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〃And why should your highness do this？〃 asked Pollnitz； astonished。 〃All your preparations are made； all your commands fulfilled。 I have procured your costumes； no one will recognize you； and if they should； would not dare to betray you to the king。 Only two persons know that you are to visit the ball； the Prince of Prussia； and a lovely lady； whose beautiful eyes were misty with tears when I delivered her your message。 'Tell the prince；' she murmured； in a tender voice； 'I will await him there； even if I knew the king would crush me with his anger。'〃
The prince blushed with joy。 〃And you say it is impossible for me to see the king？〃
〃Impossible； my prince。〃
〃Well； we will have to renounce it；〃 said the prince； sighing。
〃Renounce seeing the king； yes！ for he will not leave his rooms in Sans…Souci today。〃
〃Then we would be entirely safe； he would not notice our departure；〃 said Kaphengst； quickly。
〃Entirely safe；〃 said Pollnitz。
〃That is； if Baron Pollnitz does not himself inform the king；〃 said Baron Kalkreuth； whose quick； clear glance rested upon the smiling face of the courtier； and appeared to read his inmost thoughts。
Baron Pollnitz cast a suspicious and angry glance at Kalkreuth。 〃I did not know that borrowing money from you gave you the right to speak rudely to me！〃
〃Silence！ gentlemen；〃 cried the prince； who； until now； had stood quietly struggling with his own wishes。 〃Take your cloaks and let us walk。 Did you not say that horses were awaiting us at the door； Baron Kalkreuth？〃
〃I said so； your highness。〃
〃And you Pollnitz？ Did you not say that three costumes awaited us in Berlin？〃
〃Yes； your highness。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the prince； smiling； 〃we must not allow the horses and costumes to await us any longer。 Come； gentlemen； we will ride to Berlin。〃
〃Really it was hard to get him off；〃 murmured Pollnitz； as he regained the street； and saw the three young men fading in the distance。 〃The good prince had quite a dutiful emotion； if the king only knew it； he would forgive him all； and renounce the idea of his marriage。 But that would not suit memy debts would not be paid！ I must not tell the king of his brother's inward struggle。〃
〃Well！〃 said the king； as Pollnitz entered； 〃has my brother really gone to Berlin？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； and accompanied by the two Messieurs〃
〃Silence！〃 cried the king； hastily； 〃I do not wish to know their names； I should have to punish them also。 He has then gone； and without any hesitation； any reluctance？〃
〃Yes； sire； without hesitation。 He thinks he has the right to go where he pleases； and to amuse himself as he can。〃
〃Order the carriage； Pollnitz；〃 said the king。 〃Without doubt my brother has taken the shortest road to Berlin？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃Then there is no danger of our meeting them and being recognized； and as we have relays on the road； we will reach Berlin before them。〃
CHAPTER III。
LOUISE VON KLEIST。
Madame von Kleist was alone in her boudoir。 She had just completed her toilet； and was viewing herself with considerable pleasure in a large Venetian glass。 She had reason to be pleased。 The costume of an odalisque became her wonderfully； suited her luxuriant beauty； her large； dreamy blue eyes； her full red lips； her slender； swaying form。 At twenty…eight； Louise von Kleist was still a sparkling beauty； the many trials and sorrows she had passed through had not scattered the roses from her cheek； nor banished youth from her heart。
Louise von Kleist resembled greatly the little Louise von Schwerin of earlier daysthe little dreamer who found it romantic to love a gardener； and was quite ready to flee with him to a paradise of love。 The king's watchfulness saved her from this romantic folly； and gave her another husband。 This unhappy match was now at an end。 Louise was again free。 She still felt in her heart some of the wild love of romance and adventure of the little Louise； she was the same daring； dreamy； impressible Louise； only now she was less innocent。 The little coquette from instinct was changed into a coquette from knowledge。
She stood before the glass and surveyed once more her appearance； then acknowledged with a pleased smile that she was beautiful enough to fascinate all men； to arouse in all hearts a painful longing。
〃But I shall love no one but the prince；〃 she said； 〃and when my power over him is sufficient to induce him to marry me； I shall reward him by my faith； and entire submission to his wishes。 Oh！ I shall he a virtuous wife； a true and faithful mother； and my lovely little Camilla shall find in her mother a good and noble example。 I shall promise this to my angel with my farewell kiss； and thento the ball！〃
She entered the next chamber； and stood at her child's bed。 What a strange sight！ This woman； in a fantastic； luxuriant costume； bending over the cot of the little girl； with such tender； pious looks； with folded hands； and soft； murmuring lips； uttering a prayer or holy wish！
〃How beautiful she is！〃 murmured Louise； not dreaming that her own beauty at this moment beamed with touching splendorthat mother love had changed the alluring coquette into an adorable saint〃how beautiful she is！〃
The gay； ringing laughter of her daughter interrupted her； the child opened her large black eyes； and looked amused。
〃You naughty child； you were not asleep；〃 said Louise。
〃No； mamma； I was not asleep； I was playing comedy。〃
〃Ah！ and who taught you to play comedy； you silly child？〃 said Louise； tenderly。
The child looked earnestly before her for a few moments as children are wont to do when a question surprises them。
〃I believe； mamma；〃 she said； slowly〃I believe I learned it from you。〃
〃From me； Camilla？ When have you seen me act？〃
〃Oh； very often；〃 she cried； laughing。 〃Just a few days ago； mamma； don't you remember when we were laughing and talking so merrily together； Prince Henry was announced； and you sent me into the next room； but the door was open； and I saw very well that you made a sad face； and I heard the prince ask you how you were； and you answered； 'I am sick； your highness； and how could it be otherwise； as I am always sad or weeping？' Now； mother； was not that acting？〃
Louise did not answer。 Breathing heavily； she laid her hand upon her heart； for she felt a strange sorrow and indescribable fear。
Camilla continued； 〃Oh！ and I saw how tenderly the prince looked at you； how he kissed you； and said you were as lovely as an angel。 Oh； mamma； I too shall be beautiful； and beloved by a prince！〃
〃To be beautiful； darling； you must be good and virtuous；〃 said the fair odalisque； earnestly。
Little Camilla arose in her bed； the white gown fell from her shoulders and exposed her soft childish form； her brown ringlets curled down her neck and lost themselves in her lace…covered dress。
The chandelier that hung from the ceiling lighted her lovely face； and made the gold and silver embroidered robes and jewels of her mother sparkle brilliantly。
At this moment； as with folded arms she glanced up at her mother； she looked like an angel； but she had already dangerous and earthly thoughts in her heart。
〃Mamma；〃 she said； 〃why should I be virtuous； when you are not？〃
Louise trembled； and looked terrified at her daughter。 〃Who told you I was not virtuous？〃
〃My poor； dear papa told me when he was here the last time。 Oh； he told me a great deal； mamma！ He told；〃 continued the child； with a sly smile； 〃how you loved a beautiful gardener； and ran off with him； and how he； at the command of the king； married you and saved you from shame； and he said you were not at all grateful； but had often betrayed and deceived him； and； because he was so unhappy with you； he drank so much wine to forget his sorrow。 Oh； mamma； you don't know how poor papa cried as he told me all this； and besought me not to become like you； but to be good； that every one might love and respect me！〃
Whilst Camilla spoke； her mother had sunk slowly； as if crushed； to the floor； and； with her face buried in the child's bed； sobbed aloud。
〃Don't cry； mamma；〃 said Camilla； pleadingly； 〃believe me； I will not do as papa says； and I will not be so stupid as to live in a small tow