louisa of prussia and her times-第120部分

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Austrians；　under　Tilly　and　Wallenstein；　were　pursuing　precisely　the
same　course　now　followed　by　the　French；　and　if　their　emperor　draws
no　other　lessons　from　that　war；　he　has　closely　copied；　at　least；　the
system　of　obtaining　supplies　for　an　army　which　was　then　in　use。
Trustworthy　men　have　assured　us　that　the　French　ruler；　when　in
Munich　the　most　urgent　remonstrances　concerning　the　oppressions
under　which　the　people　of　Bavaria　were　groaning　were　made　to　him；
replied　in　cold　blood：　〃My　soldiers　have　not　done　so。　These　are
times　of　warlet　me　alone；　and　do　not　disturb　my　plans。〃　Already　in
December　last　the　treaty　of　Presburg　was　signed；　and　from　that
moment　Austria　had　the　prospect　of　getting　rid　of　her　enemies。　Had
Bavaria　not　an　equal　right　to　enjoy　the　advantages　of　this　treaty？
These　advantages　could　be　none　other　than　that　the　French　army　left
the　Bavarian　territories　and　relieved　the　people　from　further
oppressions。　But　just　the　reverse　took　place。　The　French　withdrew
from　the　states　of　the　German　emperor　to　occupy　Bavaria；　and
celebrate　here；　by　the　ruin　of　all　the　inhabitants；　their　victories
in　orgies　and　carousals　continued　for　many　months。　If　I　refer　to　the
ruin　of　the　inhabitants；　the　words　should　be　taken　in　their　literal
meaning；　and　not　as　an　expression　merely　chosen　to　depict　the　misery
the　French　have　brought　upon　Bavaria。　It　is　not　yet　five　years　since
a　hostile　army　of　the　same　nation　lorded　it　over　that　country。　And
nobody　will　venture　to　assert　that　the　wounds　then　inflicted　upon
the　inhabitants　should　have　been　healed　in　so　short　a　time。　The
farmer；　deprived　of　his　animals；　had　scarcely　commenced　to　provide
himself　again　with　horses　and　cattle；　when　the　passage　of　the
French；　in　every　respect　equal　to　an　invasion；　took　from　him　again
this　important　portion　of　his　personal　property。　Fraud；　cunning；　and
force　were　alternately　resorted　to　for　this　purpose。　Tears　and　the
most　humble　supplications　were　rejected　with　sneers；　and　even　blows。
The　French　called　themselves　〃preservers　of　Bavaria。〃　Forsooth　a
preservation　similar　to　the　fate　of　the　patient　whom　one　doctor
would　have　sooner　sent　into　the　grave；　and　who　is　dying　more　slowly
under　the　hands　of　another。　If　friendship　ever　was　a　mockery；　it　was
so　on　this　occasion。　But　it　is　part　of　Napoleon's　plans　to　exhaust
Germany　to　such　an　extent　as　to　render　her　incapable　of　becoming
dangerous　for　him　even　in　the　most　remote　future。　He　selected
several　highly　effective　expedients　for　this　purpose。　Dynasties；　the
ancestors　of　which　date　back　to　the　most　remote　ages；　and　one　of
which　long　since　produced　emperors　and　kings；　were　united　with
Bonaparte's　family　by　the　closest　ties　of　blood；　and　thus　the　ruler
of　France　has　already　become　the　relative　of　the　courts　of　Baden；
Bavaria；　Sweden；　and　Russia。　Not　content　with　this；　he　offered　royal
crowns　to　Bavaria　and　Wurtemberg；　and　the　German　emperor　had　to
assent　to　this　measure　in　the　treaty　of　Presburg。　Thus　Germany　has
got　two　new　kingdoms；　and'〃　＇Footnote：　From　the　celebrated
pamphlet。　〃Germany　in　her　Deepest　Degradation。〃＇

〃Oh；　I　implore　you；　do　not　read　any　further；〃　exclaimed　Anna；
suddenly　interrupting　her　husband。　〃It　frightens　me　to　hear　you
repeat　those　threatening　and　angry　words；　they　fall　upon　my　heart
like　a　terrible　accusation　against　you！　Believe　me；　my　beloved；　if
that　proud　and　ambitious　Emperor　Napoleon　should　hear　of　this
terrible　pamphletif　its　contents　should　be　communicated　to　him；
you　would　be　lost：　for；　having　no　one　else　on　whom　to　wreak　his
vengeance；　he　would　revenge　himself　on　you！〃

〃But　he　will　not　have　me　either；〃　said　Palm；　smiling；　〃for　I　shall
take　good　care　not　to　set　foot　on　French　territory；　I　shall　not
leave　Nuremberg；　and　thank　God；　that　is　German　territory。〃

〃But　the　French　frontier　is　close　to　us；　for　wherever　there　are
French　troops　there　is　France。　Napoleon's　arm　reaches　far　beyond　her
frontiers；　and　if　he　wants　to　seize　you　he　will　do　so　in　spite　of
all　boundary…posts；　German　laws；　and　your　own　citizenship。〃

〃There　is　really　something　so　convincing　in　your　fears　that　it　might
almost　infect　me！〃　said　Palm；　musingly。　〃It　would　have　been　better；
perhaps；　after　all；　for　me　not　to　have　come　back；　but　to　remain　in
Prussian　Erlangen！〃

〃Return　thither；〃　exclaimed　Anna；　imploringly；　〃I　beseech　you　by　our
love；　by　our　children；　and　by　our　happiness；　return　to　Erlangen！〃

〃To…morrow；　dearest　Anna！〃　said　Palm；　smiling；　clasping　his　young
wife　in　his　arms〃　to…morrow　it　will　be　time　enough　to　think　of
another　separation。　Now　let　me　take　a　few　hours'　rest；　and　enjoy　the
unutterable　happiness　of　being　at　home　again！at　home　with　my　wife
and　with　my　dear　little　ones！〃




CHAPTER　LVI。

THE　ARREST。


On　the　following　morning　the　rumor　spread　all　over　Nuremberg；　that
Palm；　the　bookseller；　had　returned　and　was　concealed　in　his　house。
The　cook　had　stated　this　in　the　strictest　confidence　to　some　of　her
friends　when　she　had　appeared　on　the　market…place　to　purchase　some
vegetables。　The　friends　had　communicated　the　news；　of　course；
likewise　in　the　strictest　confidence；　to　other　persons；　and　thus　the
whole　city　became　very　soon　aware　of　the　secret。

The　friends　of　the　family　now　hastened　to　go　to　Mrs。　Palm　for　the
purpose　of　ascertaining　from　herself　whether　the　information　were
true。　Anna　denied　it；　however；　she　asserted　she　had　received　this
very　morning　a　letter　written　by　her　husband　at　Erlangen；　but　when
one　of　the　more　importunate　friends　requested　her　to　communicate　the
contents　of　the　letter　to　him；　or　let　him　see　it　at　least；　she
became　embarrassed　and　made　an　evasive　reply。

〃He　is　here！〃　whispered　the　friends　to　each　other；　when　they　left
Mrs。　Anna　Palm。　〃He　is　here；　but　conceals　himself　so　that　the　French
spies　who　have　been　sneaking　around　here　for　the　last　few　days　may
not　discover　his　whereabouts。　It　is　prudent　for　him　to　do　so；　and　we
will　not　betray　him；　but　faithfully　keep　his　secret。〃

But　a　secret　of　which　a　whole　city　is　aware；　and　which　is　being
talked　of　by　all　the　gossips　in　town；　is　difficult　to　keep；　and　it
is　useless　to　make　any　effort　for　the　purpose　of　preventing　it　from
being　betrayed　to　the　enemy。

Palm　did　not　suspect　any　thing　whatever　of　what　was　going　on。　He
deemed　himself　entirely　safe　in　his　wife's　peaceful；　silent　room；
the　windows　of　which；　opening　upon　the　garden；　were　inaccessible　to
spying　eyes；　while　its　only　door　led　to　the　large　store　where　his
two　clerks　were　attending　to　the　business　of　the　firm　and　waiting　on
the　customers　who　ordered　or　purchased　books　of　them。

Anna　had　just　left　the　room　to　consult　with　her　servants　about　the
affairs　of　the　household　and　kitchen；　and　Palm；　who　was　comfortably
stretched　out　on　the　sofa；　was　engaged　in　reading。　The　anxiety　which
had　rendered　him　so　restless　during　the　previous　days　had　left　him
again；　he　felt　perfectly　reassured；　and　smiled　at　his　own　fear　which
had　flitted　past　him　like　a　threatening　cloud。

All　at　once　he　was　startled　from　his　comfortable　repose　by　a　loud
conversation　in　the　store；　and　rose　from　the　divan　in　order　to　hear
what　was　the　matter。

〃I　tell　you　I　am　unable　to　assist　you；〃　he　heard　his　book…keeper
say。　〃I　am　poor　myself；　and　Mr。　Palm　is　not　at　home。〃

〃Mr。　Palm　is　at　home；　and　I　implore　you　let　me　see　him；〃　said　a
strange；　supplicating　voice。　〃He　has　a　generous　heart　and　if　I　tell
him　of　my　distress　he　will　pity　me　and　lend　me　his　assistance。〃

〃Come　back　in　a　few　days；　then；〃　exclaimed　the　book…keeper；　〃Mr。
Palm　will　then　be　back；　perhaps；　from　his　journey。〃

〃In　a　few　days！〃　ejaculated　the　strange　voice〃in　a　few　days　my
wife　and　child　will　be　starved　to　death；　for　unless　I　am　able　to
procure　relief　within　this　hour；　my　cruel　creditor　will　have　me
taken　to　the　debtors'　prison；　and　I　shall　be　unable　then　to　assist
my　sick　wife　and　baby。　Oh；　have　mercy　on　my　distress！　Let　me　see　Mr。
Palm；　that　I　may　implore　his　assistance！〃

〃Mr。　Palm　is　not　at　home　as　I　told　you　already；〃　exclaimed　the　book…
keeper　in　an　angry　voice。　〃How　am　I　to　let　you　see　him；　then？　Come
back　in　a　few　daysthat　is　the　only　advice　I　can　give　you。　Go　now；
and　do　not　disturb　me　any　longer！〃

〃No；　people　shall　never　say　that　I　turned　a　despairing　man　away　from
my　door；〃　muttered　Palm；　rapidly　crossing　the　room　and　opening　the
door　of　the　store。

〃Stay；　poor　man；〃　he　said　to　the　beggar；　who　had　already　turned
around　and　was　about　to　leave　the　store〃stay。〃

The　beggar　turned　around；　and；　on　perceiving　Palm；　who　stood　on　the
threshold　of　the　door；　uttered　a　joyful　cry。

〃Do　you　see；〃　he　said；　triumphantly　to　the　book…keeper〃　do　you　see
that　I　was　right？　Mr。　Palm　is　at　home；　and　will　help　me。〃

〃I　will　help　you　if　I　can；〃　said　Palm；　kindly。　〃What　does　your　debt
amount　to？〃

〃Ah；　Mr。　Palm；　I　owe　my　landlord　a　quarter's　rent；　amounting　to
twenty　florins。　But　if　you　should　be　so　generous　as　to　give　me　half
that　sum；　it　would　be　enough；　for　the　landlord　has　promised　to　wait
three　months；　provided　I　paid　him　now　ten　florins。〃

〃You　shall　have　the　ten　florins；〃　said　Palm。　〃Mr。　Bertram；　pay　this
man　ten　florins；　and　charge　them　to　me。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　Palm；　how　kind　you　are！〃　exclaimed　the　beggar；　joyfully。
〃How　shall　I　ever　be　able　to　thank　you　for　what　you　have　done　for　me
to…day？〃

〃Thank　me　by　being　industrious　and　making　timely　provision　for　your
wife　and　child；　in　order　not　to　be　again　reduced　to　such　distress；〃
said　Palm；　nodding　kindly　to　the　stranger；　and　returning　to　the
adjoining　room。

With　the　ten　florins　which　the　book…keeper　had　paid　to　him；　the
beggar　hastened　into　the　street。　No　sooner　had　he　left　the　threshold
of　Palm's　house　than　the　melancholy　and　despairing　air　disappeared
from　his　face；　which　now　assumed　a　scornful　and　malicious　mien。　With
hasty　steps　he　hurried　over　to　St。　Sebald's　church；　to　the　pillar
yonder；　behind　which　two　men；　wrapped　in　their　cloaks；　were　to　be
seen。

〃Mr。　Palm　is　at　home；〃　said　the　beggar；　grinning。　〃Go　into　the
store；　cross　it　and　enter　the　adjoining　sitting…roomthere　you　will
find　him。　I　have　spied　it　out　for　you；　and　now　give　me　my　pay。〃

〃First　we　must　know　whether　you　have　told　us　the　truth；〃　said　one　of
the　me