did not wish to be recognized, and his dress was similar tohundreds of others who were wandering through the rooms. 

"Do you think I will be known?"

"No, sire, it is not possible. Now have the goodness to push your maskslightly over your eyes; they might perhaps betray you. "

"Well, these eyes will soon see some curious things. Did you ever standupon a battle-field as a conqueror, surrounded by corpses, all yourliving enemies having fled before you?"

"Heaven in its mercy preserve me from such a sight! My enemies, sire, have never fled from me; they chase me and threaten me, and it is ofGod's great mercy that I have always escaped them. "

"Who are these pursuing enemies of yours?"

"They are my creditors, your majesty, and you may well believe thatthey are more terrible to me than a battle-field of corpses. Unhappily, they still live, and the fiends torment me. "

"Well, Pollnitz, after I have seen my first battle-field, in thecondition I have just described to you, and returned home victorious, Iwill assist you to kill off your rapacious enemies. Until then keepbravely on the defensive. Come, let us go, I have only half an hourleft for pleasure. "

The king opened the door of the cabinet, and, jesting merrily, hemingled with the crowd, while Pollnitz remained near the door, and casta searching glance around the room. Presently a mocking smile flittedover his face, and he said to himself: "There, there are all three ofthem. There is the modestly dressed nun who would not be recognized asMadame von Morien. There is the king of cards, Manteuffel, who is notyet aware that a quick eye has seen his hand, and his trumps are all invain. There at last is Madame von Brandt, 'The Gypsy, ' tellingfortunes, and having no presentiment of the fate awaiting herself. Alittle scrap of paper carelessly lost and judiciously used by the luckyfinder is quite sufficient to unmask three of the worldly wise. "

"Well, baron, " whispered the nun, "will you fulfil your promise?"

"Dear Madame von Morien, " replied Pollnitz, shrugging his shoulders, "the king expressly commanded me not to betray him. "

"Pollnitz, " said the nun, with a tearful voice, "have pity upon me;tell me the disguise of the king; you shall not only have my eternalgratitude--but look, I know you love diamonds; see this costly pin, which I will give for the news I crave. "

"It is impossible for poor, weak human nature to resist you, " saidPollnitz, stretching out his hand eagerly for the pin; "diamonds have aconvincing eloquence, and I must submit; the king has a blue dominoembroidered with silver cord, a white feather is fastened in his hatwith a ruby pin, and his shoe-buckles are of rubies and diamonds. "

"Thank you, " said the nun, handing the pin and mingling hastily withthe crowd. 

While Pollnitz was fastening the pin in his bosom, the king of cardsapproached, and laid his hand on his shoulder. 

"Well, baron, you see I am punctual; answer the questions of yesterday, and I will give you all the information necessary to secure you a richand lovely wife. "

"I accept the terms. You wish to know what route the king will take andthe number of his troops: this paper contains the information youdesire; I obtained it from a powerful friend, one of the confidentialservants of the king. I had to pay a thousand crowns for it; you see Idid not forget you. "

"Well, here is a draft for four thousand crowns, " said Manteuffel; "yousee I did not forget your price. "

"And now for the rich and lovely wife. "

"Listen. In Nuremberg I am acquainted with a rich family, who have butone fair daughter; she will inherit a million. The family is not noble, but they wish to marry their daughter to a Prussian cavalier. I haveproposed you, and you are accepted; you have only to go to Nurembergand deliver these letters; you will be received as a son, andimmediately after the wedding you will come into possession of amillion. "

"A million is not such a large sum after all, " said Pollnitz. "If Imust marry a citizen in order to obtain a fortune I know a girl herewho is young, lovely, and much in love with me, and I think she has notless than a million. "

"Well, take the letters; you can consider the subject. Au revoir, mydear baron. Oh, I forgot one other small stipulation connected withyour marriage with the Nuremberger; the family is Protestant, and willnot accept a Catholic for their rich daughter; so you will have tobecome a Protestant. "

"Well, that is a small affair. I was once a Protestant, and I think Iwas just as good as I am now. "

Manteuffel laughed heartily, and withdrew. 

Pollnitz looked thoughtfully at the letters, and considered thequestion of the Nuremberg bride. "I believe Anna Pricker has at least amillion, and old Pricker lies very ill from the shock of his wife'ssudden death. If our plan succeeds, and Anna becomes a great singer, she will have powerful influence with the king; and it will beforgotten that she is a tailor's daughter. I believe I would ratherhave Anna than the Nuremberger, but I will keep the latter in reserve. "

Pollnitz had reached this point in his meditations, when the gypsystood before him; she greeted him with roguish words, and he was againthe thoughtless and giddy cavalier. Madame von Brandt, however, had butlittle time for jesting. 

"You promised to give me information of the letter I lost at the lastcourt festival, " she said, anxiously. 

"Yes, that very important letter, ruinously compromising two ladies anda nobleman. I suppose you would obtain the letter at any sacrifice?"

"Yes, at any sacrifice, " said Madame von Brandt. "You asked a hundredLouis d'ors for the letter; I have brought them with me; take them--nowgive me the letter. "

The baron took the money and put it in his pocket. 

"Well, the letter, let me have it quickly, " said Madame von Brandt. 

Pollnitz hunted through his pockets anxiously. "My God!" he cried, "this letter has wings. I know I put it in my pocket, and it hasdisappeared; perhaps like yourself I lost it in the saloon; I musthasten to seek it. " He wished to go immediately, but Madame von Brandtheld him back. 

"Have the goodness to give me my money until you have found theletter, " she cried, trembling with rage. 

"Your money?" cried Pollnitz; "you gave me no money. Why do you keepme? allow me to go and seek this important letter. " He tore himselffrom her and mingled with the crowd. 

Madame von Brandt looked after him in speechless rage; she leanedagainst the wall, to prevent herself from falling. 

Pollnitz laughed triumphantly. "This evening has brought me a thousandcrowns, two hundred Louis d'ors, a splendid diamond pin, and thepromise of a rich wife. I think I may be content. Through theseintrigues I have enough to live on for months. I stand now high in theking's favor, and who knows, perhaps he may now give me a house, notthe house in the Jager Street--that is, alas, no longer vacant. I seethe king--I must hasten to him. " Suddenly he heard his name called, andturning he saw a lady in a black domino, the hood drawn over her head, and her face covered with an impenetrable veil. 

"Baron Pollnitz, a word with you, if you please, " and slightlymotioning with her hand, she passed before him. Pollnitz followed her, curious to know his last petitioner, but the dark domino covered hercompletely. They had now reached a quiet window; the lady turned andsaid:

"Baron Pollnitz, you are said to be a noble and gallant cavalier, and Iam sure you will not refuse a lady a favor. "

"Command me, madame, " said Pollnitz, with his eternal smile. "I will doall in my power. "

"Make known to me the costume of the king. "

The baron stepped back in angry astonishment. "So, my beautiful mask, you call that a favor; I must betray his majesty to you. He hasforbidden me positively to make known his costume to any one; youcannot desire me to be guilty of such a crime!"

"I implore you to tell me, " cried the mask; "it is not from idlecuriosity that I desire to know: I have an ardent but innocent desireto say a few words to the king before he leaves for the wars, fromwhich he may never return. "

In the excitement of deep feeling, the mask spoke in her natural voice, and there were certain tones which Pollnitz thought he recognized; hemust be certain, however, before speaking; he drew nearer, and gazingpiercingly at the lady, he said. "You say, madame, that it is not inidle curiosity that you desire to know the costume of the king. How doI know that you do not entertain dangerous designs? how do I know butyou are an enemy, corrupted by Austria, and wish to lead the king tohis destruction?"

"The only security I can offer is the word of a noble lady who nevertold an untruth. God omnipotent, God omnipresent knows that my heartbeats with admiration, reverence, and love for the king. I would ratherdie than bring him into danger. "

"Will you swear that?"

"I swear!" cried the lady, raising her arm solemnly toward heaven. 

Pollnitz followed all her movements watchfully, and as the long sleeveof the domino fell back, he saw a bracelet of emeralds and diamonds, which he recognized; there was but one lady at the Prussian court whopossessed such a bracelet, and that was the reigning queen. Pollnitzwas too old a courtier to betray the discovery he had made; he bowedquietly to the lady, who, discovering her imprudence, lowered her arm, and drew her sleeve tightly over it. 

"Madame, " said the baron, "you have taken a solemn oath and I amsatisfied; I will grant your request, but, as I gave my word of honorto tell no one the costume of his majesty, I must show it to you. I amnow going to seek the king; I shall speak with no one but him;therefore the domino before whom I bow and whom I address will be theking; follow me. "

"I thank you, " said the lady, drawing her domino closely over her; "Ishall remember this hour gratefully, and if it is ever in my power toserve you, I shall do so. "

"This is indeed a most fortunate evening! I have earned money anddiamonds and the favor of the queen, who up to this time has lookedupon me with cold dislike. "

Pollnitz approached the king and bowed low; the lady stood behind, marking well the costume of his majesty. 

"I have waited a long time for Pollnitz, " said the king. 

"Sire, I had to wait for three masks; I have seen them all--Madame vonMorien, Madame von Brandt, and Baron von Manteuffel. The baron remainstrue to his character; he is in the costume of the king of cards. "

"And Madame von Morien?" asked the king. 

"She is here as a nun, and burns with desire to speak with yourmajesty; and if you will step into the dark saloon, I do not doubt therepentant nun will quickly follow you. "

"Well, what is the costume of Madame von Brandt?"

"A gypsy, sire; a yellow skirt, with a red bodice embroidered in gold;a little hat studded with diamonds and a beauty spot on the lefttemple. She wished me to give her the letter I found, and I sold it toher for two hundred Louis d'ors. "

"You had not the letter, however, and could not receive the money?"

"Pardon, your majesty, I took the Louis d'ors, and then discovered thatI had lost the letter, I came to seek it. "

The king laughed heartily, and said: "Pollnitz, Pollnitz, it is ablessed thing for the world that you are not married; your boys wouldbe consummate rascals! Did you give Manteuffel the plan of the campaignand the number of the troops?"

"Yes, sire, I did; and the baron was so charmed that he made me apresent of four thousand crowns! I took them, for appearance' sake;your majesty must decide what I must do with them. "

"Keep the reward of your iniquity, baron. You hare a superb talent forthieving, and I would prefer you should practise it on the Austrians topractising it on myself. Go now, and see that I find my uniform in thecabinet. "

The king mingled again with the crowd, and was not recognized, butlaughed and jested with them merrily as man to man. 

CHAPTER XI. 

REWARD AND PUNISHMENT. 

Suddenly the king ceased his cheerful laughter and merry jests: he hadfor the moment forgotten that he had any thing to do but amuse himself;he had forgotten that he was here to judge and to punish. Frederick wasstanding by the once dearly loved Count Manteuffel, and as his eye fellupon him he was recalled to himself. 

"Ah! I was looking for you, " said the king, laying his hand upon thecount's shoulder; "you were missing from my game, dear king of cards, but now that I have you, I shall win. "

The count had too good an ear not to recognize the king's voice inspite of its disguise; but he was too nice a diplomatist to betray hisdiscovery by word or look. 

"What game do you wish to play with me, mask?" Said he, following theking into an adjoining and unoccupied room. 

"A new game, the game of war!" said the king, harshly. 

"The game of war, " repeated the count; "I have never heard of thatgame. "

The king did not answer at once; he was walking hastily up and down theroom. 

"Count, " said he, stopping before Manteuffel, "I am your friend. I wishto give you some good advice. Leave Berlin to-night, and never returnto it!"

"Why do you advise this?" said the count, coolly. 

"Because otherwise you are in danger of being imprisoned as a traitorand hung as a spy! Make no answer; attempt no defence. I am yourfriend, but I am also the friend of the king. I would guard you from apunishment, though a just one; and I would also guard him fromembarrassment and vexation. The king does not know that you are anAustrian spy, in the pay of the imperial court. May he never know it!He once loved you; and his anger would be terrible if informed of yourperfidy. Yes, Count Manteuffel, this prince was young, inexperiencedand trusting; he believed in your love and gave you his heart. Let usspare his youth; let us spare him the humiliation of despising andpunishing the man he once loved. Oh, my God! it is hard to trample abeing contemptuously under foot whom you once pressed lovingly to yourheart. The king is gentle and affectionate: he is not yet sufficientlyhardened to bear without pain the blows inflicted by a faithlessfriend. A day may come when the work of such friends, when your work, may be accomplished, when King Frederick will wear about his heart acoat-of-mail woven of distrust; but, as I said, that time has not come. Do not await it, count, for then the king would be inexorable towardyou; he would look upon you only as a spy and a traitor! Hasten, then, with flying steps from Berlin. "

"But how, if I remain and attempt to defend myself?" said the count, timidly. 

"Do not attempt it; it would be in vain. For in the same moment thatyou attempted to excuse yourself, the king would hear of your cunning, your intrigues, your bribery, and your treachery; he would know thatyou corresponded with his cook; that Madame von Brandt kept a journalfor you, which you sent to the Austrian court, and for which you paidher a settled sum; he would know that you watched his every word andstep, and sold your information for Austrian gold! No, no, dare notapproach the king. A justification is impossible. Leave here to-night, and never dare to tread again on Prussian soil! Remember I am yourfriend; as such I address you. "

"You then advise me to go at once, without taking leave of the king?"said the count, who could not now conceal his embarrassment. 

"I do! I command you, " said the king; "I command you to leave thiscastle on the spot! silently, without a word or sign, as beseems aconvicted criminal! I command you to leave Berlin to-night. It mattersnot to me where yon go--to hell, if it suits your fancy. "

The count obeyed silently, without a word; to the king he bowed andleft the room. 

The king gazed after him till he was lost in the crowd. "And throughsuch men as that we lose our trust and confidence in our race; such menharden our hearts, " said he to himself. "Is that then true which hasbeen said by sages of all times, that princes are condemned to livesolitary and joyless lives; that they can never possess a frienddisinterested and magnanimous enough to love them for themselves, andnot for their power and glory? If so, why give our hearts to men? Letus love and cherish our dogs, who are true and honest, and love theirmasters whether they are princes or beggars. Ah, there is Manteuffel'snoble friend, that coquettish little gypsy; we will for once change theusual order of things: I will prophesy to her, instead of receiving herprophecies. " The king approached and whispered: "Pollnitz has found theprecious letter, and is anxious to return it to you. "

"Where is he?" said the gypsy, joyously. 

"Follow me, " said Frederick, leading her to the same room where he haddismissed Manteuffel. "Here we are, alone and unnoticed, " said theking, "and we can gossip to our heart's content. "

Madame von Brandt laughed: "Two are needed for a gossip, " said she;"and how do you know that I am in the humor for that? You led me hereby speaking of a letter which Baron Pollnitz was to give me, but I seeneither Pollnitz nor the letter!"

"Pollnitz gave it to me to hand to you; but before I give it up I willsee if I have not already learned something of your art, and if Icannot prophesy as well as yourself. Give me your hand: I will tellyour fortune. "

Madame von Brandt silently held out her trembling hand; she hadrecognized the voice; she knew it was the king who stood by her side. 

The king studied her hand without touching it. "I see wonderful thingsin this small hand. In this line it is written that you are a dangerousfriend, a treacherous subject, and a cruel flirt. "

"Can you believe this?" said she, with a forced laugh. 

"I do not only believe it, I know it. It is written in bold, imperishable characters upon your hand and brow. Look! I see here, thatfrom a foreign land, for treacherous service, you receive large sums ofgold; here I see splendid diamonds, and there I read that twentythousand crowns are promised you if you prevent a certain divorce. Youtremble, and your hand shakes so I can scarcely read. Keep your handsteady, madame; I wish to read not only your past but your future life. "

"I shall obey, " whispered Madame von Brandt. 

"Here I read of a dangerous letter, which fell, through your owncarelessness, into the wrong hands. If the king should read thatletter, your ruin would be unavoidable; he would punish you as atraitor; you would not only be banished from court, but confined insome strong fortress. When a subject conspires with the enemy duringtime of war, this is the universal punishment. Be cautious, be prudent, and the king will learn nothing of this, and you may be saved. "

"What must I do to avert my ruin?" she said, breathlessly. 

"Banish yourself, madame; make some excuse to withdraw immediately fromBerlin; retire to your husband's estate, and there, in quiet andsolitude, think over and repent your crimes. When like Mary Magdaleneyou have loved, and deceived, and betrayed, like her you must repent, and see if God is as trusting as man; if you can deceive Him with yourtears as you once deceived us with your well-acted friendship. Go tryrepentance with God; here it is of no avail. This reformation, madame, must commence at once. You will leave Berlin to-morrow, and will notreturn till the king himself sends for you. "

"I go!" said Madame von Brandt, weeping bitterly; "I go! but I carrydeath in my heart, not because I am banished, but because I deserve mypunishment; because I have wounded the heart of my king, and my soulwithers under his contempt. "

"Mary Magdalene, " said Frederick, "truly you have a wondrous talent foracting; a hint is enough for you, and you master your part at once. But, madame, it is useless to act before the king; he will neithercredit your tears nor your repentance; he would remember your crimesand pronounce your sentence. Hasten, then, to your place of atonement. There you may turn saint, and curse the vain and giddy world. Here isyour letter--farewell!"

The king hastened away, and Madame von Brandt, weeping from shame andhumiliation, remained alone. The king passed rapidly through thecrowded saloon and stepped on the balcony; he had seen the nunfollowing him, and she came upon the balcony; he tore off his mask, andconfronting the trembling woman, he said, in a harsh voice. 

"What do you want with me?"

"Your love, " cried the nun, sinking upon her knees and raising herhands imploringly to the king; "I want the love you once promisedme--the love which is my earthly happiness and my salvation--your love, without which I must die; wanting which, I suffer the tortures ofpurgatory!"

"Then suffer, " said the king, harshly; retreating a few steps--"go andsuffer; endure the torments of purgatory, you deserve them; God willnot deliver you, nor will I. "

"Alas! alas! I hear this, and I live, " cried Madame von Morien, despairingly. "Oh, my king, take pity on me; think of the heavenlypast; think of the intoxicating poison your words and looks poured intomy veins, and do not scorn and punish me because I am brought almost tomadness and death by your neglect. See what you have made of me! seehow poor Leontine has changed!" She threw back her veil, and showed herpale and sorrowful countenance to the king. 

He gazed at her sternly: "You have become old, madame, " he said, coldly--"old enough to tread in the new path you have so wiselyprepared for yourself. You who have so long been the votary of love, are now old enough and plain enough to become a model of virtue. Acceptthis order of virtue and modesty, promised you by the Empress ofAustria. The king will not divorce his wife, and as this is supposed tobe solely your work, the empress will not withhold the promised order. "

"My God! he knows all, and he despises me!" cried Madame von Morien, passionately. 

"Yes, he despises you, " repeated the king; "he despises and he has nopity on you! Farewell!"

Without again looking toward the broken-hearted woman, he turned towardthe dancing-saloon. Suddenly he felt a hand laid softly upon hisshoulder; he turned and saw at his side a woman in black, and thicklyveiled. 

"One word, King Frederick, " whispered the lady. 

"Speak, what do you wish?" said the king, kindly. 

"What do I wish?" said she, with a trembling voice; "I wish to see you;to hear your voice once more before you go to the battle-field, todanger, perhaps to death. I come to entreat you to be careful of yourlife! remember it is a precious jewel, for which you are not onlyanswerable to God, but to millions of your subjects. Oh, my king, donot plunge wantonly into danger; preserve yourself for your country, your people, and your family; to all of whom you are indispensable. "

The king shook his head, smilingly. "No one is indispensable. A manlost is like a stone thrown into the water; for a moment there is aslight eddy, the waters whirl, then all trace disappears, and thestream flows quietly and smoothly on. But not thus will I disappear. IfI am destined to fall in this combat to which I am now hastening, mydeath shall be glorious, and my grave shall be known; it must, atleast, be crowned with laurels, as no one will consecrate it with thetribute of love and tears. A king, you know, is never loved, and no oneweeps for his death; the whole world is too busily engaged in welcominghis successor. "

"Not so; not so with you, my king! you are deeply, fondly loved. I knowa woman who lives but in your presence--a woman who would die of joy ifshe were loved by you; she would die of despair if death should claimyou; you, her youthful hero, her ideal, her god! For this woman's sakewho worships you; whose only joy you are; who humbly lays her love atyour feet, and only asks to die there; for her sake I implore you to becareful of yourself; do not plunge wantonly into danger, and thus robPrussia of her king; your queen of the husband whom she adores, and forwhom she is ready at any hour to give her heart's blood. "

The king clasped gently the folded hands of the veiled lady within hisown; he knew her but too well. 

"Are you so well acquainted with the queen that you know all thesecrets of her heart?"

"Yes, I know the queen, " whispered she; "I am the only confidant of hersorrows. I only know how much she loves, how much she suffers. "

"I pray you, then, go to the queen and bid her farewell for me. Tellher that the king honors no other woman as he honors her; that hethinks she is exalted enough to be placed among the noble women of theolden times. He is convinced she would say to her warrior husband, asthe Roman wives said to their fathers, husbands, and sons, when handingtheir shields, 'Return with them or upon them!' Tell ElizabethChristine that the King of Prussia will return from this combat withhis hereditary foe as a conqueror, or as a corpse. He cares little forlife, but much for honor; he must make his name glorious, perchance bythe shedding of his blood. Tell Elizabeth Christine this, and tell heralso that on the day of battle her friend and brother will think ofher; not to spare himself, but to remember gratefully that, in thathour, a noble and pure woman is praying to God for him. And now adieu:I go to my soldiers--you to the queen. "

He bowed respectfully, and hurried to the music-room. The queenfollowed him with tearful eyes, and then drawing her hood tightly overher face, she hurried through a secret door into her apartments. Whilethe queen was weeping and praying in her room, the king was putting onhis uniform, and commanding the officers to assemble in the court-yard. 

Prince Augustus William was still tarrying in the dancing-saloon: hedid not dance; no one knew he was there. He had shown himself for a fewhours in a magnificent fancy suit, but unmasked; he then left theballroom, saying he still had some few preparations to make for hisjourney. Soon, however, he returned in a common domino and closelymasked; no one but Laura von Pannewitz was aware of his presence; theywere now standing together in a window, whose heavy curtains hid themfrom view. It was a sad pleasure to look once more into each other'seyes, to feel the warm pressure of loving hands, to repeat those pureand holy vows which their trembling lips had so often spoken; everyfond word fell like glorious music upon their young hearts. The momentof separation had come; the officers were assembled, and the solemnbeating of drums was heard. 

"I must leave you, my beloved, my darling, " whispered the prince, pressing the weeping girl to his heart. Laura sobbed convulsively. 

"Leave me, alas, perhaps never to return!"

"I shall return, my Laura, " said he, with a forced smile. "I am nohero; I shall not fall upon the battlefield. I know this; I feel it. Ifeel also that if this was to be my fate, I should be spared manysorrowful and agonizing hours; how much better a quick, glorious death, than this slow torture, this daily death of wretchedness! Oh, Laura, Ihave presentiments, in which my whole future is covered with clouds andthick darkness, through which even your lovely form is not to be seen;I am alone, all alone!"

"You picture my own sufferings, my own fears, " whispered Laura. "Alas!I forget the rapture of the present in the dim and gloomy future. Oh, my beloved, my heart does not beat with joy when I look at you; itoverflows with despair. I am never to see you again, my prince; ourfond farewell is to be our last! Oh, believe me, this sad presentimentis the voice of Fate, warning us to escape from this enchanting vision, with which we have, lulled our souls to sleep. We have forgotten ourduty, and we are warned that a cruel necessity will one day separateus!"

"Nothing shall separate us!" said the prince; "no earthly power shallcome between us. The separation of to-day, which honor demands of me, shall be the last. When I return, I will remind you of your oath; Iwill claim your promise, which God heard and accepted. Our love is fromGod, and no stain rests upon it; God, therefore, will watch over it, and will not withhold His blessing; with His help, we will conquer alldifficulties, and we can dispense with the approbation of the world. "

Laura shook her head sadly: "I have not this happy confidence; and Ihave not the strength to bear this painful separation. At times when Ihave been praying fervently for help, it seems to me that God isstanding by and strengthening me to obey the command of thedowager-queen and give my hand to Count Voss. But when I wish to speakthe decisive word my lips are closed as with a band of iron; it seemsto me that, could I open them, the only sound I should utter would be acry so despairing as to drive me to madness. "

The prince pressed her fondly to his heart: "Swear to me, Laura, thatyou will never be so faithless, so cowardly, as to yield to the threatsof my mother, " said he, passionately; "swear that you will be true toyour oath; that oath by which you are mine--mine to all eternity; mywedded wife!"

"I swear it, " said she, solemnly, fixing her eyes steadily upon hisagitated countenance. 

"They will take advantage of my absence to torture you. My mother willoverwhelm you with reproaches, threats, and entreaties; but, if youlove me, Laura, you will find strength to resist all this. As yet mymother does not know that it is I whom you love; I who worship you; shesuspects that the king or the young Prince of Brunswick possesses yourheart. But chance may betray our love, and then her anger would beterrible. She would lose no time in separating us; would stop atnothing. Then, Laura, be firm and faithful; believe no reports, nomessage, no letter; trust only in me and in my word. I will not writeto you, for my letters might be intercepted. I will send no messengerto you; he might be bribed. If I fall in battle, and God grants mestrength in dying, I will send you a last embrace and a last lovingword, by some pitying friend. In that last hour our love will havenothing to fear from the world, the king, or my mother. You will alwaysbe in my thoughts, darling, and my spirit will be with you. "

"And if you fall, God will have mercy on me and take me from this cruelworld; it will be but a grave for me when no longer gladdened by yourpresence. "

The prince kissed her fondly, and slipped a ring on her finger. "Thatis our engagement ring, " said he. "Now you are mine; you wear my ring;this is the first link of that chain with which I will bind your wholelife to mine! You are my prisoner; nothing can release you. But listen!what is that noise? The king has descended to the court; he will belooking for me. Farewell, my precious one; God and His holy angelsguard you!"

He stepped slowly from behind the curtains and closed them carefullyafter him, so as to conceal Laura; he passed hastily through the roomsto his apartment, threw off the domino which concealed his uniform, andseizing his sword he hastened to the court. The king was surrounded byhis generals and officers; all eyes were fixed upon him; he hadsilenced every objection. There was amongst them but one opinion andone will, the will and opinion of the king, whom all felt to be theirmaster, not only by divine right, but by his mighty intellect and greatsoul. Frederick stood amongst them, his countenance beaming withinspiration, his eagle eye sparkling and glowing with the fire ofthought, and a smile was on his lips which won all hearts. Behind himstood the Prince of Anhault Dessau, old Zeithen, General Vinterfeldt, and the adjutant-generals. Above them floated a magnificent banner, whose motto, "Pro gloria et patria, " was woven in gold. Frederickraised his naked sword and greeted the waving colors; he spoke, and hisfull, rich voice filled the immense square:

"Gentlemen, I undertake this war with no other ally than your stouthearts; my cause is just; I dare ask God's help! Remember the renownour great ancestors gained on the battle-field of Ferbellin! Yourfuture is in your own hands; distinction must be won by gallant anddaring deeds. We are to attack soldiers who gained imperishable namesunder Prince Eugene. How great will be our glory if we vanquish suchwarriors! Farewell! Go! I follow without delay!"

CHAPTER XII. 

THE RETURN. 

The first campaign of the young King of Prussia had been a bloodlessone. Not one drop of blood had been shed. A sentinel at the gate ofBreslau had refused to allow the Prussian general to enter, andreceived for his daring a sounding box on the ear, which sent himreeling backward. The general with his staff entered the conqueredcapital of Silesia, without further opposition. Breslau was the capitalof a province which for more than a hundred years had not been visitedby any member of the royal house of Austria. The heavy taxes imposedupon her were the only evidence that she belonged to the Austriandominions. Breslau did not hesitate to receive this young and handsomeking, who as he marched into the city gave a kindly, gracious greetingto all; who had a winning smile for all those richly-dressed ladies atthe windows; who had written with his own hand a proclamation in whichhe assured the Silesians that he came not as an enemy, and that everyinhabitant would be secured in their rights, privileges, and freedom intheir religion, worth, and service. The ties which bound the beautifulprovince of Silesia to Austria had long ago been shattered, and theprophecy of the king had already been fulfilled--that prophecy made inKrossen. As the king entered Krossen with his army, the clock of thegreat church tower fell with a thundering noise, and carried with it aportion of the old church. A superstitious fear fell upon the wholePrussian army; even the old battle-stained warriors looked grim andthoughtful. The king alone smiled, and said:

"The fall of this clock signifies that the pride of the house ofAustria will be humbled. Caesar fell when landing in Africa, andexclaimed: 'I hold thee, Africa!'"

Those great men would not allow themselves to be influenced by evilomens. Quickly, indeed, was Frederick's prophecy fulfilled. The houseof Austria was suddenly humbled, and the Prussian army was quietly inpossession of one of her capitals. Frederick had been joyfullyreceived, not only by the Protestants, who had so long suffered fromthe bitterest religious persecution, and to whom the king now promisedabsolute freedom of conscience and unconditional exercise of theirreligious worship, but by the Catholics, even the priests and Jesuits, who were completely fascinated by the intellect and amiability ofFrederick. No man mourned for the Austrian yoke, and the Prussiansbecame great favorites with the Silesians, particularly with the women, who, heart in hand, advanced to meet them; received the handsome andwell-made soldiers as lovers, and hastened to have these tender tiesmade irrevocable by the blessing of the priest. Hundreds of marriagesbetween the Prussians and the maidens of the land were solemnizedduring the six weeks Frederick remained in Silesia. These men, who, buta few weeks before, came as enemies and conquerors, were now adoptedcitizens, thus giving their king a double right to the possession ofthese provinces. 

It soon became the mode for the Silesian girl to claim a Prussianlover, and the taller and larger the lover, the prouder and more happywas the lucky possessor. Baron Bielfeld, who accompanied the king toBreslau, met in the street one day a beautiful bourgeoise, who wasweeping bitterly and wringing her hands; Bielfeld inquired the cause ofher tears, and she replied naively:

"Alas! I am indeed an object of pity; eight days ago I was betrothed toa Prussian grenadier, who measured five feet and nine inches; I wasvery happy and very proud of him. To-day one of the guard, who measuredsix feet and two inches, proposed to me; and I weep now because somajestic and handsome a giant is offered me, and I cannot accept him. "

The king won the women through his gallant soldiers, the ladies of thearistocracy, through his own beauty, grace, and eminent intellect. Frederick gave a ball to the aristocracy of Breslau, and all the mostdistinguished and noble families, who had been before closely bound tothe house of Austria, eagerly accepted the invitation; they wished tobehold the man who was a hero and a poet, a cavalier and a warrior, ayouth and a philosopher; who was young and handsome, and full of life;who did not wrap himself in stiff, ceremonious forms, and appeared inthe presence of ladies to forget that he was a king. He worshipped theladies as a cavalier, and when they accepted the invitation to dance, considered it a flattering favor. While winning the hearts of the womenthrough his gallantry and beauty, he gained the voices of men by theorders and titles which he scattered broadcast through the province. 

"I dreamed last night, " said he to Pollnitz, laughing, "that I createdprinces, dukes, and barons in Breslau; help me to make my dream areality by naming to me some of the most prominent families. "

Pollnitz selected the names, and Prince von Pless, Duke Hockburg, andmany others rose up proudly from this creative process of the king. 

Silesia belonged, at this moment, unconditionally to Prussia. The kingcould now return to Berlin and devote himself to study, to friendship, and his family. The first act of that great drama called the SevenYears' War was now finished. The king should now, between the acts, give himself up to the arts and sciences, and strengthen himself forthat deep tragedy of which he was resolved to be the hero. Berlinreceived her king with shouts of joy, and greeted him as a demigod. Hewas no longer, in the eyes of the imperious Austrians, the littleMargrave of Brandenburg, who must hold the wash-basin for the emperor;he was a proud, self-sustaining king, no longer receiving commands fromAustria, but giving laws to the proud daughter of the Caesars. 

The queen-mother and the young princesses met the king at the outergates. The queen Elizabeth Christine, her eyes veiled with rapturoustears, received her husband tremblingly. Alas! he had for her only asilent greeting, a cold, ceremonious bow. But she saw him once more;she could lose her whole soul in those melting eyes, in which she wasever reading the most enchanting magical fairy tales. In these days ofceremony he could not refuse her a place by his side; to sit near himat table, and at the concerts with which the royal chapel and thenewly-arrived Italian singers would celebrate the return of the king. Graun had composed a piece of music in honor of this occasion, and notonly the Italian singer, Laura Farinelli, but a scholar of Graun andQuantz, a German singer, Anna Prickerin, would then be heard for thefirst time. This would be for Anna an eventful and decisive day; shestood on the brink of a new existence--an existence made glorious byrenown, honor, and distinction. 

It was nothing to her that her father lay agonizing upon his death-bed;it was nothing to her that her brother William had left his home threedays before, and no one knew what had become of him. She asked noquestions about father or brother; she sorrowed not for the motherlately dead and buried. She had but one thought, one desire, oneaim--to be a celebrated singer, to obtain the hand of a man whom sheneither loved nor esteemed, but who was a baron and an influential lordof the court. The object of Anna's life was to become the wife of thebaron, not for love. She wished to hide her ignoble birth under theglitter of his proud name; it was better to be the wife of a poor baronthan the daughter of a tailor, even though he should be the courttailor, and a millionnaire. 

The king had been in Berlin but two days, and Pollnitz had already madea visit to his beautiful Anna. Never had he been so demonstrative andso tender; never before had he been seriously occupied with the thoughtof making her his wife; never had he looked upon it as possible. Theexample of Count Rhedern gave him courage; what the king had granted tothe daughter of the merchant, he could not refuse to the daughter ofthe court tailor, more particularly when the latter, by her own giftsand talents, had opened the doors of the palace for herself; when bythe power of her siren voice she had made the barriers tremble and fallwhich separated the tailor's daughter from the court circle. If thelovely Anna became a celebrated singer, if she succeeded in winning theapplause of the king, she would be ennobled; and no one could reproachthe baron for making the beautiful prima donna his wife. If, therefore, she pleased the king, Pollnitz was resolved to confess himself herknight, and to marry her as soon as possible--yes, as soon as possible, for his creditors followed him, persecuted him at every step, eventhreatened him with judgment and a prison. Pollnitz reminded the kingthat he had promised, after his return from Silesia, to assist him. Frederick replied that he had not yet seen a battle-field, and was atthe beginning and not the end of a war, for which he would require moregold than his treasuries contained; "wait patiently, also, " he said, "for the promised day, for only then can I fulfil my promise. " It was, therefore, a necessity with Pollnitz to find some way of escape fromthis terrible labyrinth; and with an anxiously-beating heart he stoodon the evening of the concert behind the king's chair, to watch everymovement and every word, and above all to notice the effect produced bythe voice of his Anna. 

The king was uncommonly gay and gracious; these two days in his belovedBerlin, after weeks of fatigue and weariness in Silesia, had filled hisheart with gladness. He had given almost a lover's greeting to hisbooks and his flute, and his library seemed to him a sanctified home;with joy he exchanged his sword for a pen, and instead of drawing plansof battle, he wrote verses or witty letters to Voltaire, whom he stillhonored, and in a certain sense admired, although the six days whichVoltaire had spent in Rheinsberg, just before the Silesian campaign, had somewhat diminished his admiration for the French author. AfterFrederick's first meeting with Voltaire at the castle of Moyland, hesaid of him, "He is as eloquent as Cicero, as charming as Plinius, andas wise as Agrippa; he combines in himself all the virtues and all thetalents of the three greatest men of the ancients. " He now called theauthor of the "Henriade" a FOOL; it excited and troubled his spirit tosee that this great author was mean and contemptible in character, coldand cunning in heart. He had loved Voltaire as a friend, and now heconfessed with pain that Voltaire's friendship was a possession whichmust be cemented with gold, if you did not wish to lose it. The kingwho, a few months before, had compared him to Cicero, Plinius, andAgrippa, now said to Jordan, "The miser, Voltaire, has still anunsatisfied longing for gold, and asks still thirteen hundred dollars!Every one of the six days which he spent with me cost me five hundredand fifty dollars! I call that paying dear for a fool! Never before wasa court fool so generously rewarded. "

To-day Frederick was expecting a new enjoyment; to-day, for the firsttime, he was to hear the new Italian singer. This court concertpromised him, therefore, a special enjoyment, and he awaited it withyouthful impatience. 

At last Graun gave the signal for the introduction; Frederick had noear for this simple, beautiful, and touching music; and the masterlysolo of Quantz upon the flute drew from him a single bravo; he thoughtonly of the singers, and at last the chorus began. 

The heart of Pollnitz beat loud and quick as he glanced at Anna, whostood proud and grave, in costly French toilet, far removed from theFarinelli. Anna examined the court circles quietly, and looked asunembarrassed as if she had been long accustomed to such society. 

The chorus was at an end, and Laura Farinelli had the first aria tosing. Anna Prickerin could have murdered her for this. The Italian, inthe full consciousness of her power, returned Anna's scorn with ahalf-mocking, half-contemptuous smile; she then fixed her great, piercing eyes upon the music, and began to sing. 

Anna could have cried aloud in her rage, for she saw that the king waswell pleased: he nodded his head, and a gay smile overspread hisfeatures; she saw that the whole court circle made up enchanted facesimmediately, and that even Pollnitz assumed an entirely happy andenthusiastic mien. The Farinelli saw all this, and the royal applausestimulated her; her full, glorious voice floated and warbled in theartistic "Fioritures" and "Roulades, " then dreamed itself away in soft, melodious tones; again it rose into the loftiest regions of sound, andwas again almost lost in the simple, touching melodies of love. 

"Delicious! superb!" said the king, aloud, as Farinelli concluded. 

"Exalted! godlike!" cried Pollnitz; and now, as the royal sign had beengiven, the whole court dared to follow the example, and to utter lightand repressed murmurs of wonder and applause. 

Anna felt that she turned pale; her feet trembled; she could havemurdered the Italian with her own hands! this proud Farinelli, who atthis moment looked toward her with a questioning and derisive glance;and her eyes seemed to say, "Will you yet dare to sing?"

But Anna had the proud courage to dare. She said to herself, "I shalltriumph over her; her voice is as thin as a thread, and as sharp as afine needle, while mine is full and powerful, and rolls like an organ;and as for her 'Fioritures, ' I understand them as well as she. "

With this conviction she took the notes in her hand, and waited for themoment when the "Ritornelle" should be ended; she returned with a quietsmile the anxious look which her teacher, Quantz, fixed upon her. 

The "Ritornelle" was ended. Anna began her song; her voice swelledloudly and powerfully, far above the orchestra, but the king was dulland immovable; he gave not the slightest token of applause. Anna sawthis, and her voice, which had not trembled with fear, now trembledwith rage; she was resolved to awake the astonishment of the king bythe strength and power of her voice; she would compel him to applaud!She gathered together the whole strength of her voice and made sopowerful an effort that her poor chest seemed about to burst asunder; awild, discordant strain rose stunningly upon the air, and now she hadindeed the triumph to see that the king laughed! Yes, the king laughed!but not with the same smile with which he greeted Farinelli, but inmockery and contempt. He turned to Pollnitz, and said:

"What is the name of this woman who roars so horribly?"

Pollnitz shrugged his shoulders; he had a kind of feeling as if thatmoment his creditors had seized him by the throat. 

"Sire, " whispered he, "I believe it is Anna Prickerin. " The kinglaughed; yes, in spite of the "Fioritures" of the raging singer, whohad seen Pollnitz's shrug of the shoulders, and had vowed in the spiritto take a bloody vengeance. 

Louder and louder the fair Anna shrieked, but the king did not applaud. She had now finished the last note of her aria, and breathlessly withloudly-beating heart she waited for the applause of the king. It camenot! perfect stillness reigned; even Pollnitz was speechless. 

"Do you know, certainly, that this roaring woman is the daughter of ourtailor?" said the king. 

Pollnitz answered, "Yes, " with a bleeding heart. 

"I have often heard that a tailor was called a goat, but his childrenare nevertheless not nightingales, and poor Pricker can sooner force acamel through the eye of his needle than make a songstress of hisdaughter. The Germans cannot sing, and it is an incomprehensiblemistake of Graun to bring such a singer before us. "

"She is a pupil of Quantz, " said Pollnitz, "and he has often assured meshe would make a great singer. "

"Ah, she is a pupil of Quantz, " repeated the king, and his eye glancedaround in search of him. Quantz, with an angry face, and his eyebrowsdrawn together, was seated at his desk. "Alas!" said Frederick, "whenhe makes such a face as that, he grumbles with me for two days, and isnever pleased with my flute. I must seek to mollify him, therefore, andwhen this Mademoiselle Prickerin sings again I will give a slight signof applause. "

But Anna Prickerin sang no more; angry scorn shot like a stream of firethrough her veins, she felt suffocated; tears rushed to her eyes; everything about her seemed to be wavering and unsteady; and as herlistless, half-unconscious glances wandered around, she met the gay, triumphant eyes of the Farinelli fixed derisively upon her. Anna feltas if a sword had pierced her heart; she uttered a fearful cry, andsank unconscious to the floor. 

"What cry was that?" said the king, "and what signifies this strangemovement among the singers?"

"Sire, it appears that the Prickerin has fallen into a fainting-fit, "said Pollnitz. 

The king thought this a good opportunity to pacify Quantz by showing aninterest in his pupil. "That is indeed a most unhappy circumstance, "said the king, aloud. "Hasten, Pollnitz, to inquire in my name afterthe health of this gifted young singer. If she is still suffering, takeone of my carriages and conduct her yourself to her home, and do notleave her till you can bring me satisfactory intelligence as to herrecovery. " So saying, the king cast a stolen glance toward themuch-dreaded Quantz, whose brow had become somewhat clearer, and hisexpression less threatening. "We will, perhaps, " whispered the king, "escape this time with one day's growling; I think I have softenedhim. " Frederick seated himself, and gave the signal for the concert toproceed; he saw that, with the assistance of the baron, the unconscioussongstress had been removed. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE DEATH OF THE OLD TIME. 

The music continued, while Pollnitz, filled with secret dread, ordereda court carriage, according to the command of the king, and entered itwith the still insensible songstress. 

"The king does not know what a fearful commission he has given me, "thought Pollnitz, as he drove through the streets with Anna Prickerin, and examined her countenance with terror. "Should she now awake, shewould overwhelm me with her rage. She is capable of scratching out myeyes, or even of strangling me. "

But his fear was groundless. Anna did not stir; she was stillunconscious, as the carriage stopped before the house of her father. Noone came to meet them, although Pollnitz ordered the servant to openthe door, and the loud ringing of the bell sounded throughout thehouse. No one appeared as Pollnitz, with the assistance of theservants, lifted the insensible Anna from the carriage and bore herinto the house to her own room. As the baron placed her carefully uponthe sofa, she made a slight movement and heaved a deep sigh. 

"Now the storm will break forth, " thought Pollnitz, anxiously, and heordered the servants to return to the carriage and await his return. Hedesired no witnesses of the scene which he expected, and in which hehad good reason to believe that he would play but a pitiful role. 

Anna Prickerin now opened her eyes; her first glance fell uponPollnitz, who was bending over her with a tender smile. 

"What happiness, dearest, " he whispered, "that you at last open youreyes! I was dying with anxiety. "

Anna did not answer at once; her eyes were directed with a dreamyexpression to the smiling countenance of Pollnitz, and while herecounted his own tender care, and the gracious sympathy of the king, Anna appeared to be slowly waking out of her dream. Now a ray ofconsciousness and recollection overspread her features, and throwing upher arm with a rapid movement she administered a powerful blow on thecheek of her tender, smiling lover, who fell back with his hand to hisface, whimpering with pain. 

"Why did you shrug your shoulders?" she said, her lips trembling withanger, and, springing up from the sofa, she approached Pollnitz with athreatening expression, who, expecting a second explosion, drew back, "Why did you shrug your shoulders?" repeated Anna. 

"I am not aware that I did so, my Anna, " stammered Pollnitz. 

She stamped impatiently on the floor. "I am not your Anna. You are afaithless, treacherous man, and I despise you; you are a coward, youhave not the courage to defend the woman you have sworn to love andprotect. When I ceased singing, why did you not applaud?"

"Dearest Anna, " said Pollnitz, "you are not acquainted with courtetiquette; you do not know that at court it is only the king whoexpresses approval. "

"You all broke out into a storm of applause as Farinelli finishedsinging. "

"Because the king gave the sign. "

Anna shrugged her shoulders contemptuously, and paced the floor withrapid steps. "You think that all my hopes, all my proud dreams for thefuture are destroyed, " she murmured, with trembling lips, while thetears rolled slowly down her cheeks. "To think that the king and thewhole court laughed while I sang, and that presumptuous Italian heardand saw it all--I shall die of this shame and disgrace. My future isannihilated, my hopes trodden under foot. " She covered her face withher hands, and wept and sobbed aloud. 

Pollnitz had no pity for her sufferings, but he remembered hiscreditors, and this thought rekindled his extinguished tenderness. Heapproached her, and gently placed his arm around her neck. "Dearest, "he murmured, "why do you weep, how can this little mischance make youso wretched? Do we not love each other? are you not still my bestbeloved, my beautiful, my adored Anna? Have you not sworn that you loveme, and that you ask no greater happiness than to be united to me?"

Anna raised her head that she might see this tender lover. 

"It is true, " proceeded Pollnitz, "that you did not receive theapplause this evening which your glorious talent deserves; Farinelliwas in your way. The king has a prejudice against German singers; hesays, 'The Germans can compose music, but they cannot sing. ' Thatprejudice is a great advantage for the Italian. If you had borne anItalian name, the king would have been charmed with your wonderfulvoice; but you are a German, and he refuses you his approval. But whathas been denied you here, you will easily obtain elsewhere. We willleave this cold, ungrateful Berlin, my beloved. You shall take anItalian name, and through my various connections I can makearrangements for you to sing at many courts. You will win fame andgold, and we will live a blessed and happy life. "

"I care nothing for the gold; I am rich, richer than I even dreamed. Myfather told me to-day that he possessed nearly seven hundred thousanddollars, and that he would disinherit my brother, who is now absentfrom Berlin. I will be his heiress, and very soon, for the physicianssay he can only live a few days. "

The eyes of the baron gleamed. "Has your father made his will? has hedeclared you his heiress?"

"He intended doing so to-day. He ordered the lawyers to come to him, and I believe they were here when I started to this miserable concert. It was not on account of the money, but for fame, that I desired tobecome a prima donna. But I renounce my intention; this evening hasshown me many thorns where I thought to find only roses. I renouncehonor and renown, and desire only to be happy, happy in your love andcompanionship. "

"You are right; we will fly from this cold, faithless Berlin to happierregions. The world will know no happier couple than the Baron andBaroness von Pollnitz. "

Pollnitz now felt no repugnance at the thought that the tailor'sdaughter had the presumptuous idea of becoming his wife. He forgave herlow origin for the sake of her immense fortune, and thought it not adespicable lot to be the husband of the beautiful Anna Prickerin. Heassured her of his love in impassioned words, and Anna listened withbeaming eyes and a happy smile. Suddenly a loud weeping and crying, proceeding from the next room, interrupted this charming scene. 

"My father, it is my father!" cried Anna, as she hastened to the doorof the adjoining room, which, as we know, contained the ancestralportraits of the Prickers. Pollnitz followed her. In this room, surrounded by his ancestors, the worthy tailor lay upon his death-bed. Pale and colorless as the portraits was the face of the poor man; buthis eyes were gleaming with a wild, feverish glitter. As he perceivedAnna in her splendid French costume, so wild and fearful a laugh burstfrom his lips, that even Pollnitz trembled. 

"Come to me, " said the old man, with a stammering voice, as he motionedto his daughter to approach his couch. "You and your brother havebroken my heart; you have given me daily a drop of poison, of which Ihave been slowly dying. Your brother left my house as the prodigal son, but he has not returned a penitent; he glories in his crime; he isproud of his shame. Here is a letter which I received from him to-day, in which he informs me that he has eloped with the daughter of mysecond murderer, this French Pelissier; and that he intends to becomean actor, and thus drag through the dust the old and respectable nameof his fathers. For this noble work he demands his mother's fortune. Heshall have it--yes, he shall have it; it is five thousand dollars, butfrom me he receives nothing but my curse, and I pray to God that it mayring forever in his ears!"

The old man lay back exhausted, and groaned aloud. Anna stood withtearless eyes by the death-bed of her father, and thought only of thesplendid future which each passing moment brought nearer. Pollnitz hadwithdrawn to one of the windows, and was considering whether he shouldawait the death of the old man or return immediately to the king. 

Suddenly Pricker opened his eyes, and turned them with an angry andmalicious expression toward his daughter. 

"What a great lady you are!" he said, with a fearful grin; "dressed inthe latest fashion, and a wonderful songstress, who sings before theking and his court. Such a great lady must be ashamed that her fatheris a tailor. I appreciate that, and I am going to my grave, that I maynot trouble my daughter. Yes, I am going, and nothing shall remind theproud songstress of me, neither my presence nor any of my possessions. A prima donna would not be the heiress of a tailor. "

The old man broke out into a wild laugh, while Anna stared at him, andPollnitz came forward to hear and observe. 

"I do not understand you, my father, " said Anna, trembling anddisturbed. 

"You will soon understand me, " stammered the old man, with a hoarselaugh. "When I am dead, and the lawyers come and read my will, which Igave them to-day, then you will know that I have left my fortune to thepoor of the city, and not to this great songstress, who does not needit, as she has a million in her throat. My son an actor, my daughter aprima donna--it is well. I go joyfully to my grave, and thank God formy release. Ah! you shall remember your old father; you shall curse me, as I have cursed you; and as you will shed no tears at my death, itshall, at least, be a heavy blow to you. You are disinherited! bothdisinherited! the poor are my heirs, and you and your brother willreceive nothing but the fortune of your mother, of which I, unfortunately, cannot deprive you. "

"Father, father, this is not possible--this cannot be yourdetermination!" cried Anna. "It is not possible for a father to be socruel, so unnatural, as to disinherit his children!"

"Have you not acted cruelly and unnaturally to me?" asked the old man;"have you not tortured me? have you not murdered me, with a smile uponyour lips, as you did your poor mother, who died of grief? No, no, nopity for unnatural children. You are disinherited!"

The old man fell back with a loud shriek upon his couch, and hisfeatures assumed that fixed expression which is death's herald. 

"He is dying!" cried Anna, throwing herself beside her father; "he isdying, and he has disinherited me!"

"Yes, disinherited!" stammered the heavy tongue of the dying man. 

Pollnitz trembled at the fearful scene; he fled with hasty steps fromthis gloomy room, and only recovered his composure when once moreseated in his carriage. After some moments of reflection, he said:

"I will ask the king for my release from his service, and I will becomea Protestant, and hasten to Nuremberg, and marry the rich patrician. "

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE DISCOVERY. 

They sat hand in hand in the quiet and fragrant conservatory; after along separation they gazed once more in each other's eyes, doubting thereality of their happiness, and asking if it were not a dream, adelightful dream. 

This was the first time since his return from Silesia that PrinceAugustus William had seen his Laura alone; the first time he could tellher of his longing and his suffering; the first time she could whisperin his ear the sweet and holy confession of her love--a confession thatnone should hear but her lover and her God. 

But there were four ears which heard every thing; four eyes which sawall that took place in the myrtle arbor. Louise von Schwerin and herlover, the handsome Fritz Wendel, sat arm in arm in the grotto, andlistened attentively to the conversation of the prince and his bride. 

"How happy they are!" whispered Louise, with a sigh. 

"Are we not also happy?" asked Fritz Wendel, tenderly, clasping his armmore firmly around her. "Is not our love as ardent, as passionate, andas pure as theirs?"

"And yet the world would shed tears of pity for them, while we would bemocked and laughed at, " said Louise, sighing. 

"It is true that the love of the poor gardener for the beautifulMademoiselle von Schwerin is only calculated to excite ridicule, "murmured Fritz Wendel; "but that shall and will be changed; I shallsoon begin the new career which I have planned for myself; my Louiseneed then no longer blush for her lover, and my adoration for her shallno longer be a cause of shame and humiliation. I have a means by whichI can purchase rank and position, and I intend to employ this means. "

"Pray tell me how; let me know your plans, " said Louise. He pointedwith a cruel smile to the lovers in the myrtle arbor. 

"This secret is my purchase money, " said he, whispering; "I shallbetray them to the king; and he will give me rank and wealth for thisdisclosure; for upon this secret depends the future of Prussia. Let us, therefore, listen attentively to what they say, that--"

"No, " said Louise, interrupting him with vivacity, "we will not listen. It is cruel and ignoble to desire to purchase our own happiness withthe misery of others; it is--"

"For Heaven's sake be quiet and listen!" said Fritz Wendel, softly, laying his hand on her angry lips. 

The conversation of the lovers in the myrtle arbor had now takenanother direction. Their eyes no longer sparkled with delight, but hadlost their lustre, and an expression of deep sadness rested on theirfeatures. 

"Is it then really true?" said Laura, mournfully; "you are affianced tothe Princess of Brunswick?"

"It is true, " said the prince, in a low voice. "There was no othermeans of securing and preserving our secret than to seem to yield tothe king's command, and to consent to this alliance with a good grace. This cloak will shield our love until we can acknowledge it before thewhole world; and that depends, my beloved, upon you alone. Think of thevows of eternal love and fidelity we have made to each other; rememberthat you have promised to be mine for all eternity, and to devote yourwhole life to me; remember that you wear my engagement-ring on yourfinger, and are my bride. "

"And yet you are affianced to another, and wear another engagementring!"

"But this princess, to whom I have been affianced, knows that I do notlove her. I have opened my heart to her; I told her that I loved youalone, and could never love another; that no woman but Laura vonPannewitz should ever be my wife; and she was generous enough to giveher assistance and consent to be considered my bride until our unionshould no longer need this protection. And now, my dear Laura, Iconjure you, by our love and the happiness of our lives, yield to myardent entreaties and my fervent prayers; have the courage to defy theworld and its prejudices. Follow me, my beloved; flee with me andconsent to be my wife!"

The glances with which he regarded her were so loving, so imploring, that Laura could not find in her heart to offer decided resistance. Herown heart pleaded for him; and now when she might altogether lose himif she refused his request, now that he was affianced to another, shewas filled with a torturing jealousy; she was now conscious that itwould be easier to die than renounce her lover. 

But she still had the strength to battle with her own weak heart, todesire to shut out the alluring voices which resounded in her ownbreast. Like Odysseus, she tried to be deaf to the sirens' voices whichtempted her. But she still heard them, and although she had foundstrength to refuse her lover's prayers and entreaties to flee with him, yet she could not repel his passionate appeals to her to be his wife. 

It was so sweet to listen to the music of his voice; such bliss to leanher head on his shoulder, to look up into his handsome countenance andto drink in the words of ardent and devoted love which fell from hislips; to know what he suffers is for your sake! It rests with you togive him happiness or despair. She knew not that the words which shedrank in were coursing like fire through her own veins, destroying herresolution and turning her strength to ashes. 

As he, at last, brought to despair by her silence and resistance, burstinto tears, and accused her of cruelty and indifference, as she saw hisnoble countenance shadowed with pain and sorrow, she no longer foundcourage to offer resistance, and throwing herself into his arms, with ahappy blush, she whispered:

"Take me; I am yours forever! I accept you as my master and husband. Your will shall be mine; what you command I will obey; where you callme there will I go; I will follow you to the ends of the earth, andnothing but death shall hereafter separate us!"

The prince pressed her closely and fervently to his heart, and kissedher pure brow. 

"God bless you, my darling; God bless you for this resolution. " Hisvoice was now firm and full, and his countenance had assumed anexpression of tranquillity and energy. He was no longer the sighing, despairing lover, but a determined man, who knew what his wishes were, and had the courage and energy to carry them into execution. 

Fritz Wendel pressed Louise more closely to his side, and whispered:

"You say that Laura is an angel of virtue and modesty, and yet she hasnot the cruel courage to resist her lover; she yields to hisentreaties, and is determined to flee with him. Will you be less kindand humane than this tender, modest Laura? Oh, Louise, you should alsofollow your tender, womanly heart; flee with me and become my wife. Iwill conceal you, and then go to those who would now reject my suitscornfully, and dictate terms to them. "

"I will do as she does, " whispered Louise, with glowing cheeks. "WhatLaura can do, I may also do; if she flies with her lover, I will flywith you; if she becomes his wife, I will be yours. But let us bequiet, and listen. "

"And now, my Laura, listen attentively to every word I utter, " saidPrince Augustus William, gravely. "I have made all the necessarypreparations, and in a week you will be my wife. There is a good andpious divine on one of my estates who is devoted to me. He has promisedto perform the marriage ceremony. On leaving Berlin we will first fleeto him, and our union will receive his blessing in the village churchat night; a carriage will await us at the door, which, with freshrelays of horses, will rapidly conduct us to the Prussian boundary. Ihave already obtained from my friend the English ambassador a passport, which will carry us safely to England under assumed names; once there, my uncle, the King of England, will not refuse his protection andassistance; and by his intercession we will be reconciled to the kingmy brother. When he sees that our union has been accomplished, he willgive up all useless attempts to separate us. "

"But he can and will punish you for this; you will thereby forfeit yourright of succession to the throne, and for my sake you will be forcedto renounce your proud and brilliant future. "

"I shall not regret it, " said the prince, smiling. "I do not long for acrown, and will not purchase this bauble of earthly magnifisence at theexpense of my happiness and my love. And perhaps I have not thestrength, the talent, or the power of intellect to be a ruler. Itsuffices me to rule in your heart, and be a monarch in the kingdom ofyour love. If I can therefore purchase the uncontested possession of mybeloved by renouncing all claims to the throne, I shall do so with joyand without the slightest regret. "

"But I, poor, humble, weak girl that I am, how can I make good the lossyou will sustain for my sake?" asked Laura. 

"Your love will be more than a compensation. You must now lay aside alldoubt and indecision. You know our plans for the future. On my part allthe preliminary measures have been taken; you should also make whateverpreparations are necessary. It is Hartwig, the curate of Oranienburg, who is to marry us. Send the necessary apparel and whatever you mostneed to him, without a word or message. The curate has already beenadvised of their arrival, and will retain the trunks unopened. On nextTuesday, a week from to-day, the king will give a ball. For two daysprevious to this ball you will keep your room on the plea of sickness;this will be a sufficient excuse for your not accompanying the queen. Ishall accept the invitation, but will not appear at the ball, and willawait you at the castle gate of Monbijou. At eight o'clock the ballcommences; at nine you will leave your room and the castle, at the gateof which I will receive you. At a short distance from the gate acarriage will be in readiness to convey us to Oranienburg, where wewill stop before the village church. There we will find a preacherstanding before the altar, ready to perform the ceremony, and when thisis accomplished we will enter another carriage which will rapidlyconvey us to Hamburg, where we will find a ship, hired by the Englishambassador, ready to take us to England. You see, dear Laura, thatevery thing has been well considered, and nothing can interfere withour plans, now that we understand each other. In a week, therefore, remember, Laura. "

"In a week, " she whispered. "I have no will but yours. "

"Until then we will neither see nor speak with each other, that nothoughtless word may excite suspicion in the breasts of the spies whosurround us. We must give each other no word, no message, no letter, orsign; but I will await you at the castle gate at nine o'clock on nextTuesday, and you will not let me wait in vain. "

"No, you shall not wait in vain, " whispered Laura, with a happy smile, hiding her blushing face on the breast of her lover. 

"And you, will you let me wait in vain?" asked Fritz Wendel, raisingLouise's head from his breast, and gazing on her glowing and dreamycountenance. 

"No, I shall not let you wait in vain, " said Louise von Schwerin. "Wewill also have our carriage, only we will leave a little sooner thanthe prince and Laura. We will also drive to Oranienburg, and await theprince before the door of the church. We will tell him we knew hissecret and did not betray him. We will acknowledge our love, Laura willintercede for us, and the preacher will have to perform the ceremonyfor two couples instead of one. We will then accompany the prince andhis wife in their flight to England; from there the prince will obtainpardon of the king, and we the forgiveness of my family. Oh, this is asplendid, a magnificent plan!--a flight, a secret marriage at night, and a long journey. This will be quite like the charming romances whichI am so fond of, and mine will be a fantastic and adventurous life. Butwhat is that?" said she. "Did you hear nothing? It seems to me I hearda noise as of some one opening the outer door of the conservatory. "

"Be still, " murmured Fritz Wendel, "I heard it also; let us thereforebe on our guard. "

The prince and Laura had also heard this noise, and were listening inbreathless terror, their glances fastened on the door. Perhaps it wasonly the wind which had moved the outer door; perhaps--but no, the dooropened noiselessly, and a tall female figure cautiously entered thesaloon. 

"The queen!" whispered Laura, trembling. 

"My mother!" murmured the prince, anxiously looking around for somemeans of escape. He now perceived the dark grotto, and pointing rapidlytoward it, he whispered: "Quick, quick, conceal yourself there. I willremain and await my mother. "

The stately figure of the queen could already be seen rapidly advancingthrough the flowers and shrubbery, and now her sparkling eye and proudand angry face were visible. 

"Quick, " whispered the prince, "conceal yourself, or we are lost!"

Laura slipped hastily behind the myrtle and laurel foliage and attainedthe asylum of the grotto, unobserved by the queen; she entered andleaned tremblingly against the inner wall. Blinded by the suddendarkness, she could see nothing, and she was almost benumbed withterror. 

Suddenly she heard a low, whispering voice at her side: "Laura, dearLaura, fear nothing. We are true friends, who know your secret, anddesire to assist you. "

"Follow me, mademoiselle, " whispered another voice; "confide in us aswe confide in you. We know your secret; you shall learn ours. Give meyour hand; I will conduct you from this place noiselessly andunobserved, and you can then return to the castle. "

Laura hardly knew what she was doing. She was gently drawn forward, andsaw at her side a smiling girlish face, and now she recognized thelittle maid of honor, Louise von Schwerin. 

"Louise, " said she, in a low voice, "what does all this mean?"

"Be still, " she whispered: "follow him down the stairway. Farewell! Iwill remain and cover the retreat. "

Louise now hastily concealed the opening through which Fritz Wendel andLaura had disappeared, and then slipped noiselessly back to the grotto, and concealed herself behind the shrubbery at its entrance, so that shecould see and hear every thing that took place. 

It was in truth Queen Sophia Dorothea, who had dismissed her attendantsand come alone to the conservatory at this unusual hour. 

This was the time at which the queen's maids of honor were not onservice, and were at liberty to do as they pleased. The queen had beenin the habit of reposing at this time, but to-day she could not findrest; annoyed at her sleeplessness, she had arisen, and in walking upand down had stepped to the window and looked dreamily down into thestill and desolate garden. Then it was that she thought she saw afemale figure passing hurriedly down the avenue. It must have been oneof her maids of honor; and although the queen had not recognized her, she was convinced that it was none other than Laura von Pannewitz, andthat she was now going to a rendezvous with her unknown lover, whom thequeen had hitherto vainly endeavored to discover. The queen called herwaiting-maids to her assistance, and putting on her furs and hood, shetold them she felt a desire to take a solitary walk in the garden, andthat none of her attendants should be called, with which she hurriedinto the garden, following the same path which the veiled lady hadtaken. She followed the foot-tracks in the snow to the conservatory, and entered without hesitation, determined to discover the secret ofher maid of honor, and to punish her. 

It was fortunate for the poor lovers that the increasing corpulence ofthe queen and her swollen right foot rendered her advance rather slow, so that when she at last reached the lower end of the conservatory shefound no one there but her son Augustus William, whose embarrassed andconstrained reception of herself convinced the queen that herappearance was not only a surprise, but also a disagreeable one. Shetherefore demanded of him with severity the cause of his unexpected andunusual visit to her conservatory; and when Augustus William smilinglyreplied--

"That he had awaited here the queen's awakening, in order that he mightpay his visit--"

The queen asked abruptly: "And who, my son, helped to dispel the ennuiof this tedious waiting?"

"No one, my dear mother, " said the prince; but he did not dare to meethis mother's penetrating glance. 

"No one?" repeated she; "but I heard you speaking on entering theconservatory. "

"You know, your majesty, that I have inherited the habit of speakingaloud to myself from my father, " replied the prince, with a constrainedsmile. 

"The king my husband did not cease speaking when I made hisappearance, " exclaimed the queen, angrily; "he had no secrets to hidefrom me. "

"The thoughts of my royal father were grand, and worthy of the sympathyof Queen Sophia Dorothea, " said the prince, bowing low. 

"God forbid that the thoughts of his son should be of another and lessworthy character!" exclaimed the queen. "My sons should, at least, betoo proud to soil their lips with an untruth; and if they have thecourage to do wrong, they should also find courage to acknowledge it. "

"I do not understand you, my dear mother;" and meeting her penetratingglance with quiet composure, he continued, "I am conscious of no wrong, and consequently have none to acknowledge. "

"This is an assurance which deserves to be unmasked, " exclaimed thequeen, who could no longer suppress her anger. "You must know, prince, that I am not to be deceived by your seeming candor and youthfularrogance. I know that you were not alone, for I myself saw the ladycoming here who kept you company while awaiting me, and I followed herto this house. "

"Then it seems that your majesty has followed a fata morgana, " said theprince, with a forced smile; "for, as you see, I am alone, and no oneelse is present in the conservatory. "

But even while speaking, the prince glanced involuntarily toward thegrotto which concealed his secret. 

The Queen Sophia Dorothea caught this glance, and divined its meaning. 

"There is no one in the saloon, and it now remains to examine thegrotto, " said she, stepping forward hastily. 

The prince seized her hand, and endeavored to hold her back. 

"I conjure you, mother, do not go too far in your suspicion and yourexaminations. Remember that your suspicion wounds me. "

The queen gave him a proud, angry glance. 

"I am here on my own property, " said she, withdrawing her hand, "and noone shall oppose my will. "

"Well, then, madame, follow your inclination, " said the prince, with aresolute air; "I wished to spare you an annoyance. Let discord andsorrow come over us, if your majesty will have it so; and as you areinexorable, you will also find me firm and resolute. Examine thegrotto, if you will. "

He offered her his arm and conducted her to the grotto. Sophia Dorotheafelt disarmed by her son's resolute bearing, and she was almostconvinced that she had done him injustice, and that no one wasconcealed in the grotto. With a benignant smile she had turned to herson, to say a few soothing words, when she heard a low rustle among theshrubbery, and saw something white flitting through the foliage. 

"And you say, my son, that I was deceived by a fata morgana" exclaimedthe queen, hurrying forward with outstretched arm. "Come, my younglady, and save us and yourself the shame of drawing you forcibly fromyour hiding-place. "

The queen had not been mistaken. Something moved among the shrubbery, and now a female figure stepped forth and threw herself at the feet ofthe queen. 

"Pardon, your majesty, pardon! I am innocent of any intention tointrude on your majesty's privacy. I had fallen asleep in this grotto, and awoke when it was too late to escape, as your majesty was alreadyat the entrance of the conservatory. In this manner I have been aninvoluntary witness of your conversation. This is my whole fault. "

The queen listened with astonishment, while the prince regarded withconsternation the kneeling girl who had been found here in the place ofhis Laura. 

"This is not the voice of Mademoiselle von Pannewitz, " said the queen, as she passed out into the light, and commanded the kneeling figure tofollow her, that she might see her face. The lady arose and steppedforward. "Louise von Schwerin!" exclaimed the queen and the prince atthe same time, while the little maid of honor folded her handsimploringly, and said, with an expression of childish innocence:

"O your majesty, have compassion with me! Yesterday's ball made me sovery tired; and as your majesty was sleeping, I thought I would comehere and sleep a little too, although I had not forgotten that yourmajesty was not pleased to have us visit this conservatory alone. "

Sophia Dorothea did not honor her with a glance; her eyes rested on herson with an expression of severity and scorn. 

"Really, I had a better opinion of you, " said she. "It is no greatachievement to mislead a child, and one that is altogether unworthy ofa royal prince. "

"My mother, " exclaimed the prince, indignantly, "you do not believe--"

"I believe what I see, " said the queen, interrupting him. "Have donewith your assurances of innocence, and bow to the truth, which hasjudged you in spite of your denial. And you, my young lady, willaccompany me, and submit to my commands in silence, and withoutexcuses. Come, and assume a cheerful and unconstrained air, if youplease. I do not wish my court to hear of this scandal, and to readyour guilt in your terrified countenance. I shall take care that you donot betray your guilt in words. Come. "

The prince looked after them with an expression of confusion andastonishment. "Well, no matter how this riddle is solved, " murmured he, after the queen had left the conservatory with her maid of honor, "Laura is safe at all events, and in a week we will flee. "

CHAPTER XV. 

THE COUNTERMINE. 

Three days had slowly passed by, and Fritz Wendel waited in vain for asign or message from his beloved. He groped his way every day throughthe subterranean alley to the grotto, and stood every night under herwindow, hoping in vain for a signal or soft whisper from her. 

The windows were always curtained and motionless, and no one could givethe unhappy gardener any news of the poor Louise von Schwerin, who wasclosely confined in her room, and confided to the special guard of afaithful chambermaid. 

The queen told her ladies that Louise was suffering from an infectiousdisease; the queen's physician confirmed this opinion, and cautionedthe ladies of the court against any communication with the poorinvalid. No special command was therefore necessary to keep the maidsof honor away from the prisoner; she was utterly neglected, and her oldcompanions passed her door with flying steps. But the queen, as itappeared, did not fear this contagion; she was seen to enter the sickgirl's room every day, and to remain a long time. The tender sympathyof the queen excited the admiration of the whole court, and no oneguessed what torturing anxiety oppressed the heart of the poor prisonerwhenever the queen entered the room; no one heard the stern, hard, threatening words of Sophia; no one supposed that she came, not tonurse the sick girl, but to overwhelm her with reproaches. 

Louise withstood all the menaces and upbraidings of the queen bravely;she had the courage to appear unembarrassed, and, except to reiterateher innocence, to remain perfectly silent. She knew well that she couldnot betray Laura without compromising herself; she knew that if thequeen discovered the mysterious flight of Laura, she would, at the sametime, be informed of her love affair with the poor gardener, and oftheir secret assignations. Louise feared that she would be madelaughable and ridiculous by this exposure, and this fear made herresolute and decided, and enabled her to bear her weary imprisonmentpatiently. "I cannot be held a prisoner for ever, " she said to herself. "If I confess nothing, the queen must at last be convinced of myinnocence, and set me at liberty. "

But Fritz Wendel was less patient than his cunning Louise. He could nolonger support this torture; and as the fourth day brought nointelligence, and no trace of Louise, he was determined to dare theworst, and, like Alexander, to cut the gordian knot which he could notuntie. With bold decision he entered the castle and demanded to speakwith the king, stating that he had important discoveries to make known. 

The king received him instantly, and at Fritz Wendel's requestdismissed his adjutants. 

"Now we are without witnesses, speak, " said the king. 

"I know a secret, your majesty, which concerns the honour and thefuture of the royal family; and you will graciously pardon me when Isay I will not sell this secret except for a great price. "

The king's eyes rested upon the impudent face of Fritz Wendel with adangerous expression. "Name your price, " said he, "but think well. Ifyour secret is not worth the price you demand, you may perhaps pay forit with your head, certainly with your liberty. "

"My secret is of the greatest value, for it will save the dynasty ofthe Hohenzollerns, " said Fritz Wendel, boldly; "but I will sell it toyour majesty--I will disclose it only after you have graciouslypromised me my price. "

"Before I do that I must know your conditions, " said the king, withdifficulty subduing his rage. 

"I demand for myself a major's commission, and the hand of Mademoisellevon Schwerin. "

In the beginning the king looked at the bold speaker with angryamazement; soon, however, his glance became kind and pitiful. "I haveto do with a madman, " thought he; "I will be patient, and give way tohis humor. I grant you your price, " said he; "speak on. "

So Fritz Wendel began. He made known the engagement of the prince; heexplained the plan of flight; he was so clear, so exact in all hisstatements, that Frederick soon saw he was no maniac; that these wereno pictures of a disordered brain, but a threatening, frightful reality. 

When the gardener had closed, the king, his arms folded across hisback, walked several times backward and forward through the room; thensuddenly stopped before Fritz Wendel, and seemed, with his sharpglance, to probe the bottom of his soul. 

"Can you write?" said the king. 

"I can write German, French, English, and Latin, " said he, proudly. 

"Seat yourself there, and write what I shall dictate in German. DoesMademoiselle von Schwerin know your hand?"

"Sire, she has received at least twenty letters from me. "

"Then write now, as I shall dictate, the one-and-twentieth. "

It was a short, laconic, but tender and impressive love-letter, whichFrederick dictated. Fritz Wendel implored his beloved to keep herpromise, and on the same day in which the prince would fly with Laurato escape with him to Oranienburg, to entreat the protection of theprince, and through his influence to induce the priest to perform themarriage ceremony; he fixed the time and hour of flight, and besoughther to leave the castle punctually, and follow him, without fear, whowould be found waiting for her at the castle gate. 

"Now, sign it, " said the king, "and fold it as you are accustomed todo. Give me the letter; I will see that it is delivered. "

"And my price, majesty, " said Fritz, for the first time trembling. 

The king's clouded brow threatened a fearful storm. "You shall have theprice which your treachery and your madness has earned, " saidFrederick, in that tone which made all who heard it tremble. "Yes, youshall have what you have earned, and what your daring insolencedeserves. Were all these things true which you have related with sobold a brow, you would deserve to be hung; you would have committed atwofold crime!--have been the betrayer of a royal prince--have watchedhim like a base spy, and listened to his secrets, in order to sellthem, and sought to secure your own happiness by the misery of twonoble souls! You would have committed the shameful and unpardonablecrime of misleading an innocent child, who, by birth, rank, andeducation, is eternally separated from you. Happily for you, all thisromance is the birth of your sick fancy. I will not, therefore, punishyou, but I will cure you, as fools and madmen are cured; I will sendyou to a madhouse until your senses are restored, and you confess thatthis wild story is the picture of your disordered brain--until youswear that these are bold lies with which you have abused my patience. The restored invalid will receive my forgiveness--the obstinateculprit, never!"

The king rang the bell, and said to his adjutants, "Take this man out, and deliver him to the nearest sentinels; command them to place him atonce in the military hospital; he is to be secured in the wardsprepared for madmen--no man shall speak with him; and if he utters anywild and senseless tales, I am to be informed of it. "

"Oh, sire! pardon, pardon! Send me not into the insane asylum. I willretract all; I will believe that all this is false; that I have onlydreamed--that--"

The king nodded to his adjutants, and they dragged the sobbing, prayinggardener from the room, and gave him to the watch. 

The king looked after him sadly. "And Providence makes use of suchpitiful men to control the fate of nations, " said he. "A miserablegarden-boy and a shameless maid of honor are the chosen instruments toserve the dynasty of the Hohenzollerns, and to rob the prince royal ofPrussia of his earthly happiness! Upon what weak, fine threads hang themajesty and worth of kings! Alas, how often wretched and powerless manlooks out from under the purple! In spite of all my power andgreatness--in spite of my army, the prince would have flown, andcommitted a crime, that perhaps God and his conscience might havepardoned, but his king never! Poor William, you will pay dearly forthis short, sweet dream of love, and your heart and its illusions willbe trodden under foot, even as mine have been. Yes, alas! it isscarcely nine years, and it seems to me I am a hundred yearsolder--that heavy blocks of ice are encamped about my heart, and I knowthat, day by day this ice will become harder. The world will do itspart--this poor race of men, whom I would so gladly love, and whom I amlearning daily to despise more and more!"

He walked slowly to and fro; his face was shadowed by melancholy. In ashort time he assumed his wonted expression, and, raising his head, hiseyes beamed with a noble fire. 

"I will not be cruel! If I must destroy his happiness, it shall not betrodden under foot as common dust and ashes. Alas, alas! how did theydeal with me? My friend was led to execution, and a poor innocent childwas stripped and horsewhipped through the streets, because she dared tolove the crown prince! No, no; Laura von Pannewitz shall not share thefate of Dorris Ritter. I must destroy the happiness of my brother, butI will not cover his love with shame!"

So saying, the king rang, and ordered his carriage to be brought round. He placed the letter, which he had dictated to Fritz Wendel, in hispocket, and drove rapidly to the queen-mother's palace. 

Frederick had a long and secret interview with his mother. The ladiesin the next room heard the loud and angry voice of the queen, but theycould not distinguish her words. It seemed to them that she wasweeping, not from sorrow or pain, but from rage and scorn, for now andthen they heard words of menace, and her voice was harsh. At last, aservant was directed to summon Mademoiselle von Pannewitz to thepresence of the queen. 

He soon returned, stating that Mademoiselle Laura's room was empty, andthat she had gone to Schonhausen to visit Queen Elizabeth Christine. 

"I will follow her there myself, " said the king, "and your majesty mayrest assured that Queen Elizabeth will assist us to separate theseunhappy lovers as gently as possible. "

"Ah, you pity them still, my son?" said the queen, shrugging hershoulders. 

"Yes, madame, I pity all those who are forced to sacrifice theirnoblest, purest feelings to princely rank. I pity them; but I cannotallow them to forget their duty. "

Laura von Pannewitz had lived through sad and weary days since her lastinterview with the prince. The enthusiasm and exaltation of her passionhad soon been followed by repentance. The prince's eloquent words hadlost their power of conviction, now that she was no more subject to themagic of his glance and his imposing beauty. He stood no longer beforeher, in the confidence of youth, to banish doubts and despair from hersoul, and convince her of the justification of their love. 

Laura was now fully conscious that she was about to commit a greatcrime--that, in the weakness of her love, she was about to rob theprince of his future, of his glory and power. She said to herself thatit would be a greater and nobler proof of her love to offer up herselfand her happiness to the prince, than to accept from him the sacrificeof his birthright. But in the midst of these reproaches and thisrepentance she saw ever before her the sorrowful face of herbeloved--she heard his dear voice imploring her to follow him--to behis. 

Laura, in the anguish of her soul and the remorse of conscience, hadflown for refuge to the gentle, noble Queen Elizabeth, who had promisedher help and consolation when the day of her trial should come. She hadhastened, therefore, to Schonhausen, sure of the tender sympathy of herroyal friend. 

As Laura's carriage entered the castle court, the carriage of the kingdrew up at the garden gate. He commanded the coachman to drive slowlyaway, and then stepped alone into the garden. He walked hastily throughthe park, and drew near to the little side door of the palace, whichled through lonely corridors and unoccupied rooms, to the chamber ofthe queen. He knew that Elizabeth only used this door when she wishedto take her solitary walk in the park. The king wished to escape thecurious and wondering observations of the attendants, and to surprisethe queen and Laura von Pannewitz. He stepped on quietly, and, withoutbeing seen, reached the queen's rooms, convinced that he would findthem in the boudoir. He was about to raise the portiere which separatedit from the ante-room, when he was arrested by the voices of women; onepiteous and full of tears, the other sorrowful but comforting. The kinglet the portiere fall, and seated himself noiselessly near the door. 

"Let us listen awhile, " said the king; "the women are always coquettingwhen in the presence of men. We will listen to them when they thinkthemselves alone. I will in this way become acquainted with thisdangerous Laura, and learn better, than by a long interview, how I caninfluence her. "

The king leaned his head upon his stick, and fixed his piercing eyesupon the heavy velvet portiere, behind which two weak women were nowperhaps deciding the fate of the dynasty of Hohenzollern. 

"Madame, " said Laura, "the blossoms of our happiness are already fadedand withered, and our love is on the brink of the grave. "

"Poor Laura!" said the queen, with a weary smile, "it needed no gift ofprophecy to foretell that. No flowers bloom around a throne; thornsonly grow in that fatal soil! Your young eyes were blinded by magic;you mistook these thorns for blossoms. Alas! I have wounded my heartwith them, and I hope that it will bleed to death!"

"O queen, if you knew my doubts and my despair, you would have pitywith me; you would not be so cruel as to command me to sacrifice mylove and my happiness! My happiness is his, and my love is but the echoof his own. If it was only a question of trampling upon my own foolishwishes, I would not listen to the cry of my soul. But the prince lovesme. Oh, madame, think how great and strong this love must be, when Ihave the courage to boast of it! yes, he loves me; and when I forsakehim, I will not suffer alone. He will also be wretched, and his tearsand his despair will torture my heart. How can I deceive him? Oh, madame, I cannot bear that his lips should curse me!"

"Yield him up now, " said the queen, "and a day will come when he willbless you for it; a day in which he will confess that your love wasgreat, was holy, that you sacrificed yourself and all earthly happinessfreely, in order to spare him the wretchedness of future days. He lovesyou now, dearly, fondly, but a day will come in which he will demand ofyou his future, his greatness, his royal crown, all of which he gave upfor you. He will reproach you for then having accepted this greatsacrifice, and he will never forgive you for your weakness in yieldingto his wishes. Believe me, Laura, in the hearts of men there lives butone eternal passion, and that is ambition. Love to them is only theamusement of the passing hour, nothing more. "

"Oh, madame, if that is so, would God that I might die; life is notworth the trouble of living!" cried Laura, weeping bitterly. 

"Life, my poor child, is not a joy which we can set aside, but a dutywhich we must bear patiently. You cannot trample upon this duty; and ifyour grief is strong, so must your will be stronger. "

"What shall I do? What name do you give the duty which I must take uponmyself?" cried Laura, with trembling lips. "I put my fate in yourhands. What shall I do?"

"You must overcome yourself; you must conquer your love; you mustfollow the voice of conscience, which brought you to me for counsel. "

"Oh, my queen, you know not what you ask! Your calm, pure heart knowsnothing of love. "

"You say that I know nothing of love?" cried the queen, passionately. "You know not that my life is one great anguish, a never-ceasingself-sacrifice! Yes, I am the victim of love--a sadder, more helpless, more torturing love than you, Laura, can ever know. I love, and am notbeloved. What I now confess to you is known only to God, and I tell youin order to console you, and give you strength to accept your fatebravely. I suffer, I am wretched, although I am a queen! I love myhusband; I love him with the absorbing passion of a young girl, withthe anguish which the damned must feel when they stand at the gates ofParadise, and dare not enter in. My thoughts, my heart, my soul belongto him; but he is not mine. He stands with a cold heart near my glowingbosom, and while with rapture of love I would throw myself upon hisbreast, I must clasp my arms together and hold them still, and mustseek and find an icy glance with which to answer his. Look you, therewas a time when I believed it impossible to bear all this torture; atime in which my youth struggled like Tantalus; a time in which mypride revolted at this love, with its shame and humiliation; in which Iwould have given my crown to buy the right to fly into some lonelydesert, and give myself up to tears. The king demanded that I shouldremain at his side, not as his wife, but as his queen; ever near him, but forever separated from him; unpitied and misunderstood; envied byfools, and thought happy by the world! And, Laura, oh, I loved him sodearly that I found strength to bear even this torture, and he knowsnot that my heart is being hourly crushed at the foot of his throne. Idraw the royal purple over my wounded bosom, and it sometimes seems tome that my heart's blood gives this ruddy color to my mantle. Now, Laura, do I know nothing of love? do I not understand the greatness ofthe sacrifice which I demand of you?"

The queen, her face bathed in tears, opened her arms, and Laura threwherself upon her bosom; their sighs and tears were mingled. 

The king sat in the ante-room, with pale face and clouded eyes. Hebowed his head, as if in adoration, and suddenly a glitteringbrilliant, bright as a star, and nobler and more precious than all thejewels of this sorrowful world, fell upon his pallid cheek. "Truly, "said he to himself, "there is something great and exalted in a woman'snature. I bow down in humility before this great soul, but my heart, alas! cannot be forced to love. The dead cannot be awakened, and thatwhich is shrouded and buried can never more be brought to life andlight!"

"You have conquered, my queen, " said Laura, after a long pause; "I willbe worthy of your esteem and friendship. That day shall never come inwhich my lover shall reproach me with selfishness and weakness! 'I amready to be offered up!' I will not listen to him; I will not flee withhim; and while I know that he is waiting for me. I will cast myself inyour arms, and beseech you to pray to God for me, that He would sendDeath, his messenger of love and mercy, to relieve me from my torments. "

"Not so, my Laura, " said the queen; "you must make no half offering; itis not enough to renounce your lover, you must build up betweenyourselves an everlasting wall of separation; you must make thisseparation eternal! You must marry, and thus set the prince a nobleexample of self-control. "

"Marry!" cried Laura; "can you demand this of me? Marry without love!Alas, alas! The prince will charge me with inconstancy and treachery tohim, and I must bear that in silence. "

"But I will not be silent, " said the queen, "I will tell him of yourgrief and of the greatness of your soul; and when he ceases, as he mustdo, to look upon you as his beloved, he will honor you as theprotecting angel of his existence. "

"You promise me that. You will say to him that I was notfaithless--that I gave him up because I loved him more than I didmyself; I seemed faithless only to secure his happiness!"

"I promise you that, Laura. "

"Well, then, I bow my head under the yoke--I yield to my fate--I acceptthe hand which Count Voss offers me. I ask that you will go to thequeen-mother and say I submit to her commands--I will become the wifeof Count Voss!"

"And I will lead you to the queen and to the altar, " said the king, raising the portiere, and showing himself to the ladies, who stared athim in breathless silence. The king drew nearer to Laura, and bowinglow, he said: "Truly my brother is to be pitied, that he is only aprince, and not a freeman; for a pitiful throne, he must give up theholiest and noblest possession, the pure heart of a fair woman, glowingwith love for him! And yet men think that we, the princes of the world, are to be envied! They are dazzled by the crown, but they see not thethorns with which our brows are beset! You, Laura, will never envy us;but on that day when you see my brother in his royal mantle and hiscrown--when his subjects shout for joy and call him their king--thencan you say to yourself, 'It was I who made him king--I anointed himwith my tears!' and when his people honor and bless him, you canrejoice also in the thought, This is the fruit of the strength of mylove!' Come, I will myself conduct you to my mother, and I will say toher that I would consider myself happy to call you sister. " Turning toQueen Elizabeth, he said: "I will say to my mother that Mademoisellevon Pannewitz has not yielded to my power or my commands, but to thepersuasive eloquence of your majesty, when the people of Prussia havefor years considered their protecting angel, and who from this timeonward must be regarded as the guardian spirit of our royal house!"

He reached his hand to the queen, but she took it not. Tremblingfearfully, with the paleness of death in her face, she pointed to theportiere and said, "You were there--you heard all!"

The king, his countenance beaming with respectful admiration, drew nearthe queen, and placing his arm around her neck, he whispered, "Yes, Iwas there--I heard all. I heard, and I know that I am a poor, blindman, to whom a kingdom is offered, a treasure-house of love and allgood gifts, and I cannot, alas! cannot, accept it!"

The queen uttered a loud cry, and her weary head dropped upon hisshoulder. The king gazed silently into the pale and sorrowful face, anda ray of infinite pity beamed in his eyes. "I have discovered to-day anoble secret--a secret that God alone was worthy to know. From this dayI consider myself as the high priest of the holiest of holies, and Iwill guard this secret as my greatest treasure. I swear this to you, and I seal my oath with this kiss pressed upon your lips by one whowill never again embrace a woman!" He bowed low, and pressed a fervent, kiss upon the lips of the queen. Elizabeth, who had borne hermisfortunes bravely, had not the power to withstand the sweet joy ofthis moment; she uttered a loud cry, and sank insensible to the floor. When she awoke she was alone; the king had called her maids--hadconducted Laura von Pannewitz to the carriage, and returned to Berlin. Elizabeth was again alone--alone with her thoughts--with her sorrowsand her love. But a holy fire was in her eyes, and raising them towardHeaven, she whispered: "I thank thee, O heavenly Father, for thehappiness of this hour! I feel his kiss upon my lips! by that kiss theyare consecrated! Never, never will they utter one murmuring word!" Shearose and entered her cabinet, with a soft smile; she drew near to atable which stood by the window, and gazed at a beautiful landscape, and the crayons, etc. , etc. , which lay upon it. "He shall think of mefrom time to time, " whispered she. "For his sake I will become anartist and a writer; I will be something more than a neglected queen. He shall see my books upon his table and my paintings on his wall. WillI not then compel him sometimes to think of me with pride?"

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE SURPRISE. 

The day after the queen-mother's interview with the king, the court wassurprised by the intelligence that the physician had mistaken themalady of Louise von Schwerin; that it was not scarlet fever, as hadbeen supposed, but some simple eruption, from which she was nowentirely restored. 

The little maiden appeared again amongst her companions, and there wasno change in her appearance, except a slight pallor. No one was moreamazed at her sudden recovery than Louise. With watchful suspicion, sheremarked that the queen-mother had resumed her gracious and amiablemanner toward her, and seemed entirely to have forgotten the events ofthe last few days; her accusations and suspicions seemed quieted as ifby a stroke of magic. In the beginning, Louise believed that this was atrap laid for her, she was therefore perpetually on her guard; she didnot enter the garden, and was well pleased that Fritz Wendel had theprudence and forbearance never to walk to and fro by her chamber, andnever to place in her window the beautiful flowers which she had beenwont to find there every morning. In a short time Louise becameconvinced that she was not watched, that there were no spies about herpath; that she was, in fact, perfectly at liberty to come and go as shepleased. She resumed her thoughtless manner and childish dreamings, walked daily in the garden, and took refuge in the green-house. Strangeto say, she never found her beautiful Fritz, never met his glowing, eloquent eyes, never caught even a distant view of his handsome figure. This sudden disappearance of her lover made her restless and unhappy, and kindled the flame of love anew. Louise, who in the loneliness andneglect of her few days of confinement, had become almost ashamed ofher affair with Fritz Wendel, and begun to repent of her foolish love, now excited by the obstacles in her path, felt the whole strength ofher passion revive, and was assured of her eternal constancy. 

"I will overcome all impediments, " said this young girl, "and nothingshall prevent me from playing my romance to the end. Fritz Wendel lovesme more passionately than any duke or baron will ever love me; he hasbeen made a prisoner because of his love for me, and that is the reasonI see him no more. But I will save him; I will set him at liberty, andthen I will flee with him, far, far away into the wide, wide worldwhere no one shall mock at our love. "

With such thoughts as these she returned from her anxious search in thegarden. As she entered her room, she saw upon her table a superbbouquet, just such a tribute as her loved Fritz had offered daily ather shrine before the queen's unfortunate discovery. With a loud cry ofjoy, she rushed to the table, seized the flowers, and pressed them toher lips; she then sought in the heart of her bouquet for the littlenote which she had ever before found concealed there. 

Truly this bouquet contained also a love-letter, a very tender, glowinglove-letter, in which Fritz Wendel implored her to fly with him; tocarry out their original plan, and flee with him to Oranienburg, wherethey would be married by the priest who had been won over by the PrinceAugustus William. To-day, yes, this evening at nine o'clock must theflight take place. 

Louise did not hesitate an instant; she was resolved to follow the callof her beloved. A court ball was to take place this evening, and Louisevon Schwerin must appear in the suite of the queen; she must find someplausible excuse and remain at home. As the hour for the queen'smorning promenade approached, Louise became so suddenly ill that shewas forced to ask one of the maids of honor to make her excuses, toreturn to her room, and lay herself upon the bed. 

The queen came herself to inquire after her health, and manifested somuch sympathy, so much pity, that Louise was fully assured, andaccepted without suspicion the queen's proposal that she should give upthe ball, and remain quietly in her room. Louise had now no obstacle tofear; she could make her preparations for flight without interruption. 

The evening came. She heard the carriages rolling away with the queenand her suite. An indescribable anxiety oppressed this young girl. Thehour of decision was at hand. She felt a maidenly trembling at thethought of her rash imprudence, but the hour was striking--the hour ofromantic flight, the hour of meeting with her fond lover. 

It seemed to her as if she saw the imploring eyes of Fritz ever beforeher--as if she heard his loving, persuasive voice. Forgetting allconsideration and all modesty, she wrapped herself in her mantle, anddrawing the hood tightly over her head, she hastened with flying feetthrough the corridors and down the steps to the front door of thepalace. With a trembling heart she stepped into the street. 

Unspeakable terror took possession of her. "What if he was not there?What if this was a plot, a snare laid for her feet? But no, no!" Shesaw a tall and closely-muffled figure crossing the open square, andcoming directly to her. She could not see his face, but it was surelyhim. Now he was near her. He whispered the signal word in a low, softtone. With a quaking heart, she gave the answer. 

The young man took her cold little hand, and hurried her forward to thecorner of the square. There stood the carriage. The stranger lifted herin his arms, and carried her to the carriage, sprang in, and slammedthe door. Forward! The carriage seemed forced onward by the wings ofthe wind. In a few moments the city lay far behind them. In wild hastethey flew onward, ever onward. The young man, still closely muffled, sat near to Louise--her lover, soon to be her husband! Neither spoke aword. They were near to each other, with quickly-beating hearts, butsilent, still silent. 

Louise found this conduct of her lover mysterious and painful. Sheunderstood not why he who had been so tender, so passionate, shouldremain so cold and still by her side. She felt that she must fly far, far away from this unsympathizing lover, who had no longer a word forher, no further assurances of love. Yes, he despised her because shehad followed him, no longer thought her worthy of his tenderness. Asthis thought took possession of her, she gave a fearful shriek, andspringing up from her seat, she seized the door, and tried to open itand jump out. The strong hand of her silent lover held her back. 

"We have not yet arrived, mademoiselle, " whispered he. 

Louise felt a cold shudder pass over her. Fritz Wendel call hermademoiselle! and the voice sounded cold and strange. Anxiously, silently, she sank back in the carriage. Her searching glance was fixedupon her companion, but the night was dark. She could see nothing butthe mysteriously muffled figure. She stretched out her small handstoward him, as if praying for help. He seized them, and pressed them tohis heart and lips, but he remained silent. He did not clasp her in hisarms as heretofore; he whispered no tender, passionate assurances inher ear. The terror of death overcame Louise. She clasped her handsover her face, and wept aloud. He heard her piteous sobs, and was stillsilent, and did not seek to comfort her. 

Onward went the flying wheels. The horses had been twice changed inorder to reach the goal more quickly. Louise wept without ceasing. Exhausted by terror, she thought her death was near. Twice tortured bythis ominous silence, she had dared to say a few low, sobbing words toher companion, but he made no reply. 

At last the carriage stopped. "We have arrived, " he whispered toLouise, sprang from the carriage, and lifted her out. 

"Where are we?" she said, convinced that she had been brought to aprison, or some secret place of banishment. 

"We are in Oranienburg, and there is the church where the preacherawaits us. " He took her arm hastily, and led her into the church. Thedoor was opened, and as Louise stepped upon the threshold, she felt hereyes blinded by the flood of light upon the altar. She saw the priestwith his open book, and heard the solemn sounds of the organ. The youngman led Louise forward, but not to the altar; he entered first into thesacristy. There also wax lights were burning, and on the table lay amyrtle wreath and a lace veil. 

"This is your bridal wreath and veil, " said the young man, who stillkept the hood of his cloak drawn tightly over his face. He unfastenedand removed Louise's mantle, and handed her the veil and wreath. Thenhe threw back his hood, and removed his cloak. Louise uttered a cry ofamazement and horror. He who stood before her was not her lover, wasnot the gardener Fritz Wendel, but a strange young officer infull-dress uniform!

"Forgive me, " said he, "that I have caused you so much sufferingto-day, but the king commanded me to remain silent, and I did so. Weare here in obedience to the king, and he commanded me to hand you thisletter before our marriage. It was written by his own hand. " Louiseseized the royal letter hastily. It was laconic, but the few words itcontained filled the heart of the little maiden with shame. The lettercontained these lines:

"As you are resolved, without regard to circumstances, to marry, out ofconsideration for your family I will fulfil your wish. The handsomegardener-boy is not in a condition to become your husband, he being nowconfined in a madhouse. I have chosen for you a gallant young officer, of good family and respectable fortune, and I have commanded him tomarry you. If he pleases you, the priest will immediately perform themarriage ceremony, and you will follow your husband into his garrisonat Brandenburg. If you refuse him, the young officer, Von Cleist, hasmy command to place you again in the carriage, and take you to yourmother. There you will have time to meditate upon your inconsiderateboldness. FREDERICK II. "

Louise read the letter of the king again and again; she then fixed hereyes upon the young man who stood before her, and who gazed at her witha questioning and smiling face. She saw that he was handsome, young, and charming, and she confessed that this rich uniform was moreattractive than the plain, dark coat of the gardener-boy Fritz Wendel. She felt that the eyes of the young cavalier were as glowing and aseloquent as those of her old love. 

"Well, " said he, laughing, "have you decided, mademoiselle? Do youconsider me worthy to be the envied and blessed husband of theenchanting and lovely Louise von Schwerin, or will you cruelly banishme and rob me of this precious boon?"

She gazed down deep into his eyes and listened to his wordsbreathlessly. His voice was so soft and persuasive, not harsh and roughlike that of Fritz Wendel, it fell like music on her ear. 

"Well, " repeated the young Von Cleist, "will you be gracious, andaccept me for your husband?"

"Would you still wish to marry me, even if the king had not commandedit?"

"I would marry you in spite of the king and the whole world, " said VonCleist. "Since I have seen you, I love you dearly. "

Louise reached him her hand. 

"Well, then, " she said, "let us fulfil the commands of the king. Hecommands us to marry. We will commence with that: afterwards we willsee if we can love each other without a royal command. "

The young captain kissed her hand, and placed the myrtle wreath uponher brow. 

"Come, the priest is waiting, and I long to call you my bride. "

He led the young girl of fourteen to the altar. The priest opened theholy book, and performed the marriage ceremony. 

At the same hour, in the chapel of the king's palace, another weddingtook place. Laura von Pannewitz and Count Voss stood before the altar. The king himself conducted Laura, and Queen Elizabeth gave her hand toCount Voss. The entire court had followed the bridal pair, and all werewitnesses to this solemn contract. Only one was absent--the PrinceAugustus William was not there. 

While Laura von Pannewitz stood above in the palace chapel, swearingeternal constancy to Count Voss, the prince stood below at the castlegate, waiting for her descent. But the hour had long passed, and shecame not. A dark fear and torturing anguish came over him. 

Had the king discovered their plan? Was it he who held Laura back, orhad she herself forgotten her promise? Was she unfaithful to her oath?

The time still flew, and she came not. Trembling with scorn, anguish, and doubt, he mounted the castle steps, determined to search throughthe saloons, and, at all risks, to draw near his beloved. Driven by theviolence of his love, he had almost determined to carry her off byforce. 

Throwing off his mantle, he stepped into the anteroom. No man regardedhim. Every eye was turned toward the great saloon. The prince entered. The whole court circle, which were generally scattered through theadjoining rooms, now forced themselves into this saloon--it glitteredand shimmered with diamonds, orders, and gold and silver embroidery. 

The prince saw nothing of all this. He saw only the tall, pallid girl, who stood in the middle of the room with the sweeping bridal veil andthe myrtle wreath in her hair. 

Yes, it was her--Laura von Pannewitz--and near her stood the young, smiling Count Voss. What did all this mean? Why was his beloved sosplendidly attired? Why was the royal family gathered around her? Whywas the queen kissing even now his beautiful Laura, and handing herthis splendid diamond diadem? Why did Count Voss press the king's hand, which was that moment graciously extended to him, to his lips?

Prince Augustus William understood nothing of all this. He felt as ifbewildered by strange and fantastic dreams. With distended, glassy eyeshe stared upon the newly wedded pair who were now receiving thecongratulations of the court. 

But the king's sharp glance had observed him, and rapidly forcing hisway through the crowd of courtiers, he drew near to the prince. "A wordwith you, brother, " said the king; "come, let us go into my cabinet. "The prince followed him, bewildered--scarcely conscious. "And now, mybrother, " said the king, as the door closed behind him, "show yourselfworthy of your kingly calling and of your ancestors; show that youdeserve to be the ruler of a great people; show that you know how togovern yourself! Laura von Pannewitz can never be yours; she is thewife of Count Voss!" The prince uttered so piercing, so heartrending acry, that the king turned pale, and an unspeakable pity took possessionof his soul. "Be brave, my poor brother; what you suffer, that have Ialso suffered, and almost every one who is called by Fate to fill anexalted position has the same anguish to endure. A prince has not theright to please himself--he belongs to the people and to the world'shistory, and to both these he must be ever secondary. "

"It is not true, it is not possible!" stammered the prince. "Laura cannever belong to another! she is mine! betrothed to me by the holiest ofoaths, and she shall be mine in spite of you and of the whole world! Idesire no crown, no princely title; I wish only Laura, only my Laura! Isay it is not true that she is the wife of Count Voss!"

"It is true, " whispered a soft, tearful, choking voice, just behindhim. The prince turned hastily; the sad eye of Laura, full ofunspeakable love, met his wild glance. Queen Elizabeth, according to anunderstanding with the king, had led the young Countess Voss into thisapartment, and then returned with a light step to the adjoining room. 

"I will grant to your unhappy love, my brother, one last evening glow, "said the king. "Take a last, sad farewell of your declining sun; butforget not that when the sun has disappeared, we have still the starsto shine upon us, though, alas! they have no warmth and kindle noflowers into life. " The king bowed, and followed his wife into the nextroom. The prince remained alone with Laura. 

What was spoken and sworn in this last sad interview no man ever knew. In the beginning, the king, who remained in the next room, heard theraging voice of the prince uttering wild curses and bitter complaints;then his tones were softer and milder, and touchingly mournful. In halfan hour the king entered the cabinet. The prince stood in the middle ofthe room, and Laura opposite to him. They gazed into each other's wanand stricken faces with steady, tearless eyes; their hands wereclasped. "Farewell, my prince, " said Laura, with a firm voice; "Idepart IMMEDIATELY with my husband; we will never meet again!"

"Yes, we will meet again, " said the prince, with a weary smile; "wewill meet again in another and a better world: I will be there awaitingyou, Laura!" They pressed each other's hands, then turned away. 

Laura stepped into the room where Count Voss was expecting her. "Come, my husband, " she said; "I am ready to follow you, and be assured I willmake you a faithful and submissive wife. "

"Brother, " said Prince Augustus William, extending his hand to theking, "I struggle no more. I will conform myself to your wishes, andmarry the Princess of Brunswick. "

CHAPTER XVII. 

THE RESIGNATION OF BARON POLLNITZ. 

The morning after the ball, Pollnitz entered the cabinet of the king;he was confused and sat down, and that happened to him which had neverbefore happened--he was speechless. The king's eyes rested upon himwith an ironical and contemptuous expression. 

"I believe you are about to confess your sins, Pollnitz, and make meyour father confessor. You have the pitiful physiognomy of a poorsinner. "

"Sire, I would consent to be a sinner, but I am bitterly opposed tobeing a poor sinner. "

"Ah! debts again; again in want!" cried the king. "I am weary of thiseverlasting litany, and I forbid you to come whining to me again withyour never-ending necessities; the evil a man brings upon himself hemust bear; the dangers which he involuntary incurs, he must conquerhimself. "

"Will not your majesty have the goodness to assist me, to reach me ahelping hand and raise me from the abyss into which my creditors havecast me?"

"God forbid that I should waste the gold upon a Pollnitz which I needfor my brave soldiers and for cannon!" said the king, earnestly. 

"Then, sire, " said Pollnitz, in a low and hesitating tone, "I must begyou to give me my dismissal. "

"Your dismissal! Have you discovered in the moon a foolish prince whowill pay a larger sum for your miserable jests and malicious scandalsand railings than the King of Prussia?"

"Not in the moon, sire, is such a mad individual to be found, but in aDutch realm; however, I have found no such prince, but a beautifulyoung maiden, who will be only too happy to be the Baroness Pollnitz, and pay the baron's debts. "

"And this young girl is not sent to a mad-house?" said the king;"perhaps the house of the Baron von Pollnitz is considered a house ofcorrection, and she is sent there to be punished for her follies. Hasthe girl who is rich enough to pay the debts of a Pollnitz no guardian?"

"Father and mother both live, sire; and both receive me joyfully astheir son. My bride dwells in Nuremberg, and is the daughter of adistinguished patrician family. "

"And she buys you, " said the king, "because she considers you the mostenchanting of all Nuremberger toys! As for your dismissal, I grant itto you with all my heart. Seat yourself and write as I shall dictate. "

He looked toward the writing-table, and Pollnitz, obeying his command, took his seat and arranged his pen and paper. The king, with his armsfolded across his back, walked slowly up and down the room. 

"Write! I will give you a dismissal, and also a certificate ofcharacter and conduct. "

The king dictated to the trembling and secretly enraged baron thefollowing words:

"We, Frederick II. , make known, that Baron Pollnitz, born in Berlin, and, so far as we believe, of an honorable family, page to our saintedgrandfather, of blessed memory, also in the service of the Duke ofOrleans, colonel in the Spanish service, cavalry captain in the army ofthe deceased Emperor, gentleman-in-waiting to the Pope, gentlemen-in-waiting to the Duke of Brunswick, color-bearer in theservice of the Duke of Weimar, gentleman-in-waiting to our saintedfather, of ever-blessed memory; lastly, and at last, master ofceremonies in our service;--said Baron Pollnitz, overwhelmed by thisstream of military and courtly honors which had been thrust upon him, and thereby weary of the vanities of this wicked world; misled, also, by the evil example of Monteulieu, who, a short time ago, left thecourt, now entreats of us to grant him his dismissal, and an honorabletestimony as to his good name and service. After thoughtfulconsideration, we do not find it best to refuse him the testimony hehas asked for. As to the most important service which he rendered tothe court by his foolish jests and INCONSISTENCIES, and the pastimesand distractions which he prepared for nine years for the amusement ofour ever-blessed father, we do not hesitate to declare that, during thewhole time of his service at court, he was not a street-robber nor acut-purse, nor a poisoner; that he did not rob young women nor do themany violence; that he has not roughly attacked the honor of any man, but, consistently with his birth and lineage, behaved like a man ofgallantry; that he has consistently made use of the talents lent to himby Heaven, and brought before the public, in a merry and amusing way, that which is ridiculous and laughable amongst men, no doubt with thesame object which lies at the bottom of all theatrical representations, that is, to improve the race. Said baron has also steadily followed thecounsel of Bacchus with regard to frugality and temperance, and he hascarried his Christian love so far, that he has left wholly to thePEASANTS that part of the Evangelists which teaches that 'To give ismore blessed than to receive. ' He knows all the anecdotes concerningour castles and pleasure resorts, and has indelibly imprinted upon hismemory a full list of all our old furniture and silver; above allthings, he understands how to make himself indispensable and agreeableto those who know the malignity of his spirit and his cold heart. "

"As, however, in the most fruitful regions waste and desert spots areto be found, as the most beautiful bodies have their deformities, andthe greatest painters are not without faults, so will we deal gentlyand considerately with the follies and sins of this much-talked-ofbaron; we grant him, therefore, though unwillingly, the desireddismissal. In addition to this, we abolish entirely this office soworthily filled by said baron, and wish to blot out the remembrance ofit from the memory of man; holding that no other man can ever fill itsatisfactorily. " "FREDERICK II. "

THE END.