louisa of prussia and her times-第21部分

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for　all　he　had　said　just　now　was　nothing　but　a　repetition　of　what
the　king；　while　yet　a　crown　prince；　had　often　told　him　in　their
confidential　conversations。　But　of　this　he　took　good　care　not　to
remind　the　king；　and　merely　bowed　with　a　grateful　smile。

〃Yes；〃　added　the　king；　〃like　you；　I　believe　prudence　and　sound
policy　command　us　to　remain　at　peace　with　France；　and　to　form　a
closer　alliance　with　this　power。　That　is　the　only　way　for　us　to
prevent　Austria　from　realizing　her　schemes　of　aggrandizement
Austria；　not　France；　is　dangerous　to　us；　the　latter　is　our　natural
ally；　and　the　former　our　natural　adversary。　Every　step　forward　made
by　Austria　in　Germany；　forces　Prussia　a　step　backward。　Let　Austria
enlarge　her　territory　in　the　south；　toward　Italy；　but　never　shall　I
permit　her　to　extend　her　northern　and　western　frontiers　farther　into
Germany。　The　peace　of　Campo　Formio　has　given　Venice　to　the　Austrians
but　they　never　shall　acquire　Bavaria。　It　is　Prussia's　special　task
to　induce　France　not　to　permit　it；　and；　precisely　for　that　reason；
we　must　force　a　closer　alliance　with　France。　That；　my　dear
Kockeritz；　is　my　view　of　the　political　course　that　we　should　pursue
in　future。　Peace　abroad　and　peace　at　home！　No　violent　commotions　and
convulsions；　no　rash　innovations　and　changes。　New　institutions
should　gradually　and　by　their　own　inherent　force　grow　from　the
existing　ones；　for　only　in　that　case　we　may　be　sure　that　they　really
have　taken　root。　I　shall　not　head　the　world　in　the　capacity　of　a
creative　and　original　reformer；　but　I　shall　always　take　pains　to
adopt　such　reforms　as　have　proven　valuable；　and　gradually　to
transform　and　improve　such　institutions　as　at　present　may　be
defective　and　objectionable。　And　in　all　these　endeavors；　my　dear
Kockeritz；　you　shall　be　my　adviser　and　assistant。　Will　you　promise
me　your　aid？〃

He　looked　earnestly　and　anxiously　at　the　lieutenant…colonel　and　gave
him　his　hand。

〃I　promise　it　to　your　majesty；〃　exclaimed　Herr　von　Kockeritz；
gravely；　and　grasping　the　king's　hand。

〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　〃with　this　solemn　pledge　you　may　enter　upon
your　official　position；　and　I　am　satisfied　that　my　choice　has　been　a
judicious　one。　Remain　what　you　are；　sir；　an　upright；　honest　man！　As
far　as　I　am　concerned；　you　may　always　be　sure　of　my　heart…felt
gratitude；　on　the　other　hand；　however；　you　should　remember　that　you
not　only　oblige　me　personally；　but　that　I　request　you；　as　it　were；
in　the　name　of　the　state；　to　labor　for　the　latter。　At　some　future
time　you　will　gain　the　sweet　conviction　and　satisfaction　that　you
have　done　not　a　little　for　the　welfare　of　the　commonwealth　and
thereby　earned　the　thankfulness　of　every　well…meaning　patriot。　I　am
sure　there　cannot　be　a　sweeter　reward　for　a　man　of　true　honor　and
ambition　like　yourself。〃＇Footnote：　Vide　the　king's　letter　to
Lieutenant…Colonel　von　Kockeritz＇




CHAPTER　XII。

FREDERICK　GENTZ。


It　was　yet　early　in　the　morning；　the　blinds　of　all　the　windows　in
the　Taubenstrasse　were　as　yet　firmly　closed；　and　only　in　a　single
house　an　active；　bustling　life　prevailed。　At　its　door　there　stood　a
heavy　travelling…coach　which　a　footman　was　busily　engaged　in　loading
with　a　large　number　of　trunks；　boxes；　and　packages。　In　the　rooms　of
the　first　story　people　were　very　active；　industrious　hands　were
assiduously　occupied　with　packing　up　things　generally；　straw　was
wrapped　around　the　furniture；　and　then　covered　with　linen　bags。　The
looking…glasses　and　paintings　were　taken　from　the　walls　and　laid
into　wooden　boxes；　the　curtains　were　removed　from　the　windows；　and
every　thing　indicated　that　the　inmates　of　the　house　were　not　only
about　to　set　out　on　a　journey；　but　entirely　to　give　up　their　former
mode　of　living。

Such　was　really　the　case；　and　while　the　servants　filled　the
anterooms　and　the　halls　with　the　noise　of　their　preparations；　those
for　whom　all　this　bustle　and　activity　took　place　were　in　their
parlor；　in　a　grave　and　gloomy　mood。

There　were　two　of　thema　lady；　scarcely　twenty…four　years　of　age；
and　a　gentleman；　about　twelve　years　older。　She　was　a　delicate　and
lovely　woman；　with　a　pale；　sad　face；　while　he　was　a　vigorous；　stout
man　with　full；　round　features；　and　large　vivacious　eyes　which　at
present　tried　to　look　grave　and　afflicted　without　being　able　to　do
so；　she　wore　a　travelling…dress；　while　his　was　an　elegant　morning
costume。

Both　of　them　had　been　silent　for　awhile；　standing　at　the　window；　or
rather　at　different　windows；　and　witnessing　the　removal　of　the
trunks　and　packages　to　the　travelling…coach。　Finally；　the　lady；　with
a　deep　sigh；　turned　from　the　window　and　approached　the　gentleman　who
had　likewise　stepped　back　into　the　room。

〃I　believe　the　trunks　are　all　in　the　carriage；　and　I　can　set　out
now；　Frederick；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　and　tremulous　voice。

He　nodded；　and　extended　his　hand　toward　her。　〃And　you　are　not　angry
with　me；　Julia？〃　he　asked。

She　did　not　take　his　hand；　but　only　looked　up　to　him　with　eyes　full
of　eloquent　grief。　〃I　am　not　angry；〃　she　said。　〃I　pray　to　God　that
He　may　forgive　you。〃

〃And　will　YOU　forgive　me；　too；　Julia？　For　I　know　I　have　sinned
grievously　against　you。　I　have　made　you　shed　many　tearsI　have
rendered　you　wretched　and　miserable　for　two　years；　and　these　two
years　will　cast　a　gray　shadow　over　your　whole　future。　When　you　first
entered　this　room；　you　were　an　innocent　young　girl　with　rosy　cheeks
and　radiant　eyes；　and　now；　as　you　leave　it　forever；　you　are　a　poor；
pale　woman　with　a　broken　heart　and　dimmed　eyes。〃　〃A　DIVORCED　wife；
that　is　all；〃　she　whispered；　almost　inaudibly。　〃I　came　here　with　a
heart　overflowing　with　happinessI　leave　you　now　with　a　heart　full
of　wretchedness。　I　came　here　with　the　joyous　resolution　and　fixed
purpose　to　render　you　a　happy　husband；　and　I　leave　you　now　with　the
painful　consciousness　that　I　have　not　bestowed　upon　you　that
happiness　which　I　sought　so　earnestly　to　obtain　for　myself。　Ah；　it
is　very　sad　and　bitter　to　be　under　the　necessity　of　accepting　this
as　the　only　result　of　two　long　years！〃

〃Yes；　it　is　very　sad；〃　he　said；　sighing。　〃But　after　all；　it　is　no
fault　of　ours。　There　was　a　dissonance　in　our　married　life　from　the
start；　and　for　that　reason　there　never　could　be　any　genuine　harmony
between　us。　This　dissonancewell；　at　the　present　hour　I　may　confess
it　to　you；　toothis　dissonance　simply　was　the　fact　that　I　never
loved　you！〃

A　convulsive　twitching　contracted　the　pale　lips　of　the　poor　lady。
〃You　were　a　great　hypocrite；　then；〃　she　whispered；　〃for　your　words；
your　solemn　vows　never　made　me　suspect　it。〃

〃Yes；　I　was　a　hypocrite；　a　wretch；　a　coward！〃　he　exclaimed；
impetuously。　〃They　overwhelmed　me　with　exhortations；　supplications；
and　representations。　They　knew　so　well　to　flatter　me　with　the　idea
that　the　beautiful；　wealthy；　and　much…courted　heiress；　Julia　Gilly；
had　fallen　in　love　with　me；　the　poor；　unknown　Frederick　Gentz；　the
humble　military　counsellor。　They　knew　so　well　to　depict　to　me　the
triumph　I　would　obtain　by　marrying　you；　to　the　great　chagrin　of　all
your　other　suitors。　Flattery　intoxicates　me；　and　a　success；　a
triumph　over　others；　fills　me　with　the　wildest　delight。　My　father
spoke　of　my　debts；　my　creditors　threatened　me　with　suits　and
imprisonment〃

〃And　thus；〃　she　interrupted　him〃thus　you　sacrificed　me　to　your
vanity　and　to　your　debtsyou　falsely　vowed　a　love　to　me　which　you
never　felt；　and　accepted　my　hand。　My　father　paid　your　debts；　you
solemnly　promised　to　all　of　us　not　to　incur　any　new　ones；　but　you
utterly　broke　your　pledges。　Instead　of　squandering　hundreds　as
heretofore；　you　henceforth　lavished　thousands；　until　my　whole
maternal　property　was　goneuntil　my　father；　in　a　towering　passion；
turned　his　back　upon　us　and　swore　never　to　see　us　again。　The
creditors；　the　debts；　the　embarrassments；　reappeared；　and　as　I　had
no　money　left　with　which　to　extricate　you　from　your　difficulties；
you　thought　you　owed　me　no　further　respect　and　were　not　under　the
necessity　of　remembering　that　I　was　your　wife。　You　had　a　number　of
love…affairs；　as　I　knew　very　well；　but　was　silent。　Love…letters
arrived　for　you；　not　from　one　woman　with　whom　you　had　fallen　in
love；　but　from　God　knows　how　many。　I　was　aware　of　it　and　was　silent。
And　when　you　were　finally　shameless　enough　to　let　the　whole　city
witness　your　passion　for　an　actresswhen　all　Berlin　spoke
contemptuously　of　this　flame　of　yours　and　of　the　follies　you
committed　in　consequencethen　I　could　be　silent　no　longer；　and　my
honor　and　dignity　commanded　me　to　apply　for　a　divorce。〃

〃And　every　one　must　acknowledge　that　you　were　perfectly　right。　As　a
friend　I　could　not　have　given　you　myself　any　other　advice；　for　I
shall　not　and　cannot　alter　my　nature。　I　am　unable　to　accustom　myself
to　a　quiet　and　happy　family　lifedomestic　felicity　is　repulsive　to
me；　and　a　feeling　of　restraint　makes　me　rear　and　plunge　like　the
noble　charger　feeling　his　bit　and　bridle　for　the　first　time。　I　can
bear　no　chains；　Julia；　not　even　those　of　an　excellent　and
affectionate　wife　such　as　you　have　been　to　me。〃

〃You　can　bear　no　chains；〃　she　said；　bitterly；　〃and　yet　you　are
always　in　chainsin　the　chains　of　your　debts；　your　love…affairs；
and　your　frivolity。　Oh；　listen　to　meheed　my　words　for　once。　They
are　as　solemn　as　though　they　were　uttered　on　a　death…bed；　for　we
shall　never　see　each　other　again。　Fancy　a　mother　were　speaking　to
youa　mother　tenderly　loving　you。　For　I　confess　to　you　that　I　still
love　you；　Gentzmy　heart　cannot　yet　break　loose　from　you；　and　even
now　that　I　have　to　abandon　you；　I　feel　that　I　shall　forever　remain
tenderly　attached　to　you。　Oh；　true　love　is　ever　hopeful；　and　that
was　the　reason　why　I　remained　in　your　house；　although　my　father　had
applied　for　a　divorce。　I　was　always　in　hopes　that　your　heart　would
return　to　meoh；　I　did　not　suspect　that　you　had　never　loved　me！
and　thus　I　hoped　in　vain；　and　must　go　now；　for　our　divorce　will　be
proclaimed　to…day；　and　honor　forbids　me　to　remain　here　any　longer。
But　now　that　I　am　going；　listen　once　more　to　the　warning　voice　of　a
friend。　Frederick　Gentz；　turn　back！　Pursue　no　longer　the　slippery
path　of　frivolity　and　voluptuousness。　Break　loose　from　the　meshes　of
pleasures　and　sensuality。　God　has　given　you　a　noble　mind；　a　po