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〃I beg you；〃 said one of them in French〃I beg you will have the goodness to translate this sentence for me。 I think it has relation to Prince Henry； but I find it impossible to decipher this barbarous dialect。〃 He handed the journal to his neighbor； and pointed with his finger to the paragraph。
〃Yes； there is something about Prince Henry；〃 said the other； with a peculiar accent which betrayed the Russian； 〃and something； Monsieur Belleville； which will greatly interest you。〃
〃Oh； I beseech you to read it to us；〃 said the Frenchman； somewhat impatiently； then； turning graciously to the third gentleman who sat silent and indifferent near him； he added： 〃We must first ascertain； however； if our kind host； Monsieur le Comte di Ranuzi； consents to the reading。〃
〃I gladly take part；〃 said the Italian count； 〃in any thing that is interesting； above all； in every thing which has no relation to this wearisome and stupid Berlin。〃
〃Vraiment！ you are right。〃 sighed the Frenchman。 〃It is a dreary and ceremonious region。 They are so inexpressibly prudish and virtuous so ruled with old…fashioned scruplesled captive by such little prejudicesthat I should be greatly amused at it； if I did not suffer daily from the dead monotony it brings。 What would the enchanting mistress of Francewhat would the Marquise de Pompadour say； if she could see me； the gay； witty； merry Belleville； conversing with such an aspect of pious gravity with this poor Queen of Prussia； who makes a face if one alludes to La Pucelle d'Orleans； and wishes to make it appear that she has not read Crebillon！〃
〃Tell me； now； Giurgenow； how is it with your court of Petersburg？ Is it formal； as ceremonious as here in Prussia？〃
Giurgenow laughed aloud。 〃Our Empress Elizabeth is an angel of beauty and goodnessmild and magnanimous to all…sacrificing herself constantly to the good of others。 Last year she gave a ball to her body…guard。 She danced with every one of the soldiers； and sipped from every glass； and when the soldiers； carried away by her grace and favor； dared to indulge in somewhat free jests； the good empress laughed merrily； and forgave them。 On that auspicious day she first turned her attention to the happy Bestuchef。 He was then a poor subordinate officernow he is a prince and one of the richest men in Russia。〃
〃It appears that your Russia has some resemblance to my beautiful France；〃 said Belleville； gayly。 〃But how is it with you； Count Ranuzi？ Is the Austrian court like the court of France； or like this wearisome Prussia？〃
〃The Austrian court stands aloneresembles no other；〃 said the Italian； proudly。 〃At the Austrian court we have a tribunal of justice to decide all charges against modesty and virtue The Empress Maria Theresa is its president。〃
〃Diable！〃 cried the Frenchman； 〃what earthly chance would the Russian empress and my lovely； enchanting marquise have； if summoned before this tribunal by their most august ally the Empress Maria Theresa？ But you forget； Giurgenow； that you have promised to read us something from the journal about Prince Henry。〃
〃It is nothing of importance；〃 said the Russian； apathetically； 〃the prince has entirely recovered from his wounds； and has been solacing himself in his winter camp at Dresden with the representations upon the French stage。 He has taken part as actor； and has played the role of Voltaire's Enfant Prodigue。 It is further written； that he has now left the comic stage and commenced the graver game of arms。〃
〃He might accidentally change these roles；〃 said Belleville； gayly； 〃and play the Enfant Prodigue when he should play the hero。 In which would he be the greater； do you know； Ranuzi？〃
The Italian shrugged his shoulders。 〃You must ask his wife。〃
〃Or Baron Kalkreuth； who has lingered here for seven months because of his wounds；〃 said Giurgenow； with a loud laugh。 〃Besides； Prince Henry is averse to this war； all his sympathies are on our side。 If the fate of war should cost the King of Prussia his life； we would soon have peace and leave this detestable Berlinthis dead； sandy desert； where we are now languishing as prisoners。〃
〃The god of war is not always complaisant；〃 said the Frenchman； grimly。 〃He does not always strike those whom we would gladly see fall； the balls often go wide of the mark。〃
〃Truly a dagger is more reliable；〃 said Ranuzi； coolly。
The Russian cast a quick； lowering side glance upon him。
〃Not always sure；〃 said he。 〃It is said that men armed with daggers have twice found their way into the Prussian camp； and been caught in the king's tent。 Their daggers have been as little fatal to the king as the cannon…balls。〃
〃Those who bore the daggers were Dutchmen；〃 said Ranuzi； apathetically； 〃they do not understand this sort of work。 One must learn to handle the dagger in my fatherland。〃
〃Have you learned？〃 said Giurgenow； sharply。
〃I have learned a little of every thing。 I am a dilettanti in all。〃
〃But you are master in the art of love；〃 said Belleville； smiling。 〃Much is said of your love…affairs； monsieur。〃
〃Much is said that is untrue。〃 said the Italian； quietly。 〃I love no intriguesleast of all； love intrigues； while you； sir； are known as a veritable Don Juan。 I learn that you are fatally in love with the beautiful maid of honor of the Princess Henry。〃
〃Ah； you mean the lovely Fraulein von Marshal；〃 said Giurgenow； 〃I have also heard this； and I admire the taste and envy the good fortune of Belleville。〃
〃It is； indeed； true；〃 said Belleville； 〃the little one is pretty； and I divert myself by making love to her。 It is our duty to teach these little Dutch girls； once for all； what true gallantry is。〃
〃And is that your only reason for paying court to this beautiful girl？〃 said Giurgenow； frowningly。
〃The only reason； I assure you；〃 cried Belleville； rising up； and drawing near the window。 〃But； look；〃 cried he； hastily； 〃what a crowd of men are filling the streets； and how the people are crying and gesticulating； as if some great misfortune had fallen upon them！〃
The two officers hastened to his side and threw open the window。 A great crowd of people was indeed assembled in the platz； and they were still rushing from the neighboring streets into the wide； open square； in the middle of which； upon a few large stones； a curious group were exhibiting themselves。
There stood a tall； thin man enveloped in a sort of black robe； his long gray hair fell in wild locks around his pallid and fanatical countenance。 In his right hand he held a Bible； which he waved aloft to the people； while his large； deeply…set； hollow eyes were raised to heaven； and his pale lips murmured light and unintelligible words。 By his side stood a woman； also in black； with dishevelled hair floating down her back。 Her face was colorless； she looked like a corpse； and her thin； blue lips were pressed together as if in death。 There was life in her eyesa gloomy； wild； fanatical fire flashed from them。 Her glance was glaring and uncertain； like a will…o'…the…wisp； and filled those upon whom it fell with a shivering； mysterious feeling of dread。
And now； as if by accident； she looked to the windows where the three gentlemen were standing。 The shadow of a smile passed over her face； and she bowed her head almost imperceptibly。 No one regarded this； no one saw that Giurgenow answered this greeting； and smiled back significantly upon this enigmatical woman。
〃Do you know what this means； gentlemen？〃 said Belleville。
〃It means；〃 said Giurgenow； 〃that the people will learn from their great prophet something of the continuance； or rather of the conclusion of this war。 These good； simple people； as it seems to me； long for rest； and wish to know when they may hope to attain it。 That man knows； for he is a great prophet； and all his prophecies are fulfilled。〃
〃But you forget to make mention of the woman？〃 said Ranuzi； with a peculiar smile。
〃The woman is； I think； a fortune…teller with cards； and the Princess Amelia holds her in great respect； but let us listen to what the prophet says。〃
They were silent； and listened anxiously。 And now the voice of the prophet raised itself high above the silent crowd。 Pealing and sounding through the air； it fell in trumpet…