frederick the great and his family-第39部分

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〃No！　it　is　not　too　much；　but　it　is　certainly　enough。　I　hope；　at　least；　it　was　not　in　vain。〃

〃No；　no！　and　Loudon　is　now　raving　about　the　intellectual；　genial　and　generous　son　of　Count　Bruhl。　I　trust；　count；　that　you　instantly　sent　him　a　check〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　count；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃But；　countess；　if　the　king　were　to　hear　this　story；　it　would　cause　much　evil；　for　you　know　that　he　believes　in　economy；　luckily　for　me；　he　believes　me　to　be　an　economical　man。　Those　enemies　who　would　not　dare　to　accuse　us；　would　have　no　fears　of　saying　evil　of　our　son；　he　will　certainly　hear　this　eighty…thousand…pound　story。〃

〃We　will　tell　him　ourselves；　but　say　that　the　story　is　much　exaggerated。〃

〃What　a　wonderful　woman　you　are；　Antonia！〃　said　her　husband；　〃your　counsel　is　wise；　we　will　follow　it。〃

At　this　moment　a　slight　knocking　was　heard　at　the　door；　and　the　secretary　entered　with　a　sealed　letter。

〃A　courier　from　Torgau　just　arrived　with　this　from　the　commandant。〃　The　count's　brow　became　clouded。

〃Business！　forever　business！〃　said　he。　〃How　dared　you　annoy　me　with　this；　upon　the　birthday　of　my　wife？〃

〃Pardon；　your　excellency；　but　the　courier　brought　with　this　packet　such　strange　news；　that　I　ventured　to　disturb　you；　to　communicate〃

The　beating　of　drums　and　the　thunder　of　cannon　interrupted　him。

〃The　king　and　queen　are　now　entering　their　carriage；〃　cried　the　count。　〃No　more　business　to…day；　my　friend。　It　will　keep　till　tomorrow。　Come；　Antonia；　we　must　welcome　their　majesties。〃　And　taking　his　wife's　hand；　he　passed　out　of　the　study。




CHAPTER　XII。

THE　INTERRUPTED　FEAST。


As　the　Count　Bruhl　and　his　wife　entered　the　saloon；　it　almost　seemed　as　if　they　were　the　royal　couple　for　whom　all　this　company　was　waiting。　Every　one　of　any　rank　or　position　in　Dresden　was　present。　There　were　to　be　seen　the　gold　and　silver　embroidered　uniforms　of　generals　and　ambassadors；　jewelled　stars　were　sparkling　upon　many　breasts；　the　proudest；　loveliest　women　of　the　court；　bearing　the　noblest　Saxon　names；　were　there；　accompanied　by　princes；　counts；　dukes；　and　barons；　and　one　and　all　were　bowing　reverentially　to　the　count　and　his　wife。　And　now；　at　a　sign　from　the　grand　chamberlain；　the　pages　of　the　countess；　clothed　in　garments　embroidered　with　silver　and　pearls；　approached　to　carry　her　train；　beside　them　were　the　count's　officers；　followed　by　all　the　noble　guests。　Thus　they　passed　through　the　third　room；　where　the　servants　of　the　house；　numbering　upward　of　two　hundred；　were　placed　in　military　order；　and　then　on　until　they　came　to　the　grand　entrance；　which　had　been　turned　into　a　floral　temple。

The　royal　equipage　was　at　the　gate；　the　host　and　hostess　advanced　to　welcome　the　king　and　queen；　whose　arrival　had　been　announced　by　the　roar　of　cannon。

The　king　passed　through　the　beautiful　avenue；　and　greeted　the　company　placed　on　either　side　of　him；　gayly。　The　queen；　sparkling　with　diamonds；　forcing　herself　also　to　smile；　was　at　his　side；　and　as　their　majesties　passed　on；　saying　here　and　there　a　kind；　merry　word；　it　seemed　as　if　the　sun　had　just　risen　over　all　these　noble；　rich；　and　powerful　guests。　This　was　reflected　upon　every　countenance。　The　gods　had　demanded　from　Olympus　to　favor　these　mortals　with　their　presence；　and　to　enjoy　themselves　among　them。　And　truly；　even　a　king　might　spend　some　happy　hours　in　this　delightful　garden。

The　air　was　so　soft　and　mild；　so　sweet　from　the　odor　of　many　flowers；　the　rustling　of　the　trees　was　accompanied　by　soft　whispers　of　music　that　seemed　floating　like　angels'　wings　upon　the　air。　Every　countenance　was　sparkling　with　happiness　and　content；　and　the　king　could　but　take　the　flattering　unction　to　his　soul　that　all　his　subjects　were　equally　as　happy　as　the　elite　by　which　he　was　surrounded。

Pleased　with　this　thought　and　delighted　with　all　the　arrangements　for　the　fete；　the　king　gave　himself　up　to　an　enjoyment　which；　though　somewhat　clouding　his　character　as　a　deity；　was　immensely　gratifying　to　him。

He　abandoned　himself　to　the　delights　of　the　table！　He　devoured　with　a　sort　of　amiable　astonishment　the　rare　and　choice　dishes　which；　even　to　his　experienced　and　pampered　palate；　appeared　unfathomable　mysteries；　luxuries　had　been　procured；　not　only　from　Loudon　and　Paris；　but　from　every　part　of　the　world。　He　delighted　himself　with　the　gold　and　purple　wines；　whose　vintage　was　unknown　to　him；　and　whose　odor　intoxicated　him　more　than　the　perfume　of　flowers。　He　requested　the　count　to　give　the　name　and　history　of　all　these　wines。

The　count　obeyed　in　that　shy；　reverential　manner　in　which　he　was　accustomed　to　speak。　He　charmed　him　by　relating　the　many　difficulties　he　had　overcome　to　obtain　this　wine　from　the　Cape　of　Good　Hope；　which　had　to　cross　the　line　twice　to　arrive　at　its　highest　perfection。　He　said　that　for　two　years　he　had　been　thinking　of　this　gloriously　happy　day；　and　had　had　a　ship　upon　the　sea　for　the　purpose　of　perfecting　this　wine。　He　bade　the　king　notice　the　strangely　formed　fish；　which　could　only　be　obtained　from　the　Chinese　sea。　Then；　following　up　the　subject；　he　spoke　of　the　peculiar　and　laughable　customs　and　habits　of　the　Chinese；　thus　causing　even　the　proud　queen　to　laugh　at　his　humorous　descriptions。

Count　Bruhl　was　suddenly　interrupted　in　an　unusual　manner。

His　secretary；　Willmar；　approached　the　royal　table；　and　without　a　word　of　excuse；　without　greeting　the　king；　handed　the　count　a　sealed　package！

This　was　such　a　crime　against　courtly　etiquette　that　the　count；　from　sheer　amazement；　made　no　excuses　to　the　king；　he　only　cast　a　threatening　look　at　the　secretary。　But　as　he　encountered　Willmar's　pale；　terrified　countenance；　a　tremor　seized　him；　and　he　cast　an　eager　glance　upon　the　papers　in　his　hand；　which；　no　doubt；　contained　the　key　to　all　this　mystery。　〃They　are　from　the　commandant　at　Leipsic；〃　whispered　the　secretary；　〃I　entreat　your　excellency　to　read　them。〃

Before　the　count　had　time；　however；　to　open　the　dispatch；　a　still　stranger　event　took　place。

The　Prussian　ambassador；　who；　upon　the　plea　of　illness；　had　declined　Count　Bruhl's　invitation；　suddenly　appeared　in　the　garden；　accompanied　by　the　four　secretaries　of　his　legation；　and　approached　the　royal　table。　Upon　his　countenance　there　was　no　sign　of　sickness；　but　rather　an　expression　of　great　joy。

As　he　neared　the　tent；　the　gay　song　and　merry　jest　ceased。　Every　eye　was　fixed　inquiringly　upon　the　individual　who　had　dared　to　disturb　this　fete　by　his　presence。　The　music；　which　had　before　filled　the　air　with　joyous　sounds；　was　now　playing　a　heart…breaking　air。

Count　Bruhl　now　arose　and　advanced。　He　greeted　the　Prussian　ambassador　in　a　few　cold；　ceremonious　words。

But　Count　Mattzahn's　only　answer　to　this　greeting　was　a　silent　bow。　He　then　said；　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　be　heard　by　the　king　and　queen：

〃Count　Bruhl；　as　ambassador　of　the　King　of　Prussia；　I　request　you　to　demand　an　audience　for　me　at　once　from　the　King　of　Saxony。　I　have　an　important　dispatch　from　my　king。〃

Count　Bruhl；　struck　with　terror；　could　only　gaze　at　him；　he　had　not　the　strength　to　answer。

But　King　Augustus；　rising　from　his　seat；　said：

〃The　ambassador　of　my　royal　brother　can　approach；　I　consent　to　grant　him　this　audience；　it　is　demanded　in　so　strange　a　manner；　it　must　surely　have　some　important　object。〃

The　count　entered　the　royal　tent。

〃Is　it　your　majesty's　wish；〃　said　Mattzahn；　solemnly；　〃that　all　these　noble　guests　shall　be　witnesses？　I　am　commanded　by　my　royal　master　to　demand　a　private　audience。〃

〃Draw　the　curtain！〃　said　the　king。

Count　Bruhl；　with　trembling　fingers；　drew　the　golden　cord；　and　the　heavy　curtains　fell　to　the　ground。　They　were　now　completely　separated　from　the　guests。

〃And　now；　count；〃　said　the　king；　taking　his　seat　by　his　proud；　silent　queen；　〃speak。〃

Bowing　profoundly；　Count　Mattzahn　drew　a　dispatch　from　his　pocket；　and　read　in　a　loud；　earnest　voice。

It　was　a　manifesto　from　the　King　of　Prussia；　written　by　himself　and　addressed　to　all　the　European　courts。　In　it；　Frederick　denied　being　actuated　by　any　desire　of　conquest　or　gain；　but　declared　that　he　was　compelled　to　commence　this　war　to　which　Austria　had　provoked　him　by　her　many　and　prolonged　insults。　There　was　a　pause　when　the　count　finished　reading。　Upon　the　gentle；　amiable　countenance　of　the　king　there　was　now　an　angry　look。　The　queen　was　indifferent；　cold；　and　haughty；　she　seemed　to　have　paid　no　attention　whatever　to　Count　Mattzahn；　but；　turning　to　the　princess　at　her　side；　she　asked　a　perfectly　irrelevant　question；　which　was　answered　in　a　whisper。

Countess　Bruhl　dared　not　raise　her　eyes；　she　did　not　wish　her　faithless　lover；　Count　Mattzahn；　whose　cunning　political　intrigues　she　now　perfectly　understood；　to　see　her　pain　and　confusion。　The　prince…elector；　well　aware　of　the　importance　of　this　hour；　stood　at　the　king's　side；　behind　him　was　Count　Bruhl；　whose　handsome；　sparkling　countenance　was　now　deadly　pale。

Opposite　to　this　agitated　group；　stood　the　Prussian　ambassador；　whose　haughty；　quiet　appearance　presented　a　marked　contrast。　His　clear；　piercing　glance　rested　upon　each　one　of　them；　and　seemed　to　fathom　every　thought　of　their　souls。　His　tall；　imposing　form　was　raised　proudly；　and　there　was　an　expression　of　the　noblest　satisfaction　upon　his　countenance。　After　waiting　some　time　in　vain　for　an　answer；　he　placed　the　manifesto　before　the　king。

〃With　your　majesty's　permission；　I　will　now　add　a　few　words；〃　said　he。

〃Speak！〃　said　the　king；　laconically。

〃His　majesty；　my　royal　master；〃　continued　Count　Mattzahn；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃has　commissioned　me　to　give　your　majesty　the　most　quieting　assurances；　and　to　convince　you　that　his　march　through　Saxony　has　no　purpose　inimical　to　you；　but　that　he　only　uses　it　as　a　passway　to　Bohemia。〃

The　king's　countenance　now　became　dark　and　stern；　even　the　queen　lost　some　of　her　haughty　indifference。

〃How？〃　said　the　king；　〃Frederick　of　Prussia　does　us　the　honor　to　pass　through　our　land　without　permission？　He　intends　coming　to　Saxony？〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Mattzahn；　with　a　slight　smile；　〃his　majesty　is　already　there！　Yesterday　his　army；　divided　into　three　columns；　passed　the　Saxon　borders！〃

The　king　rose　hastily　from　his　seat。　The　queen　was　deadly　pale；　her　lips　trembled；　but　she　remained　silent；　an