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第16部分

old fritz and the new era-第16部分

小说: old fritz and the new era 字数: 每页4000字

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was alone or not。 I only know that; as I waited a little on the
corner of the street; I saw a gentleman go out; wrapped in a cloak;
a tall; broad…shouldered gentleman; whom I〃

〃Whom you naturally did not recognize;〃 said the king; interrupting
him; 〃it was a dark night; and no moon; so that you could not see。〃

〃At your service; your majesty; I could see no one; I would only add
that the unknown may have been at Mademoiselle Enke's。〃

〃And he may not have been;〃 cried the king; harshly。 〃What else did
you learn?〃

〃Nothing at all worth speaking about。 Only one thing I must say; the
lackey Schultz is a prattling fool; and speaks very
disrespectfully。〃

〃Did he talk with you?〃

〃Yes; your majesty; with me。〃

〃Then he knows well that it would be welcome。 What did he say?〃

〃He related to me a love…affair with the crown princess of Prussia
eleven years since。 He plumes himself upon the crown princess having
stroked his beard。〃

〃Be quiet!〃 commanded the king; harshly。 〃If Schultz was drunk; and
talked in a crazy manner; how dare you repeat it to me? Let this
happen again; and I will dismiss you my service。 Remember it; you
ass!〃

〃Pardon me; your majesty; I thought I must relate all that I hear of
importance。〃

〃That was not important; and not worth the trouble of talking about。
If Schultz is such a drunken fellow I did not know it; and he is to
be pitied。 You can go now; I give you a day to make your farewells
to your friends; and to console them with the hope of meeting you
again。 Put every thing in order that concerns you。 If you have
debts; pay them。〃

〃I have no money to pay them; your majesty;〃 sighed Kretzschmar。

The king stepped to the iron coffer; of which no one possessed the
key but himself; and looking within said: 〃You cannot have much
money to…day; as the drawer which contains the money for the gossips
and spies is quite empty; and you have had a good share of it。 Five
guldens remain for you。〃

〃Alas! your majesty; it is too little; twenty…five guldens would not
pay my debts。〃

The king closed the drawer; saying: 〃Judas only received twenty
shillings for betraying his Master。 Twenty…five is quite enough for
Kretzschmar for betraying his comrade。〃

Kretzschmar slunk away。 The king fixed his great eyes upon him until
the door closed。 〃Man is a miserable race; for gold he would sell
his own brotherwould sell his own soul; if there could be found a
purchaser;〃 he murmured。 〃Why do you growl; Alkmene; why trouble
yourself; mademoiselle? I was not speaking of your honorable race;
only of the pitiful race of men。 Be quiet; my little dog; be quiet;
I love you; and you are my dear little dog;〃 he said; pressing her
caressingly to his breast。

The footman Schultz appeared to announce the equerry Von Schwerin。

〃Bid him enter;〃 nodded the king。

Von Schwerin entered; with a smiling face。 〃Have you accomplished
what I confided to you?〃

With a profound bow Von Schwerin drew a roll of paper from his
breast…pocket; and handed it to the king; saying; 〃I am so fortunate
as to have accomplished your commands。〃

〃Will Count Schmettau give up the villa at once?〃

〃Yes; your majesty; the new occupant could take possession to…day;
with all the furniture and house arrangements; for seven thousand
five hundred dollars。 Here is the bill of sale; only the purchaser's
name is wanting。 I have obeyed your majesty's commands; and acted as
if I were the purchaser。〃

〃Schmettau is not such a stupid fellow as to believe that; for he
knows that you cannot keep your money。 You say the contract is
ready; only the signature of the purchaser is wanting and the
money?〃

〃Pardon me; your majesty; the name of the present possessor has not
been inserted。 I did not presume to write it without the
unmistakable command of your majesty。〃

〃Do you know the name?〃 asked the king。

〃I do not; but the generosity of my most gracious king and master
allows me to divine it; and my heart is filled to bursting with
thankfulness and joy。 My whole life will not be long enough to prove
to you my gratitude。〃

〃What for?〃 asked the king; staring at Von Schwerin; quite
surprised; 〃you cannot suppose that I have purchased the villa for
you?〃

Herr von Schwerin smilingly nodded。 〃I think so; your majesty。〃

Frederick laughed aloud。 〃Schwerin; you are an uncommonly cunning
fellow。 You see the grass grow before the seed is sown。 This time
you deceived yourselfthe grass has not grown。 What good would it
do you? You do not need grass; but thistles; and they do not grow at
Charlottenburg。 Take the contract to my minister Von Herzberg; whom
you will find in the audience…room; and then walk a little upon the
terrace to enjoy the fresh air。 I promised you the privilege。 First
go to Von Herzberg; and say to him to send the Prince of Prussia to
me immediately upon his arrival。 Why do you wear so mournful a face
all of a sudden? Can it be possible that my chief equerry has so
lowered himself as to go among the mechanics; and build chateaux en
Espagne? You know such houses are not suitable for our northern
climate; and fall down。 Now; do what I told you; and then go upon
the terrace。〃

The equerry glided away with sorrowful mien to Von Herzberg; and
communicated the king's commands to him。

〃You have made a good purchase;〃 said the minister; in a friendly
manner。 〃His majesty will be very much pleased with the
extraordinary zeal and the great dexterity with which you have
arranged the matter。 Count Schmettau has just been here; and he
could not sufficiently commend your zeal and prudence; and the
sympathy and interest which you showed in the smallest matters; as
if the purchase were for yourself。 The count wishes to reserve two
oil paintings in the saloon; which are an heirloom from his father。
We cannot but let the count retain them。〃

〃Arrange it as you will;〃 answered the equerry; fretfully; 〃I have
nothing more to do with the affairit lies in your hands。〃

〃But where are you going in such haste?〃 said Herzberg; as the
equerry bowed hastily; and strode through the room toward the door。

〃His majesty commanded me to go upon the terrace;〃 he replied;
morosely。

Herr von Herzberg looked after him surprised。 〃Something must have
occurred; otherwise he is very tractable。 Ah! there comes the
prince。 I will go to meet him; and communicate to him the king's
commandI will await your royal highness here until you have spoken
with the king; if you will have the grace to seek me。〃

〃I will return by all means; if you will have the kindness to wait
for me;〃 replied the prince; smiling; and hastened to the interview
with his royal uncle。

Frederick was seated in his arm…chair; upon his lap Alkmene; when
the crown prince entered。 〃Bon jour; mon neveu! pardon me;〃 said he;
with a friendly nod; 〃that I remain seated; and do not rise to greet
the future King of Prussia。〃

〃Sire; Heaven grant that many years pass before I succeed to the
title which my great and unapproachable predecessor has borne with
so much wisdom and fame; that one can well doubt the being able to
emulate his example; and must content himself to live under the
shadow of his intelligence and fame!〃

Frederick slowly shook his head。 〃The people will not be satisfied;
nor the coffers filled by fame。 No one can live upon the great deeds
of his ancestors; he must be self…sustaining; not seek for the
laurels in the past; but upon the naked field of the future; which
lies before him。 Sow the seeds of future laurels; fame troubles me
but little; and I advise you; my nephew; not to rely upon it。 One
must begin anew each day; and make fresh efforts for vigorous
deeds。〃

The crown prince bowed; and seated himself upon the tabouret; which
the king; with a slight wave of the hand; signified to him。

〃I will endeavor; sire; to follow the elevated sentiments of your
majesty; that I may not dishonor my great teacher。〃

〃You express yourself too modestly; my nephew; and I know that you
think otherwise; that your fiery spirit will never be contented to
dishonor yourself or your ancestors。 Fate is favorable to you; and
offers the opportunity to confirm; what I judge you to bea brave
soldier; a skilful captainin a word; a true Hohenzollern! I would
make you a commander of a division of my army; and I shall follow
every movementevery operation; with lively interest。〃

A ray of joy beamed upon the face of the prince; Frederick saw it
with satisfaction; and his heart warmed toward his nephew。 〃He has
at least courage;〃 he said to himself; 〃he is no sybarite to quail
before the rough life of war。〃

〃Will your majesty so greatly favor me as to accord me an
independent position in the campaign?〃

〃I offer you what belongs to you as a general and heir to the
throne。 On me it devolves to direct the plans and operations; and on
you to detail them and direct the execution。 I shall rejoice to see
that you understand the profession of war practically as well as
theoretically。 Therefore; this war is so far welcome; that it will
give my crown prince an opportunity to win his first laurels; and
adorn the brow which; until now; has been crowned with myrtle。〃

〃Your majesty; I〃

〃Be silentI do not reproach you; my nephew; I understand human
nature; and the seductive arts of women。 It is time that you seek
other ornamentmyrtle becomes a youthful brow; and the helmet
adorns the man crowned with laurels。〃

〃I have long desired it; and I am deeply grateful to your majesty
for the opportunity to win it。 This campaign is good fortune to me。〃

〃War is never a good fortune;〃 sighed the king〃 for the people it
is great misfortune。 I would willingly have avoided it for their
sake。 But the arrogance and the passion for territorial
aggrandizement of the young Emperor of Germany forces me to it。 I
dare not; and will not suffer Austria to enrich herself through
foreign inheritance; ignoring the legitimate title of a German
prince。 Bavaria must remain an independent; free German
principality; under a sovereign prince。 It is inevitably necessary
for the balance of power。 I cannot yield; therefore; as a German
prince; that Austria increase her power in an illegitimate manner;
but I

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