〃Ah； I am to be tried by a court…martial。 Spies and conspirators are always thus tried。 I am charged then with spying and conspiring；〃 cried Ranuzi； and then slowly turning to Marietta； he asked：
〃And this is your work？〃
〃Yes； this is my work；〃 she said； triumphantly。
〃You must come now；〃 said the policeman； roughly； as he stepped nearer to Ranuzi； at the same time giving his companion a sign to do the same。 〃Come immediately and quietly。 Do not compel us to use force。〃
〃Force；〃 cried Ranuzi； shrugging his shoulders； as he drew his hand from his bosom and pointed a pistol toward the policemen； from which they shrunk back terrified。 〃You see that I need not fear force；〃 he said。 〃If you dare to approach nearer or lay your hand on me I will fire on both of you； for happily my pistol has more than one ball； and it never fails。 You see that we are playing a dangerous game； upon whose issue may depend your lives as well as mine。 I can shoot you if I desire it； or I can direct this weapon against my own brow if I wish to avoid investigation or imprisonment。 But I promise you to do neither the one nor the other； if you will give me the time to say a few words to this lady。〃
〃Be quick； then；〃 said the policeman； 〃or I will call in the soldiers； and they can shoot you as easily as you could shoot us。〃
Ranuzi shrugged his shoulders。 〃You will be very careful not to shoot me。 The dead do not speak； and it is very important for my judges that I should speak。 Go to that door； I give my word that I will follow you。〃
As if to strengthen his words； he raised the hand which held the pistol； and the two men withdrew with threatening glances； to the door。
Ranuzi then turned again to Marietta； who turned her great flashing eyes upon him with an expression of anger and astonishment； mixed with hatred and admiration。
〃Marietta；〃 he said； gently。 She trembled at the sound of his voice。 He perceived this； and smiled。 〃Marietta；〃 he repeated； 〃you have betrayed me； you have revenged your love！ I do not reproach you； my anaconda； but I pray you to tell me one thing； did you send the last letters which I gave you to the post？〃
〃No；〃 she replied； compelling her eyes； with a mighty effort； to meet his。
〃Wretch！ What did you do with them。〃
〃I sent them to the King of Prussia。〃
Ranuzi uttered a shriek； and fell back a step。 〃Then I am indeed lost；〃 he murmured； 〃as well as that unhappy creature； who pines for light and freedom。 Poor Trenck！ Poor Amelia！ All is lost； all through the jealousy of this wretched woman。 I tell you； Marietta；〃 he continued aloud； as he placed his hand heavily on her shoulder； 〃it is not necessary that I should curse you； you will do that yourself。 This hour will act as deadly poison on your heart； of which you will die。 It is true； you have revenged yourself。 Today you rejoice in this； for you believe that you hate me； but tomorrow you will repent； to…morrow grief will overtake you； and it will grow with every dayyou will feel that you must love me for ever and ever； you must love me； because you have wrought my ruin。 Yes； you are rightyou have discovered the means to keep yourself in my remembrance。 In my dungeon I will think of you。 I will do so； and curse you； but you also will think of me； and when you do； you will wring your hands and curse yourself； for revenge will not kill the love in your heart。 Be that your punishment。 Farewell！〃
He passed before her； and quietly approached the policemen。 〃Come； gentlemen； I am quite ready to follow you； and that you may be entirely at ease I will leave my pistol here。 It is my legacy to that ladymy last souvenir。 Perhaps she may use it in the future。〃
He placed the pistol upon her writing…table and hastily approached the door。 〃Come； gentlemen； I am your prisoner！〃
He signed to them to follow him； and walked proudly through the hall。
Marietta stood there trembling and deadly paleher eyes dilated； her lips opened； as if to utter a shriek。 Thus she watched him； breathless； and as if enchained with horror。
Now she saw him open the door of the hall； and throwing back at her one cold； flashing glance； he went out； followed by the police and the soldiers。
〃He is gone！ he is gone！〃 she shrieked； as if in a frenzy。 〃They are leading him to imprisonmentperhaps to death。 Oh； to death！ It is I who have murdered him。 He is right。 I am indeed cursed。 I have murdered him； and I love him。〃 And with a wild shriek she sank fainting to the ground。
CHAPTER IX。
TRENCK。
Trenck still lived； neither chains nor years of loneliness had broken his strength or bowed his spirit。 His tall； gigantic form had shrunk to a skeleton； his hair had whitened and hung around his hollow face like an ashen veil。 Heavy chains clasped his feet and his throat； a broad iron band encircled his waist； which was attached to the wall by a short chaina thick bar held his hands apart； but still he lived。 For years he had paced； with short； restless steps； this little space that covered his grave； but he smiled derisively at the coarse stone which bore his name。
Trenck still lived。 He lived because he had a fixed desire； a grand aim in viewhe thirsted for freedom； and believed it attainable。 Trenck could not die； for without was liberty； the sun； life； and honor。 He would not die； for to be willing to die； he must first have lived。 His life had been so shorta few fleeting years of youth； of careless enjoymenta joyous dream of love and ambition！ This had been his fate。 Then came long； weary years of imprisonment… …a something which he knew not； but it was not lifehad crept to him in his prison； and with a cruel hand marked years upon his brow… …years through which he had not lived； but suffered。 And still he remained young in spite of gray hairs and wrinkles。 He glowed with hope and defiance； his sluggish blood was warmed from time to time with new hopes； new expectations。 His imagination painted wonderful pictures of future happiness。 This hope always remained smiling and vigorous； notwithstanding his many disappointmentshis many useless attempts to escape； Trenck still hoped for freedom。 As often as the subterranean passages which he dug were discovered； he recommenced his work； and dug new ones； when the sentinels whom he had won by gold and flattery were detected and punished； he found means to obtain other friends。
Truly； friends did not fail； the buried but still living prisoner had friends who never forgot him； bold； loving friends； risking their lives for him。 The mighty power of his great misfortunes won him friends。 The soldiers who guarded him were seized with shuddering horror and pity at the sight of this sunken form； reminding them of the picture of the skeleton and the hour…glass which hung in the village church。 Trenck knew how to profit by this。 The officers； who came every day to inspect his prison； were charmed and amazed by the freshness of his spirit； his bright conversation； and gay remarks。 These interviews were the only interruption to the dulness of their garrison life。 They came to him to be cheered。 Not being willing to sit with him in the dark； they brought their lights with them； they opened the door of his cell that they might not be obliged to remain with him in the damp； putrid air。 They wondered at his firmness and courage； they sympathized with his youth and loneliness； and this sympathy made for him； earnest； useful friends； who revelled in the thought that Trenck's renewed attempts at escape would at last be crowned with happy results； that he would obtain his freedom。
He was on the eve of a great day。 To…morrow he would live again； to… morrow he would be free； this time it was no chimera； no dreamhe must succeed。
〃Yes； my plan cannot fail；〃 murmured Trenck； as he sat upon his stone seat and gazed at the iron door； which had just closed behind the Commandant Bruckhausen。 〃My cruel jailer has discovered nothing； carefully as he searched my cell； this time I have dug no mines； broken no walls； this time I shall pass through that door； my comrades will greet me joyfully； and the poor prisoner shall be the mighty commander of the fortress。 Only one night more； one single night of patience； and life； and love； and the world shall again belong to me。 Oh； I feel as if I would go mad with joy。 I have had strength to endure misfortunes； but perhaps the rapture of freedom may be fatal。 My God！ my God！ if I should lose my senses！ if the light of the sun should scorch my brain！ if the hum of the busy world should crush my spirit！〃
He lifted his hands in terror to his brow； he felt as if wrapped in flames； as if fire were rising from his brain； the chains rattled around him with unearthly sounds。 〃The slightest error； the least forgetfulness would endanger my plan。 I will be quietI will repeat once more all that we have agreed upon。 But first away with these slavish chains； to…morrow I shall be a free man； I will commence my role to…day。〃
He removed the handcuffs； and with his free right hand loosened the girdle from his waist； at the point where the blacksmith； who fastened it upon him； told him it might be opened by a pressure light as a feather。 Now he was free； he stretched with delight his thin； meagre form； and let his arms swing