frederick the great and his family-第30章
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knows well that I can be of service to him。 He who has his spies everywhere； knows that no one else can give him such definite information as to the intentions and plans of Russia as I canthat no one knows so certainly what the preparations for war； now going on throughout the whole of Russia； signify。 Yes； yes： so it is！ Frederick will have me again in his service； he knows of my intimacy with the all…powerful wife of Bestuchef； that I am in constant correspondence with her； and in this way informed of all the plans of the Russian government。 ＇Footnote： Frederick Trenck's 〃Memoirs。〃＇ Possibly； the king intends to send me as a secret ambassador to St。 Petersburg！ That would； indeed； open a career to me； and bring me exalted honor； and perhaps make that event possible which has heretofore only floated before my dazzled sight like a dream…picture。 Oh； Amelia！ noblest； most constant of women！ could the dreams of our youth be realized？ If fate； softened by your tears and your heroic courage； would at last unite you with him you have so fondly and so truly loved！ Misled by youth； presumption； and levity； I have sometimes trifled with my most holy remembrances； sometimes seemed unfaithful； but my love to you has never failed； I have worn it as a talisman about my heart。 I have ever worshipped you； I have ever hoped in you； and I will believe in you always； if I doubt and despair of all others。 Oh； Amelia！ protecting angel of my life！ perhaps I may now return to you。 I shall see you again； look once more into your beauteous eyes； kneel humbly before you； and receive absolution for my sins。 They were but sins of the flesh； my soul had no part in them。 I will return to you； and live free； honored； and happy by your side。 I know this by the gracious reception of the duke； I know it by the careless manner in which I am guarded。 Before the officer went to sleep he told me how securely a fugitive could hide himself in these woods。 I； however； have no necessity to hide myself； no misfortune hovers over me； honor and gladness beckon me on。 I will not be so foolish as to fly； life opens to me new and flowery paths； greets me with laughing hopes。〃 ＇Footnote： 〃Frederick Trenck's Memoirs。〃＇
Wholly occupied with these thoughts； Trenck leaned back in the carriage and gave himself up to bright dreams of the future。 Slowly the horses moved through the deep； white sand； which made the roll of the wheels noiseless； and effaced instantaneously the footprints of men。 The officer still slept； the coachman had dropped the reins； and nodded here and there as if intoxicated。 The wood was drear and empty； no human dwelling； no human face was seen。 Had Trenck wished to escape； one spring from the low； open carriage； a hundred hasty steps would have brought him to a thicket where discovery was impossible； the carriage would have rolled on quietly； and when the sleepers aroused themselves； they would have had no idea of the direction Trenck had taken。 The loose and rolling sand would not have retained his footprints； and the whispering trees would not have betrayed him。
Trenck would not fly； he was full of romance； faith； and hope； his sanguine temper painted his future in enchanting colors。 No； he would not flee； he had faith in his star。 Life's earnest tragedy had yet for him a smiling face； and life's bitter truths seemed alluring visions。 No； the king only wished to try him； he wished to see if he could frighten him into an effort to escape； he gave him the opportunity for flight； but if he made use of it； he would be lost forever in the eyes of Frederick； and his prospects utterly destroyed。 If he bravely suffered the chance of escape to pass by； and arrived in Berlin； to all appearance a prisoner； the king would have the agreeable task of undeceiving him； and Trenck would have shown conclusively that he had faith in the king's magnanimity； and gave himself up to him without fear。 He would have proved also that his conscience was clear； and that； without flattering； he could yield himself to the judgment of the king。 No； Trenck would not fly。 In Berlin； liberty； love； and Amelia awaited him； he would lose all this by flight； it would all remain his if he did not allow himself to be enticed by the flattering goddess； opportunity； who now beckoned and nodded smilingly from behind every tree and every thicket。 Trenck withstood these enticements during three long days； with careless indifference he passed slowly on through this lonely region； in his arrogant blindness and self…confidence he did not observe the careworn and anxious looks of the officers who conducted him； he did not hear or understand the low； hesitating insinuations they dared to speak。
〃This is your last resting…point；〃 said the officer who had conducted him from the last station。 〃You will remain here this afternoon； and early to…morrow morning the cavalry officer Von Halber will conduct you to Berlin； where the last barracks of our regiment are to be found； from that point the infantry garrison will take charge of your further transportation。〃
〃I shall not make their duties difficult；〃 said Trenck； gayly。 〃You see I am a good…natured prisoner； no Argus eyes are necessary； as I have no intention to flee。〃
The officer gazed into his calm； smiling face with amazement； and then stepped out with the officer Von Halber； into whose house they had now entered； to make known his doubts and apprehensions。
〃Perhaps the opportunities which have been offered him have not been sufficiently manifest；〃 said Von Halber。 〃Perhaps he has not regarded them as safe； and he fears a failure。 In that he is right； a vain attempt at flight would be much more prejudicial to him than to yield himself without opposition。 Well； I will see that he has now a sure chance to escape； and you may believe he will be cunning enough to take advantage of it。 You may say this much to his highness the duke。〃
〃But do not forget that the duke commanded us not to betray his intention to prepare these opportunities by a single word。 This course would compromise the duke and all of us。〃
〃I understand perfectly；〃 said Von Halber； 〃I will speak eloquently by deeds； and not with words。〃
True to this intention； Von Halber； after having partaken of a gay dinner with Trenck and several officers； left his house； accompanied by all his servants。
〃The horses must be exercised；〃 said he； and； as he was unmarried； no one remained in the house but Trenck。
〃You will be my house…guard for several hours；〃 said the officer to Trenck； who was standing at the door as he drove off。 〃I hope no one will come to disturb your solitude。 My officers all accompany me； and I have no acquaintance in this little village。 You will be entirely alone； and if； on my return； I find that you have disappeared in mist and fog； I shall believe that ennui has extinguished youreduced you to a bodiless nothing。〃
〃Well； I think he must have understood that；〃 said Von Halber； as he dashed down the street； followed by his staff。 〃He must be blind and deaf if he does not flee from the fate before him。〃
Trenck； alas； had not understood。 He believed in no danger； and did not； therefore； see the necessity for flight。 He found this quiet； lonely house inexpressibly wearisome。 He wandered through the rooms； seeking some object of interest； or some book which would enable him to pass the tedious hours。 The cavalry officer was a gallant and experienced soldier； but he was no scholar； and had nothing to do with books。 Trenck's search was in vain。 Discontented and restless； he wandered about； and at last entered the little court which led to the stable。 A welcome sound fell on his ears； and made his heart beat joyfully； with rapid steps he entered the stable。 Two splendid horses stood in the stalls； snorting and stamping impatiently； they were evidently riding…horses； for near them hung saddles and bridles。 Their nostrils dilated proudly as they threw their heads back to breathe the fresh air which rushed in at the open door。 It appeared to Trenck that their flashing eyes were pleading to him for liberty and action。
〃Poor beasts；〃 said he； stepping forward； and patting and caressing them〃poor beasts； you also pine for liberty； and hope for my assistance； b
