old fritz and the new era-第3部分

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with　your　nose　to　this　arrogant　person。　Director；　say　to　Madame　Mara
that　I　pay　her　to　sing；　not　to　write。　She　must　sing　both　airs；　or
she　may　find　herself　at　Spandau　for　her　obstinacy；　where　her　husband
is；　for　the　same　reason。　She　can　reflect；　and　judge　for　herself。〃

The　director　could　scarcely　repress　a　sigh；　foreboding　the
disagreeable　scene　that　he　would　have　to　encounter　with　the　proud
and　passionate　singer。　Timidly　Von　Arnim　alluded　to　the　four　persons
from　the　opera。　〃Who　are　these　demoiselles；　and　what　do　they　want？〃
asked　the　king。

〃Sire；〃　replied　the　Baron　von　Arnim；　〃they　are　the　four　persons　who
personate　the　role　of　court　ladies　and　maids　of　honor　to　the　queens
and　princesses。　They　beg　your　majesty　to　secure　to　them　a　fixed
income。〃

〃Indeed！　Go　to　my　writing…table　and　bring　paper　and　pencil；　I　will
dictate　a　reply　to　them；〃　said　the　king。　〃Now　write；　Von　Arnim：　'To
the　four　court　ladies　and　maids　of　honor　of　the　opera：　You　are
mistaken　in　addressing　yourselves　to　me；　the　affair　of　your　salaries
concerns　YOUR　emperors　and　kings。　To　them　you　must　address
yourselves。Adieu。'〃

Von　Arnim　could　scarcely　repress　a　smile。

〃Now　we　come　to　the　last　affairthe　salaries　and　pensions　of　the
French　actors；〃　said　the　king；　〃but　first　tell　me　the　news　in
Berlinwhat　report　has　trumpeted　forth　in　the　last　few　days。〃

〃Your　majesty；　the　latest　news　in　Berlin；　which　rumor　brings　home　to
every　hearth…side　and　every　heart　is；　that　your　majesty　has　declared
war　with　Austria　on　account　of　the　Bavarian　succession。　Every　one
rejoices；　sire；　that　you　will　humble　that　proud　and　supercilious
house　of　Austria；　and　enter　the　lists　for　Germany。〃

〃Listen！〃　answered　the　king；　sternly。　〃I　did　not　ask　you　to　blow　the
trumpet　of　praise；　as　if　your　honor；　inspector　of　the　theatres；
thought　yourself　upon　the　stage；　and　would　commence　a　comedy　with
the　king　of　lamps。　So　it　is　known　then　that　my　soldiers　will　enter
the　great　theatre　of　war；　and　that　we　are　about　to　fight　real
battles。〃

〃It　is　known；　sire；〃　replied　Von　Arnim；　bowing。

〃Then　what　I　am　about　to　communicate　to　you　will　not　surprise　you。
The　present　juncture　of　affairs　leads　us　to　await　very　grave　scenes…
…we　can　well　dispense　with　comedy。　I　withdraw　the　salaries　and
pensions　of　the　French　actorsyour　own　is　included。　After　you　have
dismissed　the　French　comedians；　you　will　be　entirely　at　leisure　to
pursue　your　love…intrigues。Farewell！〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　cried　the　baron；　amazed；　〃has　your　highness
dismissed　me？〃

〃Are　you　deaf；　or　have　you　some　of　the　cotton　in　your　ears　which　I
presented　to　you　at　your　recall　from　Copenhagen？〃　replied　the　king。
＇Footnote：　Baron　von　Arnim　was　ambassador　to　Copenhagen　until　1754；
when　he　begged　for　his　recall；　stating　that　the　damp　climate　was
injurious　to　his　health。　The　king　granted　his　request；　and　the　baron
returned　to　Berlin。　At　the　first　audience　with　the　king；　Frederick
handed　Baron　von　Arnim　a　carefully…packed　box；　saying；　〃I　do　not
wish　the　government　to　lose　so　valuable　a　servant；　in　this　box　you
will　find　something　that　will　keep　you　warm。〃　Arnim　could　scarcely
await　his　return　home；　to　open　the　box；　it　contained　nothing　but
cotton。　Some　days　afterward；　however；　the　king　increased　Von　Arnim's
income　a　thousand　dollars；　and　sent　him　ambassador　to　Dresden。　Von
Arnim　was　afterward　director　of　the　Royal　Theatre　until　dismissed　in
the　above　manner。＇

〃Sire；　I　have　heard　all；　but　I　cannot　believe　it。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　interrupted　the　king；　〃To　believe　is　difficult；　you；　I
presume；　never　belonged　to　the　pious　and　believing。　Your　intrigues
would　not　admit　of　it；　but　now　you　have　the　leisure　to　pursue　them
with　a　right　good…will。　You　have　only　to　discharge；　as　I　have　said；
the　entire　French　troupe；　and　the　whole　thing　is　done　with。Adieu；
Arnim；　may　you　be　prospered！〃

Baron　von　Arnim　muttered　some　incomprehensible　words；　and　retreated
from　the　royal　presence。　The　door　had　scarcely　closed；　when　it　was
again　opened　without　ceremony　by　a　young　man；　wearing　a　gold…laced
dress。

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　he；　hastily；　in　an　undertone；　〃your　majesty；
she　has　just　gone　to　the　Palace　Park；　just　the　same　hour　she　went
yesterday。〃

〃Is　she　alone？〃　asked　the　king；　rising。

〃No；　she　is　not　alone；　at　a　little　distance　the　nurse　follows　with
the　princely　infant！〃

The　king　cast　an　angry　glance　at　the　saucy；　laughing　face　of　the
young　man；　who　at　once　assumed　a　devoted；　earnest　mien。　〃Has　your
majesty　any　further　commands？〃　asked　he；　timidly。

〃I　command　you　to　hold　your　tongue　until　you　are　spoken　to！〃　replied
the　king；　harshly。　〃You　understand　spying　and　hanging　about；　as　you
have　good　ears；　a　quick　eye；　and　a　keen　scent。　I　therefore　make　use
of　you；　because　I　need　a　spy；　but；　understand　that　a　fellow　who
allows　himself　to　be　used　as　a　spy；　is；　indeed；　a　useful　subject；
but　generally　a　worthless　one；　and　to　whom　it　is　becoming　to　be
modest　and　humble。　I　am　now　going　to　Berlin；　you　will　accompany　me。
Take　off　your　finery；　so　that　every　one　may　not　recognize　at　once
the　peacock　by　his　feathers。　Go　to　the　taverns　and　listen　to　what
they　say　about　the　war；　whether　the　people　are　much　dissatisfied
about　it。　Keep　your　great　ears　wide　open；　and　bring　me　this　evening
all　the　latest　news。　Go；　now；　tell　my　coachman　to　be　ready；　in　half
an　hour　I　shall　set　off。〃

The　young　man　slunk　away　to　the　door；　but　stood　without　opening　it；
his　head　down；　and　his　under…lip　hanging　out。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　the　king；　in　a　milder　tone；　〃why　do　you
not　go；　Kretzschmar？〃

〃I　cannot　go　away　if　your　majesty　is　angry　with　me；〃　muttered　the
servant；　insolently。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　hear　or　see　any　thing　more
for　you　when　your　majesty　abuses　me；　and　considers　me　such　a　mean；
base　fellow。　Your　majesty　first　commanded　me　to　listen；　and　spy；　and
now　that　I　am　obeying；　I　am　despised　and　scolded　for　it。　I　will　have
nothing　more　to　do　with　it；　and　I　wish　your　majesty　to　leave　me　a
simple　footman　rather　than　to　accord　me　such　a　mean　position。〃

〃I　did　not　mean　so　badly；〃　said　the　king。　〃I　mean　well　enough　for
you；　but　you　must　not　permit　yourself　to　be　arrogant　or
disrespectful；　otherwise　you　may　go　to　Tophet！　You　are　no　common
spy；　you　are　listening　about　a　little　because　you　know　I　am　fond　of
hearing　what　the　people　are　saying；　and　what　is　going　on　in　Berlin
and　Potsdam。　But　take　care　that　they　know　nothing　about　it；
otherwise　they　will　be　careful；　and　you　will　hear　nothing。　Now　be
off；　and　in　order　to　see　a　cheerful　face　on　you；　I　will　make　you　a
present。〃　The　king　drew　from　his　vest…pocket　a　purse；　well　filled
with　small　coin；　and　gave　it　to　the　young　man；　who　took　it；　though
he　still　looked　angry　and　insolent。　〃Do　not　let　your　under…lip　hang
down　so；　for　I　may　step　upon　it；〃　said　the　king。　〃Put　the　money　in
your　pocket；　and　hurry　off　to　tell　old　Pfund　to　harness　quickly；　or
I　shall　not　arrive　in　time　at　the　park。〃

〃There　is　no　danger；　your　majesty；　for　the　miss　seems　very　fond　of
the　promenade；　she　remained　two　hours　in　the　park　yesterday；　always
walking　in　the　most　quiet　places；　as　if　she　were　afraid　to　meet　any
one。　She　sat　a　whole　hour　on　the　iron　seat　by　the　Carp　Pond；　and
then　she　went　to　the　Philosopher's　Walk；　and　skipped　about　like　a
young　colt。〃

〃You　are　a　very　cunning　fellow；　and　know　how　to　use　your　eyes　well；〃
said　the　king。　〃Now　be　off；　and　order　the　carriage。〃




CHAPTER　II。

WILHELMINE　ENKE。

The　Palace　Park　was　as　quiet　and　deserted　as　usual。　Not　a　voice；　not
a　sound；　disturbed　the　stillness　of　those　silent　walks。　For　this
reason；　undoubtedly；　a　young　lady　had　sought　it；　at　least　her　whole
being　expressed　satisfaction　and　delight　to　wander　unobserved
through　those　quiet；　shady　alleys。　She　was　of　slight　and　elegant
proportions；　simply　attired；　without　pretension；　in　a　dark　dress　of
some　thin　silk　material。　Her　black　silk　mantle　was　thrown　aside　upon
the　stone　seat　near　her；　uncovering　thus；　in　solitude；　to　the　sun
and　birds；　her　lovely　neck　and　arms；　the　beauty　of　which　might　rival
the　statues　of　the　ancients。　Her　face　was　not　of　regular　beauty；　yet
it　possessed　that　expression　of　grace；　spirit；　and　energy；　which　is
oftener　a　more　powerful　and　more　enduring　charm　than　regular　beauty。
Her　large；　expressive　black　eyes　possessed　a　wonderful　power；　and
her　red；　pouting　lips　wore　a　sweet　smile；　her　fine　Roman　nose　lent
an　air　of　decision；　whilst　her　high…arched　forehead　led　one　to
believe　that　daring；　energetic　thought　lay　hidden　beneath　those
clusters　of　brown　curls。　She　was　not　in　the　bloom　of　youth；　but　at
twenty…five　she　appeared　younger　than　many　beauties　at　eighteen；　and
if　her　form　no　longer　possessed　the　charm　of　girlhood；　it　was
attractive　from　its　suppleness　and　full；　beautiful　bust。

〃Louisa；　Louisa；　where　are　you？〃　cried　the　young　lady；　stepping
quickly　forward　toward　a　side…path；　which　led　from　the　broad　avenue；
and　at　the　end　of　which　was　a　sunny　grassplot。

〃Here　I　am；　miss；　I　am　coming。〃

〃Miss；〃　murmured　the　young　lady；　〃how　dreadfully　it　sounds！　The
blush　of　shame　rises　to　my　face；　for　it　sounds　like　bitter　mockery
and　contempt；　and　brings　my　whole　life　before　me。　Yet；　I　must　endure
itand　I　scarcely　wish　it　were　otherwise。　Ah；　there　you　are；
Louisa；　and　there　is　my　beautiful　boy；〃　she　cried；　with　a　glad
voice；　hastening　toward　the　peasant…woman　and　bending　fondly　over
her　child。　〃How　beautiful　and　how　knowing　he　looks！　It　seems　as　if
my　little　Alexander　began　to　recognize　mehe　looks　so　earnest　and
sensible。〃

〃He　knows　you；　miss；〃　said　the　nurse；　courtesying；　〃and　he　knows；
like　other　children；　who　loves　him。　Children　and　dogs　know　who　love
them。　The　children　cry；　and　the　dogs　hide　themselves　when　people　are
around　who　dislike　them。〃

〃Nonsense；　Louisa！〃　laughed　the　young　lady；　as　she　bent　to　kiss　her
child〃nonsense！　did　not　my　little　boy　cry　when　his　father　took　him
yesterday？　And　he　loves　his　child　most　tenderly；　as　only　a　father
can。〃

〃Oh；　there　is　another　reason　for　that；〃　said　the　nurse。　〃He　has　just
passed　his　first　stupid　three　months；　and　he　begins　to　hear　and　see
what　passes　around　him；　and　it　was　the　first　man's　face　that　he　had
seen。　But　only　look；　miss；　what　a　beautiful　littl