old fritz and the new era-第55部分

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cannot　be；　for　I　must　live　to　wait　for　himto　rescue　him。　How　I
know　not　yet；　my　thoughts　and　resolutions　are　so　confused　that　they
flicker　like　the　ignes　fatui。　I　will　force　my　mind　to　be　calm；　and
these　wandering　lights　shall　unite　in　one　glowing　flame　to　destroy
the　walls　and　obstructions　which　confine　him。　He　is　a　prisoner；　I
feel　it　in　my　heart；　and　I　must　live　to　free　him。　This　is　my　task；
and　I　will　accomplish　it；　therefore　I　would　be　composed；　and　strong
in　myself。　Wonder　not　that　I　weep　or　complain　no　more；　and　do　not
refer　to　my　misfortune。　I　should　die　if　I　did　not　suppress　this
anguish；　and　I　would　become　strong　and　active。　Seek　not　to　enfeeble
me；　but　aid　me　to　harden　myself；　refrain　from　complaint；　that　I　may
be　silent。　I　think　only　of　him；　and　I　ask　nothing　further　than　to
yield　my　life　to　free　him。　Let　us　never　speak　of　it　again；　for　I
feel　that　all　the　firmness　which　I　had　gained　has　been　swept　from　me
in　this　giving　way；　and　that　I　must　begin　anew。〃

From　this　hour　she　commenced　to　build；　and　rose　upon　her　grief　as　on
a　column　which　projects　toward　heaven；　leaned　upon　it；　and　received；
as　Brisaeus　from　the　earth；　the　power　of　life　and　action。　She　had
already　so　conquered　herself　as　to　be　able　to　leave　her　own　quiet
room；　and　descend　to　that　of　her　parents。　There　she　would　sit　calmly
for　hours；　listening　attentively　to　the　conversation；　hoping　to
catch　some　word　that　might　give　her　a　clew。

They　avoided　every　exciting　topic；　and　were　milder　and　more
thoughtful　for　her。　Even　her　mother　made　no　reproaches；　and　never
alluded　to　the　past；　because　she　feared　to　delay　her　recovery；　and
remove　the　longed…for　goal　in　hindering　the　marriage　with
Ebenstreit。　The　latter　carefully　avoided　troubling　her　by　his
presence；　when　he　heard　Marie's　step　in　the　anteroom；　who　descended
at　a　certain　hour　every　day；　he　withdrew　by　the　other　entrance。

〃Who　goes　out　every　time　I　come　in？〃　asked　Marie；　one　day　as　she
appeared　in　the　sitting…room。

The　general　coughed　with　embarrassment；　and　glanced　anxiously　at　his
wife；　whose　eyes　rested　upon　her　daughter　with　a　cold；　searching
expression。　Their　eyes　met；　and　were　riveted　upon　each　other。　A
cold；　cruel　smile　played　around　the　thin；　bloodless　lips　of　the
mother　as　she　recognized　the　defiance　and　firmness　in　her　child；　and
felt　that　she　had　recovered。

〃It　is　your　betrothed；〃　she　answered；　〃our　dear　Ebenstreita　good；
generous；　and　self…sacrificing　son；　for　whom　we　thank　God　every　day；
who　wishes　to　spare　you　the　annoyance　of　seeing　him。〃

〃He　need　not　inconvenience　himself　on　my　account。　Nothing　excites　or
wounds　my　feelings　now。　It　would　be　a　pity　for　your　heartless；
thankless　daughter　to　deprive　you　of　the　society　of　your　dear　son。
Let　him　remain；　it　is　not　necessary　for　us　to　notice　one　another。〃

Her　parents　regarded　each　other　astonished；　and；　as　she　ceased；　they
still　listened　to　the　dying　tones　of　her　voice；　which　sounded　so
strangely　to　them。　〃She　is　much　changed；〃　mumbled　the　general　to
himself。　〃She　does　not　seem　the　same　person；　she　is　so　haughty　and
majestic。　She　might　well　inspire　fear。〃

The　following　day；　as　Marie　entered　the　room；　Ebenstreit　was　there。
He　approached　her；　extending　both　hands　smiling；　and　greeting　her
with　tender　words；　rejoicing　at　her　recovery。

She　took　no　notice　of　his　friendly　demonstrations；　but　coldly　and
harshly　regarded　his　smiling　face；　and　particularly　the　broad；
blood…red　scar　which　ran　from　forehead　to　chin。　Then　suddenly　her
face　lighted　up；　and　an　expression　of　savage　triumph　shot　from　her
eyes。　〃How　disfigured　you　look；〃　she　cried　exultingly。　〃Where　did
you　get　that　scar？〃

〃You　know　well；　Marie；〃　he　murmured；　gloomily。

〃Yes；〃　she　cried；　triumphantly。　〃I　know　it。　He　branded　you；　and　you
will　wear　this　mark　before　God　and　man　as　long　as　you　live。〃

〃You　are　very　cruel　to　remind　me　of　it；　Marie；〃　he　softly　whispered。

She　laughed　aloud　so　wild　and　savagely；　that　even　her　mother　was
startled。　〃CruelI　cruel！〃　she　cried。　〃Ah；　sir；　it　becomes　you
indeed　to　accuse　me　of　it！〃

Trude　entered　at　this　instant；　pale　and　excited。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃

〃There　is　some　one　here　who　wishes　to　speak　with　you；　Marie；　he　has
something　very　important　to　tell　you。〃

〃How　dare　you　announce　any　one　without　my　permission？〃　cried　Frau
von　Werrig。

〃Silence；　mother！if　I　may　be　allowed；　let　us　hear　who　it　is。
Speak；　dear　Trude；　who　is　it？〃

〃It　is　the　Director　Gedicke　from　the　Gray　Cloister；〃　said　Trude；
with　quivering　voice。

Marie　was　startleda　glowing　red　overspread　her　cheeks；　and　she　was
obliged　to　lean　against　a　chair　for　support。

〃I　forbid　you　to　receive　him；〃　said　her　mother。

She　suddenly　ceased；　and　stared　at　the　door；　which　opened　at　that
moment；　the　tall；　dignified　form　of　a　venerable　old　man　appearing。

〃Pardon　me；　sir；〃　said　he；　with　a　cold；　reserved　manner；　〃if　I　enter
before　I　receive　permission。　The　command　of　the　king；　to　which　I
believe　we　all　yield　without　resistance；　empowers　me　to　do　so。〃

〃How；　sir；　you　come　by　the　king's　order？〃　asked　the　general；　who
rose　with　difficulty。　〃Has　his　majesty　given　you　a　message　for
General　von　Leuthen？〃

〃No；　general；　I　come　with　a　communication　from　his　majesty　to
Fraulein　von　Leuthen；　the　betrothed　of　Herr　Ebenstreit；　and　the
order　runs　to　deliver　the　same　personally　and　without　witnesses。〃

〃Professor；〃　cried　the　mother；　shrugging　her　shoulders；　〃you　mistake
us　for　very　innocent　people；　if　you　suppose　we　believe　this　silly
invention；　and　that　you　can　gain　a　secret　conversation　by　a　ruse
with　our　daughter。　You　are　the　director　of　the　gymnasium；　and
naturally　the　friend　of　Conrector　Moritz。　In　his　name　you　will
speak；　and　bring　a　secret　message。　Very　sly；　indeed；　very　sly；　but
it　will　not　succeed。〃

For　response；　the　director　drew　two　large　folded　documents　from　his
pocket；　approaching　the　general。　〃Do　you　recognize　this　seal？〃　he
asked。

〃Yes；〃　solemnly　answered　the　general；　〃it　is　the　royal　seal　from　the
king's　private　cabinet。〃

〃Read　the　address　upon　this；　and　the　unopened　letter。〃

〃Truly；　the　latter　is　directed　to　my　daughter；　and　the　other　to
Professor　Gedicke。〃

Herr　Gedicke　opened　the　letter；　asking　the　general　if　he　could
recognize　the　king's　handwriting。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　〃I　know　it　well。〃

〃Have　the　goodness　to　read　the　lines　upon　the　margin；〃　mid　the
professor；　unfolding　the　letter；　so　that　he　could　only　read　those
referred　to。

The　general　read：　〃Professor　Gedicke　shall　go　himself　to　Fraulein
von　Leuthen；　and　bring　her　to　reason；　reading　the　document　to　her
without　witnesses。　I　wish　this　affair　to　come　to　an　end。　Teach
Mamselle　mores！　mores！　mores！　〃FREDERICK。〃

〃You　have　heard　the　royal　command；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　will　you
respect　it？〃　said　the　professor；　turning　around　with　an　air　of　proud
satisfaction。

〃My　dear　son…in…law；〃　said　the　general；　solemnly；　〃it　is　a　royal
command；　give　me　your　arm；　as　you　know　I　am　feeble；　and　you；　my
wife；　take　my　other　arm；　and　we　will　go　into　the　next　room。　Hush！
not　a　wordwe　have　only　to　obey；　and　not　reason。〃

He　seized　his　wife's　hand　hastily　and　firmly；　that　she　should　not
slip　away；　and　winked　to　Ebenstreit；　upon　whose　support　he　crossed
the　room；　drawing　his　wife　with　him；　and　pushing　open　the　door　of
the　next　with　his　foot。

Marie　had　stood　during　the　whole　transaction　pale　and　rigid　in　the
centre　of　the　room；　looking　haughty　and　defiant　as　long　as　her
parents　and　Herr　Ebenstreit　were　present。　Now；　as　the　door　closed；
life　and　action　were　visible　in　this　marble　form；　she　rushed　to　the
old　gentleman；　scarce　respiring；　and　looking　up　at　his　dignified；
sad　face；　asked：　〃Is　he　living？　Tell　me　only　this；　or　is　he　ill？〃

〃Yes；　he　lives；　he　does　not　suffer　from　bodily　ills；　but　the
sickness　of　the　soul。〃

〃And　do　not　I　also？〃　asked　she；　with　quivering　voice。　〃Oh！　I　know
what　he　suffers；　as　we　are　wretched　from　the　same　cause。　But　tell
me；　have　you　seen　him？〃

〃Yes；　Fraulein；　I　have。〃

〃Where　is　he？　Where　did　you　see　him？〃

〃In　prison！〃

Marie　grew　paler；　and　retreated；　shuddering。　The　director　continued：
〃In　a　dark；　damp　prison　at　Spandau。　The　poor　fellow　has　been　there
for　two　months　without　air；　light；　or　occupation；　and　his　only
society　is　his　own　revengeful　thoughts　and　angry　love…complaints。〃

Marie　gave　one　hollow　moan；　covering　her　corpse…like　face　with　her
hands。

〃In　this　abode　of　torture；　in　this　dwelling　of　the　damned；　he　must
remain　ten　long　years；　if　death　does　not　release　him？〃

〃What　did　you　say？〃　she　groaned。　〃Ten　long　years？　Have　they
condemned　him？〃

〃Yes；　he　was　guilty　of　a　great　crimeeloping　with　a　minorwho；
with　the　king's　consent；　and　that　of　her　parents；　was　betrothed　to
another。　Read　the　sentence　of　the　court；　which　was　forwarded　to　me
as　the　head　of　the　college　where　Moritz　was　employed。　See；　here　is
the　king's　signature；　which　affirms　the　sentence；　rendering　it
legal；　and　here　upon　the　margin　are　the　lines　your　father　read。〃

Trembling；　Marie　perused　the　contents。　〃Ten　years　in　the　house　of
correction！〃　she　murmured。　〃On　my　account　condemned　to　a　living
death！　No；　no；　it　is　impossible！　It　cannot　be！　Ten　years　of　the　best
part　of　life！　He　condemned　as　a　criminal！　I　will　go　to　the　king。　I
will　throw　myself　at　his　feet；　imploring　for　mercy。　I　am　the　guilty
oneI　alone！　They　should　judge　me；　and　send　me　to　the　penitentiary！
I　will　go　to　the　king！　He　must　and　will　hear　me！〃

〃He　will　not；〃　sighed　the　director。　〃Listen　to　me；　poor　child！　As　I
heard　the　sentence；　I　felt　it　my　duty　to　summon　all　my　powers　to
rescue　Moritz；　for　I　love　him　as　a　son；　and　had　set　my　hopes　upon
him。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　this　kind　word；〃　said　Marie；　seizing　the　hand　of
the　old　man；　and　pressing　it　to　her　lips。

〃I　went　immediately　to　Minister　von　Herzberg；　and；　upon　his　advice；
as　he　explained　to　me　the　king　might　lighten　his　punishment；　I
betook　myself　to　Frederick's　winter…quarters　at　Breslau。〃

〃You　noble；　generous　man；　I　shall　love　you　for　it　as　long　as　I　live。
Did　you　speak　with　the　king？〃

〃Yes；　and　every　thing　that　my　heart　or　mind　could　inspire；　to　excuse
and　justify　my　unhappy　friend；　I　have　saidbut　all　in　vain。　The
king　was　much　embittered；　be