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ce Henry。〃
〃It is nothing of importance；〃 said the Russian； apathetically； 〃the prince has entirely recovered from his wounds； and has been solacing himself in his winter camp at Dresden with the representations upon the French stage。 He has taken part as actor； and has played the role of Voltaire's Enfant Prodigue。 It is further written； that he has now left the comic stage and commenced the graver game of arms。〃
〃He might accidentally change these roles；〃 said Belleville； gayly； 〃and play the Enfant Prodigue when he should play the hero。 In which would he be the greater； do you know； Ranuzi？〃
The Italian shrugged his shoulders。 〃You must ask his wife。〃
〃Or Baron Kalkreuth； who has lingered here for seven months because of his wounds；〃 said Giurgenow； with a loud laugh。 〃Besides； Prince Henry is averse to this war； all his sympathies are on our side。 If the fate of war should cost the King of Prussia his life； we would soon have peace and leave this detestable Berlinthis dead； sandy desert； where we are now languishing as prisoners。〃
〃The god of war is not always complaisant；〃 said the Frenchman； grimly。 〃He does not always strike those whom we would gladly see fall； the balls often go wide of the mark。〃
〃Truly a dagger is more reliable；〃 said Ranuzi； coolly。
The Russian cast a quick； lowering side glance upon him。
〃Not always sure；〃 said he。 〃It is said that men armed with daggers have twice found their way into the Prussian camp； and been caught in the king's tent。 Their daggers have been as little fatal to the king as the cannon…balls。〃
〃Those who bore the daggers were Dutchmen；〃 said Ranuzi； apathetically； 〃they do not understand this sort of work。 One must learn to handle the dagger in my fatherland。〃
〃Have you learned？〃 said Giurgenow； sharply。
〃I have learned a little of every thing。 I am a dilettanti in all。〃
〃But you are master in the art of love；〃 said Belleville； smiling。 〃Much is said of your love…affairs； monsieur。〃
〃Much is said that is untrue。〃 said the Italian； quietly。 〃I love no intriguesleast of all； love intrigues； while you； sir； are known as a veritable Don Juan。 I learn that you are fatally in love with the beautiful maid of honor of the Princess Henry。〃
〃Ah； you mean the lovely Fraulein von Marshal；〃 said Giurgenow； 〃I have also heard this； and I admire the taste and envy the good fortune of Belleville。〃
〃It is； indeed； true；〃 said Belleville； 〃the little one is pretty； and I divert myself by making love to her。 It is our duty to teach these little Dutch girls； once for all； what true gallantry is。〃
〃And is that your only reason for paying court to this beautiful girl？〃 said Giurgenow； frowningly。
〃The only reason； I assure you；〃 cried Belleville； rising up； and drawing near the window。 〃But； look；〃 cried he； hastily； 〃what a crowd of men are filling the streets； and how the people are crying and gesticulating； as if some great misfortune had fallen upon them！〃
The two officers hastened to his side and threw open the window。 A great crowd of people was indeed assembled in the platz； and they were still rushing from the neighboring streets into the wide； open square； in the middle of which； upon a few large stones； a curious group were exhibiting themselves。
There stood a tall； thin man enveloped in a sort of black robe； his long gray hair fell in wild locks around his pallid and fanatical countenance。 In his right hand he held a Bible； which he waved aloft to the people； while his large； deeply…set； hollow eyes were raised to heaven； and his pale lips murmured light and unintelligible words。 By his side stood a woman； also in black； with dishevelled hair floating down her back。 Her face was colorless； she looked like a corpse； and her thin； blue lips were pressed together as if in death。 There was life in her eyesa gloomy； wild； fanatical fire flashed from them。 Her glance was glaring and uncertain； like a will…o'…the…wisp； and filled those upon whom it fell with a shivering； mysterious feeling of dread。
And now； as if by accident； she looked to the windows where the three gentlemen were standing。 The shadow of a smile passed over her face； and she bowed her head almost imperceptibly。 No one regarded this； no one saw that Giurgenow answered this greeting； and smiled back significantly upon this enigmatical woman。
〃Do you know what this means； gentlemen？〃 said Belleville。
〃It means；〃 said Giurgenow； 〃that the people will learn from their great prophet something of the continuance； or rather of the conclusion of this war。 These good； simple people； as it seems to me； long for rest； and wish to know when they may hope to attain it。 That man knows； for he is a great prophet； and all his prophecies are fulfilled。〃
〃But you forget to make mention of the woman？〃 said Ranuzi； with a peculiar smile。
〃The woman is； I think； a fortune…teller with cards； and the Princess Amelia holds her in great respect； but let us listen to what the prophet says。〃
They were silent； and listened anxiously。 And now the voice of the prophet raised itself high above the silent crowd。 Pealing and sounding through the air； it fell in trumpet…tones upon the ear； and not one word escaped the eager and attentive people。
〃Brothers；〃 cried the prophet； 〃why do you interrupt me？ Why do you disturb me； in my quiet； peaceful pathme and this innocent woman； who stood by my side last night； to read the dark stars； and whose soul is sad； even as my own； at what we have seen。〃
〃What did you see？〃 cried a voice from the crowd。
〃Pale； ghostly shadows； who； in bloody garments； wandered here and there； weeping and wailing； seating themselves upon a thousand open graves； and singing out their plaintive hymns of lamentation。 'War！ war！' they cried； 'woe to war！ It kills our men； devours our youths； makes widows of our women； and nuns of our maidens。 Woe； woe to war！ Shriek out a prayer to God for peacepeace！ O God； send us peace； close these open graves； heal our wounds； and let our great suffering cease！'〃
The prophet folded his hands and looked to heaven； and now the woman's voice was heard。
〃But the heavens were dark to the prayer of the spirits； and a blood…red stream gushed from them； colored the stars crimson； turned the moon to a lake of blood； and piteous voices cried out from the clouds； and in the air'Fight on and die； for your king wills it so； your life belongs to him； your blood is his。' Then； from two rivulets of blood； giant…like； pale； transparent forms emerged； upon the head of the first； I read the number； '1759。' Then the pale form opened its lips； and cried out： 'I bring war； and ever…new bloodshed。 Your king demands the blood of your sons； give it to him。 He demands your gold； give it to him。 The king is lord of your body； your blood； and your soul。 When he speaks； you must obey！'〃
〃It seems to me all this is a little too Russian in its conception；〃 said Ranuzi； half aloud。 〃I shall be surprised if the police do not interrupt this seance； which smells a little of insurrection。〃
〃The scene is so very piquant；〃 said Giurgenow； 〃I would like to draw nearer。 Pardon me； gentlemen； I must leave you； and go upon the square。 It is interesting to hear what the people say； and how they receive such prophecies。 We can； perhaps； judge in this way of the probabilities of peace and liberty。 The voice of the people is； in politics； ever the decisive voice。〃 He took his hat； and； bowing to the gentlemen； left the room hastily。
CHAPTER III。
RANUZI
Count Ranuzi gazed after the Russian with a mocking smile。 〃Do you know； Belleville； where he is going？〃
〃He has not told us； but I guess it。 He is going to approach this fortune…teller； and give her a sign that her zeal has carried her too far； and that； if not more prudent； she will betray herself。〃
〃You think； then； that Giurgenow knows the fortune…teller？〃
〃I am certain of it。 He has engaged these charlatans to rouse up the people； and excite them against the king。 This is； indeed； a very common mode of proceeding； and often successful； but here； in Prussia； it can bear no fruit。 The people here have nothing to do with politics； the king reigns alone。 The people are nothing but a mass of subjects； who obey implicitly his commands； even when they know； that in so doing； they rush on destruction。〃
〃Giurgenow has failed； and he might have counted upon failure！ If you； Belleville； had resorted to these means； I could have understood it。 In France； the people play an important role in politics。 In order to put down the government； you must work upon the people。 You might have been forgiven for this attempt； but Giurgenow never！〃
〃You believe； then； that he is manoeuvring here； in Berlin； in the interest of his government？〃 said Belleville； amazed。
Ranuzi laughed heartily。 〃That is a fine and diplomatic mode of expressing the thing！〃 said he。 〃Yes； he is here in the interest of his government； but when the Prussian government becomes acquainted with this fact； they will consider him a spy。 If discovered； he will be hung。 If successful； when once more at liberty； he may receive thanks and rewards from Russia。 See； now； how rightly I have prophesied！ There is Giurgenow； standing by the side o