old fritz and the new era-第15部分

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duke；　became　a　simple；　private　gentleman。　I　have　renounced　my　titles
and　dignities　for　thee；　in　happy　trust　in　thee。　My　future　lies　in
thy　hands；　and；　anxious　to　learn　the　mysteries　of　immortality；　as　a
grateful；　trustful　scholar；　I　would　receive　happiness　and
unhappiness　at　thy　hand。〃

〃Thou　shalt　receive　not　only　happiness；〃　said　Cagliostro；　solemnly；
〃but　thou　art　one　of　the　elect。　The　blue　flame　glows　upon　thy　brow；
it　will　illuminate　thy　soul；　and　lead　thee　to　the　path　of　glory；
power；　and　might。　To…day　thou　art　a　simple；　private　gentleman；　as
thou　sayst；　but　to…morrow　thou　wilt　become　a　distinguished　lord；
before　whom　hundreds　will　bow。　Fame　awaits　theewhich　thou　hast
longed　foras　power　awaits　thee。　Whom　have　I　named　to　thee　as　our
future　and　our　hope　in　this　land？〃

〃Prince　Frederick　William　of　Prussia；〃　answered　Herr　von
Bischofswerder；　humbly。

〃As　I　spake　this　name；　thou　trembledst；　and　calledst　him　'one　lost
in　sin。'　Knowest　thou；　my　son；　from　sin　comes　penitence；　and　from
penitence　elevation　and　purificatiom。　Thou　art　called　and　chosen　to
convert　sinners；　and　lead　back　the　earth…born　child　to　heaven。
Engrave　these　words　upon　thy　memory；　fill　thy　soul　with　them；　as
with　glowing　flames；　repeat　them　in　solitude　the　entire　day；　then
heavenly　spirits　will　arise　and　whisper　the　revelations　of　the
future。　Then；　when　thou　art　consecrated；　I　will　introduce　thee　into
the　sacred　halls　of　sublime　wisdom。　Thou　shalt　be　received　as　a
scholar　in　the　temple　hall；　and　it　depends　upon　thee　whether　thou
advancest　to　the　altar　which　reaches　to　the　invisible　world　of
miracles。〃

〃Oh；　master；〃　cried　Bisehofswerder；　with　a　countenance　beaming　with
joy；　and　sinking　upon　his　knees；　〃wilt　thou　favor　me；　and　introduce
me　to　the　temple　hall？　Shall　I　be　received　in　the　sacred　world　of
spirits？〃

〃Thou　shalt；　Hans　Rudolph　yon　Bischofswerder。　The　grand　master　of
our　order　will　bestow　upon　thee　this　happiness；　and　to…night　shall
the　star　of　the　future　rise　over　thee。　Hold　thyself　in　readiness。　At
midnight；　present　thyself　at　the　first　portal　of　the　royal　palace　in
Berlin。　A　man　will　meet　thee；　and　thou　shalt　ask；　'Who　is　our　hope？'
If　he　answers　thee；　'The　Prince　of　Prussia；'　then　he　is　the
messenger　which　I　shall　have　sent　theefollow　him。　Bow　thy　head　in
humility；　shut　thine　eyes　to　all　earthly　things；　turn　thy　thoughts
inward；　and　lift　them　up　to　the　great　departed；　which　hovers　over
thy　head；　and　speak　with　the　blue　flame　which　glows　upon　thy　brow！〃

Bischofswerder　bowed　still　lower；　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；
as　if　inwardly　praying；　and　knelt。　Cagliostro　bent　over　him；　laid
his　hand　upon　his　head；　breathing　three　times　upon　his　blond　hair。

〃I　have　breathed　upon　thee　with　the　breath　of　my　spirit；〃　said　he。
〃Thy　spirit　receives　power。　Receive　it　in　holy　awe；　in　devotion；　and
remain　immovable。〃

Bischofswerder　continued　motionless；　with　bowed　head　and　concealed
face。　Cagliostro　raised　himself；　his　black　eyes　fixed　upon　his
disciple；　and　noiselessly　disappeared。　Herr　von　Bischofswerder　still
remained　kneeling。　After　some　time　he　raised　his　head；　shyly　looking
about；　and；　as　he　found　himself　alone；　he　rose。　〃He　has　soared
away；〃　he　murmured；　softly。　〃I　shall　see　him　again；　and　he　will
consecrate　methe　consecration　of　immortals！〃




CHAPTER　VII。

THE　MIRACULOUS　ELIXIR。


The　king　withdrew　from　the　parade　slowly；　followed　by　his　generals；
in　the　direction　of　Sans…Souci。　The　streets　of　Potsdam　were　lined
with　the　people；　shouting　their　farewell　to　the　king；　who　received
them　with　a　smiling　face。　Arriving　at　the　grand　entrance；　he　turned
to　his　suite；　saying；　〃Gentlemen；　we　shall　meet　again　in　Bohemia；　I
must　now　take　leave　of　you；　and　forego　the　pleasure　of　receiving　you
again　to…day。　A　king　about　to　leave　for　the　field　has　necessary
arrangements　to　make　for　the　future。　I　have　much　to　occupy　me；　as　I
set　out　early　to…morrow　morning。　You；　also；　have　duties　to　attend
to。　Farewell；　gentlemen。〃

He　raised　his　worn…out　three…cornered　hat；　saluted　his　generals　with
a　slight　inclination　of　the　head；　and　turned　into　the　broad　avenue
which　led　to　the　park　of　Sans…Souci。　No　one　followed　him　but　two
mounted　footmen；　who　rode　at　a　respectful　distance；　attentively
regarding　the　king；　of　whom　only　the　bowed　back　and　hat　were
visible。　Half　way　down　the　avenue　his　staff　was　raised　above　his
hat；　the　sign　the　footmen　awaited　to　dismount　with　the　greyhounds；
which　rode　before　them　upon　the　saddle。　At　the　shrill　barking　of　the
animals；　Frederick　reined　in　his　horse；　and　turned　to　look　for　them。
They　bounded　forward；　one　upon　each　side　of　the　king；　who　regarded
them　right　and　left；　saying：　〃Well；　Alkmene；　well　Diana；　let　us　see
who　will　be　the　lady　of　honor　to…day。〃

Both　dogs　sprang　with　loud　barking　to　the　horse；　as　if　understanding
the　words　of　their　master。　Alkmene；　stronger；　or　more　adroit；　with
one　bound　leaped　to　the　saddle；　while　poor　Diana　landed　upon　the
crouper；　and；　as　if　ashamed；　with　hanging　head　and　tail；　withdrew
behind　the　horse。　〃Alkmene　has　won！〃　said　Kretzschmar　to　his
companion。　〃Yes；　Alkmene　is　the　court…lady　to…day；　and　Diana　the
companion；〃　he　nodded。　〃She　will　be　cross；　and　I　do　not　blame　her。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　said　Kretzschmar；　〃there　is　a　great　difference　between　the
court…lady　and　the　companion。　The　lady　remains　with　the　king　all
day；　he　plays　with　her；　takes　her　to　walk；　gives　her　bonbons；　and
the　choice　morsels　of　chicken；　and　only　when　she　has　eaten
sufficient；　can　the　companion　enter　to　eat　the　remainder。〃
＇Footnote：　This　was　the　daily　order　of　rank　with　the　favorite　dogs；
for　whose　service　two　dog…lackeys；　as　they　were　called；　were　always
in　waiting。　They　took　them　to　walk＇

〃One　could　almost　envy　the　king's　greyhounds！〃　sighed　the　second
footman。　〃We　get　dogs'　wages；　and　they　the　chicken　and　good
treatment。　It　is　a　pity！〃

〃The　worst　of　it　is；　the　king　forbids　us　to　marry！〃　said　Kretzschmar
sadly。　〃All　the　others　would　leave　him；　but　I　pay　no　attention　to
old　Fritz's　snarling　and　scolding；　for　he　pays　for　it　afterward；
first；　it　rains　abusive　words；　then　dollars；　and　if　the　stupid　ass
hits　me　over　the　head；　he　gives　me　at　least　a　ducat　for　it。　Why
should　not　one　endure　scoldings　when　is　well　paid　for　it？　I　remain
the　fine　handsome　fellow　that　I　am；　if　the　old　bear　does　call　me　an
ass！　His　majesty　might　well　be　satisfied　if　he　had　my　fine　figure
and　good　carriage。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　we　are　very　different　fellows　from　old　Fritz！〃　said
the　second　lackey；　with　a　satisfied　air。　〃A　princess　once　thought　me
a　handsome　fellow！　It　is　eleven　years　since；　as　I　entered　the　guards
on　account　of　my　delicate　figure。　I　was　guard　of　honor　in　the
anteroom　of　the　former　crown　princess　of　Prussia。　It　was　my　first
experience。　I　did　not　know　the　ways　of　the　lords　and　ladies。
Suddenly；　a　charming　and　beautifully…dressed　lady　came　into　the
anteroom；　two　other　young　ladies　following　her；　joking　and　laughing；
quite　at　their　pleasure。　All　at　once　the　elegantly…attired　lady
fixed　her　large　black　eyes　upon　me；　so　earnestly；　that　I　grew　quite
red；　and　looked　down。　'See　that　handsome　boy；'　she　cried。　'I　will
bet　that　it　is　a　girl　dressed　up！'　She　ran　up　to　me；　and　began　to
stroke　my　cheek　with　her　soft　hand；　and　laughed。　'I　am　right。　He　has
not　the　trace　of　a　beard；　it　is　a　girl！'　And　before　I　knew　it　she
kissed　me；　then　again；　and　a　third　time　even。　I　stood　still　as　if
enchanted；　and；　as　I　thought　another　kiss　was　coming；　whack　went　a
stout　box　on　my　ear。　'There　is　a　punishment　for　you；'　said　she；
'that　you　may　know　enough　to　return　a　kiss　when　a　handsome　lady
gives　you　when　the　king　did　not　wish　them　with　him；　in　summer；　in　an
open　wagon；　the　dogs　upon　the　back…seat；　and　the　footmen　upon　the
forward　seat；　and　whenever　they　reproved　them；　to　bring　them　to
order；　they　addressed　them　in　the　polite　manner　of　one；　and　not
stand　like　a　libber；'　and　with　that　she　boxed　me　again。　The　other
two　ladies　laughed；　which　made　me　angry；　and　my　ears　were　very　warm。
'If　that　happens　again；'　said　I；　'by　thunder；　she　will　find　I　do　not
wait　to　be　punished！'　I　laid　down　the　arms；　and　at　once　sprang　after
the　lady；　whenthe　folding…doors　were　thrown　open；　and　two
gentlemen；　in　splendid　gold…embroidered　dresses；　entered。　As　they
saw　the　little　lady；　they　stood　astonished；　and　made　the　three
prescribed　bows。　I　smelt　the　rat；　and　put　on　my　sword　quickly；　and
stood　stiff　as　a　puppet。　The　gentlemen　said；　that　they　must　beg　an
interview　with　her　royal　highness；　to　deliver　the　king's　commands。
The　princess　went　into　an　adjoining　room。　One　of　the　court…ladies
stopped　before　me　a　moment；　and　said：　'If　you　ever　dare　to　tell　of
this；　you　shall　be　put　in　the　fortress。　Remember　it；　and　keep
silent。'　I　did　so；　and　kept　it　a　secret　until　to…day。〃

〃Did　the　princess　ever　punish　you　again？〃　asked　Kretzchmar；　with　a
bold；　spying　look。

〃No；　never；〃　answered　the　lackey　Schultz。　〃The　princess　was　ordered
to　Stettin　the　next　day；　where　she　still　lives　as　a　prisoner　for　her
gay　pranks。〃　I　remembered　her　punishment；　and　when　a　lady　has　kissed
me；　I　have　bravely　returned　it。〃

The　footmen　had　followed　the　king　up　the　slowly　ascending　horse…path
to　the　terrace；　and　now　they　sprang　quickly　forward。　Kretzschmar
swung　himself　from　his　saddle；　threw　Schultz　the　reins；　and；　as　the
king　drew　up　at　the　side…door　of　the　palace　of　Sans…Souci；　he　stood
ready　to　assist　him　to　dismount。　The　king　had　given　strict　orders
that　no　one　should　notice　his　going　or　coming；　and　to…day；　as　usual；
he　entered　without　pomp　or　ceremony　into　his　private　room；　followed
by　Kretzschmar　alone。　He　sank　back　into　his　armchair；　the　blue
damask　covering　of　which　was　torn　and　bitten　by　the　dogs；　so　that
the　horse…hair　stood　out　from　the　holes。

〃Now　relate　to　me；　Kretzschmar；　how　your　expedition　succeeded。　Did
you　go　to　Berlin　to　see　Mademoiselle　Enke　last　night？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　I　was　there；　and　have　brought　you　the　writing。〃

〃Was　she　alone？〃　asked　the　king；　bending　over　to　caress　Alkmene；　who
lay　at　his　feet。

〃Well；〃　answered　Kretzschmar；　grinning；　〃I　do　not　know　whether　she
was　alone　or　not。　I　only　know　that；　as　I　waited　a　little　on　the
corner　of　the　street；　I　saw　a