louisa of prussia and her times-第32部分

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candles　on　the　altar　are　lighted；　every　thing　is　ready　for　the
ceremony。　Well；　we　must　not　make　the　priest　wait　any　longer。　So　you
decline　being　the　bridegroom　at　the　ceremony？　Well；　attend　it；　then；
as　a　witness。　Will　you　do　so？　Will　you　assist　me　as　a　faithful
friend；　sign　my　marriage…contract；　and　keep　my　secret？〃

〃I　am　ready　to　give　you　any　proof　of　my　love　and　friendship；〃　said
Gentz；　gravely。

〃Well；　I　counted　on　you；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　smiling；　〃and；　to　tell
you　the　truth；　I　counted　on　your　refusal　to　marry　me。　Come；　give　me
your　arm。　I　will　show　you　the　same　chapel　which　the　Prince　von　Reuss
has　caused　to　be　fitted　up　here　in　the　building　of　the　Austrian
embassy。　The　servants　will　see　nothing　strange　in　our　going　there；
and　I　hope；　moreover；　that　we　shall　meet　with　no　one　on　our　way
thither。　At　the　chapel　we　shall　perhaps　find　Prince　Henrythat　will
be　a　mere　accident；　which　will　surprise　no　one。　Come；　assist　me　in
putting　on　this　long　black　mantilla　which　will　entirely　conceal　my
white　silk　dress。　The　myrtle…wreath　I　shall　take　under　my　arm　so
that　no　one　will　see　it。　And　now；　come！〃

〃Yes；　let　us　go；〃　said　Gentz；　offering　his　arm　to　her。　〃I　see　very
well　that　there　is　a　mystification　in　store　for　me；　but　I　shall
follow　you　wherever　you　will　take　me；　to　the　devil　or〃

〃Or　to　church；〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃But　hush　now；　so　that　no　one　may
hear　us。〃

They　walked　silently　through　the　rooms；　then　down　a　long　corridor；
and　after　descending　a　narrow　secret　staircase；　they　entered　a　small
apartment　where　three　gentlemen　were　waiting　for　them。

One　of　them　was　a　Catholic　priest　in　his　vestments；　the　second　the
Prince　von　Reuss；　Henry　XIII。；　and　the　third　the　first　attache　of
the　Austrian　embassy。

The　prince　approached　Marianne；　and　after　taking　her　hand　he　saluted
Gentz　in　the　most　cordial　manner。

〃Every　thing　is　ready；〃　he　said；　〃come；　Marianne；　let　me　place　the
wreath　on　your　head。〃

Marianne　took　off　her　mantilla；　and；　handing　the　myrtle…wreath　to
the　prince；　she　bowed　her　head；　and　almost　knelt　down　before　him。　He
took　the　wreath　and　fastened　it　in　her　hair；　whereupon　he　beckoned
the　attache　to　hand　to　him　the　large　casket　standing　on　the　table。
This　casket　contained　a　small　prince's　coronet　of　exquisite
workmanship　and　sparkling　with　the　most　precious　diamonds。

The　prince　fastened　this　coronet　over　Marianne's　wreath；　and　the
diamonds　glistened　now　like　stars　over　the　delicate　myrtle…leaves。

〃Arise；　Marianne；〃　he　then　said；　loudly。　〃I　have　fastened　the
coronet　of　your　new　dignity　in　your　hair；　let　us　now　go　to　the
altar。〃

Marianne　arose。　A　strange　radiance　of　triumphant　joy　beamed　in　her
face；　a　deep　flush　sufused　used　her　cheeks；　generally　so　pale　and
transparent；　a　blissful　smile　played　on　her　lips。　With　a　proud　and
sublime　glance　at　Gentz；　who　was　staring　at　her；　speechless　and
amazed；　she　took　the　prince's　arm。

The　priest　led　the　way；　and　from　the　small　room　they　now　entered　the
chapel　of　the　embassy。　On　the　altar；　over　which　one　of　Van　Dyck's
splendid　paintings　was　hanging；　large　wax…tapers　were　burning　in
costly　silver　chandeliers。　On　the　carpet　in　front　of　the　altar　two
small　prie…dieus　for　Marianne　and　the　prince　were　placed；　and　two
arm…chairs　for　the　witnesses　stood　behind　them。　Opposite　the　altar；
on　the　other　side　of　the　chapel；　a　sort　of　choir　or　balcony　with　an
organ　had　been　fitted　up。

But　no　one　was　there　to　play　on　that　organ。　All　the　other　chairs　and
benches　were　vacant；　the　ceremony　was　to　be　performed　secretly　and
quietly。

Gentz　saw　and　observed　every　thing　as　though　it　were　a　vision；　he
could　not　yet　make　up　his　mind　that　it　was　a　reality；　he　was
confused　and　almost　dismayed；　and　did　not　know　whether　it　was　owing
to　his　surprise　at　what　was　going　on；　or　to　his　vexation　at　being　so
badly　duped　by　Marianne。　He　believed　he　was　dreaming　when　he　saw
Marianne　and　the　prince　kneeling　on　the　prie…dieus；　Marianne　Meier；
the　Jewess；　at　the　right　hand　of　the　high…born　nobleman；　at　the
place　of　honor；　only　to　be　occupied　by　legitimate　brides　of　equal
rank；　and　when　he　heard　the　priest；　who　stood　in　front　of　the　altar；
pronounce　solemn　words　of　exhortation　and　benediction；　and　finally
ask　the　kneeling　bride　and　bridegroom　to　vow　eternal　love　and
fidelity　to　each　other。　Both　uttered　the　solemn　〃Yes〃　at　the　same
time；　the　prince　quietly　and　gravely；　Marianne　hastily　and　in　a
joyful　voice。　The　priest　thereupon　gave　them　the　benediction；　and
the　ceremony　was　over。　The　whole　party　then　returned　to　the　anteroom
serving　as　a　sacristy。　They　silently　received　the　congratulations　of
the　priest　and　the　witnesses。　The　attache　then　took　a　paper　from　his
memorandum…book；　it　contained　the　minutes　of　the　ceremony；　which　he
had　drawn　up　already　in　advance。　Marianne　and　the　prince　signed　it；
the　witnesses　and　the　priest　did　the　same；　the　latter　adding　the
church　seal　to　his　signature。　It　was　now　a　perfectly　valid
certificate　of　their　legitimate　marriage；　which　the　prince　handed　to
Marianne；　and　for　which　she　thanked　him　with　a　tender　smile。

〃You　are　now　my　legitimate　wife；〃　said　the　Prince　von　Reuss；
gravely；　〃I　wish　to　give　you　this　proof　of　my　love　and　esteem；　and　I
return　my　thanks　to　these　gentlemen　for　having　witnessed　the
ceremony；　you　might　some　day　stand　in　need　of　their　testimony。　For
the　time　being；　however；　I　have　cogent　reasons　for　keeping　our
marriage　secret；　and　you　have　promised　not　to　divulge　it。〃

〃And　I　renew　my　promise　at　this　sacred　place　and　in　the　presence　of
the　priest　and　our　witnesses；　my　dear　husband；〃　said　Marianne。　〃No
one　shall　hear　from　me　a　word　or　even　an　intimation　of　what　has
occurred　here。　Before　the　world　I　shall　be　obediently　and　patiently
nothing　but　your　mistress　until　you　deem　it　prudent　to　acknowledge
that　I　am　your　wife。〃

〃I　shall　do　so　at　no　distant　day；〃　said　the　prince。　〃And　you；
gentlemen；　will　you　promise　also；　will　you　pledge　me　your　word　of
honor　that　you　will　faithfully　keep　our　secret？〃

〃We　promise　it　upon　our　honor！〃　exclaimed　the　two　gentlemen。

The　prince　bowed　his　thanks。　〃Let　us　now　leave　the　chapel
separately；　just　as　we　have　come；〃　he　said；　〃if　we　should　withdraw
together；　it　would　excite　the　attention　and　curiosity　of　the
servants；　some　of　whom　might　meet　us　in　the　hall。　Come；　baron；　you
will　accompany　me。〃　He　took　the　attache's　arm；　and　left　the　small
sacristry　with　him。　〃And　you　will　accompany　me；〃　said　Marianne；
kindly　nodding　to　Gentz。

〃And　I　shall　stay　here　for　the　purpose　of　praying　for　the　bride　and
bridegroom；〃　muttered　the　priest；　returning　to　the　altar。

Marianne　now　hastily　took　the　coronet　and　myrtle…wreath　from　her
hair　and　concealed　both　under　the　black　mantilla　which　Gentz
gallantly　laid　around　her　shoulders。

They　silently　reascended　the　narrow　staircase　and　returned　through
the　corridor　to　Marianne's　rooms。　Upon　reaching　her　boudoir；
Marianne　doffed　her　mantilla　with　an　indescribable　air　of　triumphant
joy；　and　laid　the　coronet　and　myrtle…wreath　on　the　table。

〃Well；〃　she　asked　in　her　sonorous；　impressive　voice；　〃what　do　you
say　now；　my　tender　Gentz？〃

He　had　taken　his　hat；　and　replied　with　a　deep　bow：　〃I　have　to　say
that　I　bow　to　your　sagacity　and　talents。　That　was　a　master…stroke　of
yours；　dearest。〃

〃Was　it　not？〃　she　asked；　triumphantly。　〃The　Jewess；　hitherto
despised　and　ostracized　by　society；　has　suddenly　become　a　legitimate
princess；　she　has　now　the　power　to　avenge　all　sneers；　all　derision；
all　contempt　she　has　had　to　undergo。　Oh；　how　sweet　this　revenge　will
behow　I　shall　humble　all　those　haughty　ladies　who　dared　to　despise
me；　and　who　will　be　obliged　henceforth　to　yield　the　place　of　honor
to　me！〃

〃And　will　you　revenge　yourself　upon　me　too；　Marianne？〃　asked　Gentz；
humbly〃upon　me　who　dared　reject　your　hand？　But　no；　you　must　always
be　grateful　to　me　for　that　refusal　of　mine。　Just　imagine　I　had
compelled　you　to　stick　to　your　offer：　instead　of　being　a　princess；
you　would　now　be　the　unhappy　wife　of　the　poor　military　counsellor；
Frederick　Gentz。〃

Marianne　laughed。　〃You　are　right；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　grateful　to　you
for　it。　But；　my　friend；　you　must　not　and　shall　not　remain　the　poor
military　counsellor　Gentz。〃

〃God　knows　that　that　is　not　my　intention　either；〃　exclaimed　Gentz；
laughing。　〃God　has　placed　a　capital　in　my　head；　and　you　may　be　sure
that　I　shall　know　how　to　invest　it　at　a　good　rate　of　interest。〃

〃But　here　you　will　obtain　no　such　interest；〃　said　Marianne；　eagerly；
〃let　us　speak　sensibly　about　that　matter。　We　have　paid　our　tribute
to　love　and　friendship；　let　us　now　talk　about　politics　I　am
authorizedand　she　who　addresess　you　now　is　no　longer　Marianne
Meier；　but　the　wife　of　the　Austrian　ambassadorI　am　authorized　to
make　an　important　offer　to　you。　Come；　my　friend；　sit　down　in　the
arm…chair　here；　and　let　us　hold　a　diplomatic　conference。〃

〃Yes；　let　us　do　so；〃　said　Gentz；　smiling；　and　taking　the　seat　she
had　indicated　to　him。

〃Friend　Gentz；　what　are　your　hopes　for　the　future？〃

〃A　ponderous　question；　but　I　shall　try　to　answer　it　as　briefly　as
possible。　I　am　in　hopes　of　earning　fame；　honor；　rank；　influence；　and
a　brilliant　position　by　my　talents。〃

〃And　you　believe　you　can　obtain　all　that　here　in　Prussia？〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Gentz；　hesitatingly。

〃You　have　addressed　a　memorial　to　the　young　king；　you　have　urged　him
to　give　to　his　subjects　prosperity；　happiness；　honor；　and　freedom　of
the　press。　How　long　is　it　since　you　sent　that　memorial　to　him？〃

〃Four　weeks　to…day。〃

〃Four　weeks；　and　they　have　not　yet　rewarded　you　for　your　glorious
memorial；　although　the　whole　Prussian　nation　hailed　it　with　the　most
rapturous　applause？　They　have　not　yet　thought　of　appointing　you　to　a
position　worthy　of　your　talents？　You　have　not　yet　been　invited　to
court？〃

〃Yes；　I　was　invited　to　court。　The　queen　wished　to　become　acquainted
with　me。　Gualtieri　presented　me　to　her；　and　her　majesty　said　very
many　kind　and　flattering　things　to　me。〃　＇Footnote：　Varnhagen；
〃Gallerie　von　Bildnissen；〃　etc。；　vol。　ii。＇

〃Words；　empty　words；　my　friend！　Their　actions　are　more　eloquent。　The
king　has　not　sent　for　you；　the　king　has　not　thanked　you。　The　king
does　not　want　your　advice；　and　as　if　to　show　t