louisa of prussia and her times-第121部分

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〃First　we　must　know　whether　you　have　told　us　the　truth；〃　said　one　of
the　men。　〃It　may　be　all　false。〃

〃But　I　tell　you　I　have　seen　him　with　my　own　eyes；〃　replied　the
beggar。　〃I　stood　in　the　store；　and　cried　and　lamented　in　the　most
heart…rending　manner；　and　protested　solemnly　that　my　wife　and　baby
would　be　starved　to　death；　unless　Mr。　Palm　should　assist　me。　The
book…keeper　refused　my　application；　but　then　I　cried　only　the
louder；　so　as　to　be　heard　by　Mr。　Palm。　And　he　did　hear　me；　he　came
out　of　his　hiding…place　and　gave　me　the　ten　florins　I　asked　him　for。
Here　they　are。〃

〃Well；　if　you　have　got　ten　florins；　that　is　abundant　pay　for　your
treachery；〃　said　the　two　men。　〃It　is　Judas…money。　To　betray　your
benefactor；　who　has　just　made　you　a　generous　present；　forsooth；　only
a　German　could　do　that。〃

They　turned　their　backs　contemptuously　on　the　beggar；　and　walked
across　the　street　toward　Palm's　house。

There　was　nobody　in　the　hall；　and　the　two　men　entered　the　store
without　being　hindered。　Without　replying　to　the　book…keeper　and
second　clerk；　who　came　to　meet　them　for　the　purpose　of　receiving
their　orders；　they　put　off　their　cloaks。

〃French　gens　d'armes；〃　muttered　the　book…keeper；　turning　pale；　and
he　advanced　a　few　steps　toward　the　door　of　the　sitting…room。　One　of
the　gens　d'armes　kept　him　back。

〃Both　of　you　will　stay　here；〃　he　said；　imperiously；　〃we　are　going　to
enter　that　room。　Utter　the　faintest　sound；　the　slightest　warning；
and　we　shall　arrest　both　of　you。　Be　silent；　therefore；　and　let　us　do
our　duty。〃

The　two　clerks　dared　not　stir；　and　saw　with　silent　dismay　that　the
two　gens　d'armes　approached　the　door　of　the　sitting…room　and　hastily
opened　it。

Then　they　heard　a　few　imperious　words；　followed　by　a　loud　cry　of
despair。

〃Oh；　the　poor　woman！〃　muttered　the　book…keeper；　with　quivering　lips；
but　without　moving　from　the　spot。

The　door　of　the　sitting…room；　which　the　gens　d'armes　had　closed；
opened　again；　and　the　two　policemen　stepped　into　the　store；　they　led
Palm　into　it。　Each　of　them　had　seized　one　of　his　arms。

Palm　looked　pale；　and　his　brow　was　clouded；　but　nevertheless　he
walked　forward　like　a　man　who　is　determined　not　to　be　crushed　by　his
misfortunes；　but　to　bear　them　as　manfully　as　possible。　When　he
arrived　in　the　middle　of　the　store；　near　the　table　where　his　two
clerks　were　standing；　he　stopped。

〃Then　you　will　not　give　me　half　an　hour's　time　to　arrange　my
business　affairs　with　my　book…keeper；　and　to　give　him　my　orders？〃　he
asked　the　policemen；　who　wanted　to　drag　him　forward。

〃No；　not　a　minute；〃　they　said。　〃We　have　received　stringent　orders　to
take　you　at　once　to　the　general；　and　if　you　should　refuse　to　follow
us　willingly；　to　iron　you　and　remove　you　forcibly。〃

〃You　see　I　offer　no　resistance　whatever；〃　said　Palm；　contemptuously。
〃Let　us　go。　Bertram；　pray　look　after　my　wifeshe　has　fainted。
Remember　me　to　her　and　to　my　children。　Farewell！〃

The　two　young　men　made　no　reply；　their　tears　choked　their　voices。
But　when　Palm　had　disappeared；　they　rushed　into　the　sitting…room　to
assist　the　unhappy　young　wife。

She　was　lying　on　the　floor；　pale；　rigid；　and　resembling　a　lily
broken　by　the　storm。　Her　eyes　were　half　opened　and　dim；　the　long
braids　of　her　beautiful　light…colored　hair；　which　she　had　just　been
engaged　in　arranging　when　the　gens　d'armes　entered；　fell　down
dishevelled　and　like　curling　snakes　on　her　face　and　shoulders；　from
which　the　small；　transparent；　gauze　handkerchief　had　been　removed。
Her　features；　always　so　lovely　and　gentle；　bore　now　an　expression　of
anger　and　horror；　which　they　had　assumed　when　she　fainted　on　hearing
the　French　policemen　tell　her　husband　that　they　had　come　to　arrest
him；　and　that　he　must　follow　them。

They　succeeded　only　after　long　efforts　in　bringing　her　back　to
consciousness。　But　she　was　not　restored　to　life　by　the　salts　which
her　servant…girl　rubbed　on　her　forehead；　nor　by　the　imploring　words
of　the　book…keeper；　but　by　the　scalding　tears　of　her　little　girls
which　melted　and　warmed　her　frozen　blood　again。

She　raised　herself　with　a　deep　sigh；　and　her　wild；　frightened
glances　wandered　about　the　room；　and　fixed　themselves　searchingly　on
every　form　which　she　beheld　in　it。　When　she　had　satisfied　her…self
that　he　was　not　among　them；　he　whom　her　glances　had　sought　for　so
anxiously；　she　clasped　her　children　with　a　loud　cry　of　horror　in　her
arms　and　pressing　them　convulsively　against　her　bosom；　sobbed
piteously。

But　she　did　not　long　give　way　to　her　grief　and　despair。　She　dried
her　tears　hastily　and　rose。

〃It　is　no　time　now　for　weeping　and　lamenting；〃　she　said；　drawing　a
deep　breath；　〃I　shall　have　time　enough　for　that　afterward；　now　I
must　act　and　see　whether　I　cannot　assist　him。　Do　you　know　whither
they　have　taken　him？〃

〃To　the　headquarters　of　Colomb；　the　French　general；　who　is　stationed
in　this　city；〃　said　the　book…keeper。

〃I　shall　go　to　the　general；　and　he　will　have　to　tell　me　at　least　if
I　cannot　see　my　husband　in　his　prison；〃　she　said；　resolutely。
〃Quick；　Kate；　assist　me　in　dressing…；　arrange　my　hair；　for　you　see
my　hands　are　trembling　violently；　they　are　weaker　than　my　heart。〃

She　rose　to　go　to　her　dressing…room。　But　her　feet　refused　to　serve
her；　she　turned　dizzy；　and　sank　down　overcome　by　a　fresh　swoon。

It　was　only　after　hours　of　the　most　violent　efforts　that　the　poor
young　wife　succeeded　in　recovering　from　the　physical　prostration
caused　by　her　sudden　fright；　and　in　becoming　again　able　to　act
resolutely　and　energetically。　Then；　as　bold　and　courageous　as　an
angry　lioness；　she　was　determined　to　struggle　with　the　whole　world
for　the　beloved　husband　who　had　been　torn　from　her。




CHAPTER　LVII。

A　WIFE'S　LOVE。


Anna　went　in　the　first　place　to　General　Colomb；　and　begged　him　to
grant　her　an　interview。

About　four　hours　had　passed　since　Palm's　arrest　when　the　general
received　her。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃I　know　why　you　have　come　to　me；　you　are　looking
for　your　husband；　but　he　is　no　longer　here　at　my　headquarters。〃

〃No　longer　here？〃　she　ejaculated　in　terror。　〃You　have　sent　him　to
France？　You　intend　to　kill　him；　then？〃

〃The　law　will　judge　him；　madame；〃　said　the　general；　sternly。　〃I　have
myself　examined　him　and　requested　him　to　give　us　the　name　of　the
author　of　this　infamous　libel　which　Mr。　Palm　has　brought　into
general　circulation。　Had　he　done　so；　he　would　no　longer　be　held
responsible；　and　would　have　been　at　liberty　to　return　to　his　house
and　to　you。　But　he　refused　firmly　to　state　the　names　of　the　author
and　printer　of　the　pamphlet。〃

〃He　does　not　know　either！〃　exclaimed　Anna；　〃oh；　believe　me；　sir；
Palm　is　innocent。　That　pamphlet　was　sent　to　him；　together　with　an
anonymous　letter。〃

〃He　ought　to　have　taken　care；　then；　not　to　circulate　it；〃　replied
the　general。　〃It　is　contrary　to　law　to　circulate　a　printed　book；　the
author　and　printer　of　which　are　unknown　to　him　who　circulates　it。〃

〃No；　general；　it　is　not　contrary　to　the　laws　of　the　German　free　city
of　Nuremberg。　By　an　order　of　the　Emperor　of　France；　Nuremberg　has
been　given　to　Bavaria；　but　the　laws　and　privileges　of　our　more
liberal　constitution　were　guaranteed　to　our　ancient　free　city。
Hence；　Palm　has　done　nothing　contrary　to　law。〃

〃We　judge　according　to　our　laws；〃　said　the　general；　shrugging　his
shoulders；　〃wherever　we　are　there　is　France；　and　wherever　we　are
insulted　we　hold　him　who　insults　us　responsible　for　it；　and　punish
him　according　to　our　laws。　Your　husband　has　committed　a　great　crime；
he　has　circulated　a　pamphlet　reviling　France　and　the　Emperor　of　the
French　in　the　most　outrageous　manner。　He　refused　to　mention　the
author　of　this　pamphlet；　so　long　as　he　persists　in　his　refusal；　we
take　him　for　the　author；　and　shall　punish　him　accordingly。　As　he
declined　confessing　any　thing　to　me；　I　have　surrendered　him　to　my
superiors。　Mr。　Palm　left　Nuremberg　two　hours　ago　for　Anspach；　where
Marshal　Bernadotte　is　going　to　judge　him。〃

〃Then　I　shall　go　to　Anspach；　to　Marshal　Bernadotte；〃　said　Anna；　and
without　deigning　to　cast　another　glance　at　the　general；　she　turned
around　and　left　the　room。

She　intended　to　set　out　this　very　hour；　but　her　endeavors　to　find　a
conveyance　to　take　her　to　Anspach　proved　unavailing。　All　the　horses
of　the　postmaster　had　been　retained　for　the　suite　and　baggage…wagons
of　Marshal　Berthier；　who　was　about　setting　out　for　Munich；　and　the
proprietors　of　the　livery…stables；　owing　to　the　approaching　darkness
and　insecurity　of　the　roads；　refused　to　let　her　have　any　of　their
carriages。

Anna　had　to　wait；　therefore；　until　morning；　and　improved　the　long
hours　of　the　night　in　drawing　up　a　petition；　which　she　intended　to
send　to　Marshal　Bernadotte；　in　case　he　should　refuse　to　grant　her　an
interview。

Early　next　morning　she　at　length　started；　but　the　roads　were　sandy
and　bad；　the　horses　were　lazy　and　weak；　and　she　reached　Anspach　only
late　at　night。

She　had　again　to　wait　during　a　long；　dreary　night。　No　one　could　or
would　reply　to　her　anxious　inquiries　whether　Palm　was　really　there；
or　whether　he　had　been　again　sent　to　some　other　place。　Trembling
with　inward　fear　and　dismay；　but　firmly　determined　to　dare　every
thing；　and　leave　nothing　untried　that　might　lead　to　Palm's
preservation；　Anna　repaired　in　the　morning　to　the　residence　of
Marshal　Bernadotte。

The　marshal's　adjutant　received　her；　and　asked　her　what　she　wanted。

〃I　must　see　the　marshal　himself；　for　I　shall　read　in　his　mien
whether　he　will　pardon　or　annihilate　my　husband；〃　said　Anna。　〃I
beseech　you；　sir；　have　mercy　on　the　grief　of　a　wife；　trembling　for
the　father　of　her　children。　Induce　the　marshal　to　grant　me　an
audience。〃

〃I　will　see　what　can　be　done；〃　said　the　adjutant；　touched　by　the
despair　depicted　on　the　pale　face　of　the　poor　lady。　But　he　returned
in　a　few　minutes　after　he　had　left　her。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃I　am　sorry；　but　your
wish　cannot　be　fulfilled。　The　marshal　will　have　nothing　whatever　to
do　with　this　affair；　and　declines　interfering　in　it。　For　this
reason；　too；　he　did　not　admit　Mr。　Palm；　who　yesterday；　like　you；
applied　for　an　interview　with　the　marshal；　and　I　had　to　receive　him
in　the　place　of　the　marshal；　as　I　have　now　the　honor　to　receive
yo