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The afternoon of this day Ranuzi wrote to his friend； Captain Kimsky； prisoner of war at Magdeburg： 〃The train is laid； and will succeed。 The fortress will soon be in our hands。 A romantic； sentimental woman's heart is a good thing； easily moved to intrigues。 Magdeburg will be ours！ Prepare everythingbe ill； and call for me； I shall get a passport。 I have a powerful protectress； and with such； you know； a man mar attain all the desires of his heart！〃
CHAPTER VI。
A COURT DAY IN BERLIN。
It was the birthday of Prince Henry； and was to be celebrated with great pomp at the court。 The king had himself written explicitly on this subject to the master of ceremonies； Baron Pollnitz。 Pollnitz was； therefore； actively occupied in the early morning； and no general ever made his preparations for a battle with more earnestness and importance than the good baron gave his orders for the splendid fete which was to be given in the royal apartments that night。
And this was indeed a great opportunity。 The people of Berlin were to enjoy a ball and a concert； at which all the Italian singers were to be present； and then a rare and costly supper； to which not only the court； but all the officers who were prisoners of war were to be invited。
This supper was to Pollnitz the great circumstance； the middle point of the fete。 Such an entertainment was now rare at the court of Berlin； and many months might pass away ere the queen would think of giving another supper。 Pollnitz knew that when he thirsted now for a luxurious meal he must enjoy it at his own cost； and this thought made him shudder。 The worthy baron was at the same time a spendthrift and a miser。
Four times in every year he had three or four days of rare and rich enjoyment； he lived en grand seigneur； and prepared for himself every earthly luxury； these were the first three or four days of every quarter in which he received his salary。 With a lavish hand he scattered all the gold which he could keep back from his greedy creditors； and felt himself young； rich； and happy。 After these fleeting days of proud glory came months of sad economy； he was obliged to play the role of a parasitical plant； attach himself to some firm； well…rooted stem； and absorb its strength and muscle。 In these days of restraint he watched like a pirate all those who were in the condition to keep a good table； and so soon as he learned that a dinner was on hand； he knew how to conquer a place。 At these times he was also a passionate devotee of the card…table； and it was the greatest proof of his versatility and dexterity that he always succeeded in making up his party； though every man knew it cost gold to play cards with Pollnitz。 The grand…master had the exalted principles of Louis XV。 of France； who was also devoted to cards。 Every evening the great Louis set apart a thousand louis d'or to win or lose。 If the king won； the gold went into his private pocket； if he lost； the state treasury suffered。
Following this royal example； Pollnitz placed the gold he won in his pocket； if he lost； he borrowed the money to payhe considered this borrowed sum as also the clear profit of his game； he was assured to win； and in this way he obtained his pocket money。
To…day； however； he would not be merry at a strange table； he himself would do the honors； and he had conducted the arrangements of the table with a scholarship and knowledge of details which would have obtained the admiration of the Duke de Richelieu。
On this occasion it was not necessary to restrain his luxurious desires and tastes。 Honor demanded that the court should show itself in full pomp and splendor； and prove to the world that this long； wearisome war had not exhausted the royal treasury； nor the royal table service of silver； in short； that it was an easy thing to carry on the war； without resorting to the private treasures of the royal house。
It was； therefore； necessary to bring out for this great occasion the golden service which had been the king's inheritance from his mother。 Frederick's portion had been lately increased by the death of the Margravino of Baireuth； who had explicitly willed her part to her brother Frederick。 ＇Footnote： When the court fled； after the battle of Kunendorf； to Magdeburg； they took the golden service which the king inherited from his mother with them； that portion given to Frederick by the margravino was left in Berlin； and the next year； 1760； was seized by the Russians and carried to Petersburg〃Geschichte Berlins；〃 vol。 v。； p。 2。＇
The queen and the princesses were to appear in all the splendor of their jewels； and by their costly and exquisite toilets impose upon these proud and haughty officers； whom fate had sent as prisoners of war to Berlin； and who would not fail to inform their respective governments of all they saw in the capital。
This fete was a demonstration made by the king to his over…confident enemies。 He would prove to them that if he wished for peace it was not because the gold failed to carry on the war； but because he wished to give rest and the opportunity to recover to Europe； groaning and bleeding from a thousand wounds。 Besides this； the king wished to show his subjects； by the celebration of his brother's birthday； how highly he honored the princehow gladly he embraced the opportunity to distinguish the young general who； during the whole war； had not lost a single battle； but； by his bold and masterly movements； had come to the king's help in the most difficult and dangerous moments。
This celebration should be a refutation of the rumors spread abroad by the king's enemies； that Frederick regarded the success and military talent of his brother with jealous envy。
There were； therefore； many reasons why Pollnitz should make this a luxurious and dazzling feast； he knew also that Prince Henry would receive a detailed account of the celebration from his adjutant； Count Kalkreuth； who had lingered some months in Berlin because of his wounds； was now fully restored； and would leave Berlin the morning after the ball to return to the army。
And now the important hour had arrived。 Pollnitz wandered through the saloons with the searching glance of a warrior on the field of battle； he pronounced that all was good。
The saloons were dazzling with light； pomp and splendor reigned throughout； and on entering the supper…room you were almost blinded by the array of gold and silver adorning the costly buffet； on whose glittering surface the lights were a thousand times reflected。
Suddenly the rooms began to fill； everywhere gold…embroidered uniforms； orders； stars； and flashing gems were to be seen； a promiscuous and strange crowd was moving through these lofty saloons； illuminated by thousands of lights and odorous with the fragrance of flowers。
Side by side with the rich； fantastic uniform of the Russian； was seen the light and active French chasseur； here was to be seen the Hungarian hussar； whose variegated and tasteful costume contrasted curiously with the dark and simple uniform of the Spaniard； who stood near him； both conversing gayly with an Italian； dressed in the white coat of an Austrian officer。
It seemed as if every nation in Europe had arranged a rendezvous for this day in the royal palace at Berlin； or as it the great Frederick had sent specimens to his people of all the various nations against whom he had undertaken this gigantic war。
There were not only Germans from all the provinces； but Italians； Spaniards； Russians； Swedes； Hungarians； Netherlanders； and Frenchmen。 All these were prisoners of wartheir swords had been stained with the blood of Prussians； the fate of war now confined them to the scabbard； and changed the enemies of the king into guests at his court。
Hundreds of captive officers were now waiting in the saloon for the appearance of the queen； but the Prussian army was scarcely represented。 All who were fit for service were in the field； only the invalids and the old warriors； too infirm for active duty had remained at the capital； even the youths who had not attained the legal age for military duty； had hastened to the army； full of courage and enthusiasm； inspired by the example of their fathers and brothers。
The dazzling appe