按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
be increased to punish her through him！ She must not weep； she must not complain。 Trenck lived； although in prison and in chains； he still lived； so long as he lived； she must conquer the despair of her heart。
As she thought thus； she dried her tears； and raised her head with proud resolve。 She would be calm and self…possessed； perhaps this man； sent to her by the landgrave； had something still to say to her。 She half turned her head toward him； he appeared not to be thinking of her； but was quietly engaged placing his treasures again in his casket。
〃Can you tell me who engraved this cup？〃
〃Certainly； your royal highness。 A poor prisoner； who has been confined for nine years in a subterranean cell in the fortress of Magdeburg； engraved it。 He is called Frederick von Trenck。 Your highness has perhaps never heard the name； but in Magdeburg every child knows it； and speaks it with wonder and admiration！ No one has seen him； but every one knows of his daring； his heroism； his unfaltering courage； and endurance； his herculean strength； and his many and marvellous attempts to escape。 Trenck is the hero of the nursery as well as the saloon。 No lady in Magdeburg is acquainted with him； but all are enthusiastic in his praise； and all the officers who know him love and pity him。 Many are ready to risk their lives for him！〃
The princess sighed deeply； and a ray of joy and hope lighted up her countenance。 She listened with suppressed breath to the jeweller's wordsthey sounded like far…off music； pleasant but mournful to the soul。
The stranger continued： 〃Some time since； in order to dispel the tediousness of his prison…life； he began to engrave poems and figures upon his tin cup with a nail which he had found in the earth while making his last attempt to undermine the floor of his cell。 During one of his visits of observation； the commandant discovered this cup； he was delighted with the engravings； took the cup and sent Trenck another； hoping he would continue the exercise of his art。 Trenck seized the occasion joyfully； and since then he has been constantly occupied as an engraver。 Every officer desires to have a cup engraved by him； as a souvenir。 Every lady in Magdeburg longs for one； and prefers it to the most costly jewel。 These cups are now the modeindeed； they have become an important article in trade。 If one of the officers can be induced to sell his cup； it will cost twenty louis d'or。 Trenck gets no money for his work； but he has gained far greater advantages。 These cups give him the opportunity of making known to the world the cruel tortures to which he is subject； they have given him speech； and replaced the writing materials of which they have deprived him。 They have answered even a better and holier purpose than this；〃 said the jeweller； in a low voice； 〃they have procured him light and air。 In order to give him sufficient light for his work； the officers open the doors into the first corridor； in which there is a large window； one of the upper panes of this window is open every morning。 As the days are short in the casemates； the commandant looks through his fingers； when the officers bring lights to the poor prisoner。 Trenck feels as if his wretched prison…cell was now changed into the atelier of an artist。〃
Amelia was silent and pressed the cup tenderly to her lips； the stranger did not regard her； but continued his recital quietly。
〃An officer of the garrison told me all this； your highness； when he sold me this cup。 They make no secret of their admiration and affection for Trenck； they know they would be severely punished if the higher authorities discovered that they allowed Trenck any privileges or alleviations； but they boast of it and consider it a humane action。〃
〃May God reward them for it！〃 sighed Amelia。 〃I will buy this cup； sir。 I do not wish to be behind the ladies of Magdeburg； and as it is the mode to possess a cup engraved by Trenck； I will take this。 Name your price。〃
The jeweller was silent for a moment； then said：
〃Pardon me； your highness； I dare not sell you this cup； or rather I implore your highness not to desire it。 If possible； I will make it an instrument for Trenck's release。〃
〃How can this be done？〃 said Amelia； breathlessly。
〃I will take this cup to General Riedt； the Austrian ambassador in Berlin。 As all the world is interesting itself for Trenck； I do not see why I should not do the same； and endeavor to obtain his release。 I shall therefore go to General Riedt with this cup。 I am told he is a noble gentleman and a distant relation of Trenck； he cannot fail to sympathize with his unfortunate cousin。 When he hears of his cruel sufferings he will certainly strive to deliver him。 General Riedt is exactly the man to effect this great object； he is thoroughly acquainted with all the by…ways and intrigues of the court of Vienna。 Maria Theresa classes him among her most trusted confidants and friends。 Whoever desires to free Trenck must consult with General Riedt and win him。〃
Amelia raised her head and looked up quickly at the stranger； his eyes were fixed upon her with a searching and significant expression； their glances met and were steadily fixed for one moment； then a scarcely perceptible smile flitted over the face of the jeweller； and the princess nodded her head。 Each felt that they were understood。
〃Have you nothing more to say？〃 said Amelia。
〃No； your highness； I have only to beg you will pardon me for not selling you this cup。 I must take it to General Riedt。〃
〃Leave it with me；〃 said Amelia； after a few moments' reflection。 〃I myself will show it to him and seek to interest him in the fate of his unhappy relative。 If I succeed； the cup is mine； and you will not wish to sell it to General Riedt Do you agree to this？ Go； then； and return to me at th is hour to…morrow； when I will either pay you the price of the cup； or return it to you； if I am so unhappy as to fail。〃
The jeweller bowed profoundly。 〃I will punctually obey your highness's commands。 To…morrow at this hour I will be here。〃
The stranger took his casket and left the room。 The princess gazed after him till the door closed。
〃That man is silent and discreet； I believe he can be trusted；〃 she murmured。 〃I will write at once； and desire an interview with General Riedt。〃
CHAPTER VI。
THE PRINCESS AND THE DIPLOMATIST。
An hour later the page of the princess announced General von Riedt； Austrian ambassador at the court of Berlin。 Amelia advanced to meet him； and gazed with a sharp； piercing glance at the general； who bowed respectfully before her。
〃I have sent for you； general；〃 said the princess； 〃to repair an injury。 You have been announced twice； and both times I declined receiving you。〃
〃That was no injury； your royal highness；〃 said the general； smiling。 〃I ventured to call on you because etiquette demands that a new ambassador should introduce himself to every member of the royal house。 Your royal highness declined to receive me； it was not agreeable； and you were perfectly justifiable in closing your doors against me。〃
〃And now you must wonder why I have sent for you？〃
〃I never allow myself to wonder。 Your order for me to come has made me happythat is sufficient。〃
〃You have no suspicion why I sent for you？〃
〃Your royal highness has just informed me you kindly wished to indemnify me for my two former visits。〃
〃You are a good diplomatist； you turn quickly about； are as smooth as an eel； cannot be taken hold of； but slip through one's fingers。 I am accustomed to go at once to the pointI cannot diplomatize。 See here； why I wished to see youI wished to show you this cup。〃
She took the cup hastily from the table； and gave it to the ambassador。 He gazed at it long and earnestly； he turned it around； looking at every picture； reading every verse。 Amelia watched him keenly； but his countenance betrayed nothing。 He was as smiling； as unembarrassed as before。 When he had looked at it attentively； he placed it on the table。
〃Well； what do you think of the workmanship？〃 said Amelia。
〃It is wonderful； worthy of an artist； your royal highness。〃
〃And do you know by what artist it was made？〃
〃I suspect it； your royal highness。〃
〃Give me his