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！
〃He really charged you with this commission？〃
〃Yes； sire： it appears that his obstinacy is beginning to relent； and that he thinks of submitting。〃
The king was silent； and walked thoughtfully to and fro； with clouded brow； then remained standing before Pollnitz； and looked sharply and piercingly at him。
〃You rejoice；〃 he said； coldly； 〃but you only think of your own advantage。 You are indifferent to the sorrow we are preparing for my brother。 You only think that your debts will be paid。 Yes； I will pay them； but I shall never forget that you have betrayed my brother's confidence。〃
〃I only acted according to your majesty's commands；〃 said Pollnitz； confounded。 〃Certainly； but if you had resisted my commands； I would have esteemed and prized you the more。 Now； I shall pay your debts； but I shall despise you。 No one has reasons for thanking you。〃
〃Sire； I desire no other thanks。 Had I been paid with money for my services； instead of fine speeches； I would have been as rich as Croesus。〃
〃And a beggar in virtue；〃 said the king； smiling。 〃But go； I was wrong to reproach you。 I shall now go to Berlin； and when my brother arrives he shall find me there。 Go now； my grand chamberlain； and take the prince my permission for a three days' absence。〃
CHAPTER IX。
THE FIRST DISAPPOINTMENT。
A few hours later the equipage of Prince Henry arrived in the court… yard of Monbijou； and the prince demanded of his mother； the widowed queen； permission to pay her his respects。
Sophia Dorothea was suffering greatly。 The gout； that slow but fatal disease； which does not kill at once； but limb by limb； had already paralyzed the feet of the poor queen； and confined her to her chair。 To…day her sufferings were greater than usual； and she was not able to leave her bed。 Therefore； she could not receive the prince as a queen； but only as a mother； without ceremony or etiquette。 That the meeting might be entirely without constraint； the maids of honor left the queen's room； and as the prince entered； he saw the ladies disappearing by another door； the last one had just made her farewell bow； and was kissing respectfully the queen's hand。
This was Louise von Kleist； for whose sake the prince had come； and for whom his heart throbbed painfully。 He could have cried aloud for joy as he saw her in her bewildering loveliness； her luxuriant beauty。 He longed to seize her hands and cover them with kissesto tell her how much he had suffered； how much he was still suffering for her sake。
But Louise appeared not to have seen him； not to have noticed his entrance。 She had only eyes and ears for the queen； who was just dismissing her with winning words； telling her to remain in the castle and return when she desired to see her。
〃I shall remain and await your majesty's commands；〃 said Louise； withdrawing hastily。
The queen now greeted the prince as if she had just observed him； and invited him to be seated on the fauteuil near her couch。 The prince obeyed； but he was absent…minded and restless； and the more the queen endeavored to engage him in harmless and unconstrained conversation； the more monosyllabic and preoccupied he became。 The poor prince remembered only that his beloved was so near； that only a door separated them； and prevented him from gazing on her beauty。
Yes； Louise was really in the next room； in the cabinet of the queen； sorrowful and exhausted； she had fallen upon the little sofa near the door； the smile had left her lips； and her brilliant； bewitching eyes were filled with tears。 Louise wept； she wept for her last youthful dream； her last hope of happiness and virtue； for her sad； shadowed future and wounded pride； for to…day she had to resign forever the proud hopes； the brilliant future for which she had striven with so much energy。
But it was vain to struggle against this hard necessity。 The king had given her his orders and was there to see them carried out。 He sat behind that portiere that led into the grand saloon； he had just left Louise； and； before going； had said to her； in a stern； commanding tone：
〃You will fulfil my commands accurately。 You know that Fritz Wendel still lives； and that I shall be inexorable if you do not act as you have promised。〃
Louise submitted respectfully to the king's commands； she accepted her fate； but she wept bitterly； and when she felt that the king's eyes were no longer upon her； her tears flowed unceasingly。 Perhaps Frederick still saw her； or suspected her weakness； for the portiere opened slightly； and his noble； but stern countenance appeared。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃if the prince sees you with tearful eyes； he will not believe in your happiness。〃
Louise smiled painfully。 〃Ah！ sire； he will believe I am weeping for joy。 I have often heard of joyful tears。〃
The king did not reply； he felt for her agony； and closed the partiere。
〃I will cry no more；〃 she said； 〃I have accepted my destiny； and will fulfil it bravely for the sake of my daughter。 It concerns Camilla's happiness more than my own。 I will deserve the respect of my unfortunate child。〃
In saying this； a smile like a sunbeam illuminated her countenance。 But now she started up； and laid her hand in terror upon her heart。 She heard steps approaching。 The door moved； and in a moment the king appeared and motioned to her。
〃Courage； courage！〃 murmured Louise； and with instinctive fear she flew away from the door and placed herself in the niche of the last window。
To reach her； the prince must cross the saloon； that would give her a few moments to recover。 The door opened and Prince Henry entered； his glance flew quickly over the saloon； and found the one he sought。
Louise could have shrieked with agony when she saw the tender smile with which he greeted her。 Never had he appeared so handsome； so noble as at this moment； when she must resign him forever。
But there was no time to think of this； no time for complaints or regrets。 He was there； he stood before her； offered both his hands； and greeted her with the tenderest words of love。
Louise had a stern part to play； and she dared not listen to her heart's pleadings。
〃Ah； my prince；〃 she said； with a laugh that sounded to herself like the wail of a lost soul〃ah； my prince； take care！ we women are very credulous； and I might take your jesting words for truth。〃
〃I advise you to do so；〃 said the prince； happy and unconcerned。 〃Yes； Louise； I advise you to do so； for you know well that my jesting words have an earnest meaning。 And now that we are alone； we will dispense with ceremony。 You must justify yourself before a lovera lover who is unfortunately very jealous。 Yes； yes； Louise； that is my weakness； I do not deny it； I am jealousjealous of all those who keep you from me； who prevent my receiving your letters。〃
〃My letters！〃 said Louise； astonished； 〃why should I have written letters to your highness？ I do not believe it is the custom for ladies to write to gentlemen voluntarily。 It has been two weeks since I received a letter from your highness。〃
〃Because it was impossible for my messenger to deliver them； Louise： you were so unapproachable； at least for me。 But you must have known that my thoughts were always with you； that my heart pined for news and comfort from you。〃
〃Non； vraiment； I did not know it；〃 said Louise； laughingly。
〃You did not know it？〃 asked Henry； wonderingly。 〃Well； what did you suppose？〃
〃I thought；〃 she said； carelessly〃I thought that Prince Henry had overcome or forgotten his little folly of the carnival。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Then I determined to follow his example。 Then I preached a long sermon to my foolish eyesthey were misty with tears。 Listen； I said to them： 'You foolish things you have no reason to weep； you should always look bright and dazzling； even if you never see Prince Henry again。 Really； the absence of the prince has been most fortunate for you。 You might have whispered all kinds of foolish things to my weak heart。 The prince is young； handsome； and amiable； and it amuses him to win the love of fair ladies。 Had you seen him more frequently； it is possible he might have succeeded with poor Louise； and the little flirtation we carried on together would have resulted in earnest love on my part。 That would have been a great misfortune。 Laugh and look joyous； beautiful eyes； you have saved me from an unrequited love。 You should not weep； but rejoice。 Look around and find another suitor； who would； perhaps； love me so fondly that he could not forget me in a few days； whose love I might return with ardor。' This； my prince； is the sermon I preached to my eyes when they grew dim with tears。〃
〃And was your sermon effective？〃 said the prince； with pale； trembling lips。 〃Did your eyes； those obedient slaves； look around and find another lover？〃
〃Ah！ your highness； how can you doubt it？ My eyes are indeed my slaves； and must obey。 Yes； they looked and found the happiness they sought。〃
〃What happiness；〃 asked Henry； apparently quite tranquil； but he pressed his hand nervously on the chair that stood by him〃what happiness did your eyes find？〃
Louise looked at him and sighed deeply。 〃The happiness；〃 she said； and against her will her voice trembled and faltered〃the happiness that