frederick the great and his family-第14部分
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〃Do you not know us； Balby？〃
Their voices started the colonel； and he stepped back。
〃Sire； it is yourself。〃
〃Yes； it is I； Fredericknot the king。 Yes； I am Frederick； and this capital servant is my good Deesen； who has sworn solemnly not to betray our incognito； and to give no one reason to suspect his high dignity as royal cabinet…hussar。 For love of us he will； for a few days； be the servant of two simple； untitled musicians； who are travelling around the world； seeking their fortunes； but who； unfortunately； have no letters of recommendation。〃
〃But who will recommend themselves by their talents and accomplishments。〃
The king laughed aloud。 〃Balby； you forget that you are a poor musician； chatting with your comrade。 Truly your courtly bow suits your dress as little as a lace veil would a beggar's attire； you must lay your fine manners aside for a short time； for； with them； you would appear to the village beauties we may meet like a monkey； and they would laugh at instead of kissing you。〃
〃So we are to meet country beauties；〃 said Colonel Balby； no longer able to suppress his curiosity。 〃Tell me； sire； where are we going； and what are we going to do？ I shall die of curiosity。〃
〃Make an effort to die；〃 said the king； gayly； 〃you will find it is not so easy to do as you imagine。 But I will torture you no longer。 You ask what we are going to do。 Well； we are going to amuse ourselves and seek adventures。 You ask where we are going。 Ask that question of the sparrow that sits on the house…topask where it is going； and what is the aim of its journey。 It will reply； the next bush； the nearest tree； the topmost bough of a weeping willow； which stands on a lonely grave； the mast of a ship； sailing on the wide sea； or the branch of a noble beech； waving before the window of a beautiful maiden。 I am as incapable of telling you the exact aim and end of our journey； friend； as that little bird would be。 We are as free as the birds of the air。 Come！ come！ let us fly； for see； the little sparrow has flownlet us follow it。〃
And with a beaming smile illuminating his countenance； like a ray of the morning sun； the king took the arm of his friend； and followed by his servant and cabinet…hussar； Deesen； left the pavilion。
As they stood at the little gate of the garden； the king said to Deesen；
〃You must be for us the angel with the flaming sword； and open the gates of paradise； but not to cast us out。〃
Deesen opened the gate； and our adventurers entered 〃the wide； wide world。〃
〃Let us stand here a few moments；〃 said the king； as his glance rested upon the green fields spread far and wide around him。 〃How great and beautiful the world appears to…day！ Observe Nature's grand silence； yet the air is full of a thousand voices； and the white clouds wandering dreamily in the blue heavens above； are they not the misty veils with which the gods of Olympus conceal their charms？〃
〃Ah！ sire；〃 said Balby； with a loving glance at the king's hand some face〃ah； sire； my eyes have no time to gaze at Nature's charms； they are occupied with yourself。 When I look upon you； I feel that man is indeed made in the image of God。〃
〃Were I a god； I should not be content to resemble this worn； faded face。 Come； now； let us be off！ Give me your instrument； Deesen； I will carry it。 Now I look like a travelling apprentice seeking his fortune。 The world is all before him where to choose his place of rest； and Providence his guide。 I envy him。 He is a free man！〃
〃Truly； these poor apprentices would not believe that a king was envying them their fate；〃 said Balby； laughing。
〃Still they are to be envied；〃 said the king； 〃for they are free。 No； no； at present I envy no one； the world and its sunshine belong to me。 We will go to Amsterdam； and enjoy the galleries and museums。〃
〃I thank your majesty；〃 said Balby； laughing； 〃you have saved my life。 I should have died of curiosity if you had not spoken。 Now； I feel powerful and strong； and can keep pace with your majesty's wandering steps。〃
Silently they walked on until they reached a sign…post。
〃We are now on the borderlet us bid farewell to the Prussian colors； we see them for the last time。 Sire； we will greet them with reverence。〃
He took off his hat and bowed lowly before the black and white colors of Prussia； a greeting that Deesen imitated with the fervor of a patriot。
The king did not unite in their enthusiasm； he was writing with his stick upon the ground。
〃Come here； Balby； and read this；〃 he said； pointing to the lines he had traced。 〃Can you read them？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Balby； 〃the words are； 'majesty' and 'sire。'〃
〃So they are； friend。 I leave these two words on the borders of Prussia； perhaps on our return we may find and resume them。 But as long as we are on the soil of Holland there must be no majesty； no sire。〃
〃What； then； must I call my king？〃
〃 You must call him friend； voila tout。〃
〃And I？〃 asked Deesen； respectfully。 〃Will your majesty be so gracious as to tell me your name？〃
〃I am Mr。 Zoller； travelling musician； and should any one ask you what I want in Amsterdam； tell them I intend giving a concert。 En avant； mes amis。 There lies the first small village of Holland； in an hour we shall be there； and then we will take the stage and go a little into the interior。 En avant； en avant！〃
CHAPTER XII。
TRAVELLING ADVENTURES。
The stage stood before the tavern at Grave； and awaited its passengers。 The departure of the stage was an important occurrence to the inhabitants of the little townan occurrence that disturbed the monotony of their lives for a few moments； and showed them at least now and then a new face； that gave them something to think of； and made them dream of the far…off city where the envied travellers were going。
Today all Grave was in commotion and excitement。 The strangers had arrived at the post…house； and after partaking of an excellent dinner； engaged three seats in the stage。 The good people of Grave hoped to see three strange faces looking out of the stage window； many were the surmises of their destiny and their possible motives for travelling。 They commenced these investigations while the strangers were still with them。
A man had seen them enter the city； dusty and exhausted； and he declared that the glance which the two men in brown coats had cast at his young wife； who had come to the window at his call； was very boldyes； even suspicious； and it seemed very remarkable to him that such plain； ordinary looking wanderers should have a servant； for； doubtless； the man walking behind them； carrying the very small carpet…bag； was their servant； but； truly； he appeared to be a proud person； and had the haughty bearing of a general or a field…marshal； he would not even return the friendly greetings of the people he passed。 His masters could not be distinguished or rich； for both of them carried a case under their arms。 What could be in those long cases； what secret was hidden there？ Perhaps they held pistols； and the good people of Grave would have to deal with robbers or murderers。 The appearance of the strangers was wild and bold enough to allow of the worst suspicions。
The whole town； as before mentioned； was in commotion； and all were anxious to see the three strangers； about whom there was certainly something mysterious。 They had the manners and bearing of noblemen； but were dressed like common men。
A crowd of idlers had assembled before the post…house； whispering and staring at the windows of the guests' rooms。 At last their curiosity was about to be gratified； at last the servant appeared with the little carpet…bag； and placed it in the stage； and returned for the two cases； whose contents they would so greedily have known。 The postilion blew his horn； the moment of departure had arrived。
A murmur was heard through the crowd； the strangers appeared； they approached the stage； and with such haughty and commanding glances that the men nearest them stepped timidly back。
The postilion sounded his horn again； the strangers were entering the stage。 At the door stood the postmaster； and behind him his wife； the commanding postmistress。
〃Niclas；〃 she whispered； 〃I must and will know who these strangers are。 Go and demand their passports。〃
The obedient Niclas stepped out and cried in a thundering voice to the postilion； who was just about to start； to wait。 Stepping to the stage； he opened the door。
〃Your passports； gentlemen；〃 he said； roughly。 〃You forgot to show me your passports。〃
The curious observers breathed more freely； and nodded encouragingly to the daring postmaster。
〃You rejoice；〃 murmured his wife； who was still standing in the door； from whence she saw all that passed； and seemed to divine the thoughts of her gaping friends〃you rejoice； but you shall know nothing。 I shall not satisfy your curiosity。〃
Mr。 Niclas still stood at the door of the stage。 His demand had not been attended to； he repeated it for the third time。
〃Is it customary here to demand passports of travellers？〃 asked a commanding voice from the stage。
Niclas； and taking the two mysterious cases from the stage； he placed them before the strangers。
〃Let us go into the house；〃 whispered the king to his friends。 〃We must make bonne mine a mauvais jeu；〃 and he approached the door of the housethere stood the wife of the postmaster； with sparkling eyes and a malicious grin。
〃The postilion is going； and you will lose your money；〃 she said； 〃they never return money when once they have it。〃
〃Ah！ I thought that was only a habit of the church；〃 said the king； laughing。 〃Nevertheless； the postmaster can keep what he has。 Will you have the kindness to show me a room； where I can open my bag at leisure； and send some coffee and good wine to us？〃
There was something so commanding in the king's voice； so imposing in his whole appearance； that even the all…conquering Madame Niclas felt awed； and she silently stepped forward and showed him her best room。 The servant followed with the two cases and the bag； and laid them upon the table； then placed himself at the door。
〃Now； madame； leave us；〃 ordered the king； 〃and do as I told you。〃
Madame Niclas left； and the gentlemen were once more alone。
〃Now； w
