Chapter X. - THE MASKERS.
The king, with the assistance of Pollnitz, had now completed his toilet; he did not wish to be recognized, and his dress was similar to hundreds of others who were wandering through the rooms.
„Do you think I will be known?“
„No, sire, it is not possible. Now have the goodness to push your mask slightly over your eyes; they might perhaps betray you.“
„Well, these eyes will soon see some curious things. Did you ever stand upon a battle-field as a conqueror, surrounded by corpses, all your living enemies having fled before you?“
„Heaven in its mercy preserve me from such a sight! My enemies, sire, have never fled from me; they chase me and threaten me, and it is of God's great mercy that I have always escaped them.“
„Who are these pursuing enemies of yours?“
„They are my creditors, your majesty, and you may well believe that they are more terrible to me than a battle-field of corpses. Unhappily, they still live, and the fiends torment me.“
„Well, Pollnitz, after I have seen my first battle-field, in the condition I have just described to you, and returned home victorious, I will assist you to kill off your rapacious enemies. Until then keep bravely on the defensive. Come, let us go, I have only half an hour left for pleasure.“
The king opened the door of the cabinet, and, jesting merrily, he mingled with the crowd, while Pollnitz remained near the door, and cast a searching glance around the room. Presently a mocking smile flitted over his face, and he said to himself: „There, there are all three of them. There is the modestly dressed nun who would not be recognized as Madame von Morien. There is the king of cards, Manteuffel, who is not yet aware that a quick eye has seen his hand, and his trumps are all in vain. There at last is Madame von Brandt, 'The Gypsy,' telling fortunes, and having no presentiment of the fate awaiting herself. A little scrap of paper carelessly lost and judiciously used by the lucky finder is quite sufficient to unmask three of the worldly wise.“
„Well, baron,“ whispered the nun, „will you fulfil your promise?“
„Dear Madame von Morien,“ replied Pollnitz, shrugging his shoulders, „the king expressly commanded me not to betray him.“
„Pollnitz,“ said the nun, with a tearful voice, „have pity upon me; tell me the disguise of the king; you shall not only have my eternal gratitude--but look, I know you love diamonds; see this costly pin, which I will give for the news I crave.“
„It is impossible for poor, weak human nature to resist you,“ said Pollnitz, stretching out his hand eagerly for the pin; „diamonds have a convincing eloquence, and I must submit; the king has a blue domino embroidered with silver cord, a white feather is fastened in his hat with a ruby pin, and his shoe-buckles are of rubies and diamonds.“
„Thank you,“ said the nun, handing the pin and mingling hastily with the crowd.
While Pollnitz was fastening the pin in his bosom, the king of cards approached, and laid his hand on his shoulder.
„Well, baron, you see I am punctual; answer the questions of yesterday, and I will give you all the information necessary to secure you a rich and lovely wife.“
„I accept the terms. You wish to know what route the king will take and the number of his troops: this paper contains the information you desire; I obtained it from a powerful friend, one of the confidential servants of the king. I had to pay a thousand crowns for it; you see I did not forget you.“
„Well, here is a draft for four thousand crowns,“ said Manteuffel; „you see I did not forget your price.“
„And now for the rich and lovely wife.“
„Listen. In Nuremberg I am acquainted with a rich family, who have but one fair daughter; she will inherit a million. The family is not noble, but they wish to marry their daughter to a Prussian cavalier. I have proposed you, and you are accepted; you have only to go to Nuremberg and deliver these letters; you will be received as a son, and immediately after the wedding you will come into possession of a million.“
„A million is not such a large sum after all,“ said Pollnitz. „If I must marry a citizen in order to obtain a fortune I know a girl here who is young, lovely, and much in love with me, and I think she has not less than a million.“
„Well, take the letters; you can consider the subject. Au revoir, my dear baron. Oh, I forgot one other small stipulation connected with your marriage with the Nuremberger; the family is Protestant, and will not accept a Catholic for their rich daughter; so you will have to become a Protestant.“
„Well, that is a small affair. I was once a Protestant, and I think I was just as good as I am now.“
Manteuffel laughed heartily, and withdrew.
Pollnitz looked thoughtfully at the letters, and considered the question of the Nuremberg bride. „I believe Anna Pricker has at least a million, and old Pricker lies very ill from the shock of his wife's sudden death. If our plan succeeds, and Anna becomes a great singer, she will have powerful influence with the king; and it will be forgotten that she is a tailor's daughter. I believe I would rather have Anna than the Nuremberger, but I will keep the latter in reserve.“
Pollnitz had reached this point in his meditations, when the gypsy stood before him; she greeted him with roguish words, and he was again the thoughtless and giddy cavalier. Madame von Brandt, however, had but little time for jesting.
„You promised to give me information of the letter I lost at the last court festival,“ she said, anxiously.
„Yes, that very important letter, ruinously compromising two ladies and a nobleman. I suppose you would obtain the letter at any sacrifice?“
„Yes, at any sacrifice,“ said Madame von Brandt. „You asked a hundred Louis d'ors for the letter; I have brought them with me; take them--now give me the letter.“
The baron took the money and put it in his pocket.
„Well, the letter, let me have it quickly,“ said Madame von Brandt.
Pollnitz hunted through his pockets anxiously. „My God!“ he cried, „this letter has wings. I know I put it in my pocket, and it has disappeared; perhaps like yourself I lost it in the saloon; I must hasten to seek it.“ He wished to go immediately, but Madame von Brandt held him back.
„Have the goodness to give me my money until you have found the letter,“ she cried, trembling with rage.
„Your money?“ cried Pollnitz; „you gave me no money. Why do you keep me? allow me to go and seek this important letter.“ He tore himself from her and mingled with the crowd.
Madame von Brandt looked after him in speechless rage; she leaned against the wall, to prevent herself from falling.
Pollnitz laughed triumphantly. „This evening has brought me a thousand crowns, two hundred Louis d'ors, a splendid diamond pin, and the promise of a rich wife. I think I may be content. Through these intrigues I have enough to live on for months. I stand now high in the king's favor, and who knows, perhaps he may now give me a house, not the house in the Jager Street--that is, alas, no longer vacant. I see the king--I must hasten to him.“ Suddenly he heard his name called, and turning he saw a lady in a black domino, the hood drawn over her head, and her face covered with an impenetrable veil.
„Baron Pollnitz, a word with you, if you please,“ and slightly motioning with her hand, she passed before him. Pollnitz followed her, curious to know his last petitioner, but the dark domino covered her completely. They had now reached a quiet window; the lady turned and said:
„Baron Pollnitz, you are said to be a noble and gallant cavalier, and I am sure you will not refuse a lady a favor.“
„Command me, madame,“ said Pollnitz, with his eternal smile. „I will do all in my power.“
„Make known to me the costume of the king.“
The baron stepped back in angry astonishment. „So, my beautiful mask, you call that a favor; I must betray his majesty to you. He has forbidden me positively to make known his costume to any one; you cannot desire me to be guilty of such a crime!“
„I implore you to tell me,“ cried the mask; „it is not from idle curiosity that I desire to know: I have an ardent but innocent desire to say a few words to the king before he leaves for the wars, from which he may never return.“
In the excitement of deep feeling, the mask spoke in her natural voice, and there were certain tones which Pollnitz thought he recognized; he must be certain, however, before speaking; he drew nearer, and gazing piercingly at the lady, he said. „You say, madame, that it is not in idle curiosity that you desire to know the costume of the king. How do I know that you do not entertain dangerous designs? how do I know but you are an enemy, corrupted by Austria, and wish to lead the king to his destruction?“
„The only security I can offer is the word of a noble lady who never told an untruth. God omnipotent, God omnipresent knows that my heart beats with admiration, reverence, and love for the king. I would rather die than bring him into danger.“
„Will you swear that?“
„I swear!“ cried the lady, raising her arm solemnly toward heaven.
Pollnitz followed all her movements watchfully, and as the long sleeve of the domino fell back, he saw a bracelet of emeralds and diamonds, which he recognized; there was but one lady at the Prussian court who possessed such a bracelet, and that was the reigning queen. Pollnitz was too old a courtier to betray the discovery he had made; he bowed quietly to the lady, who, discovering her imprudence, lowered her arm, and drew her sleeve tightly over it.
„Madame,“ said the baron, „you have taken a solemn oath and I am satisfied; I will grant your request, but, as I gave my word of honor to tell no one the costume of his majesty, I must show it to you. I am now going to seek the king; I shall speak with no one but him; therefore the domino before whom I bow and whom I address will be the king; follow me.“
„I thank you,“ said the lady, drawing her domino closely over her; „I shall remember this hour gratefully, and if it is ever in my power to serve you, I shall do so.“
„This is indeed a most fortunate evening! I have earned money and diamonds and the favor of the queen, who up to this time has looked upon me with cold dislike.“
Pollnitz approached the king and bowed low; the lady stood behind, marking well the costume of his majesty.
„I have waited a long time for Pollnitz,“ said the king.
„Sire, I had to wait for three masks; I have seen them all--Madame von Morien, Madame von Brandt, and Baron von Manteuffel. The baron remains true to his character; he is in the costume of the king of cards.“
„And Madame von Morien?“ asked the king.
„She is here as a nun, and burns with desire to speak with your majesty; and if you will step into the dark saloon, I do not doubt the repentant nun will quickly follow you.“
„Well, what is the costume of Madame von Brandt?“
„A gypsy, sire; a yellow skirt, with a red bodice embroidered in gold; a little hat studded with diamonds and a beauty spot on the left temple. She wished me to give her the letter I found, and I sold it to her for two hundred Louis d'ors.“
„You had not the letter, however, and could not receive the money?“
„Pardon, your majesty, I took the Louis d'ors, and then discovered that I had lost the letter, I came to seek it.“
The king laughed heartily, and said: „Pollnitz, Pollnitz, it is a blessed thing for the world that you are not married; your boys would be consummate rascals! Did you give Manteuffel the plan of the campaign and the number of the troops?“
„Yes, sire, I did; and the baron was so charmed that he made me a present of four thousand crowns! I took them, for appearance' sake; your majesty must decide what I must do with them.“
„Keep the reward of your iniquity, baron. You hare a superb talent for thieving, and I would prefer you should practise it on the Austrians to practising it on myself. Go now, and see that I find my uniform in the cabinet.“
The king mingled again with the crowd, and was not recognized, but laughed and jested with them merrily as man to man.
„Do you think I will be known?“
„No, sire, it is not possible. Now have the goodness to push your mask slightly over your eyes; they might perhaps betray you.“
„Well, these eyes will soon see some curious things. Did you ever stand upon a battle-field as a conqueror, surrounded by corpses, all your living enemies having fled before you?“
„Heaven in its mercy preserve me from such a sight! My enemies, sire, have never fled from me; they chase me and threaten me, and it is of God's great mercy that I have always escaped them.“
„Who are these pursuing enemies of yours?“
„They are my creditors, your majesty, and you may well believe that they are more terrible to me than a battle-field of corpses. Unhappily, they still live, and the fiends torment me.“
„Well, Pollnitz, after I have seen my first battle-field, in the condition I have just described to you, and returned home victorious, I will assist you to kill off your rapacious enemies. Until then keep bravely on the defensive. Come, let us go, I have only half an hour left for pleasure.“
The king opened the door of the cabinet, and, jesting merrily, he mingled with the crowd, while Pollnitz remained near the door, and cast a searching glance around the room. Presently a mocking smile flitted over his face, and he said to himself: „There, there are all three of them. There is the modestly dressed nun who would not be recognized as Madame von Morien. There is the king of cards, Manteuffel, who is not yet aware that a quick eye has seen his hand, and his trumps are all in vain. There at last is Madame von Brandt, 'The Gypsy,' telling fortunes, and having no presentiment of the fate awaiting herself. A little scrap of paper carelessly lost and judiciously used by the lucky finder is quite sufficient to unmask three of the worldly wise.“
„Well, baron,“ whispered the nun, „will you fulfil your promise?“
„Dear Madame von Morien,“ replied Pollnitz, shrugging his shoulders, „the king expressly commanded me not to betray him.“
„Pollnitz,“ said the nun, with a tearful voice, „have pity upon me; tell me the disguise of the king; you shall not only have my eternal gratitude--but look, I know you love diamonds; see this costly pin, which I will give for the news I crave.“
„It is impossible for poor, weak human nature to resist you,“ said Pollnitz, stretching out his hand eagerly for the pin; „diamonds have a convincing eloquence, and I must submit; the king has a blue domino embroidered with silver cord, a white feather is fastened in his hat with a ruby pin, and his shoe-buckles are of rubies and diamonds.“
„Thank you,“ said the nun, handing the pin and mingling hastily with the crowd.
While Pollnitz was fastening the pin in his bosom, the king of cards approached, and laid his hand on his shoulder.
„Well, baron, you see I am punctual; answer the questions of yesterday, and I will give you all the information necessary to secure you a rich and lovely wife.“
„I accept the terms. You wish to know what route the king will take and the number of his troops: this paper contains the information you desire; I obtained it from a powerful friend, one of the confidential servants of the king. I had to pay a thousand crowns for it; you see I did not forget you.“
„Well, here is a draft for four thousand crowns,“ said Manteuffel; „you see I did not forget your price.“
„And now for the rich and lovely wife.“
„Listen. In Nuremberg I am acquainted with a rich family, who have but one fair daughter; she will inherit a million. The family is not noble, but they wish to marry their daughter to a Prussian cavalier. I have proposed you, and you are accepted; you have only to go to Nuremberg and deliver these letters; you will be received as a son, and immediately after the wedding you will come into possession of a million.“
„A million is not such a large sum after all,“ said Pollnitz. „If I must marry a citizen in order to obtain a fortune I know a girl here who is young, lovely, and much in love with me, and I think she has not less than a million.“
„Well, take the letters; you can consider the subject. Au revoir, my dear baron. Oh, I forgot one other small stipulation connected with your marriage with the Nuremberger; the family is Protestant, and will not accept a Catholic for their rich daughter; so you will have to become a Protestant.“
„Well, that is a small affair. I was once a Protestant, and I think I was just as good as I am now.“
Manteuffel laughed heartily, and withdrew.
Pollnitz looked thoughtfully at the letters, and considered the question of the Nuremberg bride. „I believe Anna Pricker has at least a million, and old Pricker lies very ill from the shock of his wife's sudden death. If our plan succeeds, and Anna becomes a great singer, she will have powerful influence with the king; and it will be forgotten that she is a tailor's daughter. I believe I would rather have Anna than the Nuremberger, but I will keep the latter in reserve.“
Pollnitz had reached this point in his meditations, when the gypsy stood before him; she greeted him with roguish words, and he was again the thoughtless and giddy cavalier. Madame von Brandt, however, had but little time for jesting.
„You promised to give me information of the letter I lost at the last court festival,“ she said, anxiously.
„Yes, that very important letter, ruinously compromising two ladies and a nobleman. I suppose you would obtain the letter at any sacrifice?“
„Yes, at any sacrifice,“ said Madame von Brandt. „You asked a hundred Louis d'ors for the letter; I have brought them with me; take them--now give me the letter.“
The baron took the money and put it in his pocket.
„Well, the letter, let me have it quickly,“ said Madame von Brandt.
Pollnitz hunted through his pockets anxiously. „My God!“ he cried, „this letter has wings. I know I put it in my pocket, and it has disappeared; perhaps like yourself I lost it in the saloon; I must hasten to seek it.“ He wished to go immediately, but Madame von Brandt held him back.
„Have the goodness to give me my money until you have found the letter,“ she cried, trembling with rage.
„Your money?“ cried Pollnitz; „you gave me no money. Why do you keep me? allow me to go and seek this important letter.“ He tore himself from her and mingled with the crowd.
Madame von Brandt looked after him in speechless rage; she leaned against the wall, to prevent herself from falling.
Pollnitz laughed triumphantly. „This evening has brought me a thousand crowns, two hundred Louis d'ors, a splendid diamond pin, and the promise of a rich wife. I think I may be content. Through these intrigues I have enough to live on for months. I stand now high in the king's favor, and who knows, perhaps he may now give me a house, not the house in the Jager Street--that is, alas, no longer vacant. I see the king--I must hasten to him.“ Suddenly he heard his name called, and turning he saw a lady in a black domino, the hood drawn over her head, and her face covered with an impenetrable veil.
„Baron Pollnitz, a word with you, if you please,“ and slightly motioning with her hand, she passed before him. Pollnitz followed her, curious to know his last petitioner, but the dark domino covered her completely. They had now reached a quiet window; the lady turned and said:
„Baron Pollnitz, you are said to be a noble and gallant cavalier, and I am sure you will not refuse a lady a favor.“
„Command me, madame,“ said Pollnitz, with his eternal smile. „I will do all in my power.“
„Make known to me the costume of the king.“
The baron stepped back in angry astonishment. „So, my beautiful mask, you call that a favor; I must betray his majesty to you. He has forbidden me positively to make known his costume to any one; you cannot desire me to be guilty of such a crime!“
„I implore you to tell me,“ cried the mask; „it is not from idle curiosity that I desire to know: I have an ardent but innocent desire to say a few words to the king before he leaves for the wars, from which he may never return.“
In the excitement of deep feeling, the mask spoke in her natural voice, and there were certain tones which Pollnitz thought he recognized; he must be certain, however, before speaking; he drew nearer, and gazing piercingly at the lady, he said. „You say, madame, that it is not in idle curiosity that you desire to know the costume of the king. How do I know that you do not entertain dangerous designs? how do I know but you are an enemy, corrupted by Austria, and wish to lead the king to his destruction?“
„The only security I can offer is the word of a noble lady who never told an untruth. God omnipotent, God omnipresent knows that my heart beats with admiration, reverence, and love for the king. I would rather die than bring him into danger.“
„Will you swear that?“
„I swear!“ cried the lady, raising her arm solemnly toward heaven.
Pollnitz followed all her movements watchfully, and as the long sleeve of the domino fell back, he saw a bracelet of emeralds and diamonds, which he recognized; there was but one lady at the Prussian court who possessed such a bracelet, and that was the reigning queen. Pollnitz was too old a courtier to betray the discovery he had made; he bowed quietly to the lady, who, discovering her imprudence, lowered her arm, and drew her sleeve tightly over it.
„Madame,“ said the baron, „you have taken a solemn oath and I am satisfied; I will grant your request, but, as I gave my word of honor to tell no one the costume of his majesty, I must show it to you. I am now going to seek the king; I shall speak with no one but him; therefore the domino before whom I bow and whom I address will be the king; follow me.“
„I thank you,“ said the lady, drawing her domino closely over her; „I shall remember this hour gratefully, and if it is ever in my power to serve you, I shall do so.“
„This is indeed a most fortunate evening! I have earned money and diamonds and the favor of the queen, who up to this time has looked upon me with cold dislike.“
Pollnitz approached the king and bowed low; the lady stood behind, marking well the costume of his majesty.
„I have waited a long time for Pollnitz,“ said the king.
„Sire, I had to wait for three masks; I have seen them all--Madame von Morien, Madame von Brandt, and Baron von Manteuffel. The baron remains true to his character; he is in the costume of the king of cards.“
„And Madame von Morien?“ asked the king.
„She is here as a nun, and burns with desire to speak with your majesty; and if you will step into the dark saloon, I do not doubt the repentant nun will quickly follow you.“
„Well, what is the costume of Madame von Brandt?“
„A gypsy, sire; a yellow skirt, with a red bodice embroidered in gold; a little hat studded with diamonds and a beauty spot on the left temple. She wished me to give her the letter I found, and I sold it to her for two hundred Louis d'ors.“
„You had not the letter, however, and could not receive the money?“
„Pardon, your majesty, I took the Louis d'ors, and then discovered that I had lost the letter, I came to seek it.“
The king laughed heartily, and said: „Pollnitz, Pollnitz, it is a blessed thing for the world that you are not married; your boys would be consummate rascals! Did you give Manteuffel the plan of the campaign and the number of the troops?“
„Yes, sire, I did; and the baron was so charmed that he made me a present of four thousand crowns! I took them, for appearance' sake; your majesty must decide what I must do with them.“
„Keep the reward of your iniquity, baron. You hare a superb talent for thieving, and I would prefer you should practise it on the Austrians to practising it on myself. Go now, and see that I find my uniform in the cabinet.“
The king mingled again with the crowd, and was not recognized, but laughed and jested with them merrily as man to man.
Dieses Kapitel ist Teil des Buches FREDERICK THE GREAT AND HIS COURT. Book III.