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〃I remember no such promise；〃 said Frederick。 〃Men of your stamp are paid； but not rewarded。 I have made use of your treachery； but you are； nevertheless； in my eyes a traitor； and I will have none such in my service。〃
〃Then I am lost！〃 said Weingarten。 〃My honor； my good name； my future are annihilated。〃
〃Your honor has been weighed with gold；〃 said the king； sternly； 〃and I think I have already paid more for it than it was worth。 Your good name； it is true； will be from now changed into a bad one； and your mother will have to blush when she uses it。 Therefore I advise you to let it go； to take another name； to begin a new existence； and to found a new future。〃
〃A future without honor； without name； without position！〃 sighed Weingarten； despairingly。
〃So are men！〃 said the king； softly； 〃insolent and stubborn when they think themselves secure； cowardly and uncertain when they are in danger。 So you were rash enough to think that your treacherous deeds would always remain a secret？ You did not think of a possible detection； or prepare yourself for it。 In treading the road which you have trodden； every step should be considered。 This； it seems to me； you have not done。 You wish to enjoy the fruits of your treachery in perfect security； but you have not the courage to stand before the world as a traitor。 Do away with this name； which will cause you many dangers and insults。 Fly from this place； where you and your deeds are known。 Under a different name look for an asylum in another part of my land。 Money shall not fail you； and if what you have earned from me is not sufficient； turn to me； and I will lend you still more。 I will not forget that to me your treachery has been of great use； and therefore I will not desert you； though I shall despise the traitor。 And now； farewell！ This is our last meeting。 Call this afternoon upon my treasurer； he will pay you two hundred louis d'or。 And now go。〃 And with a scornful look at Weingarten's pale countenance； he turned to the window。
Weingarten hurried past the halls and chambers； and entered Rosa's room。 She read in his pale； sad face that he had no good news to tell her。
〃Has it all been in vain？〃 said she； breathlessly。
〃In vain？〃 cried he； with a scornful smile。 〃No； not in vain。 The king rewarded me well； much better than Judas Iscariot was rewarded。 I have earned a large sum of money； and am still to receive a thousand crowns。 Quiet yourself； Rosa； we will be very happy； for we will have money。 Only I must ask if the proud daughter of the royal castle…warder will give her hand to a man who can offer her no name； no position。 Rosa； I warn you； think well of what you do。 You loved me because I was a count； and had position to offer you。 From to… day； I have no position； no name； no honor； no family。 Like Ahasuerus； I will wander wearily through the world； happy and thanking God if I can find a quiet spot where I am not known； and my name was never heard。 There I will rest； and trust to chance for a name。 Rosa； will you share with me this existence； without sunshine； without honor； without a name？〃
She was trembling so； that she could barely speak。
〃I have no choice；〃 stammered she； at last； 〃I must follow you； for my honor demands that I should be your wife。 I must go with you； fate wills it。〃
With a loud shriek she fainted by his side。 Weingarten did not raise her； he glanced wildly at the pale； lifeless woman at his feet。
〃We are both condemned；〃 murmured he； 〃we have both lost our honor。 And with this Cain's mark upon our foreheads we will wander wearily through the world。〃 ＇Footnote： Count Weingarten escaped from all his troubles happily。 He married his sweetheart； the daughter of the castle…warder； and went to Altmark； where； under the name of Veis； he lived happily for many years。＇
The king； in the mean while； after Weingarten had left him； walked thoughtfully up and down his room。 At times he raised his head and gazed with a proud； questioning glance at the sky。 Great thoughts were at work within him。 Now Frederick throws back his head proudly； and his eyes sparkle。
〃The time has come；〃 said he； in a loud； full voice。 〃The hour for delay is past； now the sword must decide between me and my enemies。〃 He rang a bell hastily； and ordered a valet to send a courier at once to Berlin； to call General Winterfeldt； General Retzow； and also Marshal Schwerin； to Sans…Souci。
CHAPTER VIII。
DECLARATION OF WAR。
A few hours after the departure of the courier； the heavy movement of wheels in the court below announced to the king； who was standing impatiently at his window； the arrival of the expected generals。 In the same moment； his chamberlain； opening wide the library door； ushered them into his presence。
〃Ah！〃 said the king； welcoming them pleasantly； 〃I see I am not so entirely without friends as my enemies think。 I have but to call； and Marshal Schwerin； that is； wisdom and victory； is at my side； and Generals Winterfeldt and Retzow； that is； youth and courage； boldness and bravery； are ready to give me all the assistance in their power。 Sirs； I thank you for coming to me at once。 Let us be seated； listen to what I have to say； and upon what earnest important subjects I wish your advice。〃
And in a few words the king first showed them the situation of Europe and of his own states； so as to prepare them for the more important subjects he had to introduce before them。
〃You will now understand；〃 said he； 〃why I was so willing to make this contract with England。 I hoped thereby to gain Russia； who is allied to England； to my side。 But these hopes have been destroyed。 Russia； angry with Britain for having allied herself to Prussia； has broken her contract。 Bestuchef； it is true； wavered for a moment between his love of English guineas and his hatred of me； but hate carried the day。〃
〃But； sire；〃 said Retzow； hastily； 〃if your majesty can succeed in making a reconciliation between France and England； you may become the ally of these two powerful nations。 Then let Austria； Russia； and Saxony come upon us all at once； we can confront them。〃
〃We can do that； I hope； even without the assistance of France；〃 said the king； impetuously。 〃We must renounce all idea of help from France； she is allied to Austria。 What Kaunitz commenced with his wisdom； Maria Theresa carried out with her flattery。 All my enemies have determined to attack me at once。 But I am ready for them； weapons in hand。 I have been hard at work； all is arranged； every preparation for the march of our army is finished。 And now I have called you together to counsel me as to where we can commence our attack advantageously。〃
Frederick stopped speaking； and gazed earnestly at his generals； endeavoring to divine their thoughts。 Marshal Schwerin was looking silently before him； a dark cloud rested upon General Retzow's brow； but the young； handsome face of Winterfeldt was sparkling with delight at the thought of war。
〃Well； marshal；〃 said the king； impatiently； 〃what is your advice？〃
〃My advice； sire；〃 said the old marshal； sighing； 〃I see my king surrounded by threatening and powerful foes； I see him alone in the midst of all these allied enemies。 For England may； perchance； send us money； but she has no soldiers for us； and moreover； we must assist her to defend Hanover。 I cannot counsel this war； for mighty enemies are around us； and Prussia stands alone。〃
〃No；〃 said Frederick； solemnly； 〃Prussia stands not alone！a good cause and a good sword are her allies； and with them she will conquer。 And now； General Retzow； let us have your opinion；〃
〃I agree entirely with Marshal Schwerin；〃 said Retzow。 〃Like him； I think Prussia should not venture into this strife； because she is too weak to withstand such powerful adversaries。〃
〃You speak prudently；〃 said Frederick； scornfully。 〃And now； Winterfeldt； are you also against this war？〃
〃No； sire；〃 cried Winterfeldt； 〃I am for the attack； and never were circumstances more favorable than at present。 Austria has as yet made no preparations for war； her armies are scattered； and her finances are in disorder； and now it will be an easy task to attack her and subdue her surprised army。〃
The king looked at him pleasantl