frederick the great and his family-第74部分

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　her　grief　in　stoical　indifference；　to　still　the　groans　of　agony　which；　like　the　last　sighs　from　a　death…bed；　rang　from　her　breast。

The　princess　suffered　not　only　from　mental　anguish；　her　body　was　as　sick　as　her　soul。　The　worm　gnawing　at　her　heart　was　also　devouring　her　body；　but　neither　for　body　nor　soul　would　she　accept　a　physician；　she　refused　all　sympathy　for　intellectual　and　physical　pain。　Amelia　suffered　and　was　silent；　and　only　when　as　now　she　was　certain　there　was　no　eye　to　see；　no　ear　to　hear　her　complaints；　did　she　give　utterance　to　them。　And　now　the　maid　entered　and　announced　Madame　du　Trouffle　and　the　prophet。

〃Let　them　enter；〃　said　the　princess　in　a　hollow；　death…like　voice；　〃let　them　enter；　and　remain　yourself；　Fraulein　Lethow；　the　soothsayer　shall　tell　your　fortune。〃

The　door　opened；　and　Madame　du　Trouffle　entered。　She　was　gay　and　lovely　as　ever；　and　drew　near　the　princess　with　a　charming　smile。　Amelia　returned　her　salutation　coldly　and　carelessly。

〃How　many　hours　have　you　spent　at　your　toilet　to…day？〃　said　she；　roughly；　〃and　where　do　you　buy　the　rouge　with　which　you　have　painted　your　cheeks？〃

〃Ah；　your　royal　highness；〃　said　Louise；　smiling；　〃Nature　has　been　kind　to　me；　and　has　painted　my　cheeks　with　her　own　sweet　and　cunning　hand。〃

〃Then　Nature　is　in　covenant　with　you；　and　helps　you　to　deceive　yourself　to　imagine　that　you　are　yet　young。　I　am　told　that　your　daughter　is　grown　up　and　wondrously　beautiful；　and　that　only　when　you　stand　near　her　is　it　seen　how　old　and　ugly　you　are。〃

Louise　knew　the　rancor　of　the　unhappy　princess；　and　she　knew　no　one　could　approach　her　without　being　woundedthat　the　undying　worm　in　her　soul　was　only　satisfied　with　the　blood　it　caused　to　flow。　The　harsh　words　of　the　princess　had　no　sting　for　her。　〃If　I　were　truly　old；〃　said　she；　〃I　would　live　in　my　daughter：　she　is　said　to　be　my　image；　and　when　she　is　praised；　I　feel　myself　flattered。〃

〃A　day　will　come　when　she　will　be　blamed　and　you　will　also　be　reproached；〃　murmured　Amelia。　After　a　pause　she　said：　〃So　you　have　brought　me　another　deceiver　who　declares　himself　a　prophet？〃

〃I　do　not　believe　him　to　be　an　impostor；　your　highness。　He　has　given　me　convincing　proofs　of　his　inspiration。〃

〃What　sort　of　proofs？　How　can　these　people　who　prophesy　of　the　future　prove　that　they　are　inspired？〃

〃He　has　not　told　me　of　the　future；　but　of　the　past；〃　said　Louise。

〃Has　he　had　the　courage　to　recall　any　portion　of　your　past　to　you？〃　said　the　princess；　with　a　coarse　laugh。

〃Many　droll　and　merry　portions；　your　highness；　and　it　is　to　be　regretted　that　they　were　all　true；〃　she　said；　with　comic　pathos。

〃Bring　in　this　soothsayer；　Fraulein　von　Lethow。　He　shall　prophesy　of　you：　I　think　you　have　not；　like　Madame　du　Trouffle；　any　reason　to　fear　a　picture　of　your　past。〃

The　prophet　entered。　He　was　wrapped　in　a　long　black　robe；　which　was　gathered　around　his　slender　form　by　a　black　leathern　girdle　covered　with　curious　and　strange　figures　and　emblems；　raven　black　hair　fell　around　his　small；　pale　face；　his　eyes　burned　with　clouded　fire；　and　flashed　quickly　around　the　room。　With　head　erect　and　proud　bearing；　he　drew　near　the　princess；　and　only　when　very　near　did　he　salute　her；　and　in　a　sweet；　soft；　melodious　voice；　asked　why　she　wished　to　see　him。

〃If　you　are　truly　a　prophet；　you　will　know　my　reasons。〃

〃Would　you　learn　of　the　past？〃　said　he；　solemnly。

〃And　why　not　first　of　the　future？〃

〃Because　your　highness　distrusts　me　and　would　prove　me。　Will　you　permit　me　to　take　my　cards？　If　you　allow　it；　I　will　first　prophesy　to　this　lady。〃　He　took　a　mass　of　soiled；　curiously　painted　cards；　and　spread　them　out　before　him　on　the　table。　He　took　the　hand　of　Fraulein　Lethow　and　seemed　to　read　it　earnestly；　and　now；　in　a　low；　musical　voice；　he　related　little　incidents　of　the　past。　They　were　piquant　little　anecdotes　which　had　been　secretly　whispered　at　the　court；　but　which　no　one　dared　to　speak　aloud；　as　Fraulein　Lethow　passed　for　a　model　of　virtue　and　piety。

She　received　these　developments　of　the　prophet　with　visible　scorn。　In　place　of　laughing；　and　by　smiling　indifference　bringing　their　truth　in　question；　she　was　excited　and　angry；　and　thus　prepared　for　the　princess　some　gay　and　happy　moments。

〃I　dare　not　decide；〃　said　Amelia；　as　the　prophet　ceased；　〃whether　what　you　have　told　is　true　or　false。　Fraulein　Lethow　alone　can　know　that；　but　she　will　not　be　so　cruel　as　to　call　you　an　impostor；　for　that　would　prevent　me　from　having　my　fortune　told。　Allow　me；　therefore；　to　believe　that　you　have　spoken　the　truth。　Now　take　your　cards　and　shuffle　them。〃

〃Does　your　highness　wish　that　I　should　tell　you　of　the　past？〃　said　the　soothsayer；　in　a　sharp　voice。

The　princess　hesitated。　〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃of　my　past。　But　no；　I　will　first　hear　a　little　chapter　out　of　the　life　of　my　chaste　and　modest　Louise。　Now；　now；　madame；　you　have　nothing　to　fear；　you　are　pure　and　innocent；　and　this　little　recitation　of　your　by…gone　days　will　seem　to　us　a　chapter　from　'La　Pucelle　d'Orleans。'〃

〃I　dare　to　oppose　myself　to　this　lecture；〃　said　Louise；　laughing。　〃There　are　books　which　should　only　be　read　in　solitude；　and　to　that　class　belong　the　volumes　of　my　past　life。　I　am　ready　in　the　presence　of　your　highness　to　have　my　future　prophesied；　but　of　my　past　I　will　hear　nothingI　know　too　much　already。〃

〃Had　I　been　alone　with　Fraulein　Lethow；　I　should　have　told　her　many　other　things；　and　she　would　have　been　forced　to　believe　in　my　power。　Only　when　these　cards　are　under　your　eyes　is　my　spirit　clear。〃

〃I　must；　then；　in　order　to　know　the　whole　truth　from　you；　be　entirely　alone？〃　said　the　princess。

The　prophet　bowed　silently。　Amelia　fixed　a　piercing　glance　upon　him；　and　nodded　to　her　ladies。

〃Go　into　the　next　room；〃　said　she。　〃And　now；〃　said　the　princess；　〃you　can　begin。〃

The　magician；　instead　of　taking　the　cards；　knelt　before　the　princess　and　kissed　the　hem　of　her　robe。　〃I　pray　for　mercy　and　forgiveness；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　nothing　but　a　poor　impostor！　In　order　to　reach　the　presence　of　your　royal　highness；　I　have　disguised　myself　under　this　mask；　which　alone　made　it　possible。　But　I　swear　to　you；　princess；　no　one　knows　of　this　attempt；　no　one　can　ever　know　itI　alone　am　guilty。　Pardon；　then；　princesspardon　for　this　bold　act。　I　was　forced　to　this　stepforced　to　clasp　your　kneesto　implore　you　in　your　greatness　and　magnanimity；　to　stand　by　me！　I　was　impelled　irresistibly；　for　I　had　sworn　a　fearful　oath　to　do　this　thing。〃

〃To　whom　have　you　sworn？〃　said　the　princess；　sternly。　〃Who　are　you？　what　do　you　ask　of　me？〃

〃I　am　Count　Ranuzi；　Austrian　captain　and　prisoner　of　war。　I　implore　you；　noble　princess；　to　have　mercy　upon　a　poor；　helpless　prisoner；　consumed　with　grief　and　despair。　God　and　the　world　have　forsaken　him；　but　he　has　one　protecting　angel　in　whom　he　trusts；　to　whom　he　praysand　her　name　is　Amelia！　He　is　bound　in　chains　like　a　wild　beasta　hard　stone　is　his　couch；　and　a　vault　beneath　is　his　grave　he　is　living　and　buriedhis　heart　lives　and　heaves　and　calls　to　you；　princess；　for　rescue。〃

The　Princess　Amelia　shrank　back　trembling　and　groaning　on　the　sofa；　her　eyes　were　wide　open；　and　staring　in　the　distance。　After　a　long　pause；　she　said；　slowly：　〃Call　his　name。〃

〃Frederick　von　Trenck！〃

Amelia　shuddered；　and　uttered　a　low　cry。　〃Trenck！〃　repeated　she；　softly；　〃oh；　what　sad　melody　lies　in　that　word！　It　is　like　the　death…cry　of　my　youth。　I　think　the　very　air　must　weep　when　this　name　vibrates　upon　it。　Trenck；　Trenck！　How　beautiful；　how　lovely　that　sounds；　it　is　a　sweet；　harmonious　song；　it　sings　to　me　softly　of　the　only　happiness　of　my　life。　Ah；　how　long；　how　long　since　this　song　was　silenced！　All　within　me　is　desolate！　On　every　side　my　heart　is　tornon　every　side！　Oh；　so　drear；　so　fearful！　All！　all！〃　Lost　in　her　own　thoughts；　these　words　had　been　slowly　uttered。　She　had　forgotten　that　she　was　not　alone　with　her　remembrances；　which　like　a　cloud　had　gathered　round　about　her　and　shut　off　the　outward　world。

Ranuzi　did　not　dare　to　recall　her　thoughtshe　still　knelt　at　her　feet。

Suddenly　her　whole　frame　trembled；　and　she　sprang　up。　〃My　God！　I　dream；　while　he　calls　me！　I　am　idly　musing；　and　Trenck　has　need　of　me。　Speak；　sir；　speak！　What　do　you　know　of　him？　Have　you　seen　him？　Did　he　send　you　to　me？〃

〃He　sent　me；　your　highness；　but　I　have　not　seen　him。　Have　the　grace　to　listen　to　me。　Ah；　your　highness；　in　what　I　now　say　I　lay　the　safety　of　a　dear　and　valued　friend；　yes；　his　life；　at　your　feet。　One　word　from　you；　and　he　will　be　delivered　over　to　a　court…martial　and　be　shot。　But　you　will　not　speak　that　wordyou　are　an　angel　of　mercy。〃

〃Speak；　sirspeak；　sir；〃　said　Amelia；　breathlessly。　〃My　God！　do　you　not　see　that　I　am　dying　from　agitation？〃

〃Princess；　Trenck　liveshe　is　in　chainshe　is　in　a　hole　under　the　earthbut　he　lives；　and　as　long　as　he　has　life；　he　hopes　in　you　has　wild　dreams　of　liberty；　and　his　friends　think　and　hope　with　him。　Trenck　has　friends　who　are　ready　to　offer　up　their　lives　for　him。　One　of　them　is　in　the　fortress　of　Magdeburghe　is　lieutenant　of　the　guard；　another　is　a　Captain　Kimsky；　prisoner　of　war；　I　am　a　third。　I　have　known　Trenck　since　my　youth。　In　our　beautiful　days　of　mirth　and　revelry；　we　swore　to　stand　by　each　other　in　every　danger。　The　moment　has　come　to　fulfil　my　oathTrenck　is　a　prisoner；　and　I　must　help　to　liberate　him。　Our　numbers　are　few　and　dismemberedwe　need　allies　in　the　fortress；　and　still　more　in　the　city。　We　need　powerful　assistance；　and　no　one　but　your　highness　can　obtain　it　for　us。〃

〃I　have　an　assured　and　confidential　friend　in　Magdeburg；〃　said　the　princess；　〃at　a　hint　from　me　he　will　be　ready　to　stand　by　you　to〃

Suddenly　she　was　silent；　and　cast　a　searching；　threatening　glance　at　Ranuzi。　She　had　been　too　often　deceived　and　circumventedsnares　had　been　too　often　laid　at　her　feetshe　was　distrustful。　〃No；　no；〃　said　she；　at　last；　sternly；　rudely〃I　will　take　no　part　in　this　folly。　Go；　sirgo。　You　are　a　poor　soothsayer；　and　I　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　you。〃

Ranuzi　smiled；　and　drew　a　folded　paper　from　his　bosom；　which　he　handed　to　the　princess。　It　contained　these　words：　〃Count　Ranuzi　is　an　honest　manhe　can　be　trusted　unconditionally。〃　Under　these　words　was　written：　〃Nel　tue　giorni　felici；　vicordati　da　me。〃

The　breast　of　Ame