frederick the great and his family-第6部分

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　and　bowing　graciously；　moved　on。

It　was；　therefore；　natural　that；　when　the　king　left；　all　were　anxious　to　congratulate　the　young　lieutenant；　and　ask　him　what　the　king　had　whispered。　But　Baron　Kaphengst　avoided；　with　dignified　gravity；　all　inquiries；　and　only　whispered　to　his　commander　softly；　but　loud　enough　for　every　one　to　hear；　the　words；　〃State　secrets；〃　then　bowing　profoundly；　returned　with　an　earnest　and　grave　face　to　his　dwelling；　there　to　meditate　at　his　leisure　upon　the　king's　wordswords　both　gracious　and　cruel；　announcing　his　advancement；　but　at　the　same　time　condemning　him　to　secrecy。

The　king's　words　were：　〃You　are　a　captain；　but　he　is　a　scoundrel　who　repeats　it！〃

Thus　Baron　Kaphengst　was　captain；　but　no　one　suspected　it；　the　captain　remained　a　simple　lieutenant　in　the　eyes　of　the　world。




CHAPTER　VI。

THE　LEGACY　OF　VON　TRENCK；　COLONEL　OF　THE　PANDOURS。


Baron　Weingarten；　the　new　secretary　of　legation　of　the　Austrian　embassy　in　Berlin；　paced　the　ambassador's　office　in　great　displeasure。　It　was　the　hour　in　which　all　who　had　affairs　to　arrange　with　the　Austrian　ambassador；　passports　to　vise；　contracts　to　sign；　were　allowed　entrance；　and　it　was　the　baron's　duty　to　receive　them。　But　no　one　came；　no　one　desired　to　make　use　of　his　ability　or　his　mediation；　and　this　displeased　the　baron　and　put　him　out　of　humor。　It　was　not　the　want　of　work　and　activity　that　annoyed　him；　the　baron　would　have　welcomed　the　dolce　far　niente　had　it　not　been　unfortunately　connected　with　his　earnings；　the　fees　he　received　for　passports；　and　the　arrangement　of　other　affairs；　formed　part　of　his　salary　as　secretary　of　legation；　and　as　he　possessed　no　fortune；　this　was　his　only　resource。　This　indigence　alone　led　him　to　resign　his　aristocratic　independence　and　freedom　of　action。　He　had　not　entered　the　state　service　from　ambition；　but　for　money；　that　he　might　have　the　means　of　supporting　his　mother　and　unmarried　sisters；　and　enable　himself　to　live　according　to　his　rank　and　old　aristocratic　name。　Baron　Weingarten　would　have　made　any　sacrifice；　submitted　to　any　service；　to　obtain　wealth。　Poverty　had　demoralized　him；　pride　had　laid　a　mildew　on　his　heart　and　stifled　all　noble　aspirations。　As　he　read　a　letter；　just　received　from　his　mother；　complaining　of　wants　and　privations；　telling　of　the　attachment　of　a　young　officer　to　his　sister；　and　that　poverty　alone　prevented　their　marriage；　his　heart　was　filled　with　repining；　and　at　this　moment　he　was　prepared　to　commit　a　crime；　if；　by　so　doing；　he　could　have　obtained　wealth。

In　this　despairing　and　sorrowful　mood　he　had　entered　the　office；　and　awaited　in　vain　for　petitioners　who　would　pay　him　richly　for　his　services。　But　the　hours　passed　in　undisturbed　quiet；　and　Baron　Weingarten　was　in　the　act　of　leaving　the　office；　as　the　servant　announced　Baron　von　Waltz；　and　the　court　councillor；　Zetto；　from　Vienna。

He　advanced　to　meet　the　two　gentlemen；　with　a　smiling　countenance；　and　welcomed　his　Austrian　countrymen　heartily。

The　two　gentlemen　seated　themselves　silently；　Weingarten　took　a　seat　in　front　of　them。

A　painful；　embarrassed　pause　ensued。　The　majestic　Baron　von　Waltz　looked　silently　at　the　ceiling；　while　the　black；　piercing　eyes　of　the　little　Councillor　Zetto　examined　the　countenance　of　Weingarten　with　a　strangely　searching　and　penetrating　expression。

〃You　are　from　Vienna？〃　said　Weingarten　at　last；　putting　an　end　to　this　painful　silence。

〃We　are　from　Vienna；〃　answered　the　baron；　with　a　grave　bow。　〃And　have　travelled　here　post…haste　to　have　an　interview　with　you。〃

〃With　me？〃　asked　the　secretary　of　legation；　astonished。

〃With　you　alone；〃　said　the　baron；　gravely。

〃We　wish　you　to　do　the　King　of　Prussia　a　great　service；〃　said　Zetto；　solemnly。

Weingarten　reddened；　and　said　confusedly：　〃The　King　of　Prussia！　You　forget；　gentlemen；　that　my　services　belong　alone　to　the　Empress　Maria　Theresa。〃

〃He　defends　himself　before　he　is　accused；〃　said　Zetto；　aside。　〃It　is　then　true；　as　we　have　been　told；　he　is　playing　a　double　gameserves　Austria　and　Prussia　at　the　same　time。〃　Turning　to　Baron　Weingarten；　he　said：　〃That　which　we　ask　of　you　will　be　at　the　same　time　a　service　to　our　gracious　empress；　for　certainly　it　would　not　only　distress；　but　compromise　her　majesty；　if　an　Austrian　officer　committed　a　murder　in　Prussia。〃

〃Murder！〃　cried　the　secretary　of　legation。

〃Yes；　an　intentional　murder；〃　said　Baron　Waltz；　emphatically〃the　murder　of　the　King　of　Prussia。　If　you　prevent　this　crime；　you　will　receive　ten　thousand　guilders；〃　said　Zetto；　examining　Weingarten's　countenance　closely。　He　remarked　that　the　baron；　who　was　but　a　moment　ago　pale　from　terror；　now　reddened；　and　that　his　eyes　sparkled　joyously。

〃And　what　can　I　do　to　prevent　this　murder？〃　asked　Weingarten；　hastily。

〃You　can　warn　the　king。〃

〃But　to　warn　successfully；　I　must　have　proofs。〃

〃We　are　ready　to　give　the　most　incontrovertible　proofs。〃

〃I　must；　before　acting；　be　convinced　of　the　veracity　of　your　charges。〃

〃I　hope　that　my　word　of　honor　will　convince　you　of　their　truth；〃　said　Baron　Waltz；　pathetically。

Weingarten　bowed；　with　an　ambiguous　smile；　that　did　not　escape　Zetto。　He　drew　forth　his　pocket…book；　and　took　from　it　a　small；　folded　paper；　which　he　handed　to　Weingarten。

〃If　I　strengthen　my　declaration　with　this　paper；　will　you　trust　me？〃

Weingarten　looked　with　joyful　astonishment　at　the　paper；　it　was　a　check　for　two　thousand　guilders。　〃My　sister's　dowry；〃　thought　Weingarten；　with　joy。　But　the　next　moment　came　doubt　and　suspicion。　What　if　they　were　only　trying　himonly　convincing　themselves　if　he　could　be　bought？　Perhaps　he　was　suspected　of　supplying　the　Prussian　Government　from　time　to　time　with　Austrian　newsof　communicating　to　them　the　contents　of　important　dispatches！

The　fire　faded　from　his　eye；　and　with　a　firm　countenance　he　laid　the　paper　upon　the　table。

〃Your　are　mistaken；　gentlemen！　That　is　no　document；　but　a　check。〃

〃With　which　many　documents　could　be　purchased；〃　said　Zetto；　smiling。　Placing　the　paper　again　in　his　pocket…book；　he　took　out　another　and　a　larger　one。　It　was　a　check　for　three　thousand　guilders。

But　Weingarten　had　regained　his　composure。　He　knew　that　men　acting　thus　must　be　spies　or　criminals；　that　they　were　testing　him；　or　luring　him　on　to　some　unworthy　act。　In　either　case；　he　must　be　on　his　guard。

〃I　beg　you　to　confirm　your　charge　in　the　usual　manner；〃　said　he；　with　a　cold；　indifferent　glance　at　the　paper。　〃Murder　is　a　dreadful　accusationyou　cannot　act　too　carefully。　You　say　that　an　Austrian　officer　intends　to　murder　the　King　of　Prussia。　How　do　you　know　this？〃

〃From　himself；〃　said　Baron　Waltz。　〃He　communicated　his　intentions　to　me；　and　confided　to　me　his　entire　plan。〃

〃It　appears；〃　remarked　Weingarten；　mockingly；　〃that　the　officer　had　reason　to　believe　he　might　trust　you　with　this　terrible　secret。〃

〃You　see；　however；　that　he　was　mistaken；〃　said　the　baron；　smilingly。　〃I　demand　of　you　to　warn　the　King　of　Prussia　of　the　danger　that　threatens　him。〃

〃I　shall　be　compelled　to　make　this　danger　clear；　give　all　particulars；　or　the　king　will　laugh　at　my　story　and　consider　it　a　fairy　tale。〃

〃You　shall　give　him　convincing　proof。　Say　to　him　that　the　murder　is　to　be　committed　when　his　majesty　attends　the　Austrian　review　at　Konigsberg。〃

〃How　will　the　officer　cross　the　Prussian　border？〃

〃He　is　supplied　with　an　Austrian　passport；　and　under　the　pretence　of　inheriting　a　large　property　in　Prussia；　he　has　obtained　leave　of　absence　for　a　month。〃

〃There　remains　now　but　one　question：　why　does　the　officer　wish　to　murder　the　king？　What　motive　leads　him　to　do　so？〃

〃Revenge；〃　said　Baron　von　Waltz；　solemnly〃an　act　of　vengeance。　This　Austrian　officer　who　is　resolved　to　murder　the　king　of　Prussia；　is　Frederick　von　Trenck。〃

Weingarten　was　embarrassed；　and　his　countenance　bore　an　uneasy　and　troubled　expression。　But　as　his　eye　fell　upon　the　weighty　paper　that　lay　before　him；　he　smiled；　and　looked　resolved。

〃Now　I　have　but　one　thing　more　to　ask。　Why；　if　your　story　is　authentic；　and　well　calculated　to　startle　even　the　brave　king；　have　you　thought　it　necessary　to　remove　my　doubts　with　this　document？〃

Baron　Waltz　was　silent；　and　looked　inquiringly　at　Zetto。

〃Why　did　I　hand　you　this　document？〃　said　the　councillor；　with　a　sweet　smile。　〃Because　gold　remains　gold；　whether　received　from　an　Austrian　councillor　or　from　a　Prussian　prince。〃

〃Sir；　do　you　dare　to　insult　me？〃　cried　the　secretary　of　legation；　fiercely。

Zetto　smiled。　〃No；　I　only　wish　to　notify　you　that　we　are　aware　that　it　is　through　you　that　Baron　von　Trenck　receives　money　from　a　certain　aristocratic　lady　in　Berlin。　It　is；　therefore；　most　important　that　the　king　should　be　warned　by　you　of　his　intended　murderotherwise　you　might　be　thought　an　accomplice。〃

Weingarten　appeared　not　to　be　in　the　least　disconcerted　by　this　statementhe　seemed　not　even　to　have　heard　it。

〃Before　I　warn　the　king；〃　he　said；　with　calm　composure；　〃I　must　be　convinced　of　the　truth　of　the　story　myself；　and　I　acknowledge　to　you　that　I　am　not　convinced；　cannot　understand　your　motives　for　seeking　the　destruction　of　Baron　von　Trenck。〃

〃Ah！　you　search　into　our　motivesyou　mistrust　us；〃　cried　Zetto；　hastily。　〃Well；　we　will　prove　to　you　that　we　trust　you；　by　telling　you　our　secret。　You　know　the　story　of　the　inheritance　of　Trenck？〃

〃He　is　the　only　heir　of　the　pandour　chieftain；　Franz　von　Trenck。〃

〃Correct。　And　do　you　know　the　history　of　this　pandour　chieftain　Trenck？〃

〃I　have　heard　a　confused　and　uncertain　statement；　but　nothing　definite　or　reliable。〃

〃It　is；　however；　a　very　interesting　and　instructive　story；　and　shows　how　far　a　man　with　a　determined　will　and　great　energy　can　reach；　when　his　thoughts　are　directed　to　one　end。　Baron　Trenck　wished　to　be　rich；　immensely　richthat　was　the　aim　of　his　life。　Seduced　by　his　love　of　money；　he　became　the　captain　of　a　band　of　robbers；　then　a　murderer；　a　church…robber；　from　that　a　brave　soldier；　and；　at　last；　a　holy　penitent。　Robbing　and　plundering　every…where；　he　succeeded　in　collecting　millions。　The　pandour　chieftain　Trenck　soon　became　so　rich；　that　he　excited　the　envy　of　the　noblest　and　wealthiest　men　in　the　kingdom；　so　rich　that　he　was　able　to　lend　large　sums　of　money　to　the　powerful　and　influ