louisa of prussia and her times-第22部分

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pleasures　and　sensuality。　God　has　given　you　a　noble　mind；　a　powerful
intellectmake　good　use　of　your　surpassing　abilities。　Become　as
great　and　illustrious　as　Providence　has　intended　you　if　you　but　be
true　to　yourself。　See；　I　believe　in　you；　and　although　you　only　seem
to　live　for　pleasure　and　enjoyment；　I　know　you　are　destined　to
accomplish　great　things；　provided　you　strive　to　do　so。　Oh；　let　me
beseech　you　to　change　your　course；　and　to　emerge　from　this　whirlpool
of　dissipation　and　profligacy。　Close　your　ears　to　the　alluring　songs
of　the　sirens；　and　listen　to　the　sublime　voices　resounding　in　your
breast　and　calling　you　to　the　path　of　glory　and　honor。　Follow　them；
Frederick　Gentzbe　a　man；　do　not　drift　any　longer　aimlessly　in　an
open　boat；　but　step　on　a　proud　and　glorious　ship；　grasp　the　helm　and
steer　it　out　upon　the　ocean。　You　are　the　man　to　pilot　the　ship；　and
the　ocean　will　obey　you；　and　you　will　get　into　port　loaded　with
riches；　glory；　and　honor。　Only　make　an　effort。　Remember　my　words；
and　now；　Frederick　Gentz；　in　order　to　live　happily；　never　remember
me！〃

She　turned　round　and　hastily　left　the　room。　He　stood　immovable　for
several　minutes；　dreamily　gazing　after　her；　while　her　words　were
still　resounding　in　his　ears　like　an　inspired　prophecy。　But　when　he
heard　the　carriage　roll　away　on　the　street；　he　started；　passed　his
hand　across　his　quivering　face　and　whispered：　〃I　have　deeply　wronged
her；　may　God　forgive　me！〃

Suddenly；　however；　he　drew　himself　up　to　his　full　height；　and　a
gleam　of　intense　joy　burst　forth　from　his　eyes。　〃I　am　free！〃　he
exclaimed；　loudly　and　in　a　tone　of　exultation。　〃Yes；　I　am　free！　My
life　and　the　world　belong　to　me　again。　All　women　are　mine　again；
Cupid　and　all　the　gods　of　love　will　boldly　flit　toward　me；　for　they
need　not　conceal　themselves　any　longer　from　the　face　of　a　husband
strolling　on　forbidden　grounds；　nor　from　the　spying　eyes　of　a
jealous　wife。　Life　is　mine　again；　and　I　will　enjoy　it；　yes　I　enjoy
it。　I　will　enjoy　it　like　fragrant　wine　pressed　to　our　lips　in　a
golden　goblet；　sparkling　with　diamonds。　Ah；　how　they　are　hammering
and　battering　in　the　anteroom！　Every　stroke　of　theirs　is　a　note　of
the　glorious　song　of　my　liberty。　The　furniture　of　my　household　is
gone；　the　pictures　and　looking…glasses　are　all　gonegone。　The　past
and　every　thing　reminding　me　thereof　shall　disappear　from　these
rooms。　I　will　have　new　furniturefurniture　of　gold　and　velvet；
large　Venetian　mirrors；　and　splendid　paintings。　Oh；　my　rooms　shall
look　as　glorious　and　magnificent　as　those　of　a　prince；　and　all
Berlin　shall　speak　of　the　splendor　and　luxury　of　Frederick　Gentz。
And　to　whom　shall　I　be　indebted　for　it？　Not　to　any　wife's　dower；　but
to　myselfto　myself　alone；　to　my　talents；　to　my　genius！　Oh；　in
regard　to　this　at　least；　poor　Julia　shall　not　have　been　mistaken。　I
shall　gain　fame；　and　glory；　and　honors；　my　name　shall　become　a
household　word　throughout　all　Europe；　it　shall　reecho　in　every
cabinet；　every　minister　shall　have　recourse　to　me；　andhark！　What's
that？〃　he　suddenly　interrupted　himself。　〃I　really　believe　they　are
quarrelling　in　the　anteroom。〃

Indeed；　a　violent　altercation　was　heard　outside。　Suddenly　the　door
was　pushed　open；　and　a　vigorous；　broad…shouldered　man；　with　a
flushed　and　angry　face；　appeared　on　the　threshold。

〃Well；〃　he　exclaimed；　with　a　bitter　sneer；　turning　to　the　footman
who　stood　behind　him；　〃was　I　not　right　when　I　told　you　that　Mr。
Counsellor　Gentz　was　at　home？　You　would　not　announce　me；　because
your　master　had　ordered　you　not　to　admit　any　visitors　of　my　class。
But　I　want　to　be　admitted。　I　will　not　permit　myself　to　be　shown　out
of　the　anteroom　like　a　fool；　while　the　counsellor　here　is　snugly
sitting　on　his　sofa　laughing　at　me。〃

〃You　see；　my　dear　Mr。　Werner；　I　am　neither　sitting　on　my　sofa　nor
laughing　at　you；〃　said　Gentz；　slowly　approaching　his　angry　visitor。
〃And　now　let　me　ask　you　what　you　want　of　me。〃

〃What　I　want　of　you？〃　replied　the　stranger；　with　a　sneer。　〃Sir；　you
know　very　well　what　I　want　of　you。　I　want　my　money！　I　want　the　five
hundred　dollars　you　have　been　owing　me　for　the　last　twelve　months。　I
trusted　your　word　and　your　name；　I　furnished　you　my　best　winesmy
choicest　champagne　and　the　most　exquisite　delicacies　for　your　dinner
parties。　You　have　treated　your　friends；　that　was　all　right　enough；
but　it　should　have　been　done　at　your　expense；　and　not　at　mine。　For
that　reason　I　am　here；　and　you　must　pay　me。　For　the　hundredth　and
last　time；　I　demand　my　money！〃

〃And　if　I　now　tell　you　for　the　hundredth；　but　not　the　last　time；
that　I　have　not　got　any　money？〃

〃Then　I　shall　go　to　the　war　department　and　attach　your　salary。〃

〃Ah；　my　dear　friend；　there　you　would　be　altogether　too　late；〃
exclaimed　Gentz；　laughing。　〃My　honorable　landlord　has　outstripped
you　as　far　as　that　is　concerned；　he　has　attached　my　salary　for　a
whole　year；　and　I　believe　it　is　even　insufficient　to　cover　what　I
owe　him。〃

〃But　in　the　dl's　name；　sir；　you　must　find　some　other　means　of
satisfying　my　claim；　for　I　tell　you　I　shall　not　leave　this　room
without　getting　my　money。〃

〃My　dear　Mr。　Werner；　pray　do　not　shout　so　dreadfully；〃　said　Gentz；
anxiously；　〃my　ears　are　very　sensitive；　and　such　shouting　terrifies
me　as　much　as　a　thunderstorm。　I　am　quite　willing　to　pay　you；　only
point　out　to　me　a　way　to　do　it！〃

〃Borrow　money　of　other　people　and　then　pay　me！〃

〃My　dear　sir；　that　is　a　way　I　have　exhausted　long　ago。　There　is　no
one　willing　to　advance　me　money　either　on　interest　or　on　my　word　of
honor。〃

〃But　how　in　the　dl's　name　are　you　going　to　pay　me　then；　sir？〃

〃That　is　exactly　what　I　don't　know　yet；　but　after　a　while　I　shall
know；　and　that　time　will　come　very　soon。　For　I　tell　you；　sir；　these
days　of　humiliations　and　debts　will　soon　cease　for　me。　I　shall
occupy　an　exalted　and　brilliant　position；　the　young　king　will　give
it　to　me；　and〃

〃Fiddlesticks！〃　exclaimed　Wemer；　interrupting　him；　〃do　not　feed　me
with　such　empty　hopes　after　I　have　fed　you　with　delicacies　and
quenched　your　thirst　with　my　champagne。〃

〃My　dear　sir；　I　have　not　partaken　all　alone　of　your　good　cheer；　my
friends　have　helped　me；　and　now　you　ask　me　alone　to　pay　the　whole
bill。　That　is　contrary　to　natural　law　and　to　political　economy。〃

〃Mr。　Counsellor；　are　you　mocking　me　with　your　political　economy？
What　do　you　know　about　economy？〃

〃Ah；　I　am　quite　familiar　with　it；　and　my　book　on　English　finances
has　brought　me　fame　and　honor。〃

〃It　would　have　been　better　for　you；　Mr。　Counsellor；　if　you　had
attended　to　your　own　finances。　All　Berlin　knows　in　what　condition
they　are。〃　〃Nevertheless；　there　were　always　excellent　men　putting　a
noble　trust　in　me；　and　believing　that　I　would　repay　the　money　I
borrowed　of　them。　You　are　one　of　those　excellent　men；　Mr。　Werner；
and　I　shall　never　forget　it。　Have　a　little　patience；　and　I　will　pay
you　principal　and　interest。〃

〃I　cannot　wait；　Mr。　Counsellor。　I　am　in　the　greatest　embarrassment
myself；　I　have　to　redeem　large　notes　in　the　course　of　a　few　days；
and　unless　I　can　do　so　I　am　lost；　my　whole　family　is　ruined；　and　my
reputation　gone；　then　I　must　declare　myself　insolvent；　and　suffer
people　to　call　me　an　impostor　and　villain；　who　incurs　debts　without
knowing　wherewith　to　pay　them。　Sir；　I　shall　never　suffer　this；　and
therefore　I　must　have　my　money；　and　I　will　not　leave　this　room　until
you　have　paid　my　claim　in　full。〃

〃In　that　case；　my　dear　sir；　I　am　afraid　you　will　have　to　remain　here
and　suffer　the　same　distressing　fate　as　Lot's　unfortunate　wife〃

〃Sir；　pray　be　serious；　for　my　business　here　is　of　a　very　serious
character。　Five　hundred　dollars　is　no　trifle；　a　man　may　squander
them　in　a　few　days；　but　they　may　cause　him　also　to　commit　suicide。
Pay　me；　sir；　pay　me；　I　want　my　money！〃

〃For　God's　sake；　do　not　shout　in　this　manner。　I　told　you　once
already　that　I　cannot　stand　it。　I　know　very　well　that　five　hundred
dollars　is　a　serious　matter；　and　that　you　must　have　your　money。　I
will　make　an　effort；　nay；　I　will　do　my　utmost　to　get　it　for　you；　but
you　must　be　quiet。　I　pledge　you　my　word　that　I　will　exert　myself　to
the　best　of　my　power　in　order　to　obtain　that　amount　for　you；　but　in
return　you　must　promise　me　to　go　home　quietly　and　peaceably；　and　to
wait　there　until　I　bring　you　the　money。〃

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？　How　are　you　going　to　get　the　money？　You
told　me　just　now　you　were　unable　to　borrow　any　thing。〃

〃But　somebody　may　give　me　those　miserable　five　hundred　dollars；　and
it　seems　to　me　that　would　do　just　as　well。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　laughing　at　me。〃

〃By　no　means；　sir。　Just　be　still　and　let　me　write　a　letter。　I　will
afterward　show　you　the　address；　and　thereby　let　you　know　from　whom　I
am　expecting　assistance。〃

He　walked　rapidly　to　his　desk；　penned　a　few　lines；　and　placed　the
paper　in　a　large　envelope；　which　he　sealed　and　directed。

〃Read　the　address；〃　he　said；　showing　the　letter　to　Mr。　Werner。

〃To　his　excellency　the　minister　of　the　treasury；　Count　von
Schulenburg…Kehnert；　general　of　artillery；〃　read　Werner；　with　a
hesitating　tongue；　and　casting　astonished　and　inquisitive　glances
upon　Gentz。　〃And　this　is　the　distinguished　gentleman　to　whom　you
apply　for　the　money。　Mr。　Counsellor？〃

〃Yes；　my　friend；　and　you　must　confess　that　a　minister　of　finance　is
the　best　man　to　apply　to　for　money。　I　have　written　to　his　excellency
that　I　stand　in　urgent　need　of　five　hundred　dollars　today；　and　I
request　him　to　extricate　me　from　my　embarrassment。　I　ask　him　to
appoint　an　hour　during　the　forenoon　when　I　may　call　upon　him　and　get
the　money。〃

〃And　you　really　believe　that　he　will　give　you　the　money？〃

〃My　dear　sir；　I　am　perfectly　sure　of　it；　and　in　order　to　satisfy　you
likewise；　I　will　make　a　proposition。　Accompany　my　footman　to　the
minister's　house；　carry　the　letter　to　him　yourself；　and　hear　his
reply。　You　may　then　repeat　this　reply　to　my　footman；　go　home　in　good
spirits；　and　wait　there　until　I　bring　you　the　money。〃

〃And　if　you　should　fail　to　come？〃　asked　Werner。

〃Then　that　last　remedy　you　alluded　to；　suicide；　always　remains　to
you。　Now　go；　my　dear　sir。　John！　John！〃

The　footman　opened　the　door　with　a　rapidity　indicating　that　his　ears
probably　had　not　been　very　far　from　the　keyhole。

〃John；〃　said