old fritz and the new era-第71部分

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and　you；　honored　guests；　to　quietly　await　the　conclusion　of　this
scene；　and　to　permit　Herr　Moritz　to　finish　speaking。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　defy　me；　madame？〃　muttered　Moritz；　gnashing　his
teeth。　〃You　perhaps　count　upon　my　magnanimity　to　keep　silent；　and
not　disclose　the　secrets　of　the　past　to　this　aristocratic　assembly。
I　stand　here　as　its　accusing　spirit；　and　condemn　you　as　a　shameless
perjurer。I　will　ask　you　who　are　here　rendering　homage　to　this
woman；　if　you　know　who　she　is；　and　of　what　she　has　been　guilty？　As　a
young　girl　she　was　as　sweet　and　innocent　as　an　angel；　and　seemed
more　like　a　divine　revelation。　To　think　of　her；　inspired　and
elevated　one's　thoughts；　and　heaven　was　mirrored　in　her　eyes。　She
was　poor；　and　yet　so　infinitely　rich；　that　if　a　king　had　laid　all
his　treasures　at　her　feet；　as　the　gift　of　his　love；　he　would　receive
more　than　he　gave；　for　in　her　heart　reposed　the　wealth　of　the　whole
human　race。　Oh！　I　could　weep　tears　of　blood　in　reflecting　upon　what
she　was；　and　what　she　has　become。　Smile　and　mock；　ladies　and
gentlemen；　my　brain　is　crazed；　and　I　weep　for　my　lost　angel。〃

Moritz　dashed　his　hands　to　his　face；　and　stood　swaying　backward　and
forward；　sobbing。

Sighs　and　regrets　were　heard　in　the　room。　The　ladies　pressed　their
handkerchiefs　to　their　eyes；　others　regarded　with　lively　sympathy
the　handsome　young　man；　who　deeply　interested　them；　and　gazed
reproachfully　at　the　young　baroness；　expecting　her　to　be　crushed
with　these　reproaches　and　tears；　but　who；　on　the　contrary；　stood
with　proud　composure；　her　face　beaming　with　joy；　gazing　at　Moritz。

〃It　is　pastmy　last　tear　is　shed；　and　my　last　wail　has　been
uttered；〃　cried　Philip；　uncovering　his　face。　〃My　angel　has　changed
into　a　despicable　woman。　I　loved　her　as　the　wretched；　disconsolate
being　adores　the　one　who　reveals　paradise　to　him；　and　she　fooled　me
into　the　belief　that　she　loved　me。　We　exchanged　vows　of　eternal
constancy　and　affection；　and　promised　each　other　to　bear　joyfully
every　ill　in　life；　and　never　separate　until　death。　I　should　have
doubted　myself；　rather　than　she　who　stood　above　me；　like　a　divine
revelation。　I　wished　to　win　her　by　toil　and　industry；　by　my
intellect；　and　the　fame　by　which　I　could　render　my　name　illustrious。
It　was；　indeed；　nothing　in　the　eyes　of　her　grasping　parents；　they
repulsed　me　with　scorn　and　pride；　but　Marie　encouraged　me　to　perfect
confidence　in　her　affection。　Whilst　I　wandered　on　foot　to　Silesia；
like　a　poor　pilgrim　toward　happiness；　to　humble　myself　before　the
king；　to　beg　and　combat　for　my　angel；　there　came　temptation；　sin；
and　vulgarity；　in　the　form　of　this　pale；　cowed…down　man；　who　stands
beside　my　betrothed　gasping　with　rage。　The　temptation　of　riches
changed　my　angel　into　a　demon；　a　miserable　woman　bartered　for　gold！
She　betrayed　her　love；　yielding　it　up　for　filthy　lucre；　crushing　her
nobler　nature　in　the　dust；　and　driving　over　it；　as　did　Tullia　the
dead　body　of　her　father。　She　sold　herself　for　riches；　before　which
you　all　kneel；　as　if　worshipping　the　golden　calf！　After　selling　her
soul　to　a　man　whom　she　despised；　even　if　he　were　not　rich；　she　has
had　the　boldness　to　summon　me；　the　down…trodden　and　half…crazed
victim；　to　her　gilded　palace；　as　if　I　were　a　slave　to　be　attached　to
her　triumphal　car。　I　am　a　free　man；　and　have　come　here　only　to　hurl
contempt　in　her　face；　to　brand　her　before　you　all　as　a　perjurer　and
a　traitress；　whom　I　never　will　pardon；　but　will　curse　with　my　latest
breath！　Now　I　have　relieved　my　heart　of　its　burden；　I　command　this
woman　to　deny　what　I　have　said；　if　she　can。〃

With　a　dictatorial　wave　of　the　hand；　he　pointed　excitedly　Marie。　A
deathlike　stillness　reigned。　Even　the　lights　seemed　to　grow　dim；　and
every　one　was　oppressed　as　if　by　excessive　sultriness。

Again　Moritz　commanded　Marie　to　acknowledge　the　truth　of　his
accusations　before　the　honored　assembly。

She　encountered　his　angry　glance　with　calmness；　and　a　smile　was
perceptible　upon　her　lip。　Yes；　said　she；　I　acknowledge　that　I　am　a
perjurer　and　a　traitor。　I　have　sold　myself　for　riches；　and　yielded
my　peace　of　soul　and　my　love　for　mammon。　I　might　justify　myself；　but
I　refrain　from　it；　and　will　only　say　that　you　have　told　the　truth！
One　day　you　will　cease　to　curse　me；　and；　perhaps　a　tear　of　pity　will
glisten　in　the　eye　now　flashing　with　scorn　and　anger。　The　poor　wife
who　lies　in　the　dust　implores　for　the　last　blessing　of　your　love！〃

〃Marie！〃　he　cried；　with　heart…rending　anguish；　〃oh；　Marie！〃　and
rushed　toward　her；　kneeling　before　her；　and　clinging　to　her；
pressing　a　kiss　upon　her　hand　and　weeping　aloud。　Only　for　a　moment
did　he　give　way；　and　then　sprang　up　wildly；　rushing　through　the
crowd；　out　of　the　room。

A　fearful　silence　ensued。　No　one　had　the　courage　to　break　it。　Every
one　hoped　that　Marie；　through　a　simulated　fainting；　would　end　the
painful　scene；　and　give　the　guests　an　opportunity　to　withdraw。　No
such　thoughtfulness　for　her　friends　occurred　to　her。

She　turned　to　the　Marquis　de　Treves；　who　stood　pale　and　deeply
agitated　behind　her；　and　burst　into　a　loud　laugh。

〃How　pale　you　are！　Have　you　taken　this　comedy　for　truth？　Did　you
think　this　theatrical　performance　was　a　reality？　You　have　forgotten
what　I　told　you　a　month　since　in　Paris；　that　I　had　a　native　talent
for　acting。　You　would　contest　the　matter　with　me；　and　I　bet　you　that
I　could　introduce　an　impromptu　scene　in　my　house；　with　such　artistic
skill；　that　you　would　be　quite　deceived。〃

〃Indeed　I　do　recall　it；　how　could　I　have　forgotten　it？〃　replied　the
marquis；　with　the　ready　tact　of　the　diplomat。

〃Have　I　won？〃　asked　Marie；　smiling。

〃You　have　played　your　role；　baroness；　like　an　artiste　of　consummate
talent；　and　to…morrow　I　shall　have　the　honor　to　cancel　the　debt　in
your　favor。〃

〃Now；　then；　give　me　your　arm；　marquis；　and　conduct　me　to　the
dancing…room；　and　you；　worthy　guests；　follow　us；〃　said。　Marie；
leading　the　way。

The　merry　music　even　was　not　sufficient　to　dissipate　the　awkward
oppression；　and　by　midnight　the　guests　had　taken　leave；　and　Marie
stood　under　the　chandelier；　pale　and　rigid；　opposite　her　husband。　He
had　summoned　courage　to　bewail　the　terrible　scene；　weeping　and
mourning　over　her　cruelty　and　his　shame。　Marie；　with　chilling
indifference；　regarded　him　without　one　visible　trace　of　pity。

〃You　realized　what　you　were　doing　when　you　imposed　the　scorn　of　this
marriage　upon　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　have　never　deceived　you　with　vain
hopes！　You　have　sown　dragons'　teeth；　and　warriors　have　sprung　up　to
revenge　me　upon　you。　Serve　yourself　of　your　riches　to　fight　the
combatants。　See　if　you　can　bargain　for　a　quiet　conscience　as　easily
as　you　purchased　me！　My　soul　is　free　though；　and　it　hovers　over　you
as　the　spirit　of　revenge。Beware！〃

She　slowly　turned　and　quitted　the　room。　Her　diamonds　sparkled　and
blazed　in　the　myriads　of　lights。　The　large　mirrors　reflected　the
image　of　a　haughty　woman；　who　swept　proudly　past　like　a　goddess　of
revenge！

Ebenstreit　stood　gazing　after　her。　He　had　a　horror　of　the　lonely
still　room；　so　gorgeous　and　brilliantly　illuminateda　shudder　crept
over　him；　and　he　sank；　weeping　bitterly。

In　the　little　room；　the　buried　happiness　of　the　past；　Marie　knelt；
with　outstretched　arms；　imploring　heaven　for　mercy。　〃I　thank　Thee；
Heavenly　Father；　that　I　have　been　permitted　to　see　him　again！　My
sacrifice　was　not　in　vainhe　lives！　He　is　free；　and　his　mind　is
clear　and　bright。　I　thank　Thee　that　he　still　loves　me。　His　anger　is
but　love！〃




CHAPTER　XXXVI。

THE　KING　AND　THE　ROSICRUCIANS。


The　joy　which　Bischofswerder　said；　reigned　in　heaven　and　upon　earth
over　the　return　of　the　crown　prince　to　the　path　of　virtue；　in　having
forsaken　Wilhelmine　Enke；　was　of　but　short　duration。

The　Invisibles　and　the　pious　Rosicrucians　soon　learned　that
sagacious　and　cunning　woman　defied　the　spirits　and　abjured　the
oaths。

Since　the　night　of　his　communion　with　the　departed；　Frederick
William　had　never　visited　Charlottenburgnever　seen　the　house　which
contained　all　that　he　held　most　dear；　he　had　returned　Wilhelmine's
letters　unopened；　and　had　even　had　the　courage　to　refuse　himself　to
the　children；　who　came　to　see　him。

If　he　had　been　left　to　consult　his　own　heart；　he　would　not　probably
have　had　sufficient　resolution　to　have　done　this；　Bischofswerder　and
Woellner　never　left　him　for　a　moment；　as　they　said　the　Invisible
Fathers　had　commanded　them　to　tarry　with　the　much…loved　brother　in
these　first　days　of　trial　and　temptation；　and　to　elevate　and　gladden
him　with　edifying　conversations　and　scientific　investigations。

The　prayers　and　exhortations　were　the　duty　of　Woellner；　who；　besides
this；　continued　his　daily　discourses　upon　the　administration　of
government；　preparing　the　prince　for　the　important　command　of　the
royal　regiments；　which　they　hoped　favorable　destiny　would　soon　grant
him。

The　scientific　researches　were　the　part　of　Bischofswerder；　and　he
entered　upon　his　duties　with　the　zeal　and　pleasure　of　an　inquiring
mind；　itself　hopeful　and　believing。

In　the　cabinet　arranged　in　the　new　palace　at　Potsdam；　the　prince　and
his　dear　Bischofswerder　worked　daily；　many　hours；　to　discover　the
great　hope　of　the　alchemistthe　philosopher's　stone。　Not　finding
it；　unfortunately；　they　brewed　all　sorts　of　miraculous　drinks；　which
were　welcome　to　the　prince　as　the　elixir　of　eternal　youth　and
constant　love。　In　the　evenings　they　communed　with　the　spirits　of　the
distinguished　departed；　which；　moved　at　the　earnest　prayers　of
Woellner；　and　the　fervent　exhortation　of　the　crown　prince；　always
had　the　goodness　to　appear；　and　witness　their　satisfaction　for　their
much…loved　son；　as　they　called　him；　for　continuing　brave　and
faithful；　and　not　falling　into　the　unholy　snares　of　the　seductress。

The　crown　prince；　however；　experienced　not　the　least　self…
contentment。　Each　day　renewed　the　yearning　for　the　beloved　of　his
youth　and　for　his　children；　for　which　those　of　his　wife　were　no
compensationneither　the　silent；　awkward　Prince　Frederick　William；
nor　his　crying　little　brother。　In　his　dreams　he　saw　Wilhelmine
dissolved　in　tears；　calling　upon　him　in　most　tender　accents；　and
when　he　awoke；　it　was　to　an　inconsolable　grief。　He　wept　with　heart…
felt　sorrow；　his　oath　alone　k