frederick the great and his family-第163章
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Baron von Kindar placing his arm around her； whispered： 〃By remaining here； adored Camilla； for my sakein declaring to your hated husband that you will leave Berlin on no accountthat your honor demands that you should prove to him in the face of his brutal commands； that these are no commands for youand that you will follow your own will and inclination。 Therefore you will remain in Berlin。〃
〃Will you write this letter for me？〃
〃If I do so； will you consent to remain here； and to open your door to me in spite of the orders of your husband； or the argus…eyes of your stepfather？〃
〃Write the letter； the rest will arrange itself；〃 said Camilla。
〃I will write it to…night。 May I bring it to you myself to…morrow morning？〃
〃If I say no； will you then be so kind as to give it to my maid？〃
〃I swear by my honor that I will only give the letter into your own hands。〃
〃Well； then； my tyrannical cousin； you force me to open my door to you in spite of my husband and my stepfather； and in the face of this Cerberus of a tutor who guards my stronghold。〃
〃But what do I care for these open doors so long as your heart remains closed against me； Camilla？ Ah； you laughyou mock at my sufferings。 Have you no pity； no mercy？ You see what I suffer； and you laugh。〃
〃I laugh；〃 she whispered； 〃because you are so silly； beau cousin。 But listen； there is the call of my huntressesI must hasten to them； or they will surround this cabin and they might enter。 Farewell。 To…morrow I will expect you with the letter。 Adieu。〃 Throwing him a kiss with the tips of her fingers； she hastily left the hut。
Baron von Kindar looked after her with a singular smile。 〃She is mine；〃 he whispered。 〃We will have a charming little romance； but it will terminate in a divorce； and not in a marriage。 I have no idea of following up this divorce by a marriage。 God protect me from being forced to marry this beautiful； frivolous； coquettish woman。〃
While this scene was taking place in one part of the forest； the fete continued gayly。 They sang and laughed； and jested； and no one dreamed that dark sin was casting its cold shadow over this bright scenethat the cowardly crime of treachery had already poisoned the pure air of this forest。 None suspected it less than Prince Henry himself。 He was happy and content that this fete had succeeded so wellthat this bright autumn day had come opportunely to his aid。 The sun penetrated to his heart and made it warm and joyous。 He had just made a little tour through the forest with some of his cavaliers； and had returned to the tent on the bank of the lake； where he had last seen the princess amid a bevy of nymphs； but she was no longer there； and none of the ladies knew where she had gone。
〃She has retired to her hut；〃 said the prince to himself； as he turned smilingly toward the thick woods。 〃The only thing is to discover her hut； without doubt she is there and expects me to seek her。 Now； then； may fortune assist me to discover my beloved。 I must find her if only to prove to her that my love can overcome all difficulties and penetrate every mystery。 There are twenty…four hutsI know their situation。 I will visit each； and it will be strange indeed if I cannot discover my beautiful Wilhelmina。〃
He advanced with hasty steps in the direction of the huts。 By a singular coincidence they were all vacant； the ivy wreath was displayed on none； and the prince could enter and convince himself that no one was within。 He had visited twenty…three of the huts without finding the object of his search。 〃I will go to the last one；〃 said the prince； gayly； 〃perhaps the gods have led me astray only that I might find happiness at the end of my path。〃 He saw the last hut in the distance。 It nestled in the midst of low bushes； looking quiet and undisturbed； and on the door hung the ivy wreath。 The heart of the prince beat with joy； and he murmured； 〃She is thereI have found her；〃 as he hastened toward the hut。 〃No；〃 he said； 〃I dare not surprise her。 I must consider the law sacred which I made。 The ivy wreath is before the doorno one dare enter。 But I will lie down before the door； and when she comes out she roust cross my body or fall into my arms。〃 The prince approached the hut quietly； careful to avoid making any noise。 When he had reached it； he sank slowly upon the grass； and turned his eyes upon the door； which concealed his beloved one from his view。
Deep silence reigned。 This was a charming spot； just suited for a tender rendezvous； and full of that sweet silence which speaks so eloquently to a loving heart。 In the distance could be heard the sound of the hunter's horn； whilst the great trees rustled their leaves as though they wished to mingle their notes in the universal anthem。 The prince gavo himself up for a long time to the sweet pleasures of this solitude； turning his smiling glance first to the heavens where a few white clouds were floating； and then again to earth； where some glittering insect attracted his gaze。
But what was it which pierced through him with a deadly horror which made him become so pale； and turn his flashing eyes with an indescribable expression of dread toward the hut？ Why did he partially arise from his reclining position as the hunter does； who sees the prey approach that he wishes to destroy？ What was it that made him press his lips so tightly； one against the other； as if he would repress a cry of agony； or an execration？ And why does he listen now with bated breath； his gaze fixed upon the hut； and both hands raised； as if to threaten an approaching enemy？ Suddenly he sprang up； and rushed trembling to the door； and； while in the act of bursting it open； he fell back； pale as death； as if his foot had trodden upon a poisonous serpent。 Thus retreating； with wildly staring eyes； with half…open lips； which seemed stiffened in the very act of uttering a shriek； he slowly left the hut； and then suddenly； as if he could no longer look at any thing so frightful； he turned and fled from the spot as if pursued by furies。 Farther； always farther； until his strength and his breath were exhausted； then he sank down。
〃It was cowardly to fly；〃 he murmured； 〃but I felt that I should murder them； if they came out of the hut before my eyes。 A voice within whispered； 'Fly； or you will be a murderer！' I obeyed it almost against my will。 It was cowardlyan unpardonable error； but I will return to the hut。〃
He sprang forward like a tiger； ready to fall upon his prey。 His hand involuntarily sought his side for his sword。
〃Ah； I have no weapon；〃 he said； gnashing his teeth； 〃I must murder them with my hands。〃
He advanced with uplifted head； defiant as a conqueror； or as one who has overcome death and has nothing to fear。 The hut was again before him； but it no longer smiled at him； it filled him with horror and fury。 Now he has reached it； and with one blow he bursts open the door； but it is empty。 The prince had not remarked that the ivy…wreath was no longer displayed； and that the hut was therefore vacant。
〃They are gone；〃 he murmured。 〃This time they have escaped punishment； but it surely awaits them。〃
CHAPTER IX。
BROTHER AND SISTER。
A month had passed since Amelia dispatched her emissary to the queen's fireman； and she had as yet received no definite intelligence。 General Riedt had called but once； he told her he had succeeded in interesting the Savoyard in Trenck's fate； and he had promised to remind the empress of the unfortunate prisoner。 But a condition must be attached to this promise： no one must approach him again on this subject； it must be kept an inviolable secret。 Only when Trenck was free would the fireman receive the other half of the stipulated sum； if he failed in his attempt； he would return the money he now held。
This was all that the princess had heard from Vienna； her heart was sorrowfulalmost hopeless。 Trenck still sat in his wretched prison at Magdeburg； and she scarcely dared hope for his release。
It was a dark； tempestuous November day。 The princess stood at the window； gazing at the whirling snow…flakes； and listening to the howling of the pitiless storm。 They sounded to her like the raging shrieks of mocking； contending spirits； and filled her heart wi
