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Gefhart had undertaken to deliver Trenck's letter to the princess； asking for this money。 This letter； written with his own blood upon a piece of linen； had been forwarded through Gefhart's mistress； the Jewess Rebecca； to Weingarten。 He delivered it to the princess； and received； through Pollnitz； two thousand thalers； which he did not hand over to Rebecca； but retained for himself； and betrayed to the king Trenck's intended flight。
This was but a short time before Weingarten's own flight； and while he was enjoying the fruit of this base fraud in security and freedom； poor Trenck was forced to descend still lower in the citadel； and take possession of that frightful prison which； by special command of the king； had been built and prepared for him； in the lowest casemates of the fortress。
The king was greatly exasperated at these never…ending attempts of Trenck to escape； his courage and endurance made him an interesting and admired martyr to the whole garrison at Magdeburg。
Frederick wished to give to this garrison； and to all his soldiers； a terrible example of the relentless severity with which insubordination should be punished； to prove to them that mortal daring and mortal energy were vain to escape the avenging hand of royal justice。
Trenck； who； in the beginning； had only been condemned to arrest in Glatz for six months； had； by his constant attempts at escape； and the mad and eloquent expression of his rage； brought upon himself the sentence of eternal imprisonment； in a subterranean cell； which； by express command of the king； was so prepared； that neither guards nor soldiers were necessary to his detention。 A jailer only was needed； to lock the four doors of the corridor which led to Trenck's cell。 It was as little dangerous to guard this poor prisoner as to approach the lion bound by chains and hemmed in by iron bars。
Trenck was indeed manacled like a wild beast。 A chain clanked upon his feet； an iron girdle was around his waist； to which hung a heavy chain； fastened to a thick iron bar built in the wall； manacles were made fast to each end of an iron bar； to which his hands were bound。 The most cruel wild beast would not have been so tortured； some one would have had pity on him； and mercifully ended his life。 But this creature； thus tortured； groaning and clanking his heavy chains this creature was a man； therefore there was no pity。 It would have been considered a crime to put an end to his life； but slowly； day by day； to murder him； was only justice。
The king had made it the personal duty of the commandant； Bruckhausen； to guard Trenck。 He declared that if he allowed Trenck to escape； he should not only lose his place and rank； but take Trenck's place in his fearful cell。 This was a frightful menace to the ambitious and harsh commandant； Bruckhausen； and； of course； led him to take the severest precautions。 It was he； therefore； who had bound Trenck； and； whenever he visited the poor prisoner in his cell； he rejoiced in the artistic construction of his chains； and looked proudly upon his work。 He saw with delight that Trenck was scarcely able to drag his heavy chains two feet to the right or left； or to raise the tin cup to his parched lips； with his hands thus fastened to an iron bar； and as often as he left the cell； he exclaimed； with an expression of malicious joy：
〃I have tamed him forever！ he will not escape me！〃
But Trenck was not tamed； his courage was not broken。 In this crushed and wasted form dwelt a strong soul； a bounding heart； he had been bound in chains thought to be indissoluble。 Trenck alone did not believe this； he trusted still in the magic power of his will； in his good star； which had not yet been quenched in darkness。
In the wall to which the chain was fastened； his name was built； in red tiles； a gravestone marked the spot upon which his feet moved； upon which a death's head and the name of Trenck was engraved。 Under this stone there was a vault； and when one looked at the moist walls； from which the water constantly trickled； and at the dark cell； which for six months had not been cheered by one ray of light； they might well suppose that the gravestone would soon be lifted； and the vault opened to receive the poor prisoner； upon whose grave no other tears would flow。 These dark walls were； as it appeared； softer and more pitiful than the hearts of men。
Trenck was not subdued； the death's head and his name upon the gravestone did not terrify him！ It was nothing more to him than a constant reminder to collect his courage and his strength； and to oppose to his daily menace of death a strong conviction of life and liberty。
If his prison were dark； and warmed by no ray of sunshine； he leaned his head against the wall； closed his eyes； and his vivid imagination and glowing fancy was the slave of his will； and painted his past life in magic pictures。
The prisoner； clad as a convict； with his hands and feet chained； became at once the child of fortune and love； the exalted favorite of princes； the admired cavalier； the envied courtier； and the darling of lovely women。
When hunger drove him to eat the coarse bread which was his only nourishment； and to satisfy his thirst with the muddy water in the tin pitcher at his side； he thought of the meals； worthy of Lucullus； of which he had partaken； at the Russian court； by the side of the all…powerful Russian minister Bestuchef； he remembered the fabulous pomp which surrounded him； and the profound reverence which was shown him； as the acknowledged favorite of the prime minister of the empress。
When no one whispered one word of consolation or of sympathy； for all trembled at the ceaseless watchfulness of the commandantwhen the rude silent jailer came daily and placed his bread and water before him and left him without word or greetingthen Trenck recalled the sacred； consecrated hours in which love had whispered sweet names and tender words。 This love still livedit watched over and shone down upon himit was a star of hope。 Why should Trenck despair； when love lived and lived only for him？ No； he would not diehe would never be buried under this gravestone。 Beyond these thick； damp walls lay the worldthe living； active； blooming world。 It was only necessary to break these chains； to open the five heavy doors which confined him to his dark prison； and life； liberty； the world； honor； love； belonged to him！
〃Is not my will stronger than chains and bolts？〃 he said。 〃Has not the spirit wings by which she can take flight； mocking at prisons and at torture？〃
His spirit was free； for he believed in freedom： when his chains clanked around him； it seemed to him as if they whispered of speedy libertyas if they exhorted him in soft； harmonious tones； to cast them off and become a free and happy man。
At last there came a day when he could no longer resist these alluring voices。 If he could break these chains the first step was taken； and only the doors remained to be opened。 By close observation； he had discovered that the inner door of his prison was of wood。 The faithful Gefhart had managed to inform him that the other doors were also of wood。 He had also conveyed to him a small； sharp knife； the most precious of all earthly treasures； for with this he hoped to obtain his freedom。
〃But the chains！〃 First must the chains be brokenfirst must his right hand be free！ And it was free。 Although the blood was bursting from the nails Trenck forced his hand through the manacle。 Freedom greeted him with her first rapturous smile。 Alas； the handcuff upon the left hand was too narrow to be removed in this way。 With a piece of his chain he broke off a fragment of stone which he used as a file； and in this way he liberated his left hand。 The iron ring around his waist was fastened only by a hook to the chain attached to the wall。 Trenck placed his feet against the wall； and bending forward with all his strength； succeeded in straightening the hook so far as to remove it from the ring。 And now there only remained the heavy wooden chain fastened to his feet； and also made fast to the wall。 By a powerful effort he broke two of the links of this chain。
He was freefreeat least to stand erect and walk around his miserable prison。 Wi