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rds from Russia。 See； now； how rightly I have prophesied！ There is Giurgenow； standing by the side of the prophetess； and I imagine I almost hear the words he is whispering to her。 She will commence again to prophesy； but in a less violent and fanatical manner。〃
〃No； no； she will prophesy no more！ The police are breaking their way forcibly through the crowd。 They do not regard the cries of fear and suffering of those they are shoving so violently aside。 These are the servants of the police； they will speedily put an end to this prophesying。 Already the people are flying。 Look how adroitly Giurgenow slips away； and does not condescend to give a glance to the poor prophetess he inspired。 Only see how little respect these rough policemen have for these heaven…inspired prophets！ They seize them rudely； and bear them off。 They will be punished with； at least； twenty…four hours' arrest。 In Prussia； this concourse and tumult of the people is not allowed。 Come； monsieur； let us close the window； the comedy is over。 The prophets are in the watch…house。 Their role is probably forever played out！〃 said Belleville； smilingly。
〃Not so； they will recommence it to…morrow。 These same prophets have high and mighty protectors in Berlin； the police will not dare to keep them long under arrest。 The Princess Amelia will demand her fortune…teller。〃
〃Vraiment； monsieur le comte；〃 said the Frenchman； 〃you seem extraordinarily well acquainted with all these intrigues？〃
〃I observe closely；〃 said Ranuzi； with a meaning smile。 〃I am very silenttherefore hear a great deal。〃
〃Well； I counsel you not to give to me or my actions the honor of your observations；〃 said Belleville。 〃My life offers few opportunities for discovery。 I live； I eat； I sleep； I chat； and write poetry and caress； and seek to amuse myself as well as possible。 Sometimes I catch myself praying to God tearfully for liberty； and truly； not from any political considerationssimply from the selfish wish to get away from here。 You see； therefore； I am an innocent and harmless bon enfant； not in the least troubled about public affairs。〃
〃No；〃 said Ranuzi； 〃you do not love Fraulein Marshal at all from political reasons； but solely because of her beauty； her grace； and her charms。 Behold； this is the result of my observations。〃
〃You have； then； been watching me？〃 said Belleville； blushing。 〃I have told you that I was always observant。 This is here my only distraction and recreation； and really I do not know what I should do with my time if I did not kill the weary hours in this way。〃
〃You do employ it sometimes to a better purpose？〃 said the Frenchman； in low tones。 〃Love is still for you a more agreeable diversion； and you understand the game well。〃
〃It appears you are also an observer；〃 said Ranuzi； with an ironical smile。 〃Well； then； I do find love a sweeter diversion； and if I should yield myself up entirely to my love…dreams； I would perhaps be less observant。 But； Belleville； why do you take your hat？ Will you also leave me？〃
〃I must； perforce。 Through our agreeable conversation I had entirely forgotten that I had promised Fraulein Marshal to ride with her。 A cavalier must keep his promise with a lady； at least till he knows she is ardently in love with him。〃 He gave his hand to the duke； and as he left the room he hummed a light French chanson。
Ranuzi looked after him with a long； frowning glance。 〃Poor fool；〃 murmured he； 〃he believes he plays his part so well that he deceives even me。 This mask of folly and levity he has assumed is thin and transparent enough I see his true face behind it。 It is the physiognomy of a sly intriguant。 Oh； I know him thoroughly； I understand every emotion of his heart； and I know well what his passion for the beautiful Marshal signifies。 She is the maid of honor of the Princess Henry this is the secret of his love。 She is the confidante of the princess； who receives every week long and confidential letters from the tent of her tender husband。 Fraulein Marshal is naturally acquainted with their contents。 The prince certainly speaks in these letters of his love and devotion； but also a little of the king's plans of battle。 Fraulein von Marshal knows all this。 If Belleville obtains her love and confidence； he will receive pretty correct information of what goes on in the tent of the king and in the camp councils。 So Belleville will have most important dispatches to forward to his Marquise de Pompadour dispatches for which he will be one day rewarded with honor and fortune。 This is the Frenchman's plan！ I see through him as I do through the Russian。 They are both paid spies informers of their governments nothing more。 They will be paid； or they will be hung； according as accident is favorable or unfavorable to them。〃 Ranuzi was silent； and walked hastily backward and forward in the rood。 Upon his high； pale brow dark thoughts were written； and flashes of anger flamed from his eyes。
〃And I；〃 said he； after a long pause； 〃am I in any respect better than they？ Will not the day come when I also will be considered as a purchased spy？ a miserable informer？ and my name branded with this title？ No； no； away with this dark spectre； which floats like a black cloud between me and my purpose！ My aim is heaven； and what I do； I do in the name of the Churchin the service of this great； exalted Church； whose servant and priest I am。 No； no； the world will not call me a spy； will not brand my name with shame。 God will bless my efforts as the Holy Father in Rome has blessed them； and I shall reach the goal。〃
Ranuzi was brilliantly handsome in this inspired mood； his noble and characteristic face seemed illuminated and as beautiful as the angel of darkness； when surrounded by a halo of heavenly light。
〃It is an exalted and great aim which I have set before me；〃 said he； after another pause； 〃a work which the Holy Father himself confided to me。 I must and I will accomplish it to the honor of God and the Holy Madonna。 This blasphemous war must end； this atheistical and free…thinking king must be reduced； humbled； and cast down from the stage he has mounted with such ostentatious bravado。 Silesia must be torn from the hands of this profligate robber and incorporated in the crown of our apostolic majesty of Austria。 The holy Church dare not lose any of her provinces； and Silesia will be lost if it remains in the hands of this heretical king； he must be punished for his insolence and scoffing； for having dared to oppose himself to the Holy Father at Rome。 The injuries which he heaped upon the Queen of Poland must be avenged； and I will not rest till he is so humbled； so crushed； as to sue for a shameful peace； even as Henry the Fourth； clad like a peasant； pleaded to Canoza。 But the means； the means to attain this great object。〃
Hastily and silently he paced the room； his head proudly thrown back； and a cold； defiant glance directed upward。
〃To kill him！〃 said he suddenly； as if answering the voices which whispered in his soul； 〃that would be an imbecile； miserable resort； and； moreover； we would not obtain our object； ho would not be humiliated； but a martyr's crown would be added to his laurels。 When； however； ho is completely humbled； when； to this great victory at Hochkirch； we add new triumphs； when we have taken Silesia and revenged Saxony； then he might die； then we will seek a sure hand which understands the dagger and its uses。 Until then； silence and caution； until then this contest must be carried on with every weapon which wisdom and craft can place in our hands。 I think my weapons are good and sharp； well fitted to give a telling thrust； and yet they are so simple； so threadbarea cunning fortune…teller； a love…sick fool； a noble coquette； and a poor prisoner！ these are my only weapons； and with these I will defeat the man whom his flatterers call the heroic King of Prussia。〃 He laughed aloud； but it was a ferocious； threatening laugh； which shocked himself。
〃Down； down； ye evil spirits；〃 said he； 〃do not press forward so boldly to my lips； they are consecrated now to soft words and tender sighs alone。 Silence； ye demons！ creep back into my heart； and there； from some dark corner； you can hear and see if my great role is well played。 It is time！ it is time！ I must once more prove my weapons。〃
He stepped to the glass and looked thoughtfully at his face； examined his eyes； his lips； to see if they betrayed the dark passions of his soul； then arranged his dark hair in soft； wavy lines over his brow； he rang for his servant； put on his Austrian uniform； and buckled on the sword。 The king had been gracious enough to allow the captive officers in Berlin to wear their swords； only requiring their word of honor that they would never use them again in this war。 When Count Ranuzi； the captive Austrian captain； had completed his toilet； he took his hat and entered the street。 Ranuzi had now assumed a careless； indifferent expression； he greeted the acquaintances who met him with a friendly smile； uttering to each a few kindly words or gay jests。 He reached； at last； a small and insignificant house in the Frederick Street； opened the door which was only slightly closed； and entered the hall； at the same moment a side door opened； and a lady sp