frederick the great and his family-第71章

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Disguised　as　a　peasant；　with　my　little　flock　of　sheep；　I　entered　the　Prussian　camp　unchallenged。　I　wish　your　majesty　could　have　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　what　I　saw。　Your　royal　heart　would　have　been　gladdened　at　the　sight　of　those　starved；　exhausted；　and　desperate　troops　which　Prince　Augustus　William　led　back　from　Zittau　to　his　august　brother；　the　great　Frederick。　You　would　have　acknowledged　with　delight　that　such　discouraged；　demoralized　troops　could　no　longer　withstand　the　splendid　and　victorious　army　of　the　confederates。　The　battle　of　Collin　dug　their　graves；　and　the　pass　of　Gabol　made　their　coffins。〃

〃And　the　Saxon　dragoons　decided　the　battle　of　Collin？〃　said　the　queen；　with　sparkling　eyes。　〃Go　on！　tell　me　more。　Did　you　speak　with　the　king's　chamberlain；　Anderson？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　and　I　found　him　faithful。　I　gave　him　the　diamond　ring　which　your　majesty　was　so　gracious　as　to　send　him。　He　was　delighted　with　this　costly　present；　and　swore　he　would　let　no　opportunity　pass　of　serving　you。　I　told　him　how　he　might　safely　write　to　me。　He　will　inform　us　of　all　that　takes　place　in　the　Prussian　camp；　and　of　all　the　important　movements　of　the　king。〃

〃You　are　convinced　of　his　integrity？〃　said　the　queen。　〃Entirely　convinced；　he　loves　money；　and　serves　us　for　his　own　interests。　He　will　be　ready　for　any　act；　if　we　balance　it　with　gold。〃　The　eyes　of　the　queen　sparkled；　and　her　countenance　had　a　threatening　and　passionate　expression；　her　Spanish　blood　was　moved；　and　rushed　in　fever　streams　to　her　heart。　〃Is　he　ready　for　any　act？〃　she　repeated。　〃Perhaps　we　could　make　a　decisive　trial　of　his　willingness；　but　of　that；　latercontinue。〃

〃I　learned　from　Anderson；　that　King　Frederick　intends　to　force　the　confederates　to　another　battle。　When　I　left　the　camp；　the　king　had　distributed　rations　to　his　army；　and　was　to　leave　the　next　morning；　to　encounter　Daun　and　Radasdy。〃　The　queen　laughed　mockingly。　〃He　then　thirsts　for　a　second　Collin。　As　his　grave　is　open　and　his　coffin　made；　he　wishes　to　get　the　Austrian　grave…diggers　to　bury　him。　Well；　we　will　not　deny　him　this　last　service　of　love。〃

〃After　leaving　the　Prussian　camp；〃　continued　the　chamberlain；　〃I　threw　off　my　disguise；　and　hastened　with　post…horses　to　where　Daun　and　Radasdy　were　quartered。〃

〃And　you　saw　them？〃

〃I　saw　them；　I　was　fortunate　enough　to　be　able　to　deliver　your　majesty's　letters　to　General　Radasdy；　and　I　can　now　give　your　highness　the　general's　answer；　and　some　other　important　papers。〃　He　drew　a　small　etui　from　his　bosom；　out　of　which　he　took　a　penknife；　then　taking　his　hat；　ripped　off　the　gold　galloon；　cut　the　rim；　and　drew　a　paper　from　between　the　fur　and　the　inner　lining；　which　he　handed　to　the　queen；　with　a　profound　bow。　While　the　queen　was　occupied　breaking　the　seal　and　reading　the　letter；　the　chamberlain　was　busily　engaged　in　restoring　his　hat　to　its　former　proportions。　The　queen's　pale　face　brightened　more　and　more　as　she　read；　with　joy　and　triumph　she　glanced　from　the　paper　at　the　chamberlain；　and　said；　with　a　brilliant　smile：　〃You　are　really　a　messenger　of　peace；　a　time　will　come　when　I　can　better　reward　your　faithful　services　than　by　words。　I　beg　you　to　open　that　door；　and　call　Father　Guarini。〃　The　chamberlain　obeyed　her　command；　and　Father　Guarini　entered。　He　greeted　Schonberg　with　a　gracious　nod；　then　fixed　his　dark　and　piercing　eyes　upon　the　queen；　who　arose　humbly　to　receive　him。　〃I　hope；　venerable　father；　that　you　have　heard　the　news；　brought　by　our　faithful　baron？〃　said　the　queen；　in　a　soft　voice。　〃I　have　heard！〃　replied　the　Jesuit　father；　solemnly；　〃I　have　heard　that　God　has　delivered　these　heretics　into　our　hands。　We　are　the　chosen　people　to　free　the　world　of　these　blasphemous　adversaries　of　the　Church。〃

〃What　is　your　meaning？〃　asked　the　queen；　with　apparent　surprise。　Father　Guarini　looked　at　her　significantly；　a　cruel　smile　played　upon　his　thin；　colorless　lips。　〃My　daughter；　we　understand　each　other　fully；〃　said　he；　in　a　soft；　low　voice；　〃soul　speaks　to　soul　in　such　a　crisis　as　this。　When　the　baron　handed　you　this　letter；　when　he　told　you　that　the　chamberlain　of　the　King　of　Prussia　was　faithful　to　our　holy　cause；　ready　for　any　act　you　might　approve；　a　door　separated　us；　I　could　not　look　upon　your　countenance；　and　yet；　my　daughter；　I　read　the　secret　thoughts　of　your　heart。　I　saw　your　eyes　sparkle；　your　lips　smile；　and　understood　your　holy　purpose。〃　The　queen　trembled；　and　stepped　shudderingly　back。　〃Holy　father；〃　she　murmured；　〃have　compassion　with　a　sinful　thought；　which　I　suppressed　quickly；　and　which　I　will　never　listen　to　again。〃

〃Why　do　you　call　it　a　sinful　thought？〃　said　the　priest；　with　a　diabolical　smile。　〃All　weapons　are　blessed　and　made　holy　by　God；　when　employed　against　heretics。　The　poison　of　the　hemlock　and　the　opium…plant　is　part　of　God's　holy　creation。　He　made　them　as　weapons　for　the　just　against　the　unjust；　and；　when　used　for　pious　purposes；　they　are　sanctified　means　of　grace。　Be　not　ashamed　of　your　great　thought；　my　daughter；　if　Anderson　is　faithful；　as　the　chamberlain　asserts；　with　God's　help　we　will　soon　be　able　to　bring　this　war　to　a　close；　and　crush　this　unbelieving　horde。〃

〃Still；　I　pray　you　still；　my　father；〃　murmured　the　queen；　〃my　whole　soul　shudders　at　this　frightful　suggestion；　let　us　not　speak　of　this　again；　let　us　forget　it。〃

〃Let　us　not　speak　of　it；　but　let　us　not　forget　it；〃　murmured　the　priest；　with　a　malicious　smile。　The　queen　said　hastily：　〃Father；　such　fearful　weapons　are　not　necessary　for　the　destruction　of　our　enemies。　Frederick　of　Prussia　can　never　rallyhe　stands　alone；　has　not　a　single　ally　in　Germany。　This　is　the　important　news　brought　me　by　the　baron；　which　I　now　communicate　to　you。　We　have　succeeded　in　a　great　enterprise；　a　mighty　work　has　been　completed　by　us　and　our　allies　in　the　cloister　of　Zeven。　This　has　been　achieved　by　our　ambassador；　the　pious　Duke　of　Lynar；　and　we　will　triumph　in　a　glittering　and　bloodless　victory。　Every　German　prince　who　has　heretofore　stood　by　the　traitor　and　heretic；　Frederick　of　Prussia；　has；　at　the　command　and　menace　of　the　emperor；　fallen　off　from　him；　and　dare　no　longer　lend　him　help　or　influence。　The　men　of　Hesse；　of　Brunswick；　of　Gotha；　who　were　allied　to　Prussia；　and　who　were　just　from　fighting　with　the　Hanoverians　against　Soubise　and　Richelieu；　have　laid　down　their　arms　and　returned　home。　They　have　solemnly　bound　themselves　in　the　convention　of　the　cloister　of　Zeven　never　again　to　bear　arms　for　the　heretical　and　rebellious　King　of　Prussia；　who　is　excommunicated　by　the　German　emperor　and　the　holy　Pope　at　Rome。　The　contest　between　the　Hanoverians　and　our　French　ally　is　ended；　and　a　cessation　of　hostilities　determined　upon。　Unconditional　peace　is　indeed　indefinitely　declared。　The　Hanoverians　remain　inactive　on　the　Elbe；　the　Duke　of　Cumberland；　leader　of　the　English　troops；　has　returned　to　Loudon；　＇Footnote：　When　the　Duke　of　Cumberland　returned　to　Loudon；　after　the　convention　at　the　cloister　of　Zeven；　his　father；　whose　favorite　he　had　been　up　to　this　time；　received　him　with　great　coldness；　and　said　before　all　his　ministers：　〃Here　is　my　son　who　has　ruined　me　and　disgraced　himself。〃　The　duke　had　to　resign　all　his　honors；　and　died　a　few　years　later；　despised　by　the　whole　nation。＇　and　his　adversary；　the　Duke　de　Richelieu；　to　Paris。　The　French　troops　now　in　Germany；　under　the　command　of　the　Prince　Soubise；　have　no　other　enemy　to　attack　than　Frederick；　the　natural　enemy　of　us　all。　The　King　of　Prussia；　who　stands　alone；　has　no　other　ally。〃

〃No　ally　but　himself；〃　interrupted　a　loud；　powerful　voice。　The　queen　turned　and　saw　General　von　Fink；　the　Prussian　commander　of　Dresden。　He　had　opened　the　door　noiselessly；　and　had　heard　the　queen's　last　words。　Maria　Josephine　paled　with　anger；　and　stepping　forward　to　meet　him；　with　head　erect；　she　looked　as　if　she　would　trample　him　under　foot。　〃Sir；〃　she　said；　scarcely　able　to　control　her　passion；　and　at　the　same　time　trembling　with　terror；　〃who　gave　you　permission　to　enter　this　room？〃

〃My　sovereign；　the　King　of　Prussia；〃　said　the　general；　placing　himself　before　her　with　stiff　military　courtesy。　〃I　come　not　from　idle　curiosity；　but　on　important　business；　and　your　majesty　must　pardon　me　if　you　find　it　disagreeable。〃

He　made