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Frederick。〃＇
〃It is true；〃 murmured the prince； 〃distress and grief overcame me and robbed me of my reason。〃
〃Even because you were so wise and bold a warrior；〃 said the king； with a cold smile； 〃I wished to give you an opportunity to prove your genius to my whole people； whose sovereign you will one day be。 Because you wept and clamored before say generals over my faults as a leader； I wished you to prove to them that you were capable of commanding and bringing good out of evil。 I trusted you with my third army corpsI expected it to retreat safely and surely under your command； after I had almost led it to destruction in a bloody； disastrous battle。 I gave you the opportunity to make yourself a god in the eyes of my soldiers； a glorious model to my generals。 What use have you made of these advantages？ You bring me crippled； hungry； desperate soldiers！ You bring me generals covered with shame； and blushing over their guilt。 If I should deal with them as they deserved； I would give them over to a courtmartial and they would be condemned。〃
〃And still I am not conscious of any fault；〃 said the prince。 〃I dare to say fate was against me； and that I am wholly innocent。〃
〃And I repeat to you your conduct has been that of an ally of France； who wished destruction to the Prussians； and to close this hated war！〃
〃If that were so； I would be a traitor！〃 said the prince。
〃And who will dare say that you are not？〃 cried the king。 〃Who will say that he who； while I was engaged in war with France； exchanged the most tender letters with the former French ambassador Valori； and complained to this Frenchman of the obstinacy of his brother； who is also his king？ Who will say that this man is not a traitor？ Was it not known to you； my brother； when you wrote to Valori； that the French had already invaded my Westphalian provinces？ It was known to youand yet you dared to write to a Frenchman that you were convinced of the decline of my kingdom。 And yet you dared to bring charges against me； and to say： 'Ce seront mes enfants qui seront les victimes des fautes passees。' Did you not know that it was the Marquise de Pompadour who gave occasion for this war？ You knew it； and yet you commissioned Valori to entreat the marquise to have her portrait painted for you！ Now； sir； I ask you； in all candor； if these are not the acts of a traitor？〃
The prince made a passionate exclamation； and laid his hand upon his sword。
〃You dare to dishonor me； sire！〃
〃I dare it！ I dare to tell you the truth；〃 said the king； solemnly。
〃Take your hand from your swordthe truth is an enemy that you cannot contend against with weapons； but with deeds； and your conduct testifies against you。〃
The prince breathed heavily； and turned deadly pale。
〃The contest is over。 Your majesty fights against me with weapons which I do not possess； and would not dare use； and against which I cannot defend myself。 You open my private letters； and from the harmless confidences of friendship you make a traitor of me。 To call me a traitor； is to degrade me。 I am dishonored； and with a dishonored culprit your majesty cannot contend。 I will therefore withdraw。 No one will see the wounds you have inflictedwhich have pierced my heart； but； I tell you； my brother； I will die of these wounds。〃
〃And in heaven； I suppose； you will accuse me as your murderer？〃 said the king； ironically。
〃No！ in heaven I will pray for my fatherland；〃 said Prince Augustus William； mildly。 He bowed respectfully； turned； and left the room。
Without stood the generals； maintaining a solemn silence。 When they saw the prince appear at the door of the king's tent； so pale； so suffering； a prophetic warning filled every breast。 It seemed to them that a dying man approached them； and with inexpressible sorrow held out his hand for a last farewell。
〃It is passed！ The battle is ended！〃
At this moment the adjutant of the king left the tent； and approached the generals； who stood near the prince。
〃His majesty commands you to see that the soldiers of the third army corps are kept； as far as it is possible； entirely separated from the rest of the army。 You will immediately convey the order to the king's army； that all intercourse between them and the third army corps is forbidden； as this corps seems to have lost all courage and all honorable feeling。〃
＇Footnote： Kustrin； 〃Characteristics from the Life of Frederick the Great〃＇
〃The king's commands shall be obeyed；〃 said the generals； coldly。
The prince was completely overcome by this last blow； and leaned for a moment upon the arm of the Duke of Wurtemberg； he soon recovered himself； and turning to General Schultz； he said：
〃Go and bring me； from the king； the watchword of the third army corps。〃
General Schultz withdrew； but returned quickly from the king's tent； with a dark frown upon his face。
〃Well；〃 said the prince； 〃have you the watchword？〃
〃No； your royal highness！ The king says； that for cowards and fugitives he has no watchword； and he commanded me to go to the devil。〃
A murmur of rage was heard amongst the generals。 The prince let his glance wander from one to the other of these dark faces。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said he； 〃the tempest will soon be over； and the sun will shine again for you； I am the only cloud now round about you； and I will withdraw。〃
〃What！ will you desert us？〃 said the generals； sadly。
〃Do I not belong to the third army corps？〃 said the prince； with a painful smile。 〃It may be that the king will command his soldiers to have no intercourse with the commander of the third army corps； and you can understand that I prefer to anticipate him。〃
〃Will your highness allow me to accompany you？〃 said the Duke of Bevern。 〃I also will not allow myself to be despised and railed at without any opportunity accorded me of explanation。〃
The prince shook his head。
〃You must remain； general； the army cannot spare its brave leaders。 I； howeverI must go。 I will be the peace…offering for you all。 I am sure this will content my brother the king。〃
〃Allow me； at least； to accompany your royal highness；〃 said General Schmettau。 〃The king commanded me； through his adjutant； to withdraw； and never dare to present myself before his eyes again。 I also must leave the army。〃
The prince gave him his hand。
〃You are； then； a welcome companion。 Let us ride on to Bautzen； where we can refresh ourselves； and then go on to Dresden。〃
〃Will you really leave us？〃 said the Duke of Wurtemberg； sadly。
〃Would you have me wait for still further degradation？〃 said the prince。 〃No； it is enoughmore than I can bear。My horse！ General； let us mount。〃
The two horses were brought forward。 The generals placed themselves in front； to take leave of their former commander…in…chief； with all military honor。
Prince Augustus rode slowly on。 Everywhere he met sad faces and eyes filled with tears。 Tears indeed were in his own eyes； but he would not weepnot now； there was time enough for tears。 He could weep during the sad remainder of his life。 He forced his voice to be firm； and； waving his sword to the generals； as a last greeting； he said：
〃I hope no one of you will hold me for a coward。 I am forced by the king to leave the army。〃 He turned his horse； and； followed by Schmettau； with head erect； he moved slowly off。
〃Now； by Heaven；〃 cried Ziethen； 〃he shall not leave the camp in this contemptible way！ I will give him a suitable guard。 Let the king rage； I can stand it！〃 He nodded to an officer。 〃Listen； Von Wendt； take half a company for a guard； and follow immediately behind the prince； to Bautzen。〃
A few moments later； an officer sprang along the highway to Bautzen； accompanied by his hussars； they soon overtook the prince； who greeted them kindly。
〃Schmettau；〃 said he； 〃Death avoided me so long as I was on the battle…field； now I bear him along with me； and thus must it be； till the pale king of terrors carries me to another world。〃 He turned his eyes away from the Prussian camp； and rode slowly to Bautzen。
CHAPTER IX。
THE LETTERS。
A few hours later a courier rode into the camp。 He came from Bautzen； and had a letter from the Prince of Prussia to his royal brother。 The king was still in his t