old fritz and the new era-第52部分

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〃I　will　tell　Marie；　and　she　will　rejoice；〃　cried　Trude。

〃Tell　her；　from　her　father；　that　it　is　very　agreeable　to　him　not　to
see　her　pale；　wretched…looking　face　again　till　morning。Now；　my
son；　pay　attention；　and　you；　Trude；　do　not　presume　to　interrupt　us
again。　Leberecht；　play　out　my　ace　of　hearts。〃

The　latter；　with　his　eyes　cast　down；　and　with　a　perfectly
indifferent　manner；　played　the　card　indicated；　and　Trude　left　the
room　quietly　and　unobserved。

〃Every　thing　is　arranged；　my　child；〃　said　Trude；　as　she　re…entered
Marie's　room。　〃They　are　playing　cards；　which　always　lasts　two　hours；
then　Herr　Ebenstreit　goes　away；　and　the　family　will　go　to　bed。　You
have　eighteen　hours；　before　you　will　be　discovered。　Hark！　it　strikes
seven；　and　it　is　already　quite　dark。　When　the　post…horn　sounds；　then
it　is　time。〃

〃Oh；　Trude！　my　dear　mother；　my　heart　almost　ceases　to　beat；　with
anxiety；　and　I　quake　with　fear；〃　sighed　Marie。　〃I　am　conscious　that
I　have　commenced　a　fearful　undertaking！〃

〃They　have　driven　you　to　itit　is　not　your　fault；〃　said　Trude；
consolingly。　〃Every　human　being　is　free　to　work　out　his　own　good　or
bad　fortune；　and；　as　our　dear　Old　Fritz　says；　'to　be　happy　in　the
future　world　in　his　own　way。'　They　have　sold　you　for　money；　and　you
only　prove　to　them　that　you　are　no　slave。〃

〃And　I　prove　also　that　I　am　a　disobedient　daughter；〃　added　Marie；
trembling。　〃At　this　hour；　it　weighs　like　a　heavy　burden　upon　my
heart；　and　the　words　of　Holy　Writ　burn　into　my　very　soul'Honor　thy
father　and　thy　mother；　that　it　may　be　well　with　thee。'〃

〃You　have　honored　them　all　your　life；〃　said　Trude；　solemnly；　〃I　can
witness　it　before　God　and　man。　You　have　worked　for　them　without
thanks　or　love；　receiving　only　contempt。　It　is　also　written；　'Thou
shalt　leave　father　and　mother；　and　cleave　unto　thy　husband。'　You
still　follow　the　commands　of　God；　and　may　it　bring　you　happiness　and
blessing。　My　prayers　and　thoughts　go　with　you；　my　child！　a　mother
could　not　love　her　offspring　more　tenderly　than　I　do　you。〃

〃No　mother　could　more　tenderly　and　faithfully　care　for　her　than　you
have　for　me；　Trude；〃　cried　Marie；　pressing　her　lovingly　to　her
breast。　〃Through　you　alone　is　my　rescue　possible；　for　you　give　us
the　money　to　undertake　the　long　journey。〃

〃Not　I；〃　she　laughed；　〃it　is　Herr　Ebenstreit；　and　that　makes　it　the
more　amusing；　the　wicked　always　set　the　traps　into　which　they　fall
themselves。〃　Suddenly　the　loud；　quivering　tones　of　the　post…horn
were　heard；　〃Es　ritten　drei　Reiter　zum　Thore　hinaus。〃

〃He　has　come！〃　cried　Marie；　and　her　face　beamed　with　delight。　〃He
calls　me！　I　am　coming！Farewell；　dear；　peaceful　room；　where　I　have
so　toiled；　wept；　and　suffered！　I　shall　never　see　thee　again！　My
beloved　calls　me；　and　I　go　to　follow　him　even　unto　death！　Pardon　me；
O　God！　Thou　seest　that　I　cannot　do　otherwise！　They　would　force　me　to
perjury；　and　I　dare　not　break　my　oath！　I　cannot　forsake　him　whom　I
love！When　they　curse　me；　Trude；　kneel；　and　implor　God　to　bless　me；
who　is　the　Father　of　love！　My　conscience　does　not　reproach　me。　I
have　worked　for　them　when　they　needed　it；　now　their　adopted　son；　to
whom　they　have　sold　their　name；　allows　them　a　yearly　rent；　and　I　can
work　for　myself。〃

〃Hark！　there　is　the　post…horn　again；　you　must　go；〃　murmured　Trude；
struggling　to　force　back　her　tears。

〃Bless　me；　mother；〃　implored　Marie；　kneeling。

〃God's　blessing　go　with　you；〃　she　said；　laying　her　hands　upon　her
head；　〃and　may　it　render　of　no　avail　the　curses　of　men；　but　permit
you　to　walk　in　love　and　happiness！〃

〃Amen；　amen！〃　sighed　Marie；　〃now　farewell；　dear　mother；　farewell！〃

Marie　rose；　and　kissing　Trude　again；　flitted　down　the　stairs；　and
out　of　the　house；　Trude　following；　holding　her　breath　and　listening
in　fearful　excitement。

Again　resounded　the　post…horn。

〃They　are　gone；〃　murmured　Trude；　bowing　her　head　and　praying　long
and　fervently。

The　general　was　particularly　fortunate　this　evening；　which　caused
him　to　be　unusually　cheerful　and　satisfied。　After　every　rubber　he
gathered　up　the　thalers；　until　he　had　amassed　a　most　satisfactory
pile。　As　the　clock　struck　ten；　Frau　von　Werrig　declared　that　they
must　finish　and　go　to　bed。

The　general　yielded；　with　a　sigh；　to　her　decision；　for　he　knew；　by
long　years　of　experience；　that　it　would　be　in　vain　to　defy　her　will。
He　shoved　his　winnings　into　a　leather　bag；　which　he　always　carried
with　him；　and　gave　Leberecht　the　order　to　roll　away　his　chair；　when
the　servant；　with　a　solemn　bow；　stepped　closely　to　him；　and　begged
the　general　to　listen　to　him　a　moment。

〃Well；　what　have　you　to　say？〃　he　asked。

〃I　have　only　one　requestthat　you　will　permit　me　to　prove　that　I　am
a　faithful　servant；　who　looks　out　for　the　good　of　his　employers。　You
have　given　Trude　five　hundred　thalers　that　she　might　watch　over　your
daughter。　I　can　show　you　how　well　she　deserved　it；　and　how
differently　your　humble　servant　would　have　done。Have　the　goodness；
Frau　yon　Werrig；　to　call　Trude　to　bid　Fraulein　come　down；　for　you
have　something　important　to　communicate　to　her。〃

His　mistress　proudly　regarded　him　and　seemed　to　try　to　read　his
meaning　in　his　smiling；　humble　face。　〃And　if　my　daughter　comes；　what
have　you　to　say？〃

〃If　she　comes；　then　I　am　a　miserable　fool　and　scoundrel；　but　I　beg
you　to　call　Trude。〃

It　was　a　long　time　before　the　old　woman　appeared；　confused　and
sleepy；　asking〃what　they　wanted　at　such　a　late　hour？〃

〃Go　and　tell　my　daughter　that　I　wish　to　see　her　at　once。〃

Trude　trembled；　but　composed　herself；　saying；　〃There　is　time　enough
to…morrow。　Fraulein　has　been　asleep　a　long　time。〃

〃She　lies；〃　sneered　Leberecht；　taking　the　precaution　to　protect
himself　behind　the　general's　arm…chair。　〃She　knows　that　she　is　not
in　bed。〃

〃Oh；　you　sneak；　you　rascal；〃　cried　Trude；　shaking　her　fist　at　him；
〃how　dare　you　say　that　I　tell　a　lie？　How　can　such　a　miserable
creature　as　you　impute　to　others　what　you　do　yourself　every　time
that　you　open　your　mouth？〃

〃Frau　yon　Werrig；　she　is　only　quarrelling；　in　order　to　gain　time
every　moment　is　precious。　I　beg　you　to　go　up…stairs；　and　see　for
yourself；　if　your　daughter　is　there。〃

〃Fraulein　has　locked　the　door　so　as　not　to　be　disturbed。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Leberecht；　〃Trude　has　locked　it；　and　has　the　key　in　her
pocket。〃

〃Give　up　the　key；〃　shrieked　the　general；　who　in　vain　tried　to　rise；
〃or　I　will　call　the　police；　and　send　you　to　prison。〃

〃Do　it；　but　I　will　not　give　it　to　you。〃

〃Do　you　not　see　she　has　it？〃　cried　Leberecht。

〃Oh；　you　wretch；　I　will　pay　youI　will　scratch　your　eyes　out；　you
miserable　creature！〃

〃Trude；　be　quiet；〃　commanded　Ebenstreit；　〃the　general　orders　to　give
up　the　keydo　it！〃

〃Yes；　do　it　at　once；〃　shrieked　Frau　von　Werrig；　〃or　I　will　dismiss
you　from　my　service。〃

〃That　you　will　not　have　to　do；　as　I　shall　go　myself。　I　will　not　give
up　the　key。〃

〃The　door　is　old；　and　with　a　good　push　one　could　open　it；〃　said
Leberecht。

〃Come；　my　son；　let　us　see；〃　said　the　mother。

They　hastened　up　to　the　room；　while　the　general　scolded；　furiously
that　he　must　sit　still。　Leberecht　and　Trude　cast　furious；　menacing
glances　at　each　other。

Suddenly　a　loud　crash　was　heard。

〃They　have　broken　open　the　door！〃　cried　the　general。

〃I　said　that　it　was　old　and　frailwhat　do　you　say　now；　beautiful
Trude？〃

The　old　woman　wiped　with　her　hand　the　drops　of　perspiration　from　her
forehead；　caused　by　her　anguish。　〃You　are　a　bad　fellow；　and　God　will
punish　you　for　your　treason；　that　you　have　tormented　a　noble；
unhappy　girl。　I　saw　that　you　were　an　eavesdropper；　and　you　know
all。〃

〃She　is　gone！〃　shrieked　the　mother；　rushing　into　the　room。

〃The　room　is　empty；〃　cried　Ebenstreit。　〃Marie　is　not　there。　Tell　us；
Leberecht；　what　you　know　about　it。〃

〃I　will；　if　we　can　agree　about　the　paythe　old　woman　bothers　me；
and　beg　the　young　gentleman　to　go　into　the　next　room　with　me。〃

〃O　Almighty　God；　have　compassion　upon　my　poor　little　Marie；〃
murmured　Trude；　kneeling；　and　covering　her　face。

Ebenstreit　in　the　mean　time　withdrew　to　the　other　room；　followed　by
the　servant。

〃Speak！〃　commanded　his　master；　〃and　tell　me　what　you　have　to　say。〃

Leberecht　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃We　are　two　men　who　have　urgent
business　with　each　other。　I　am　not　at　present　a　servant　and　you　the
master。　I　am　a　man　who　has　an　important　secret　to　sell；　and　you　are
the　man　who　would　buy　it。〃

〃What　strange；　unheard…of　language　is　this？〃　said　Ebenstreit；
astonished。

〃The　language　of　a　man　who　cannot　only　deprive　the　rich　banker
Ebenstreit　of　a　lovely　wife；　but　of　his　title　also。　You　said
yourself；　sir；　this　morning；　that　it　was　only　valid　if　you　succeeded
in　marrying　the　daughter　of　General　von　Leuthen。　No　none　knows　where
you　can　find　your　bride　but　me。〃

〃And　Trude；〃　said　Ebenstreit；　quickly。

〃You　know　she　will　not　betray　Fraulein；　and　you　have　not　even　tried
to　make　her。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　Trude　is　as　easily　bought　as　any　one。〃

〃You　say　that　because　she　has　taken　five　hundred　thalers　from　you。
She　has　not　helped　you；　and　it　is　useless　to　ask　for　your　money；　as
she　has　not　got　it。〃

〃How　so？　Has　she　given　it　away？〃

〃You　provided　the　money　for　your　bride　to　run　away　and　marry
elsewhere；　as　Trude　gave　it　to　them。〃

Ebenstreit　stamped　his　foot　with　rage；　striding　backward　and　forward
in　furious　excitement；　while　Leberecht　watched　him；　sardonically
smiling。　〃Let　us　come　to　an　end　with　this　business；〃　said
Ebenstreit；　stopping　before　his　servant。　〃You　know　where　Fraulein
can　be　found；　and　you　wish　to　sell　the　secrettell　me　your　price。〃

〃Three　thousand　thalers；　and　a　clerkship　in　your　bank；　which　you
intend　to　continue　under　another　name。〃

〃You　are　beside　yourself。　I　am　not　so　foolish　as　to　grant　such
senseless　demands。〃

〃Every　hour　that　you　wait　I　demand　a　thousand　thalers　more；　and　if
you　stop　to　reflect　long　your　betrothed　and　your　title　both　are
lost。〃

〃You　are　a　miserable　scamp！〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　enraged；　〃I　will
inform　the　police。　There　are　means　enough　to　force　you　to　give　the
information。〃

〃I　do　not　believe　it。　Trude　will　not　tell　you；　and　I　should　like　to
know　what　can　force　me　if　I　will　not。　The　king　has　done　away　with
torture；　and　I　have　informed　you　how　to　mak