frederick the great and his family-第78部分
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take your flowers； because I will not be a messenger of love between you and the prince； because I cannot accept the shame and degradation which such an office would lay upon me。 Princess you have forgotten； but I remember there was a wondrous time in which I； and not the prince； was favored with a like precious gift。 At that time you allowed me to hope that this glowing； inextinguishable feeling which filled my heart； my soul； found an echo in your breast； that at least you would not condemn me to die unheard； misunderstood。〃
〃I knew not at that time that my husband loved me；〃 murmured the princess； 〃I thought I was free and justified in giving that heart which no one claimed to whom I would。〃
〃You had no sooner learned that the prince loved you than you turned from me； proud and cold；〃 said the count； bitterly； 〃relentlessly； without mercy； without pity； you trampled my heart under your feet； and not a glance； not a word showed me that you had any remembrance of the past。 I will tell you what I suffered。 You have a cold heart； it will make you happy to hear of any anguish。 I loved you so madly I almost hated you； in the madness of my passion I cursed you。 I thanked God for the war； which forced me to that for which I had never found the moral strength to leave you。 Yes； I was grateful when the war called me to the fieldI hoped to die。 I did not wish to dishonor my name by suicide。 I was recklessly brave； because I despised lifeI rushed madly into the ranks of the enemy； seeking death at their hands； but God's blessed minister disdained me even as you had done。 I was borne alive from the battle…field and brought to Berlin to be nursed and kindly cared for。 No one knew that here I received daily new and bitter wounds。 You were always cruel； cruel even to the last moment； you saw my sufferings； but you were inexorable。 Oh； princess； it would have been better to refuse me entrance； to banish me from your presence； than to make my heart torpid under the influence of your cold glance； your polished speech； which ever allured me and yet kept me at a distance。 You have played a cruel game with me； princess you mock me to the last。 Shall I be your messenger to the prince？ You know well that I would give my heart's blood for one of those sweet flowers； and you send them by me to another。 My humility； my subjection is at an end； you have sinned against me as a woman； and I have therefore the right to accuse you as a man。 I will not take these flowers！ I will not give them to the prince！ And now I have finishedI beg you to dismiss me。〃
The princess had listened tremblingly； her face became ever paler completely exhausted； she leaned against the wall。
〃Before you go；〃 whispered she； 〃listen to a few words； it may be that the death you seek may be found on the battle…fieldthis may be our last interview in this world； in such a moment we dare speak the truth to each other； from the souls which have been closely veiled； may cloud and darkness be for one moment lifted。 What I now say to you shall go as a sacred secret with you to the grave； if you fall； but if God hears my prayer； and you return； I command you to forget it； never to remind me of it。 You say I have a cold heart。 Alas！ I only choked the flame which raged within me； I would have my honor and my duty burned to ashes。 You say that my eyes are never clouded； that they shed no tears。 Ah！ believe me； I have wept inwardly； and the silent； unseen tears the heart weeps are bitterer than all others。 You reproach me for having received you when you returned here sick and wounded； and for not having closed my doors against you。 I know well that was my duty； and a thousand times I have prayed to God on my knees for strength to do this； but He did not hear me or He had no mercy。 I could not send you off； had my lips spoken the fearful words； the shriek of my heart would have called you back。 My lips had strength to refuse an answer to the question which I read in your face； in your deep dejection； but my heart answered you in silence and tears。 Like you； I could not forgetlike you I remembered the bounteous sweet past。 Now you know allgo！ As you will not take these flowers to the prince； they are yours； were intended for you； I have baptized them with my tears。 Farewell！〃
She gave him the flowers； and without looking toward him； without giving him time to answer； she stepped forward and called her chamberlain。
〃Count Saldow； be kind enough to accompany Count Kalkreuth； and give him the books and papers my husband has ordered。〃
Wilhelmina passed on proudly； calmly； with a smile on her lips； but no one knew what it cost her poor heart。 She did not look back。 Kalkreuth would have given years to take leave once more of the lovely face； to ask pardon for the hard； rude words he had dared to say。 The princess had still the bashful timidity of virtue； after the confession she had made she dared not look upon him。 The count controlled himself； he followed Saldow。 He was bewildered； rapturously giddy。 As he left the castle and entered his carriage he looked up at the window and said： 〃I will not die！I will return！〃… …then pressed the bouquet to his lips and sank back in the carriage。
CHAPTER VIII。
THE NUTSHELLS BEHIND THE FAUTEUIL OF THE QUEEN。
Princess Wilhelmina； as we have said； did not look back； she stepped silently through the ball…room； and approached the Princess Amelia。 She stood for a moment behind a couple who were dancing the Francaise。 The French officers had just taught this dance to the Prussian ladies as the newest Parisian mode。
It was a graceful and coquettish dance； approaching and avoiding； the ladies stood opposite their cavaliers； and advanced with smiling grace； then appeared to fly from them in mocking haste。 They were pursued in artistic tours by their cavaliers； at the end of the dance their hands were clasped in each other's； and they danced through the room with the graceful time and step of the minuet。
Princess Wilhelmina stood silent and unobservant； she knew not the dance was ended； she knew not that the music was silenced。 A softer； sweeter； dearer melody sounded in her ears； she heard the echo of that voice which had spoken scornfully； despairingly； and yet love had been the sweet theme。
The sudden stillness waked her from her dream and she stepped forward。 The general silence was interrupted by the well…known coarse； stern voice of the Princess Amelia。
〃Does this dance please you； Baron Marshal？ The French officers have taught it to our ladies as a return for the dance which our brave Prussian soldiers taught the French at Rossbach； at Rossbach； however； they danced to a quicker； faster tempo。 These Frenchmen are now calling out； 'En avant！' but at Rossbach； I am told； 'En arriere！' was the word of command。〃
A death…like silence followed these sarcastic words of the princess； and throughout the room her mocking； derisive laugh which followed these words was distinctly heard。 She rose； and leaning upon the arm of Baron Marshal； advanced to meet the Princess Wilhelmina； and cast a fierce glance at the officers； who were assembled in groups and talking in low tones but earnestly with each other。
Suddenly Belleville； leaning on another officer； advanced from one of these groups； they walked backward and forward； laughing and chattering loudly； without regarding the presence of the princess。 They then drew near the orchestra； and called out in a jovial tone：
〃Messieurs； have the kindness to play a Dutch waltz； but in the quick time which the Austrians played at Hochkirch； when they drove the Prussians before them； and in which Field…Marshal Broglie played at Bergen； when he tramped upon the Prussians！ Play on； messieurs！ play on！〃
Belleville then danced forward with great levity of manner to Fraulein Marshal； who stood by the side of her father； without saluting her； he seized her hand。
〃Come； ma toute belle；〃 said he； 〃you have played the marble statue long enough for one day； it is time that you should awake to life in my arms。 Come； then； and dance with me your lascivious Dutch waltz； which no respectable woman in France would dare to dance！ Come！ come！〃
Belleville tried to drag Fraulein Marshal forward； but at the instant a powerful and heavy arm was laid upon him； and his hand was dashed off rudely。
〃I have heard you to the end；〃 said Baron Marshal； calmly； 〃I wished to see a little of the renowned gallantry of which the Frenchman is so proud。 It appears to me that a strange ton must now reign in Paris； well suited； perhaps； to the boudoirs of mistresses； but not fitting or acceptable to the ears of respectable women。 I beg you therefore； sir； not to assume this ton in Berlin； I am resolved not to endure it。〃
Belleville laughed aloud； drew very near the baron； and looked him insolently in the face。
〃Who are you； monsieur； who dare take the liberty of begging me； who do not know you； to do or not do any thing？〃
〃I am Baron Marshal； the father of this lady whom you have dared to offend！〃
Belleville laughed still louder than before。
〃Aha！ that is a beautiful fairy tale！ You who are as hideous as a baboon； and have borrowed the eyes of the cat！you the father of the lovely Galatea Marshal！tell that tale to other earsI do not believe in such aberrations of Nature。 I repeat my question： who are you？ what is your name？〃
〃I repeat to you； I am Baron Marshal； the father of this lady。〃
〃You are more credulous； sir； than I am； if you believe that；〃 said Belleville； coarsely。
〃Perhaps I am less credulous than you suppose；〃 said Marshal； quietly。 〃It would； for example； be difficult for me to believe that you are a nobleman。 I can assure you； however； that I am not only noble； but a man of honor。〃
Belleville was in the act of giving a passionate answer； when the doors of the supper…room were thrown open； and a sea of light irradiated the room。
At this moment； the queen and her ladies entered from the card…room； and； at her appearance； every word； every sound was hushed。 Silently； and with a conciliatory smile； the queen passed through the saloon； and seated herself at the table； she then gave the sign to the grand…master； that her guests should be seated。 And now the servants； in golden liveries
