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！
〃I have marked it all out with pins；〃 said Father Anselmo； 〃the black pins signify the army of the allies； the white pins the army of the King of Prussia。〃
The prior bowed over the map； and his eye followed thoughtfully the lines which Father Anselmo marked out。 〃Your pins are a sad omen；〃 he said； shaking his head。 〃The black ones surround like a churchyard wall the white ones； which stand like crosses upon the solitary graves in the midst of their black enclosures。〃
〃But the white pins will break through the enclosure；〃 said Father Anselmo； confidently。 〃The great king〃 Father Anselmo stopped speaking； suddenly the door opened； and the father guardian asked if he might enter。
The prior blushed slightly； and stepped back from the table as the sharp eyes of the father guardian wandered around the room and fell at last with a sarcastic expression upon the table covered with maps and plans。
〃Welcome； Brother Theodore；〃 said the prior； with a slight nod of the head。
〃I fear that I disturb your worship in your favorite occupation；〃 said the father guardian； pointing to the maps。 〃Your worship is considering the unfortunate condition of the heretical king whom God； as it appears； will soon cast down in the dust； and crush at the feet of the triumphant Church。〃
〃We must leave results； at all events； to God；〃 said the prior； softly； 〃He has so often evidently lent his aid to the King of Prussia； that I think no one can count confidently upon Frederick's destruction now。〃
〃The Holy Father at Rome has blessed the weapons of his adversaries； consequently they must triumph；〃 cried Father Theodore； unctuously。 〃But pardon； your worship； I forgot my errand。 A stranger wishes to see the prior of the cloister； he has rare and beautiful relics to sell； which he will only show to your worship。〃
〃Our church is rich enough in relics；〃 said the prior。
〃Your worship does not attach any especial value to such things；〃 said the father guardian with a derisive smile； 〃but I must allow myself to recall to you that the Holy Father in Rome has only lately addressed a circular to all the cloisters； recommending the purchase of rare relics to the awakening and advancing of the true faith。〃
〃You； father guardian； must understand that matter best；〃 said Brother Anselmo； sticking four new pins into his map。 〃I think you brought back this circular about six months since； when you returned to take the place of guardian。〃
The father was in the act of giving an angry answer； but the prior came forward； and pointing to the door； said； 〃Introduce the stranger with the relics。〃
A few moments later the traveller from the hotel of Signor Montardo entered the prior's room。 He received a kindly welcome； and was asked to show his treasures。
The stranger hesitated； and looked significantly at the two monks。 〃I begged to be allowed to show them to your worship alone；〃 said he。
〃These two fathers are consecrated priests； and may therefore dare to look upon the holy treasures；〃 said the prior； with a scarcely perceptible smile。
〃I solemnly swore to the man from whom I bought these relics that I would only show them to the most worthy member of your order； he was a very pious man； and bitter necessity alone forced him to sell his precious treasures； he prayed to God to grant them a worthy place； and never to allow them to be desecrated by unholy eyes or hands。 As the most holy and worthy brother is ever chosen to be the prior； I swore to show the relics only to the prior。 Your worship will surely not ask me to break my oath？〃
The prior made no answer； but nodded to the two monks； who silently left the room。
〃And now； sir； show your treasures；〃 said the prior； as the door closed behind them。
〃Your worship；〃 said the stranger； rapidly； 〃I have nothing but a letter from the Abbe Bastiani； which I was to give to your own hands。〃 He drew a letter from his bosom； which he handed to the prior； who received it with anxious haste and hid it in his robe； then； with quick but noiseless steps he passed hastily through the room； and with a rapid movement dashed open the door； a low cry was heard； and a black figure tumbled back upon the floor。
〃Ah！ is that you； father guardian？〃 said the prior； in a tone of sympathy。 〃I fear that I hurt you。〃
〃Not so； your worship； I only returned to say to you that it is the hour for dinner； and the pious brothers are already assembled in the hall。〃
〃And I opened the door to call after you； father； and entreat you to take my place at the table。 As I am in the act of looking at these holy relics； and touching them； I dare not soil my hands so soon afterward with earthly food。 You will； therefore； kindly take my place； and I will not appear till the evening meal。 Go； then； worthy brother； and may God bless you richly。〃 He bowed and raising his right hand； made the sign of the cross； while the father guardian slowly； and with a frowning brow； passed through the room。 Having reached the opposite door； he paused and looked back； but seeing the prior still standing upon the threshold of his room； and gazing after him； he dashed open the door and disappeared。 〃Now； sir；〃 said the prior； entering and closing the door carefully； 〃we are alone； and I am ready to listen to you。〃
〃I pray your worship to read first the letter of your brother； the Abbe Bastiani。〃
〃Ah！ he has told you that I am his brother？〃 said the prior； eagerly。 〃He trusts you then； fully？ Well； I will read the letter。〃 He opened and read it impatiently。 〃This is a very laconic and enigmatical letter；〃 said he。 〃My brother refers me wholly to you； he assures me I can confide entirely in your silence and discretion； and entreats me to assist you in the attainment of your object。 Make known to me then； signor； in what way I can serve you； and what aim you have in view。〃
〃First； I will give your worship a proof that I trust you fully and unconditionally。 I will tell you who I am； and then make known my purpose； you will then be able to decide how far you can give me counsel and aid。〃
〃Let us step into this window…niche；〃 said the prior； 〃we will be more secure from eavesdroppers。 Now； signor； I am ready to listen。〃
The stranger bowed。 〃First； I must pray your worship's forgiveness； for having dared to deceive you。 I am no merchant； and have nothing to do with relics； I am a soldier！ my name is Cocceji； and I have the honor to be an adjutant of the King of Prussia。 My royal master has intrusted me with a most important and secret mission； and I am commissioned by your brother； the Abbe Bastiani； to ask in his name for your assistance in this great matter。〃
〃In what does your mission consist？〃 said the prior； calmly。
The Baron Cocceji smiled。 〃It is difficultyes； impossible to tell you in a few words。 Your worship must allow me a wider scope； in order to explain myself fully。〃
〃Speak on！〃 said the prior。
〃I see； by the maps and the arrangements of the pins； that your worship knows exactly the position and circumstances of my royal master； whom all Europe admires and wonders at； and whom his enemies fear most when they have just defeated him。 They know that my king is never so great； never so energetic and bold in action； as when he is seemingly at a disadvantage； and overwhelmed by misfortunes。 The bold glance of the great Frederick discovers ever…new fountains of help； he creates in himself both power and strength； and when his enemies think they have caught the royal lion in their nets； his bold eye has already discovered the weak spot； he tears it apart； and makes his foes； bewildered with terror and astonishment； fly before him。 It is true； the king has just lost three battles！ The Austrians and Russians defeated him at Hochkirch； at Kunersdorf； and at Mayen。 But what have they gained？ They have； in these three battles； lost more than the king； they have exhausted their resourcestheir own； and those of their allies； but Frederick stands still opposed to them； full of strength and power。 His army is enlarged； from every side； from every province； shouting crowds stream onward to join the colors of their king。 Enthusiasm makes a youth of the graybeard； and changes boys to men。 Each one of them will have his part in the experience and fame of the great Frederick； and demands this of him as a holy right。 The king's treasury is not exhausted； the people； with joy and gladness； have offered up upon the altar of the fatherland； their possessions； their jewels； and their precious things； and submit with enthusiasm to all the restrictions and self…denials which the war imposes upon them。 They desire nothing but to see their king victorious； to help him to this； they will give property； bloodyes； life itself。 It is this warm； enthusiastic love of his people which makes the king so fearful to his enemies； it protects him like a diamond shield； steels him against the balls of his adversaries； and fills his proud； heroic soul with assurances of triumph。 All Europe shares this enthusiasm and these convictions of ultimate success with the Prussians and their dear…loved king。 All Europe greets the hero with loud hosannas； who alone defies so many and such mighty foes； who has often overcome them； and from whom they have not yet wrung o