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a especially for you； with changes and additions； and he entreats you； through me； the temporary Directeur des spectacles de Rheinsberg； to lend him this role for the use of his performer。〃
〃Why does not my brother rather entreat me to take this part myself？〃 said Amelia； in cruel mockery over herself。 〃It appears to me I could look the part of Aurelia； and my soft； flute…like voice would make a powerful impression upon the public。 It is cruel of Prince Henry to demand this role of me； it might be inferred that he thought I had become old and ugly。〃
〃Not so； your highness； the tragedy is to be performed on this occasion by public actors； and not by amateurs。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Amelia； suddenly becoming grave； 〃at that time we were amateurs； lovers of the drama； our dreams are overwe live in realities now。〃
〃Mademoiselle von Marwitz； have the goodness to bring the manuscript my brother wishes； it is partly written by Voltaire's own hand。 You will find it in the bureau in my dressing…room。〃
Mademoiselle Marwitz withdrew to get the manuscript； as she left the room； she looked back suspiciously at Pollnitz and； as if by accident； left the door open which led to the dressing…room。
Mademoiselle Marwitz had scarcely disappeared； before Pollnitz sprang forward； with youthful agility； and closed the door。
〃Princess； this commission of Prince Henry's was only a pretext。 I took this order from the princess's maitre d'hotel in order to approach your highness unnoticed； and to get rid of the watchful eyes of your Marwitz。 Now listen well； Weingarten； the Austrian secretary of Legation； was with me to…day。〃
〃Ah； Weingarten；〃 murmured the princess； tremblingly； 〃he gave you a letter for me； quick； quick； give it to me。〃
〃No； he gave me no letter； it appears that he； who formerly sent letters； is no longer in the condition to do so。〃
〃He is dead！〃 cried Amelia with horror； and sank back as if struck by lightning。
〃No； princess； he is not dead； but in great danger。 It appears that Weingarten is in great need of money； for a hundred louis d'or； which I promised him； he confided to me that Trenck's enemies had excited the suspicions of the king against him； and declared that Trenck had designs against the life of Frederick。〃
〃The miserable liars and slanderers！〃 cried Amelia； contemptuously。
〃The king； as it appears； believes in these charges； he has written to his resident minister to demand of the senate of Dantzic the delivery of Trenck。〃
〃Trenck is not in Dantzic； but in Vienna。〃
〃He is in Dantzicor； rather； he was there。〃
〃And now？〃
〃Now；〃 said Pollnitz； solemnly； 〃he is on the way to Konigsberg； from that point he will be transported to some other fortress； first； however； he will be brought to Berlin。〃
The unhappy princess uttered a shriek； which sounded like a wild death…cry。 〃He is； then； a prisoner？〃
〃Yes； but； on his way to prison； so long as he does not cross the threshold of the fortress； it is possible to deliver him。 Weingarten； who； it appears to me； is much devoted to your highness； has drawn for me the plan of the route； Trenck is to take。 Here it is。〃 He handed the princess a small piece of paper； which she seized with trembling hands； and read hastily。
〃He comes through Coslin；〃 said she； joyfully； 〃that gives a chance of safety in Coslin！ The Duke of Wurtemberg； the friend of my youthful days； is in Coslin； he will assist me。 Pollnitz； quick； quick； find me a courier who will carry a letter to the duke for me without delay。〃
〃That will be difficult； if not impossible；〃 said Pollnitz； thoughtfully。
Amelia sprang from her seat； her eyes had the old fire； her features their youthful expression and elasticity。
The power and ardor of her soul overcame the weakness of her body； it found energy and strength。
〃Well； then；〃 said she； decisively； and even her voice was firm and soft； 〃I will go myself； and woe to him who dares withhold me！ I have been ordered to take sea…baths。 I will go this hour to Coslin for that purpose！ but no； no； I cannot travel so rashly。 Pollnitz； you must find me a courier。〃
〃I will try；〃 said Pollnitz。 〃One can buy all the glories of this world for gold； and； I think； your highness will not regard a few louis d'or； more or less。〃
〃Find me a messenger； and I will pay every hour of his journey with a gold piece。〃
〃I will send my own servant； in half an hour he shall be ready。〃
〃God be thanked！ it will then； be possible to save him。 Let me write this letter at once； and hasten your messenger。 Let him fly as if he had wingsas if the wild winds of heaven bore him onward。 The sooner he brings me the answer of the duke； the greater shall be his reward。 Oh； I will reward him as if I were a rich queen； and not a poor； forsaken； sorrowful princess。〃
〃Write； princess； write；〃 cried Pollnitz； eagerly： 〃but not have the goodness to give me the hundred louis d'or before Mademoiselle Marwitz returns。 I promised them to Weingarten for his news； you can add to them the ducats you were graciously pleased to bestow upon me。〃
Amelia did not reply； she stepped to the table and wrote a few lines； which she handed to Pollnitz。
〃Take this；〃 said she； almost contemptuously； 〃it is a draft upon my banker； Orguelin。 I thank you for allowing your services to be paid for； it relieves me from all call to gratitude。 Serve me faithfully in future； and you shall ever find my hand open and my purse full。 And now give me time to write to the duke； and〃
〃Princess； I hear Mademoiselle Marwitz returning！〃
Amelia left the writing…table hastily； and advanced to the door through which Mademoiselle Marwitz must enter。
〃Ah； you are come at last；〃 said she； as the door opened。 〃I was about to seek you。 I feared you could not find the paper。〃
〃It was very difficult to find amongst such a mass of letters and papers；〃 said Mademoiselle Marwitz； whose suspicious glance was now wandering round the room。 〃I succeeded； however； at last； here is the manuscript； your highness。〃
The princess took it and examined it carefully。 〃Ah； I thought so；〃 she said。 〃A monologue which Voltaire wrote for me； is missing。 I gave it to the king； and I sec he has not returned it。 I think my memory is the only faculty which retains its power。 It is my misfortune that I cannot forget！ I will test it to…day and try to write this monologue from memory。 I must be alone； however。 I pray you； mademoiselle； to go into the saloon with Pollnitz； he can entertain you with the Chronique Scandaleuse of our most virtuous court； while I am writing。And now；〃 said she； when she found herself alone； 〃may God give me power to reach the heart of the duke； and win him to my purpose！〃
With a firm hand she wrote：
〃Because you are happy； duke； you will have pity for the wretched。 For a few days past； you have had your young and lovely wife at your side； and experienced the pure bliss of a happy union； you will therefore comprehend the despair of those who love as fondly； and can never be united。 And now； I would remind you of a day on which it was in my power to obtain for you a great favor from my brother the king。 At that time you promised me to return this service tenfold； should it ever be in your power； and you made me promise； if I should ever need assistance； to turn to you alone！ My hour has come！ I need your help； not for myself！ God and death alone can help me。 I demand your aid for a man who is chained with me to the galleys。 You know himhave mercy upon him！ Perhaps he will arrive at your court in the same hour with my letter。 Duke； will you be the jailer of the wretched and the powerless； who is imprisoned only because I am the daughter of a king？ Are your officers constables？ will you allow them to cast into an eternal prison him for whom I have wept night and day for many long years？〃
〃Oh； my God！ My God！ you have given wings to the birds of the air； you have given to the horse his fiery speed； you have declared that man is the king of creation； you have marked upon his brow the seal of freedom； and this is his holiest possession。 Oh； friend； will you consent that a noble gentleman； who has nothing left but his freedom； shall be unjustly deprived of it！ Duke； I call upon you