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Turning to Baron Weingarten； he said： 〃That which we ask of you will be at the same time a service to our gracious empress； for certainly it would not only distress； but compromise her majesty； if an Austrian officer committed a murder in Prussia。〃
〃Murder！〃 cried the secretary of legation。
〃Yes； an intentional murder；〃 said Baron Waltz； emphatically〃the murder of the King of Prussia。 If you prevent this crime； you will receive ten thousand guilders；〃 said Zetto； examining Weingarten's countenance closely。 He remarked that the baron； who was but a moment ago pale from terror； now reddened； and that his eyes sparkled joyously。
〃And what can I do to prevent this murder？〃 asked Weingarten； hastily。
〃You can warn the king。〃
〃But to warn successfully； I must have proofs。〃
〃We are ready to give the most incontrovertible proofs。〃
〃I must； before acting； be convinced of the veracity of your charges。〃
〃I hope that my word of honor will convince you of their truth；〃 said Baron Waltz； pathetically。
Weingarten bowed； with an ambiguous smile； that did not escape Zetto。 He drew forth his pocket…book； and took from it a small； folded paper； which he handed to Weingarten。
〃If I strengthen my declaration with this paper； will you trust me？〃
Weingarten looked with joyful astonishment at the paper； it was a check for two thousand guilders。 〃My sister's dowry；〃 thought Weingarten； with joy。 But the next moment came doubt and suspicion。 What if they were only trying himonly convincing themselves if he could be bought？ Perhaps he was suspected of supplying the Prussian Government from time to time with Austrian newsof communicating to them the contents of important dispatches！
The fire faded from his eye； and with a firm countenance he laid the paper upon the table。
〃Your are mistaken； gentlemen！ That is no document； but a check。〃
〃With which many documents could be purchased；〃 said Zetto； smiling。 Placing the paper again in his pocket…book； he took out another and a larger one。 It was a check for three thousand guilders。
But Weingarten had regained his composure。 He knew that men acting thus must be spies or criminals； that they were testing him； or luring him on to some unworthy act。 In either case； he must be on his guard。
〃I beg you to confirm your charge in the usual manner；〃 said he； with a cold； indifferent glance at the paper。 〃Murder is a dreadful accusationyou cannot act too carefully。 You say that an Austrian officer intends to murder the King of Prussia。 How do you know this？〃
〃From himself；〃 said Baron Waltz。 〃He communicated his intentions to me； and confided to me his entire plan。〃
〃It appears；〃 remarked Weingarten； mockingly； 〃that the officer had reason to believe he might trust you with this terrible secret。〃
〃You see； however； that he was mistaken；〃 said the baron； smilingly。 〃I demand of you to warn the King of Prussia of the danger that threatens him。〃
〃I shall be compelled to make this danger clear； give all particulars； or the king will laugh at my story and consider it a fairy tale。〃
〃You shall give him convincing proof。 Say to him that the murder is to be committed when his majesty attends the Austrian review at Konigsberg。〃
〃How will the officer cross the Prussian border？〃
〃He is supplied with an Austrian passport； and under the pretence of inheriting a large property in Prussia； he has obtained leave of absence for a month。〃
〃There remains now but one question： why does the officer wish to murder the king？ What motive leads him to do so？〃
〃Revenge；〃 said Baron von Waltz； solemnly〃an act of vengeance。 This Austrian officer who is resolved to murder the king of Prussia； is Frederick von Trenck。〃
Weingarten was embarrassed； and his countenance bore an uneasy and troubled expression。 But as his eye fell upon the weighty paper that lay before him； he smiled； and looked resolved。
〃Now I have but one thing more to ask。 Why； if your story is authentic； and well calculated to startle even the brave king； have you thought it necessary to remove my doubts with this document？〃
Baron Waltz was silent； and looked inquiringly at Zetto。
〃Why did I hand you this document？〃 said the councillor； with a sweet smile。 〃Because gold remains gold； whether received from an Austrian councillor or from a Prussian prince。〃
〃Sir； do you dare to insult me？〃 cried the secretary of legation； fiercely。
Zetto smiled。 〃No； I only wish to notify you that we are aware that it is through you that Baron von Trenck receives money from a certain aristocratic lady in Berlin。 It is； therefore； most important that the king should be warned by you of his intended murderotherwise you might be thought an accomplice。〃
Weingarten appeared not to be in the least disconcerted by this statementhe seemed not even to have heard it。
〃Before I warn the king；〃 he said； with calm composure； 〃I must be convinced of the truth of the story myself； and I acknowledge to you that I am not convinced； cannot understand your motives for seeking the destruction of Baron von Trenck。〃
〃Ah！ you search into our motivesyou mistrust us；〃 cried Zetto； hastily。 〃Well； we will prove to you that we trust you； by telling you our secret。 You know the story of the inheritance of Trenck？〃
〃He is the only heir of the pandour chieftain； Franz von Trenck。〃
〃Correct。 And do you know the history of this pandour chieftain Trenck？〃
〃I have heard a confused and uncertain statement； but nothing definite or reliable。〃
〃It is； however； a very interesting and instructive story； and shows how far a man with a determined will and great energy can reach； when his thoughts are directed to one end。 Baron Trenck wished to be rich； immensely richthat was the aim of his life。 Seduced by his love of money； he became the captain of a band of robbers； then a murderer； a church…robber； from that a brave soldier； and； at last； a holy penitent。 Robbing and plundering every…where； he succeeded in collecting millions。 The pandour chieftain Trenck soon became so rich； that he excited the envy of the noblest and wealthiest men in the kingdom； so rich that he was able to lend large sums of money to the powerful and influential Baron Lowenwalde。 You see； baron； it only needs a determined will to become rich。〃
〃Oh！ the foolish man；〃 said Weingarten； shrugging his shoulders。 〃Lending money to a noble and powerful man； is making an irreconcilable enemy。〃
〃You speak like a prophet。 It happened； as you say。 Lowenwalde became Trenck's enemy。 He accused him of embezzling the imperial money； of treachery and faithlessnessand Trenck was imprisoned。〃
〃His millions obtained his release； did they not？〃
〃No。 His riches reduced him to greater misery。 His lands were sequestered； and a body of commissioners were selected to attend to them。 Baron Waltz and myself belonged to this commission。〃
〃Ah！ I begin to understand；〃 murmured Weingarten。
Baron Zetto continued； with a smile。 〃The commissioners made the discovery that report had greatly exaggerated the riches of Trenck。 He had not many treasures； but many debts。 In order to liquidate those debts； we desired his creditors to announce themselves every day； and promised them a daily ducat until the end of the process。〃
〃I hope you two gentlemen were among his creditors；〃 said Weingarten。
〃Certainly； we were； and also Baron Marken。〃
〃Therefore you have a threefold advantage from Trenck's imprisonment。 First； your salary as a member of the commission； secondly； as a creditor〃
〃And thirdlyyou spoke of a threefold advantage？〃
〃And thirdly；〃 said Weingarten； laughing； 〃in searching for the missing treasures of Baron Trenck which had disappeared so unfortunately。〃
〃Ah； sir； you speak like those who suspected us at court； and wished to make the empress believe that we had enriched ourselves as commissioners。 Soon after this Trenck died； and Frederick von Trenck hastened from St。 Petersburg to receive his inheritance。 How great was his astonishment to find instead of the hoped…for millions a few mortgaged lands； an income of a hundred thousand guilders； and sixty…three creditors who claimed the property。〃
〃He should have become one of the commissioners；〃 remarked Weingarten； mockingly。 〃Perhaps it would have then been easier for him to obtain his possessions。〃
〃He attempted it in another way； with the aid of money； bribery； and persuasion。 He has already succeeded in obtaining fifty…four of his sixty…three processes； and will win the others in a few days。〃
〃And then he will doubtless cause the commissioners to give in their accounts； and close their books。〃
〃Exactly。 He has already commenced to do so。 He ordered an investigation to be made against the quartermaster； and the commander of the regiment to which Franz von Trenck belonged。 This man had accused Trenck of having embezzled eight thousand of the imperial money； and Trenck succeeded so far； that it was declared that it was not he； but his accusers； who had committed the crime。 The consequence was； that the quartermaster was deposed； and it would have fared as badly with the commander； had he not found powerful protection。〃
〃And now the dangerous Frederick von Trenck will seize the property of the commi