old fritz and the new era-第77部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


may　be　the　last　time　we　meet；　I　would　assure　you　that　I　shall　always
remember　your　many　and　thoughtful　kindnesses。〃

〃You　speak；　baroness；　as　if　you　would　forsake　the　circle　of　which
you　are　the　brightest　ornament。〃

〃No；　the　friends　will　forsake　me；〃　she　replied；　with　a　peculiar
smile。　〃Ere　an　hour　shall　pass　not　one　of　all　these　numerous　guests
will　remain　here。Ah；　there　comes　the　decision！　See　there；
marquis！〃

The　usher　announced　〃Banker　Splittgerber。〃　The　old　man　entered
followed　by　two　men　of　not　very　presentable　appearance；　and　whose
toilet　was　but　little　in　keeping　with　the　brilliantly…decorated　room
and　the　aristocratic　guests。

Never　heeding　the　sneers　nor　contemptuous　smiles；　the　faithful　book…
keeper　wound　his　way；　through　the　crowd　of　elegantly　dressed　ladies
and　gentlemen；　accompanied　by　the　two　men；　up　to　Ebenstreit；　who；
with　instinctive　politeness；　had　placed　himself　near　Marie。

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　Splittgerber；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃this　is　Baron
Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen；　principal　of　the　banking…house　Ludwig。〃

The　two　gentlemen　approached；　one　of　them　saying；　〃They　sent　us　here
from　your　office。〃

〃This　is　not　the　place　for　business；〃　replied　Ebenstreit。　〃Follow
me！〃

〃No；　gentlemen；　remain　here；〃　cried　Marie。　〃Our　guests　present　are
such　intimate；　devoted　friends　that　we　have　nothing　to　conceal　from
them；　but　on　the　contrary；　I　am　convinced　they　will　only　be　too
happy　of　the　occasion　to　prove　their　friendship；　of　which　they　have
so　often　assured　us。These　gentlemen　demand　the　payment　of　a　bill
of　exchange　for　eighty　thousand　dollars。　Take　my　portfolio；
Ebenstreit；　there　is　a　pencil　in　it。　Go　around　and　make　a
collection；　undoubtedly　the　entire　sum　will　be　soon　noted　down。〃

Ebenstreit　approached　the　Baron　von　Frankenstein；　saying：　〃Pardon　me
if　I　recall　to　your　memory　the　sum　of　one　thousand　louis　d'ors；　due
for　four　black　horses　three　months　since。〃

〃My　dear　sir；〃　cried　the　baron；　〃this　is　a　strange　manner　to　collect
one's　debts。　We　were　invited　to　a　feast；　and　a　pistol　is　pointed　at
us；　demanding　our　debts　to　be　cancelled！〃

〃How　strange！　How　ridiculous！〃　heard　one　here　and　there　among　the
guests；　as　they；　with　one　accord；　pressed　toward　the　door　to　make
their　exit；　which　they　found　fastened。

〃Remain；〃　cried　Marie；　with　stately　dignity。　〃I　wish　you　honored
guests　to　be　witness　of　this　scene　in　the　hour　of　justification；　as
you　were　also　present　at　the　one　when　one　of　the　noblest　and　best　of
men　cursed　me。Banker　Splittgerber；　take　these　bills　of　exchange
for　one　hundred　thousand　dollars。　Pay　these　gentlemen；　and　devote
the　remainder　to　the　other　debts　as　far　as　it　will　go。〃

As　the　three　men　withdrew　by　a　side…drier；　Marie　exclaimed：　〃I　will
now　explain　to　you　that　Baron　von　Leuthen　is　ruinedpoor　as　a
beggar　when　he　will　not　work。〃

〃Marie；〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　terrified；　rushing　toward　her；　and
seizing　her　by　the　arm。　〃Marie〃

She　threw　off　his　hand　from　her　in　anger。　〃Do　not　touch　me；　sir；　and
do　not　presume　either　to　address　me　with　any　endearments。　You　have
yourself　said　that　our　marriage　was　not　a　veritable　one；　but　was
like　the　union　of　associates　in　business；　and　now　I　would　inform　you
it　is　dissolved：　the　one　is　a　bankrupt；　the　other　a　woman　whom　you
cursed；　and　who　reclaims　of　you　four　years　of　shame　and　degradation。
You　wonder　at　my　speaking　thus；　but　you　do　not　know　this　man；　my
friends。〃

As　she　spoke；　a　door　opened　at　the　farther　end　of　the　room；　and
Trude　entered　in　her　simple　dress；　followed　by　Philip　Moritz。
Unobserved　the　two　glided　behind　the　charming　grotto　which　had　been
arranged　with　flowers　and　wreaths　in　one　of　the　niches。　Every　eye
was　turned　upon　the　pale；　stately　beauty；　erect　in　the　centre　of　the
room。

〃Stay　here；　for　no　one　can　see　us；〃　whispered　Trude。　〃I　could　not
bear　to　have　you　leave　Berlin　without　hearing　the　justification　of
my　dear　Marie；　and　may　God　pardon　me　for　letting　you　come　here
unbeknown　to　her！　Listen；　and　pray　to　Him　to　forgive　you　the　great
injustice　that　you　have　done　her。　Be　quiet；　that　no　one　may　see　you；
and　Marie　be　angry　with　her　old　Trude。〃

〃Yes；〃　continued　Marie；　with　chilling　contempt；　〃you　should　know
this　man　before　whom　you　have　all　bowed；　pressed　the　hand；　and
called　your　friend；　because　he　was　rich；　and；　thanks　to　his　wealth
alone；　became　a　titled　mana　baron；　buying　the　hand　of　a　poor　but
noble　maiden；　whom　he　knew　despised　him；　and　passionately　loved
another；　having　sworn　eternal　constancy　to　him。　I　am　that　young
girl。　I　begged；　nay　implored　him；　not　to　pursue　me；　but　he　was　void
of　pity；　mocked　my　tears；　and　said　he　could　buy　my　love；　and　my
heart　would　at　last　be　touched　by　the　influence　of　his　wealth。　I
should　have　preferred　to　die；　but　Fate　ordered　that　the　one　I　loved；
by　my　fault；　should　by　imprisonment　atone　our　brief　dream　of　bliss。
I　could　only　save　him　by　accepting　this　man；　these　were　the
conditions。　I　became　his　wife　before　the　world；　and　took　my　oath　in
his　presence　to　revenge　myself；　and　after　four　years　I　shall
accomplish　it。　I　have　spent　his　money；　and　of　the　rich　man　made　a
beggar。　God　be　praised；　I　can　now　revenge　myself　in　freeing　myself！〃

〃Free　yourself？　It　is　not　true！　You　are　my　wife　still；〃　replied
Ebenstreit；　alarmed。

A　radiant　smile　flitted　over　Marie's　face　as　she　defied　Ebenstreit
with　the　law　of　the　Great　Frederick；　who　had　decided　that　every
unhappy　couple　without　offspring　could　separate　by　their　own　free
will　and　consent；　having　signed　a　paper　to　that　effect。

〃Is　that　the　paper　which　you　have　made　me　sign？〃　cried　Ebenstreit；
alarmed。

〃Yes；　drawn　up　by　my　notary；　and　both　of　our　names　are　signed　to
it。〃

〃It　is　a　fraud！〃　cried　Ebenstreit。　〃I　will　protest　against　it。〃

〃Do　it；　and　you　will　find　it　a　vain　effort。　I　promised　to　pay　your
debt　if　you　would　put　your　name　to　the　document　then　placed　before
you；　which　you　did。　Ask　the　Marquis　Treves　how　I　paid　your　debts：　he
will　answer　you　that　he　has　given　me　the　money。〃

〃I　had　the　honor　to　pay　to　the　baroness　one　hundred　thousand
dollars；　as　she　rightly　informs　you。〃

〃Yes；〃　continued　Marie；　〃the　marquis　is　the　present　possessor　of
this　house　and　all　that　it　containsfurniture；　statues；　and
pictures；　also　the　equipages　and　silver。　To　my　mother　I　sent　my
diamonds；　costly　laces；　and　dresses；　to　indemnify　her　for　the
annuity　which　Herr　von　Ebenstreit　settled　upon　her　as　purchase…money
which　he　cannot　pay；　now　that　he　is　ruined。〃

〃Marquis；〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　pale　with　anger；　〃have　you　really
bought　this　house　and　its　contents？〃

〃I　have　done　so；　and　the　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　the　baroness
has　paid　over　to　Herr　Splittgerber。〃

〃Oh！　I　am　ruined；〃　groaned　Ebenstreit〃　I　am　lost！〃　and；　covering
his　face　with　his　hands；　he　rushed　from　the　room。

Marie　gazed　at　him　with　a　sad　expression；　saying：　〃Ladies　and
gentlemen；　you　now　know　to　whom　this　house　belongs。　You　can　no
longer　say　that　I　am　the　daughter　whom　the　late　General　von　Leuthen
sold　to　a　rich　man。　I　am　free！〃

At　this　moment　a　side…door　opened；　and　Frau　von　Leuthen　was　heard
saying　to　old　Trude：　〃Let　me　in！　it　is　in　vain　to　hold　me　back。　I
will　have　an　explanation　from　my　daughter；　and　learn　what　all　this
means。〃　As　she　pushed　herself　into　the　room；　she　exclaimed：　〃Ah；　it
is　a　fete　day！　There　is　the　baroness　in　all　her　glory　and　splendor。
She　is　not　crazed；　as　I　feared　this　morning；　when　she　sent　me　all
her　ornaments　and　fine　dresses　and　laces；　with　a　note；　sealed　with
black；　inscribed　upon　it；　'Will　Of　the　Baroness　Ebenstreit　von
Leuthen。'　I　opened　it；　and　read：　'I　give　to　my　mother　my　precious
ornaments；　laces；　and　dresses；　to　secure　to　her　the　pension　which
she　has　lost。Marie。　'I　came　here　to　learn　if　my　daughter　were
dead；　and　what　the　conclusion　of　this　lost　pension　may　be；　and　I
find〃

〃You　find　the　confirmation　of　all　that　I　wrote　to　you；〃　replied
Marie；　coldly。　〃Baron　Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen　is　ruined。　I　have
secured　to　you；　in　the　sum　which　my　jewels　and　laces　will　bring　you；
the　annuity；　so　that　you　have　not　lost　the　money　promised　you　for
your　daughter；　and　the　marriage　you　have　arranged　has　at　least　borne
good　fruit　to　you。〃

〃You　are　a　cruel；　ungrateful　child；〃　cried　the　mother。　〃I　have　long
known　it；　and　rejected　you　from　my　heart；　and　from　all　shame　I　will
yet　protect　the　name　you　bear。　I　have　just　seen　a　sign　in　the
Friedrich…strasse；　'Flower　manufactory　of　Marie　von　Leuthen。'　What
does　this　mean？　Terrified；　I　stared　speechless　at　these　fearful
words；　and　at　the　busy　workmen　preparing　the　house。〃

〃I　will　explain　it　to　you；〃　cried　Marie；　with　radiant　mien。　〃I　have
again　become　the　flower…maker；　and　beg　your　favor；　Countess　von
Moltke；　Frau　von　Morien；　and　all　the　other　ladies。　I　am　free；　and　no
longer　the　wife　of　a　hated　husbandno　longer　the　distinguished　and
wealthy　woman。　All　delusion　and　mockery　have　vanished。　The　costly
dress　and　jewels　that　I　now　wear　I　will　cast　of　from　me　as　the　last
souvenir　of　the　past。〃

Unclasping　the　diamond　necklace　and　bracelets；　she　handed　them　to
her　mother；　saying：　〃Take　them；　and　also　this　dress；　the　last　finery
I　possess。〃　She　unloosed　the　band；　and　the　long　white　satin　train
fell　at　her　feet。　Emerging　from　it　as　from　a　silvery　cloud；　she
stood　before　them　in　a　simple　white　dress；　as　she　was　clothed　in　her
girlhood。　〃Take　them　all；〃　she　joyfully　cried。　〃Take　them；　mother；
it　is　all　past。　I　am　now　myself　again。　Farewell；　witnesses　of　this
scene！　I　now　quit　your　circle；　and　you；　my　mother；　I　forgive　you；
may　the　thoughts　of　your　unhappy　child　never　trouble　you；　waking　or
sleeping；　may　you　forget　that　your　daughter　lives；　and　is　wretched。
Revenge　has　not　softened　my　grief；　or　removed　your　curse　from　my
head！〃

〃I　will　lift　it　off　your　brow；　Marie！〃　cried　Moritz；　suddenly
appearing　from　the　window…niche；　with　beaming　face　and　outstretched
arms；　approaching　Marie；　whom　surprised　and　alarmed；　retreated。　〃Oh；
noble；　courageous　woman；　forgive　me　that　I　have　been　an　unbidden
witness　to　this　scene；　though　by　this　means　I　now　clearly　recognize
your　strength　of　mind；　and　elevation　of　soul；　and　the　wrong　that　I
have　committed　in　doubting　and　cursing　you　during　these　four　years
of　gloom　and　desp