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〃Be merciful； sir！ oh； be merciful！ Let us move more slowly。 Turn back； oh； turn back！ just to the entrance of the woodonly to the entrance of the street！〃
〃You see that is impossible；〃 said Von Halber。 sadly。 〃We are recognized； if we turn back now； they will welcome us with bullets。〃
〃It were far better for me to die；〃 murmured Trenck； 〃than to enter that dark prisonthat open grave！〃
〃Alas！ you would not flyyou would not understand me。 I gave you many opportunities； but you would not avail yourself of them。〃
〃I was mad； mad！〃 cried Trenck。 〃I had confidence in myselfI had faith in my good starbut the curse of my evil genius has overtaken me。 Oh； my God！ I am lost； lost！ All my hopes were deceptivethe king is my irreconcilable enemy； and he will revenge my past life on my future！ I have this knowledge too late。 Oh； Halber！ go slowly； slowly； I must give you my last testament。 Mark well what I say these are the last words of a man who is more to be pitied than the dying。 It is a small service which I ask of you； but my existence depends upon it： Go quickly to the Duke of Wurtemberg and say this to him： 'Frederick von Trenck sends Duke Ferdinand his last greeting！ He is a prisoner； and in death's extremity。 Will the duke take pity on him； and convey this news to her whom he knows to be Trenck's friend？ Tell her Trenck is a prisoner； and hopes only in her！' Will you swear to me to do this？〃
〃I swear it；〃 said Von Halber； deeply moved。
The carriage stopped。 Von Halber sprang down and greeted the officer who was to take charge of Trenck。 The soldiers placed themselves on both sides of the coach； and the door was opened。 Trenck cast a last despairing； imploring glance to heaven； then； with a firm step； approached the open coach。 In the act of entering； he turned once more to the officer Von Halber； whose friendly eyes were darkened with tears。
〃You will not forget； sir！〃
These simply； sadly…spoken words； breaking the solemn； imposing silence； made an impression upon the hearts of even the stern soldiers around them。
〃I will not forget；〃 said Von Halber； solemnly。
Trenck bowed and entered the coach。 The officer followed him and closed the door。 Slowly； like a funeral procession； the coach moved on。 Von Halber gazed after him sadly。
〃He is right； he is more to be pitied than the dying。 I will hasten to fulfil his last testament。〃
Eight days later； the Princess Amelia received through the hands of Pollnitz a letter from Duke Ferdinand。 As she read it； she uttered a cry of anguish； and sank insensible upon the floor。 The duke's letter contained these words：
〃All my efforts were in vain； he would not fly； would not believe in his danger。 In the casemates of Magdeburg sits a poor prisoner； whose last words directed to me were these： 'Say to her whom you know that I am a prisoner； and hope only in her。'〃
CHAPTER III。
PRINCE HENRY AND HIS WIFE。
Prince Henry walked restlessly backward and forward in his study； his brow was stern； and a strange fire flamed in his eye。 He felt greatly agitated and oppressed； and scarcely knew the cause himself。 Nothing had happened to disturb his equanimity and give occasion for his wayward mood。 The outside world wore its accustomed gay and festal aspect。 To…day； as indeed almost every day since the prince resided at Rheinsberg； preparations were being made for a gay entertainment。 A country fete was to be given in the woods near the palace； and all the guests were to appear as shepherds and shepherdesses。
Prince Henry had withdrawn to his own room to assume the tasteful costume which had been prepared for him； but he seemed to have entirely forgotten his purpose。 The tailor and the friseur awaited him in vain in his dressing…room； he forgot their existence。 He paced his room with rapid steps； and his tightly…compressed lips opened from time to time to utter a few broken； disconnected words。
Of what was the prince thinking？ He did not know； or he would not confess it to himself。 Perhaps he dared not look down deep into his heart and comprehend the new feelings and new wishes which were struggling there。
At times he stood still； and looked with a wild； rapt expression into the heavens； as if they alone could answer the mysterious questions his soul was whispering to him； then passed on with his hand pressed on his brow to control or restrain the thoughts which agitated him。 He did not hear a light tap upon the door； he did not see it open； and his most intimate and dearest friend； Count Kalkreuth enter； dressed in the full costume of a shepherd。
Count Kalkreuth stood still； and did nothing to call the attention of the prince to his presence。 He remained at the door； his face was also dark and troubled； and the glance which he fixed upon Prince Henry was almost one of hatred。
The prince turned； and the count's expression changed instantly； he stepped gayly forward and said：
〃Your royal highness sees my astonishment at finding you lost in such deep thought； and your toilet not even commenced。 I stand like Lot's blessed wife； turned to stone upon your threshold！ Have you forgotten； my prince； that you commanded us all to be ready punctually at four o'clock？ The castle clock is at this moment striking four。 The ladies and gentlemen will now assemble in the music…saloon； as you directed； and you； prince； are not yet in costume。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Prince Henry； somewhat embarrassed； 〃I had forgotten； but I will hasten to make good my fault。〃
He stepped slowly； and with head bowed down； toward his dressing… room； at the door； he stood and looked back at the count。
〃You are already in costume； my friend；〃 said he； noticing for the first time the fantastic dress of the count。 〃Truly； this style becomes you marvellously； your bright…colored satin jacket shows your fine proportions as advantageously as your captain's uniform。 But what means this scarf which you wear upon your shoulder？〃
〃These are the colors of my shepherdess；〃 said the count； with a constrained smile。
〃Who is your shepherdess？〃
〃Your highness asks that； when you yourself selected her！〃 said Kalkreuth； astonished。
〃Yes it is true； I forgot；〃 said the prince。 〃The princess； my wife； is your shepherdess。 Well； I sincerely hope you may find her highness more gay and gracious than she was to me this morning； and that you may see the rare beauty of this fair rose； of which I only feel the thorns！〃
While the prince was speaking； the count became deathly pale； and looked at him with painful distrust。
〃It is true；〃 he replied； 〃the princess is cold and reserved toward her husband。 Without doubt； this is the result of a determination to meet your wishes fully； and to remain clearly within the boundary which your highness at the time of your marriage； more than a year ago； plainly marked out for her。 The princess knows； perhaps too well； that her husband is wholly indifferent to her beauty and her expression； and therefore feels herself at liberty to yield to each changeful mood without ceremony in your presence。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Prince Henry； sadly； 〃she is wholly indifferent to me； and I have told her so。 We will speak no more of it。 What； indeed； are the moods of the princess to me？ I will dress； go to the music…saloon； and ask for forgiveness in my name for my delay。 I will soon be ready； I will seek the princess in her apartments； and we will join you in a few moments。〃
The prince bowed and left the room。 Kalkreuth gazed after him thoughtfully and anxious。
〃His manner is unaccountably strange to…day；〃 whispered he。 〃Has he； perhaps； any suspicion； and these apparently artless questions and remarks this distraction and forgetfulnessBut no； no！ it is impossible； he can know nothingno one has betrayed me。 It is the anguish of my conscience which makes me fearful； this suffering I must bear； it is the penalty I pay for my great happiness。〃 The count sighed deeply and withdrew。
The prince completed his toilet； and sought the princess in her apartment； in the other wing of the castle。 With hasty steps he passed through the corridors； his countenance was anxious and expectant； his eyes were glowing and impatient； haste marked every movement； he held in