frederick the great and his family- 第85部分

〃Ah；　my　friend；〃　said　Ranuzi；　laughing；　〃you　touch　the　wound　of　our　poor　friend。　You　do　not　seem　to　know　that　the　beautiful　Marshal　is　responsible　for　the　scorn　and　rage　of　Count　Belleville。　she　is　indeed　a　haughty　and　presumptuous　beauty；　she　not　only　dared　to　reject　the　love　of　the　fascinating　count；　but　she　showed　him　the　door；　and　when　afterward　he　ventured　to　send　her　a　passionate　and　tender　billet…doux；　she　informed　him；　through　her　servant；　that　she　would　give　the　letter　to　her　chambermaid；　for　whom；　without　doubt；　it　was　intended。〃

〃Eh　bien；　what　do　you　say　to　this　insolence？〃　cried　the　enraged　Frenchman。　〃But　she　shall　do　penance　for　it。　I　have　already　made　the　necessary　arrangements　with　my　friends。　This　is　not　simply　a　personal　affair；　it　touches　the　general　honor。　The　whole　French　army；　all　France；　is　insulted　in　my　person。　It　is　necessary　we　should　have　satisfaction；　not　only　from　this　presumptuous　lady；　but　from　all　the　ladies　of　the　court！　We　will　have　our　revenge　this　evening！　We　will　show　to　these　dull　dames　what　we　think　of　their　prudery。　And　the　queen　shall　see　that　we　are　not　at　all　inclined　to　bow　down　to　her　stiff　ceremonies。　She　is；　in　our　eyes；　not　a　queen　simply　the　wife　of　an　enemy　over　whom　we　will　soon　triumph　gloriously。〃

〃I　counsel　you；　however；　to　wait　till　the　hour　of　triumph　for　your　revenge；〃　said　Ranuzi。　〃Your　intentions　may　lead　to　the　worst　consequences　for　us　all。　The　great　Frederick　will　never　be　a　harmless　adversary　till　he　is　dead；　and　we　would　all　be　ignominiously　punished　for　any　contempt　shown　the　queen。　You　have　a　personal　affair　with　Fraulein　Marshal；　well；　then；　you　must　make　her　personally　responsible；　but　do　not　involve　us　all　in　your　difficulties。　It　would　be　an　easy　thing　to　forfeit　even　this　appearance　of　freedom。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Giurgenow；　〃we　might　be　banished　from　Berlin；　and　that　would　be　a　bitter　punishment　for　us　all。〃

〃But　look！　the　doors　are　being　thrown　open；　and　the　queen　and　court　will　appear；　you　will　have　the　happiness　of　seeing　your　cruel　fair　one；〃　whispered　Ranuzi　to　the　Frenchman。

〃I　assure　you　she　shall　repent　of　her　cruelty　to…night；〃　said　Belleville；　gnashing　his　teeth。　Exchanging　a　significant　glance　with　several　French　officers；　who　were　standing　not　far　off；　he　advanced　into　the　saloon　to　the　outer　circle；　which　was　formed　on　both　sides；　and　through　which　the　queen　and　court　must　pass。

Now　the　grand　master　of　ceremonies　appeared　on　the　threshold；　with　his　golden　staff。　Behind　him　the　queen　and　the　Princess　Amelia　entered　the　room；　both　appeared　in　all　the　pomp　and　splendor　of　their　rank。　A　small　diamond…crown　glittered　in　the　blonde　hair　of　the　queen；　a　magnificent　necklace　of　diamonds　and　emeralds　was　clasped　around　her　dazzlingly　white　and　beautifully　formed　throat。

Bielfeld　had　once　declared　that　this　necklace　could　purchase　a　kingdom。　A　white　robe　worked　with　silver　and　a　dark…red　velvet　shawl　trimmed　with　ermine　fell　in　graceful　folds　around　the　noble　and　graceful　figure　of　the　queen；　whose　bowed　head；　and　quiet；　modest　bearing　contrasted　strangely　with　the　luxury　and　splendor　which　surrounded　her。

Another　striking　contrast　to　the　queen　was　offered　in　the　presence　of　the　Princess　Amelia。　Like　her　royal　sister；　she　appeared　in　complete　toilet；　adorned　with　all　her　jewelsher　arms；　her　throat；　her　hair；　and　her　hands　flashed　with　diamonds。　The　festoons　of　her　robe　of　silver　gauze　were　fastened　up　with　diamond　buttons；　and　beneath　appeared　a　green　robe　embroidered　with　silver。　The　princess　knew　full　well　that　all　this　splendor　of　toilet；　all　these　flashing　gems；　would　bring　into　contemptuous　notice　her　sharp；　angular　figure；　and　her　poor　deformed　visage；　she　knew　that　the　eyes　of　all　would　he　fixed　upon　her　in　derision；　that　her　appearance　alone　would　be　greeted　as　a　cherished　source　of　amusement；　and　as　soon　as　her　back　was　turned　the　whole　court　would　laugh　merrily。　She　assumed；　as　usual；　a　cold　contemptuous　bearing；　she　met　mockery　with　mockery；　and　revenged　herself　by　sharp　wit　and　cutting　irony　for　the　derisive　glances　which　plainly　spoke　what　the　lips　dared　not　utter。　She　no　sooner　entered　the　saloon　than　she　began　to　greet　her　acquaintances；　every　word　contained　a　poisonous　sting；　which　inflicted　a　grievous　wound。　When　she　read　in　the　faces　of　her　victims　that　her　sharp　arrows　had　entered　the　quivering　flesh；　a　malicious　fire　sparkled　in　her　eyes；　and　a　bitter　smile　played　upon　her　lips。

Behind　the　queen　and　Princess　Amelia　appeared　the　Princess　Henry。　She　was　also　superbly　dressed；　but　those　who　looked　upon　her　thought　not　of　her　toilet；　they　were　refreshed；　enraptured　by　her　adorable　beautyby　the　goodness　and　purity　written　on　her　rosy　cheek。　To…　day；　however；　the　eyes　of　the　princesses　were　less　clear　and　dazzling　than　usuala　gleam　of　sadness　shadowed　her　fair　brow；　and　her　coral　lips　trembled　lightly　as　if　in　pain。　Perhaps　it　was　the　remembrance　of　the　beautiful　and　happy　days；　past　and　gone　like　a　dream；　which　made　the　lonely　present　seem　so　bitter。　Absentminded　and　thoughtful；　she　stepped　forward　without　looking　to　the　right　or　left；　regardless　of　the　flashing　orders　and　stars；　of　the　handsome　officers　and　courtly　circle　bowing　profoundly　before　her　as　she　passed　on。

The　court　had　now　passed；　the　bowed　heads　were　raised；　and　now　the　young　French　officers　cast　impertinent；　almost　challenging　glances；　at　the　ladies　of　the　queen　and　the　princesses；　who　drew　near　and　bestowed　here　and　there　stolen　smiles　and　light　greetings　upon　their　admirers。

Fraulein　Marshal　did　not　seem　to　be　aware　that　the　insolent　eyes　of　these　haughty　Frenchmen　were　fixed　upon　her。　Proudly　erect　she　advanced；　her　large　blue　eyes　were　turned　toward　the　princess；　she　gave　neither　glance　nor　smile　to　any　one；　her　noble　and　beautiful　countenance　had　a　stern；　resolved　expressionher　lips　were　pouting；　and　her　usually　soft　eyes　told　tales　of　an　angry　soul。　There　was　something　Juno…like　in　her　appearanceshe　was　lovely　to　behold；　but　cold　and　stern　in　her　beauty。

As　she　passed　by　Count　Belleville；　he　exclaimed　with　a　sigh　to　his　neighbor：　〃Ah；　look　at　this　majestic　Galatea；　this　beautiful　marble　statue；　which　can　only　be　awaked　to　life　by　kisses。〃

Fraulein　Marshal　trembled　slightly；　a　crimson　blush　suffused　her　face；　her　shoulders；　and　even　her　back；　but　she　did　not　hesitate　or　turn。　She　moved　on　slowly；　though　she　heard　the　officers　laughing　and　whisperingthough　she　felt　that　their　presumptuous　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her。

The　queen　and　princesses　made　the　grande　tournee　through　the　rooms；　and　then　mingled　with　the　guests；　all　formal　etiquette　was　now　laid　aside；　and　a　gay　and　unembarrassed　conversation　might　be　carried　on　till　the　beginning　of　the　concert。　This　seemed　to　degenerate；　on　the　part　of　the　French　officers；　to　an　indiscreet；　frenzied　levity。　They　laughed　and　talked　boisterouslythey　walked　arm　in　arm　before　the　ladies；　and　remarked　upon　them　so　boldly；　that　crimson　blushes；　or　frightened　pallor；　was　the　result。　Even　the　queen　remarked　the　strange　and　unaccountable　excitement　of　her　guests；　and　to　put　an　end　to　it；　she　entered　the　concert…room　and　ordered　the　music　to　commence。　Even　this　had　no　effect。　The　royal　capello　played　an　overture　composed　by　the　king；　with　masterly　precisionthe　singers　emulated　them　in　an　Italian　ariabut　all　this　did　not　silence　the　noisy　conversation　of　the　Frenchmen。　They　laughed　and　chatted　without　restraint；　and　neither　the　amazed　glances　of　the　princesses　nor　the　signs　of　the　grand…master　of　ceremonies；　made　the　slightest　impression　upon　them。

Suddenly　there　was　a　slight　pause；　and　the　Princess　Amelia　rose　up　from　her　seat　and　beckoned　with　her　fan　to　Baron　Pollnitz。　In　a　loud　and　angry　voice；　she　said：　〃Baron　Pollnitz；　I　insist　upon　your　forcing　these　shrieking　popinjays　of　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour　to　silence。　We　cannot　hear　the　music　for　their　loud　chattering。　The　like　birds　may　pass　very　well　in　the　gallant　boudoir　of　a　certain　marquise；　but　not　in　a　royal　palace　of　Berlin。〃

Pollnitz　shrank　back　in　alarm；　and　fixed　an　imploring　look　upon　the　princess。　Amongst　the　French　officers　arose　an　angry　murmur；　swelling　louder　and　louder；　more　and　more　threatening；　and　completely　drowning　the　music　which　was　just　recommencing。

The　queen　bowed　down　to　the　princess。　〃I　pray　you；　sister；〃　said　she　in　a　low　voice；　〃remember　that　we　are　poor；　unprotected　women；　and　not　in　a　condition　to　defend　ourselves。　Let　us　appear　not　to　remark　this　unmannerly　conduct；　and　let　us　remember　that　the　king　has　made　it　our　duty　to　receive　the　French　officers　with　marked　attention。〃

〃You；　sister；　are　simply　a　slave　to　the　commands　of　the　king。　He　is　more　truly　your　master　than　your　husband；〃　said　the　princess；　angrily。

The　queen　smiled　sweetly。　〃You　are　right；　I　am　his　slave；　and　my　soul　has　chosen　him　for　its　lord。　Blame　me　not；　then；　for　my　obedience。〃

〃Do　you　intend　to　allow　the　arrogant　presumption　of　these　haughty　Frenchmen　to　go　unpunished？〃

〃I　will　take　pains　not　to　observe　it；〃　said　the　queen；　turning　her　attention　again　to　the　music。　During　all　this　time；　Count　Belleville　stood　behind　Fraulein　Marshal。　While　the　concert　was　going　on；　he　bowed　over　her　and　spoke　long　and　impressively。　Fraulein　Marshal　d