old fritz and the new era-第16部分

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was　alone　or　not。　I　only　know　that；　as　I　waited　a　little　on　the
corner　of　the　street；　I　saw　a　gentleman　go　out；　wrapped　in　a　cloak；
a　tall；　broad…shouldered　gentleman；　whom　I〃

〃Whom　you　naturally　did　not　recognize；〃　said　the　king；　interrupting
him；　〃it　was　a　dark　night；　and　no　moon；　so　that　you　could　not　see。〃

〃At　your　service；　your　majesty；　I　could　see　no　one；　I　would　only　add
that　the　unknown　may　have　been　at　Mademoiselle　Enke's。〃

〃And　he　may　not　have　been；〃　cried　the　king；　harshly。　〃What　else　did
you　learn？〃

〃Nothing　at　all　worth　speaking　about。　Only　one　thing　I　must　say；　the
lackey　Schultz　is　a　prattling　fool；　and　speaks　very
disrespectfully。〃

〃Did　he　talk　with　you？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　with　me。〃

〃Then　he　knows　well　that　it　would　be　welcome。　What　did　he　say？〃

〃He　related　to　me　a　love…affair　with　the　crown　princess　of　Prussia
eleven　years　since。　He　plumes　himself　upon　the　crown　princess　having
stroked　his　beard。〃

〃Be　quiet！〃　commanded　the　king；　harshly。　〃If　Schultz　was　drunk；　and
talked　in　a　crazy　manner；　how　dare　you　repeat　it　to　me？　Let　this
happen　again；　and　I　will　dismiss　you　my　service。　Remember　it；　you
ass！〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　majesty；　I　thought　I　must　relate　all　that　I　hear　of
importance。〃

〃That　was　not　important；　and　not　worth　the　trouble　of　talking　about。
If　Schultz　is　such　a　drunken　fellow　I　did　not　know　it；　and　he　is　to
be　pitied。　You　can　go　now；　I　give　you　a　day　to　make　your　farewells
to　your　friends；　and　to　console　them　with　the　hope　of　meeting　you
again。　Put　every　thing　in　order　that　concerns　you。　If　you　have
debts；　pay　them。〃

〃I　have　no　money　to　pay　them；　your　majesty；〃　sighed　Kretzschmar。

The　king　stepped　to　the　iron　coffer；　of　which　no　one　possessed　the
key　but　himself；　and　looking　within　said：　〃You　cannot　have　much
money　to…day；　as　the　drawer　which　contains　the　money　for　the　gossips
and　spies　is　quite　empty；　and　you　have　had　a　good　share　of　it。　Five
guldens　remain　for　you。〃

〃Alas！　your　majesty；　it　is　too　little；　twenty…five　guldens　would　not
pay　my　debts。〃

The　king　closed　the　drawer；　saying：　〃Judas　only　received　twenty
shillings　for　betraying　his　Master。　Twenty…five　is　quite　enough　for
Kretzschmar　for　betraying　his　comrade。〃

Kretzschmar　slunk　away。　The　king　fixed　his　great　eyes　upon　him　until
the　door　closed。　〃Man　is　a　miserable　race；　for　gold　he　would　sell
his　own　brotherwould　sell　his　own　soul；　if　there　could　be　found　a
purchaser；〃　he　murmured。　〃Why　do　you　growl；　Alkmene；　why　trouble
yourself；　mademoiselle？　I　was　not　speaking　of　your　honorable　race；
only　of　the　pitiful　race　of　men。　Be　quiet；　my　little　dog；　be　quiet；
I　love　you；　and　you　are　my　dear　little　dog；〃　he　said；　pressing　her
caressingly　to　his　breast。

The　footman　Schultz　appeared　to　announce　the　equerry　Von　Schwerin。

〃Bid　him　enter；〃　nodded　the　king。

Von　Schwerin　entered；　with　a　smiling　face。　〃Have　you　accomplished
what　I　confided　to　you？〃

With　a　profound　bow　Von　Schwerin　drew　a　roll　of　paper　from　his
breast…pocket；　and　handed　it　to　the　king；　saying；　〃I　am　so　fortunate
as　to　have　accomplished　your　commands。〃

〃Will　Count　Schmettau　give　up　the　villa　at　once？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　the　new　occupant　could　take　possession　to…day；
with　all　the　furniture　and　house　arrangements；　for　seven　thousand
five　hundred　dollars。　Here　is　the　bill　of　sale；　only　the　purchaser's
name　is　wanting。　I　have　obeyed　your　majesty's　commands；　and　acted　as
if　I　were　the　purchaser。〃

〃Schmettau　is　not　such　a　stupid　fellow　as　to　believe　that；　for　he
knows　that　you　cannot　keep　your　money。　You　say　the　contract　is
ready；　only　the　signature　of　the　purchaser　is　wanting　and　the
money？〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　majesty；　the　name　of　the　present　possessor　has　not
been　inserted。　I　did　not　presume　to　write　it　without　the
unmistakable　command　of　your　majesty。〃

〃Do　you　know　the　name？〃　asked　the　king。

〃I　do　not；　but　the　generosity　of　my　most　gracious　king　and　master
allows　me　to　divine　it；　and　my　heart　is　filled　to　bursting　with
thankfulness　and　joy。　My　whole　life　will　not　be　long　enough　to　prove
to　you　my　gratitude。〃

〃What　for？〃　asked　the　king；　staring　at　Von　Schwerin；　quite
surprised；　〃you　cannot　suppose　that　I　have　purchased　the　villa　for
you？〃

Herr　von　Schwerin　smilingly　nodded。　〃I　think　so；　your　majesty。〃

Frederick　laughed　aloud。　〃Schwerin；　you　are　an　uncommonly　cunning
fellow。　You　see　the　grass　grow　before　the　seed　is　sown。　This　time
you　deceived　yourselfthe　grass　has　not　grown。　What　good　would　it
do　you？　You　do　not　need　grass；　but　thistles；　and　they　do　not　grow　at
Charlottenburg。　Take　the　contract　to　my　minister　Von　Herzberg；　whom
you　will　find　in　the　audience…room；　and　then　walk　a　little　upon　the
terrace　to　enjoy　the　fresh　air。　I　promised　you　the　privilege。　First
go　to　Von　Herzberg；　and　say　to　him　to　send　the　Prince　of　Prussia　to
me　immediately　upon　his　arrival。　Why　do　you　wear　so　mournful　a　face
all　of　a　sudden？　Can　it　be　possible　that　my　chief　equerry　has　so
lowered　himself　as　to　go　among　the　mechanics；　and　build　chateaux　en
Espagne？　You　know　such　houses　are　not　suitable　for　our　northern
climate；　and　fall　down。　Now；　do　what　I　told　you；　and　then　go　upon
the　terrace。〃

The　equerry　glided　away　with　sorrowful　mien　to　Von　Herzberg；　and
communicated　the　king's　commands　to　him。

〃You　have　made　a　good　purchase；〃　said　the　minister；　in　a　friendly
manner。　〃His　majesty　will　be　very　much　pleased　with　the
extraordinary　zeal　and　the　great　dexterity　with　which　you　have
arranged　the　matter。　Count　Schmettau　has　just　been　here；　and　he
could　not　sufficiently　commend　your　zeal　and　prudence；　and　the
sympathy　and　interest　which　you　showed　in　the　smallest　matters；　as
if　the　purchase　were　for　yourself。　The　count　wishes　to　reserve　two
oil　paintings　in　the　saloon；　which　are　an　heirloom　from　his　father。
We　cannot　but　let　the　count　retain　them。〃

〃Arrange　it　as　you　will；〃　answered　the　equerry；　fretfully；　〃I　have
nothing　more　to　do　with　the　affairit　lies　in　your　hands。〃

〃But　where　are　you　going　in　such　haste？〃　said　Herzberg；　as　the
equerry　bowed　hastily；　and　strode　through　the　room　toward　the　door。

〃His　majesty　commanded　me　to　go　upon　the　terrace；〃　he　replied；
morosely。

Herr　von　Herzberg　looked　after　him　surprised。　〃Something　must　have
occurred；　otherwise　he　is　very　tractable。　Ah！　there　comes　the
prince。　I　will　go　to　meet　him；　and　communicate　to　him　the　king's
commandI　will　await　your　royal　highness　here　until　you　have　spoken
with　the　king；　if　you　will　have　the　grace　to　seek　me。〃

〃I　will　return　by　all　means；　if　you　will　have　the　kindness　to　wait
for　me；〃　replied　the　prince；　smiling；　and　hastened　to　the　interview
with　his　royal　uncle。

Frederick　was　seated　in　his　arm…chair；　upon　his　lap　Alkmene；　when
the　crown　prince　entered。　〃Bon　jour；　mon　neveu！　pardon　me；〃　said　he；
with　a　friendly　nod；　〃that　I　remain　seated；　and　do　not　rise　to　greet
the　future　King　of　Prussia。〃

〃Sire；　Heaven　grant　that　many　years　pass　before　I　succeed　to　the
title　which　my　great　and　unapproachable　predecessor　has　borne　with
so　much　wisdom　and　fame；　that　one　can　well　doubt　the　being　able　to
emulate　his　example；　and　must　content　himself　to　live　under　the
shadow　of　his　intelligence　and　fame！〃

Frederick　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃The　people　will　not　be　satisfied；
nor　the　coffers　filled　by　fame。　No　one　can　live　upon　the　great　deeds
of　his　ancestors；　he　must　be　self…sustaining；　not　seek　for　the
laurels　in　the　past；　but　upon　the　naked　field　of　the　future；　which
lies　before　him。　Sow　the　seeds　of　future　laurels；　fame　troubles　me
but　little；　and　I　advise　you；　my　nephew；　not　to　rely　upon　it。　One
must　begin　anew　each　day；　and　make　fresh　efforts　for　vigorous
deeds。〃

The　crown　prince　bowed；　and　seated　himself　upon　the　tabouret；　which
the　king；　with　a　slight　wave　of　the　hand；　signified　to　him。

〃I　will　endeavor；　sire；　to　follow　the　elevated　sentiments　of　your
majesty；　that　I　may　not　dishonor　my　great　teacher。〃

〃You　express　yourself　too　modestly；　my　nephew；　and　I　know　that　you
think　otherwise；　that　your　fiery　spirit　will　never　be　contented　to
dishonor　yourself　or　your　ancestors。　Fate　is　favorable　to　you；　and
offers　the　opportunity　to　confirm；　what　I　judge　you　to　bea　brave
soldier；　a　skilful　captainin　a　word；　a　true　Hohenzollern！　I　would
make　you　a　commander　of　a　division　of　my　army；　and　I　shall　follow
every　movementevery　operation；　with　lively　interest。〃

A　ray　of　joy　beamed　upon　the　face　of　the　prince；　Frederick　saw　it
with　satisfaction；　and　his　heart　warmed　toward　his　nephew。　〃He　has
at　least　courage；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃he　is　no　sybarite　to　quail
before　the　rough　life　of　war。〃

〃Will　your　majesty　so　greatly　favor　me　as　to　accord　me　an
independent　position　in　the　campaign？〃

〃I　offer　you　what　belongs　to　you　as　a　general　and　heir　to　the
throne。　On　me　it　devolves　to　direct　the　plans　and　operations；　and　on
you　to　detail　them　and　direct　the　execution。　I　shall　rejoice　to　see
that　you　understand　the　profession　of　war　practically　as　well　as
theoretically。　Therefore；　this　war　is　so　far　welcome；　that　it　will
give　my　crown　prince　an　opportunity　to　win　his　first　laurels；　and
adorn　the　brow　which；　until　now；　has　been　crowned　with　myrtle。〃

〃Your　majesty；　I〃

〃Be　silentI　do　not　reproach　you；　my　nephew；　I　understand　human
nature；　and　the　seductive　arts　of　women。　It　is　time　that　you　seek
other　ornamentmyrtle　becomes　a　youthful　brow；　and　the　helmet
adorns　the　man　crowned　with　laurels。〃

〃I　have　long　desired　it；　and　I　am　deeply　grateful　to　your　majesty
for　the　opportunity　to　win　it。　This　campaign　is　good　fortune　to　me。〃

〃War　is　never　a　good　fortune；〃　sighed　the　king〃　for　the　people　it
is　great　misfortune。　I　would　willingly　have　avoided　it　for　their
sake。　But　the　arrogance　and　the　passion　for　territorial
aggrandizement　of　the　young　Emperor　of　Germany　forces　me　to　it。　I
dare　not；　and　will　not　suffer　Austria　to　enrich　herself　through
foreign　inheritance；　ignoring　the　legitimate　title　of　a　German
prince。　Bavaria　must　remain　an　independent；　free　German
principality；　under　a　sovereign　prince。　It　is　inevitably　necessary
for　the　balance　of　power。　I　cannot　yield；　therefore；　as　a　German
prince；　that　Austria　increase　her　power　in　an　illegitimate　manner；
but　I