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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12016-0.txt b/12016-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9355c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/12016-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13860 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12016 *** + +THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN + +An Historical Novel + +L. MÃœHLBACH + +TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY AMORY COFFIN, M.D. + +1910 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + BOOK I. + + CHAP. I.--The Festival + + II.--The Workman's Holiday + + III.--Brother and Sister + + IV.--Feodor von Brenda + + V.--Mr. Kretschmer, of the "Vossian Gazette" + + VI.--The Cowards' Race + + VII.--The Interrupted Festival + + VIII.--The Leader of the People + + IX.--The Russian is at the Gates + + X.--Be Prudent + + XI.--The Night of Horrors + + XII.--Russians and Austrians + + XIII.--A Maiden's Heart + + XIV.--A Faithful Friend + + XV.--An Unexpected Meeting + + XVI.--The Fugitive + + XVII.--The Eavesdropper + + XVIII.--The Two Cannoneers + + XIX.--Father Gotzkowsky + + * * * * * + + BOOK II. + + CHAP. I.--The Two Editors + + II.--The Chief Magistrate of Berlin + + III.--The Russian, the Saxon, and the Austrian, in Berlin + + IV.--The Cadets + + V.--The Explosion + + VI.--John Gotzkowsky + + VII.--The Horrors of War + + VIII.--By Chance + + IX.--Mistress or Maid? + + X.--An Unexpected Ally + + XI.--The Jew Ephraim + + XII.--The Russian General and the German Man + + XIII.--The Execution + + XIV.--Bride and Daughter + + XV.--The Rivals + + XVI.--The Punishment + + XVII.--The Banquet of Gratitude + + XVIII.--A Royal Letter + + * * * * * + + + BOOK III. + + CHAP. I.--Frederick the Great at Meissen + + II.--The Winter-quarters in Leipsic + + III.--The Friend in Need + + IV.--Gratitude and Recompense + + V.--Four Years' Labor + + VI.--Days of Misfortune + + VII.--Confessions + + VIII.--The Russian Prince + + IX.--Old Love--New Sorrow + + X.--The Magistracy of Berlin + + XI.--The Jews of the Mint + + XII.--The Leipsic Merchant + + XIII.--Ephraim the Tempter + + XIV.--Elise + + XV.--The Rescue + + XVI.--Retribution + + XVII.--Tardy Gratitude + + XVIII.--The Auction + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Feodor's Visit to the Garden + The Merchant draws Feodor from his Hiding-place + The Rich Jews appeal to Gotzkowsky + The Great Frederick examining the Porcelain Cup + + + + +BOOK I. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FESTIVAL. + + +The sufferings of the long war still continued; still stood Frederick +the Great with his army in the field; the tremendous struggle between +Prussia and Austria was yet undecided, and Silesia was still the apple +of discord for which Maria Theresa and Frederick II. had been striving +for years, and for which, in so many battles, the blood of German +brothers had been spilt. + +Everywhere joy seemed extinguished; the light jest was hushed; each +one looked silently into the future, and none could tell in whose +favor this great contest would finally be decided, whether Austria or +Prussia would be victorious. + +The year 1760, the fifth of the war, was particularly sad for Prussia; +it was marked in the history of Germany with tears and blood. Even +Berlin which, up to that time, had suffered but little from the +unhappy calamities of war, assumed now an earnest, mournful aspect, +and it seemed as if the bright humor and sarcastic wit which had +always characterized the inhabitants of this good city had now +entirely deserted them. Going through the wide and almost empty +streets there were to be met only sad countenances, women clothed in +black who mourned their husbands or sons fallen in one of the many +battles of this war, or mothers who were looking with anxiety into the +future and thinking of their distant sons who had gone to the army. + +Here and there was seen some wounded soldier wearily dragging himself +along the street, but hearty, healthy men were seldom to be met, and +still more seldom was seen the fresh countenance of youth. + +Berlin had been obliged to send not only her men and youths, but +also her boys of fourteen years to the army, which, according to the +confession of Frederick the Great, consisted, in the campaign of the +year 1760, only of renegades, marauders, and beardless boys. + +For these reasons it seemed the more strange to hear at this time +issuing from one of the largest and handsomest houses on the Leipsic +Street the unwonted sounds of merry dance-music, cheerful singing and +shouting, which reached the street. + +The passers-by stopped and looked with curiosity up to the windows, at +which could be seen occasionally a flushed joyous man's face or pretty +woman's head. But the men who were visible through the panes evidently +did not belong to the genteeler classes of society; their faces were +sunburnt, their hair hung down carelessly and unpowdered upon the +coarse and unfashionable cloth coat, and the attire of the maidens had +little in common with the elegance and fashion of the day. + +"The rich Gotzkowsky gives a great feast to his workmen to-day," +remarked the people in the street to one another; and as they passed +on they envied with a sigh those who were able at the same time +to enjoy a merry day in the rich and brilliant halls of the great +manufacturer, and admire the splendor of the rich man's house. + +The mansion of Gotzkowsky was indeed one of the handsomest and most +magnificent in all Berlin, and its owner was one of the richest men of +this city, then, despite the war, so wealthy and thriving. But it was +not the splendor of the furniture, of the costly silver ware, of the +Gobelin tapestry and Turkish carpets which distinguished this house +from all others. In these respects others could equal the rich +merchant, or even surpass him. + +But Gotzkowsky possessed noble treasures of art, costly paintings, +which princes and even kings might have envied. Several times had he +travelled to Italy by commission from the king to purchase paintings, +and the handsomest pieces in the Royal Gallery had been brought from +the land of art by Gotzkowsky. But the last time he returned from +Italy the war of 1756 had broken out, and the king could then spare +no money for the purchase of paintings: he needed it all for his army. +Therefore Gotzkowsky was obliged to keep for himself the splendid +originals of Raphael, Rubens, and other great masters which he had +purchased at enormous prices, and the wealthy manufacturer was just +the one able to afford himself the luxury of a picture gallery. + +The homely artisans and workmen who this day had dined in Gotzkowsky's +halls felt somewhat constrained and uncomfortable, and their +countenances did not wear a free, joyous expression until they had +risen from table, and the announcement was made that the festival +would continue in the large garden immediately adjacent to the house, +to which they at once repaired to enjoy cheerful games and steaming +coffee. + +Bertram, Gotzkowsky's head book-keeper, had been commissioned by him +to lead the company, consisting of more than two hundred persons, into +the garden, where Gotzkowsky would follow them, having first gone in +search of his daughter. + +With lively conversation and hearty laugh the people retired, the +halls were emptied, and now the deep silence of these state-apartments +was only interrupted by the gentle ticking of the large clock which +stood over the sofa on its handsomely ornamented stand. + +When Gotzkowsky found himself at last alone, he breathed as if +relieved. The quiet seemed to do him good. He sank down into one +of the large chairs covered with gold-embroidered velvet, and +gazed earnestly and thoughtfully before him. The expression of his +countenance was anxious, and his large dark eyes were not as clear and +brilliant as usual. + +John Gotzkowsky was still a handsome man, despite his fifty years; his +noble intellectual countenance, his tall proud figure, his full +black hair, which, contrary to the custom of that period, he wore +unpowdered, made an imposing and at the same time pleasing impression. + +And certainly it was not because of his personal appearance that +Gotzkowsky, notwithstanding the early death of his wife, had never +contracted a second marriage, but had preferred to remain a solitary +widower. Nor did this occur from indifference or coldness of heart, +but solely from the love for that little, helpless, love-needing +being, whose birth had cost his young wife her life, to whom he had +vowed at the bedside of her dead mother to stand in stead of +that mother, and never to make her bend under the harsh rule of a +step-mother. Gotzkowsky had faithfully fulfilled his vow; he had +concentrated all his love on his daughter, who under his careful +supervision had increased in strength and beauty, so that with the +pride and joy of a father he now styled her the handsomest jewel of +his house. + +Where then was this daughter whom he loved so dearly? Why was she not +near him to smile away the wrinkles from his brow, to drive with light +chat serious and gloomy thoughts from his mind? She it was, doubtless, +whom his wandering glance sought in these vast, silent rooms; and +finding her not, and yearning in vain for her sweet smiles, her rosy +cheeks, he sighed. + +Where was she then? + +Like her father, Gotzkowsky's daughter sat alone in her room--her +gaze, as his, fixed upon empty space. The sad, melancholy expression +of her face, scarcely tinged with a delicate blush, contrasted +strangely with her splendid dress, her mournful look with the full +wreath of roses which adorned her hair. + +Elise was the daughter of the wealthiest man in Berlin, the world +proclaimed her the handsomest maiden, and yet there she sat solitary +in her beautiful chamber, her eyes clouded with tears. Of a sudden she +drew a golden case from her bosom and pressed it with deep feeling to +her lips. Looking timidly at the door she seemed to listen; convinced +that no one approached, she pressed a hidden spring of the medallion; +the golden cover flew open and disclosed the portrait of a handsome +man in Russian uniform. + +The young girl contemplated this portrait with a strange mixture +of delight and melancholy, and then, completely overpowered by its +aspect, she approached it to her lips. "Feodor!" murmured she, so +softly that it sounded almost like a sigh, and stretching out the hand +which held the medallion, in order to be able better to contemplate +the picture, she continued-- + +"Feodor, why did we meet, to be separated forever again? Why did +not Fate allow me to be born as a poor serf upon one of thy estates, +giving to thee the right to possess me, to me the sweet duty of loving +thee? O Heaven, why art thou an enemy of my country, or why am I a +German? Men call me happy; they envy me my father's wealth; they know +not how wretched and forsaken I am." + +She bowed her head upon her breast and wept bitterly. Suddenly steps +were heard quite close to her door. She started, and concealed the +medallion quickly in her breast. "My father," murmured she, and +drying her tears she arose to open the door. She was right, it was her +father. He held out his hand to her. She took it and pressed it to her +lips respectfully, but she did not see the look of almost passionate +tenderness with which he regarded her, for she had cast down her eyes +and did not dare to look at him. + +"I have come, Elise, to lead you to our garden festival. You will go +with me, my child?" + +"I am ready," said she, taking her hat and shawl. + +"But why in such a hurry, my child?" asked her father. "Let us leave +these good people yet a little while to themselves. We will still be +in time to witness their games. I would like to stay a quarter of an +hour with you, Elise." + +Without answering, she rolled an arm-chair to the window, and laid +aside her hat and shawl. + +"It is very seldom, father, that you make me such a present," said +she. + +"What present, my child?" + +"A quarter of an hour of your life, father." + +"You are right," said he, thoughtfully. "I have little time for +pleasure, but I think so much the more of you." + +She shook her head gently. + +"No," said she, "you have no time to think of me. You are too busy. +Hundreds of men claim your attention. How could you have time, father, +to think of your daughter?" + +Gotzkowsky drew a dark-red case from his breast pocket and handed it +to her. + +"Look, Elise! see if I have not thought of you. To-day is your +birthday, and I have celebrated it as I have done every year by giving +my workmen a festival, and endowing a poor bridal pair who on this +day become betrothed. Their prayers and tears constitute the most +beautiful thank-offering to you, and being happy they bless you, the +authoress of their happiness. But how is this? You have not yet opened +the case. Are you so little like other girls that diamonds cause you +no pleasure?" + +She opened the case, and contemplated the jewels with weary looks and +scarcely concealed indifference. + +"How wonderfully they shine and sparkle, and what tempting promises +their brilliant colors hold forth! But this is a princely present, +father; your poor Elise it not worthy to wear this diadem and collar." + +"Oh, you are worthy to wear a crown!" cried her father with tender +pride. "And let me tell you, my child, you have only to choose whether +you will place on this beautiful hair an earl's coronet or a prince's +diadem. And this, my child, is the reason of my visit to-day." + +"On business," murmured she, almost inaudibly, with a bitter smile. + +Gotzkowsky continued-- + +"Young Count Saldem applied to me yesterday for your hand." + +"Count Saldem?" asked Elise. "I hardly know him. I have only spoken to +him twice in the saloon of Countess Herzberg." + +"That does not prevent him from loving you ardently," said Gotzkowsky, +with scarcely perceptible irony. "Yes, Elise, he loves you so ardently +that he would overcome all obstacles of rank and make you a genuine +countess, if I will only promise to endow you with half a million." + +The habitually pale countenance of Elise suddenly assumed life and +color. She drew herself up and threw her head proudly back. + +"Do you wish to sell me, father? Do you wish to give some value to +this noble nonentity by the present of half a million, and will his +lordship be kind enough in return to take the trifling burden of my +person into the bargain?" + +Her father gazed at her glowing countenance with eyes beaming with +joy; but he quickly suppressed this emotion, and reassumed a serious +air. + +"Yes," he said, "the good count, in consideration of half a million, +will consent to raise the manufacturer's daughter to the rank of a +countess. But for a whole million we can obtain still more; we can +rise yet higher in the scale. If I will advance his uncle, Prince +Saldem, half a million to redeem his mortgaged estates, the prince +promises to adopt the nephew, your suitor, as his son. You would +then be a princess, Elise, and I would have the proud satisfaction of +calling a prince my son." + +"As if the king would consent to a nobleman thus demeaning himself!" +cried Elise; "as if he would graciously allow the count so far to +degrade himself!" + +"Oh, the king will consent," continued her father in a light tone. +"You know that he is fond of me. Only say whether you consent to +become Countess Saldem." + +"Never!" cried she proudly. "I am no chattel to be bartered, and this +miserable title of princess has no charms for me. You can command me, +father, to renounce the man I love, but you can never compel me to +give my hand to a man I do not love, were he even a king!" + +Her father clasped her vehemently in his arms. + +"That is blood of my blood, and spirit of my spirit," cried he. "You +are right, my child, to despise honors and titles; they are empty +tinsel, and no one believes in them any longer. We stand at the portal +of a new era, and this era will erect new palaces and create new +princes; but you, my child, will be one of the first princesses of +this new era. Manufactories will be the new palaces, and manufacturers +the new princes. Instead of the sword, money will rule the world, and +men will bow down before manufacturers and merchants as they are +wont to do before generals. Therefore I say you are right in refusing +Prince Saldem's offer, for I promise you, you shall be a princess, +even without the title, and the great and noble shall bow as low +before your riches as if they were a ducal diadem." + +Elise shook her head with a melancholy smile: "I have no desire for +such homage, and I despise the base metal with which you can buy +everything." + +"Despise it not!" cried her father, "prize it rather! Gold is a holy +power; it is the magic wand of Moses which caused springs to gush +forth from the sterile rock. See, my child--I, who despise all the +rank and honors which the world can offer me, I tell you gold is the +only thing for which I have any respect. But a man must perceive and +understand the secret of this magic power. He who strives for wealth +only to _possess_ it is a heartless fool, and his fate will be that +of Midas--he will starve in the midst of his treasures. But he who +strives for wealth for the purpose of _giving_, he will discover that +money is the fountain of happiness; and in his hands the dead metal is +transformed into a living blessing. You may believe your father, who +knows the world, and who has drunk the bitter cup of poverty." + +"You were once poor?" asked Elise, looking at her father with +astonishment. + +Gotzkowsky smiled, and sank back in his chair, musing and silent. +After a pause he resumed: "Yes, I was poor. I have endured all the +horrors of poverty. I have hungered and thirsted, suffered misery +and privation, even as a little boy. Thus lay I once, wretched and +forsaken, in a ditch by the highway, and raised my hands to God on +high, praying but for a drop of water, but for a morsel of bread. Ah! +so strong was the belief of the goodness of God in my heart, that I +was convinced He would open the heavens, and reach to me with His own +hand the food for which I prayed. I waited and waited, in despairing +anxiety, but the heavens were not opened, and not even a drop of rain +came to cool my parched lips. But the cloud, which I had looked for in +vain in the sky, was seen at last on the highway, and, as I saw this +whirling cloud of dust, in the midst of which a splendid equipage +came rolling on, I said to myself: 'Here comes God!' and then I found +strength enough to raise myself from my knees, to hurry toward the +rapidly passing vehicle, and to cry with a voice which was almost +overpowered by the noise of the wheels, 'Pity! pity! give me a morsel +of bread, a drop of water! Have pity on me!' A hand was stretched +toward me out of the cloud of dust, and I saw a small, brightly +shining object drop. The carriage rolled on, and disappeared in its +cloud. But I sank on my knees and searched the dust for the piece of +money, for in this coin lay for me life, health, and strength. I was +obliged to hunt in the dust for a long time with hands tremulous with +anxiety, and finally, when I found it, I rejoiced aloud and thanked +God. Then I hurried with fleet steps toward the neighboring town, to +the same baker's shop near the gate, where, shortly before, they +had refused to my entreaties a bit of bread. Now, willingly and with +smiles, they handed me a loaf, for I had money to pay for it. In that +hour I said to myself: 'I must seek money, even if I have to grovel +in the dust for it; for money is life, and poverty is death!' The hand +which, from the cloud of dust threw me that piece of money, decided my +whole future, for it taught me that even dust was not to be despised, +as therein money might be found; but it taught me something more--it +taught me compassion and charity. Then, as I crouched down with +bleeding feet at the street-corner and devoured my loaf, I vowed to +myself that I would become rich, and when I had grown rich, to be to +each poor and needy one the helping hand stretched forth out of the +cloud of dust." + +Elise had listened to her father with deep emotion, and in the depth +of her heart she at this moment absolved him from many a silent +reproach, and many a suspicion, which her soul had harbored against +him. + +"You have kept your word, my father!" cried she. "How did you contrive +to become a rich man from a beggar?" + +Gotzkowsky laughed. "How did I contrive that?" said he. "I worked, +that is the whole secret--worked from sunrise until late in the night, +and by work alone have I become what I am. But no, I had one friend +who often helped me with his sympathy and valuable counsel. This +friend was the king. He protected me against my malicious enemies, who +envied me every little piece of fortune. He cheered me on. Frederick's +eye rested on me with pleasure, and he was delighted to see my +manufactories thrive and increase. The king's satisfaction was for +many years the only spur to my exertions, and when he looked on me +with smiling benevolence, it seemed to me as if a sunbeam of fortune +shone from his large blue eyes into my heart. I have learned to love +the king as a man, and because I love mankind I love the king. It +is said that he likes the French better than he does us, and prefers +every thing that comes from them; but, indeed, he was the first to +supply his wants from my manufactories, and in that way to encourage +me to new undertakings.[1] Mankind, in general, do not like to see +others favored by fortune in their enterprises and they hate him +who succeeds where they have failed. I have experienced that often in +life. I knew that men hated me because I was more fortunate than they +were, and yet I saw how they cringed before me, and flattered me. Oh, +my child, how many bitter and painful experiences do I not owe to my +wealth! In wealth lies Wisdom, if one would only listen to her. It has +humbled and subdued me, for I said to myself, 'How quickly would all +these men who now surround me with attention and flattery, disappear +if I became suddenly poor!' These princes and counts, who now invite +me as a guest to their tables, would no longer know me if I appeared +before them as a poor man. Wealth is rank and worth; and no prince's +title, no star of honor, shines so brightly as golden coin. But we +must learn how to use it, and not convert the means of fortune into +the end. We must also learn to despise men, and yet to love mankind. +My philosophy may be condensed into a few sentences. Strive for +gold; not to take, but to give. Be kind and faithful to all men; most +faithful, however, to thyself, thy honor, and thy country." + +Elise looked at him with a strange expression: "You love all mankind! +Do you then include our country's enemies?" + +"The enemies of our country are the only men whom I hate," cried +Gotzkowsky quickly. + +"Even were they noble and good?" asked Elise with reproachful tone. + +Gotzkowsky looked at her with astonishment and curiosity, and a cloud +flitted across his brow. Then, as if shocked at his own thoughts, +he shook his head, and murmured in a low tone, "No, that were too +terrible!" He rose and paced the room in thoughtful mood. Suddenly a +burst of lively music and gleeful shouts were heard from the garden. +Gotzkowsky's brow brightened immediately, and he extended his hand +with a tender look. + +"Come, my child," exclaimed he, "come, and see how happy you have made +men! Come, and see the power of wealth!" + + +[Footnote 1: "Gotzkowsky founded the first large velvet and silk +manufactories in Berlin. He was also the first to attend the Leipsic +fair with domestic goods, and thus open the commerce with Poland and +Russia."--_History of a Patriotic Merchant of Berlin_, 1768, pages +10-12.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WORKMAN'S HOLIDAY. + + +The garden, which stretched from behind Gotzkowsky's house to the +limits of the city, was really of artistic beauty, and he had spent +thousands in creating a park out of this dead level of sand. Now, his +work was completed, and all Berlin spoke with praise and admiration +of this garden, which ranked among the lions to be visited by every +traveller. The most splendid groups of trees were seen here and there, +interspersed among green plats of grass, ornamented by marble statues +or graceful fountains; in other places, trimmed hedges stretched +along, and from the conservatories exotic plants filled the air with +perfume. + +On this day, however, the garden presented a peculiarly lively +spectacle. On the lawn, the young girls and lads were dancing to the +music of a fiddle and bass-viol, while the older workmen and their +wives had seated themselves around tables, on which all kinds of +refreshments were spread. + +At the largest of these tables, ornamented with flowers, was seated +the betrothed couple, the workman Balthazar and Gretchen his young +bride, who bashfully and affectionately clung to his side. They had +loved each other long and faithfully in silence, but without hope, for +they were both poor, and had to support themselves and their parents +by the work of their hands. But Gotzkowsky had come to them as a +helping benefactor; he had given Balthazar a considerable sum of +money, and his daughter Elise had bestowed a dower upon the bride. +On this day, Elise's eighteenth birthday, was to be celebrated the +marriage of the happy couple. No wonder, then, that they regarded +Gotzkowsky with feelings almost of adoration, and that this young girl +appeared to them as a benevolent angel. + +Elise had just come into the garden with her father, and had taken +her seat at the table of the bridal pair. Next to her sat a young +man, whose mild and noble countenance seemed to be lighted up with +happiness and adoration whenever he looked upon her. He followed every +one of her motions with watchful eyes, and the most trifling shade, +the slightest change in the expression of her countenance, did not +escape him. At times he sighed, reading perhaps in her features the +secret thoughts of her soul, and these thoughts saddened him, and +clouded his bright clear eye. + +This young man, who sat at Elise's side, was Bertram, Gotzkowsky's +head book-keeper. From his earliest youth he had been in the house of +the rich manufacturer, who had adopted the poor orphan, and treated +him as a tender father would have done, and Bertram loved him with all +the affection of a son. And never by the lips of a true son was the +name of father pronounced with more warmth and tenderness than by this +son, adopted and won by deeds of generosity. + +But Bertram, who called Gotzkowsky father, had never ventured to call +Gotzkowsky's daughter sister. Brought up together, they had in their +childhood shared their games, their childish joys and sorrows with one +another; he had been a protecting brother to her, she an affectionate +sister to him. But ever since Bertram had returned from a journey of +three years, which Gotzkowsky had caused him to make, all this had +changed. Elise, whom he had left almost a child, he found on his +return a blooming young woman, and a feeling of joyous emotion flashed +through him as he stood blushing before her; while she, perfectly +collected, with a quiet look bade him welcome. + +Under the charm of this look he had lived several weeks of rapture +and yet of anxiety. He soon felt that he loved this young girl +passionately, but he also felt that she returned his passion with +the lukewarm affection of a friend or a sister, and that she had no +suspicion of the tumult and pain, the joy and ecstasy which filled his +breast. And yet he had a right to strive for the prize of her love; +and if he raised his eyes to the daughter of his benefactor, it was +not presumption, it was Gotzkowsky himself who emboldened him to do +so. He had said to him, "Seek to win the love of my daughter, and I +will cheerfully bid you welcome as my son, for I know that in your +hands Elise's happiness is safe." + +Thus he had the consent of her father, but Elise's love was wanting, +and how could he ever deserve this love, how win this heart which +shone as bright and clear, as hard and cold as rock crystal? Of +what avail was it that he worked indefatigably in the service of his +benefactor? how did it help him that the money, which Gotzkowsky had +given to him as a boy, had borne rich interest and made him a man of +means, and even, if he chose, of independence? What did it profit +him that all men loved him, if this one being, by whom he so ardently +longed to be loved, always remained the same, unchanged toward him, +always affectionate and friendly, always open and candid, never +abashed, never blushing, never casting her eyes down before him? + +"It must at last be decided," thought Bertram, as he sat next Elise; +"I must at last know whether she returns my love, or whether that be +true which I have heard whispered since my return. I must at least +have certainty, even if it annihilates all my wishes." + +At this moment there sounded near him merry shouts and laughter. +Gotzkowsky had accosted the bridal pair with a jest, and the grateful +audience had taken up this jest with delight. + +"Long life to the bridal pair!" cried he, raising his glass on high. +"Health, wealth, and happiness to them!" A perfect uproar followed +this appeal, and brought tears of delight into the eyes of the +blushing little bride, who stood up with the bridegroom and bowed her +thanks. + +Balthazar laughed, and, as soon as every thing had become quiet, +replied: "There, that will do! you have hurrahed enough. I don't wish +for wealth; health, happiness, and content are enough for me with my +little Gretchen; but for these blessings I have to thank, we have all +to thank, our lord and master, our father Gotzkowsky. Therefore, you +boys up there, stop your clatter and dancing, and listen to what I +have to say to you." + +Balthazar's loud clear voice overpowered the music which now ceased, +and the lads and maidens crowded around him. + +"Balthazar is going to make a speech!" cried one with hearty laughter, +in which the others joined lustily. "Silence, silence! Balthazar is +going to make a speech. Come, Balthazar, out with it! It's a failing +he has." + +"Well, why shouldn't I?" said Balthazar, laughing; "many a great lord +does nothing else all his life but make pretty speeches. Why shouldn't +I play the great lord on this my wedding-day?" He drew himself up, +cleared his throat, and continued: "I want to talk to you about our +master, who turned us from good-for-nothing drones into industrious +workmen, who gave us bread when nobody else had bread for us. Nobody, +I say, not even our mayor, who is a very good mayor, but who cannot +help the poor, feed the hungry, and give bread and work to hands +willing to work. Who is able to do that, and who does it? Who in +Berlin is the rich, the good man, who gives work to all, and in his +large and celebrated mills procures us food and wages? Who is it?" + +"Gotzkowsky, our father Gotzkowsky!" cried the crowd unanimously. + +Balthazar waved his hat joyfully in the air. "Therefore, say I, long +live Gotzkowsky our father!" cried he with stentorian voice. And +loud shouts and cheers followed this appeal. Men and women surrounded +Gotzkowsky and offered him their hand, and thanked him with those +simple and plain words which never fail to reach the heart, because +they come from the heart. All hailed him as friend and father, +benefactor and master. Gotzkowsky stood in their midst, proud and +erect. A deep emotion was evident in his noble features, and he raised +his beaming, radiant face to heaven, thanking God in the humbleness of +his heart for the proud joy of this hour. + +"Long live Gotzkowsky, our father!" reiterated the happy multitude. + +He lowered his eyes, and glanced with friendly looks at the cheerful +assemblage. + +"Thank you, my children," said he, "but I beg you not to overrate my +merits. You are of as much service to me as I am to you. He who gives +work is nothing without the worker; the one has need of the other, to +increase and thrive. Of what avail would my looms and my money be if +I had not your industrious hands and your good will to serve me? Money +alone will not do it, but the good will and love of the workmen carry +the day. I thank you all for your good will and your love; but above +all," continued he, turning to Bertram, "above all things I must thank +you, my friend. You have stood by me and helped me bravely, and it is +full time that I should try to reward you. Children, one more surprise +have I in reserve for you to-day. I appoint Mr. Bertram my partner +and sole director of the silk factory." "That's right, that's noble!" +cried the workmen. + +Bertram said nothing. He only turned his eyes, clouded with tears, +toward Gotzkowsky, and the latter read in his looks his deep emotion +and affectionate gratitude. + +"My son," said he, opening his arms. + +"My father, oh my dear, noble father," cried the young man, throwing +himself, with streaming eyes, on Gotzkowsky's breast. The workmen +stood round, deeply moved, and in silence; and in their hearts they +sent up quiet prayers to God on high for their employer. At last +Gotzkowsky raised himself from Bertram's arms and sought his daughter +with his eyes. She was still sitting, silent and pensive, at the +table, and did not appear to have observed what was going on around +her. A light cloud crossed his brow as he took Bertram's hand and +approached Elise. + +"Well, Elise, have you no word of congratulation for him?" + +She shuddered, as if awaking from a dream. "Oh," said she, "my good +brother Bertram knows that I rejoice in his fortune." + +"Brother! still brother?" murmured Gotzkowsky impatiently. + +"And why should she not give me that sweet name?" asked Bertram, +quickly. "Have you not often called me son, and allowed me to call you +father?" + +"Oh, I would like indeed to be your father, my son, without Elise's +having to call you brother. But we will speak of this another time," +said he, interrupting himself; and turning to his workmen, continued: +"Come, let us be merry, and of good cheer. Who knows how long Heaven +will grant us sunshine? Come, you young folks, I have caused a target +to be set up in the court. Let us go there. He who makes the best shot +shall get a new coat. Come, bride Greta, take my arm; I will be your +groomsman to-day. Bertram, you and Elise follow us. Now, music, strike +up a song for the bride." + +Gotzkowsky offered his arm to the bride and led her out. Cheerfully +the motley crowd followed him, and soon there was heard in the +distance their happy laughter and the merry sound of the music. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BROTHER AND SISTER. + + +Elise did not follow the joyous multitude. She still sat musing, +unaware that Bertram was standing opposite to her, considering her +attentively. At last he ventured to pronounce her name softly. She +looked up at him with perfect composure. + +"You do not go with them, Elise?" asked he. "Do you not take any part +in the general rejoicing?" + +She tried to smile. "Oh yes," said she, "I am glad to see how much +these good people love my father. And he deserves it too. The welfare +of his workmen is his only thought, and the only fame for which he +strives." + +"You are too modest in your estimate of your father, Elise," cried +Bertram. "Gotzkowsky's fame extends far beyond the walls of this town. +All Germany, yes, even Holland and England, are familiar with his +name, and the Prussian merchant is as much a hero on "'Change' as the +Prussian king is on the battle-field." + +"Only my father's victories are less bloody," said Elise, smiling. + +A pause ensued. Both felt anxious and embarrassed, and neither dared +to break the silence. It was the first time, since Bertram's return +from his grand tour, that she had found herself in his presence +without witnesses, for she had carefully avoided being alone with him. +This had not escaped Bertram's notice, and he had therefore determined +to take advantage of the present opportunity to have his fate decided. +But yet he did not venture to speak, and the words died away on +his lips as he remarked her silent, indifferent composure. As he +contemplated her, memories of former days rose up before him. He +saw her as, half child, half maiden, she clung trustingly and +affectionately to his side, and with charming blushes listened to the +teasing jokes of her father. Then her whole soul lay open and clear +before him; then she disclosed to him the entire treasure of her pure, +full heart, and all the fanciful and dreamy thoughts of her young +virgin soul were perceptible; then he had participated in her joys, +her little sorrows, every feeling which agitated her breast. + +And now, why was it all so different? + +A deep, painful melancholy took possession of him, and made him +overcome his fear of her decision. He sat down resolutely at her side, +and took her hand. + +"Elise," said he, "do you still remember what you said to me three +years ago, as I took leave of you?" + +She shook her head and turned her eyes toward him. These eyes were +full of tears, and her countenance was agitated with painful emotion. + +Bertram continued: "You then said to me, 'Farewell, and however far +you may travel my heart goes with you, and when you return I will be +to you the same loving, faithful sister that I now am.' These were +your words, Elise; you see that I have preserved them in my memory +more faithfully than you, my sister." + +Elise shuddered slightly. Then she said, with a painfully subdued +voice, "You were so long absent, Bertram, and I was only a child when +you left." + +"The young woman wishes, then, to recall the words spoken by the +child?" + +"No, Bertram, I will always love you as a sister." + +Bertram sighed. "I understand you," said he, sadly; "you wish to erect +this sisterly love into an impassable barrier separating me from you, +and to pour this cool and unsubstantial affection like a soothing balm +upon my sufferings. How little do you know of love, Elise; of that +passion which desires every thing, which is satisfied with nothing +less than extreme happiness, or, failing that, extreme wretchedness, +and will accept no pitiful compromise, no miserable substitute!" + +Elise looked at him firmly, with beaming eyes. She too felt that the +decisive hour had come, and that she owed the friend of her youth an +open and unreserved explanation. + +"You are mistaken, Bertram," said she. "I know this love of which you +speak, and for that very reason, because I know it, I tell you I will +always love you as a sister. As a true sister I bid you welcome." + +She offered him her hand; but as she read in his pale face the agony +which tormented his soul, she turned her eyes away and drew her hand +back. + +"You are angry with me, Bertram," said she, sobbing. + +He pressed his hand convulsively to his heart, as if he would suppress +a cry of agony, then held it firmly to his eyes, which were scalded by +his hot tears. He wrestled with his sufferings, but he wrestled like +a hero and a man who would not be subjugated, but is determined to +conquer. As his hand glided from his face his eyes were tearless, +and nothing was visible in his countenance but an expression of deep +earnestness. + +"Well, then," said he, recovering himself, "I accept this sisterly +love as a sick man accepts the bitter medicine which he will not cast +away lest he commit suicide. I accept you as my sister, but a sister +must at least have confidence in her brother; she must not stand +before him like a sealed book whose contents he is ignorant of. If I +am to be your brother, I demand also the rights of a brother. I demand +truth and trust." + +"And who says that I will deny you either?" asked she, quickly. + +"You, yourself, Elise; your whole conduct, your shyness and reserve, +the manner in which you avoid me, the intentional coldness with which +you meet me. Oh! even at this moment you would withdraw from me, but I +will not let you, Elise; I will compel your heart to reveal itself to +me. I will move you with my devotion, my tender anxiety, so that the +cruel crust will fall from your gentle and pure heart, and you +will become again my candid and confiding sister. Oh, Elise, have +compassion on me! tell me what secret, mysterious charm has suddenly +seized you; what wicked, hurtful demon has suddenly converted this +bright ingenuous girl into a pale, sad, serious woman. Have courage +and trust me, and let me read as in those happier days." + +Elise looked at his noble countenance with a deep and painful emotion, +and met his inquiring look with unabashed eye. + +"Well, then," said she, "I will trust you, Bertram. I will tell you +what I have confided to no human ear. Know, then, that my heart also +has felt the pains which affect yours. Know that an ardent, hopeless +love burnt my soul." + +"A hopeless love?" asked Bertram. + +"Yes, hopeless," said she, firmly; "for never can I hope for my +father's blessing on this love, and never, without it, will I leave my +father's house to follow the man I love." + +"The man you love!" cried Bertram, painfully. "Does he also then love +you, and does he know that you love him?" + +She looked at him with astonishment. "Can one then love without being +beloved?" asked she, with the unconscious pride of a young girl. + +"You are right," said Bertram; "I was a fool to ask this question of +you. But why do you doubt your father's consent? Why do you not go +confidingly to him and confess your love? But how? Is this love such +that it dare not face the light, and must conceal itself from the eyes +of your father?" + +"Yes, Bertram, it is such a love; but yet you must not doubt me, you +must not think that this love which conceals itself from the eyes of +my father need therefore fear the light of the world. My father would, +perhaps, if he knew my secret, declare me unworthy of him; but never, +be assured, never would I commit any act unworthy of myself, and for +which I would have to blush. It is possible that not only my father +but the whole world would pronounce me guilty if it knew my love; but, +believe me, that in the consciousness of my rectitude I would have the +courage to brave the verdict of the whole world, provided that my own +heart acquitted me, and that I am guilty of no other crime than this +accidental one, which fate, and not my own will and trespass, imposes +on me. Love allows itself neither to be given nor taken, and when it +cannot command fortune, it can at least lighten misfortune. More I +cannot tell you, my brother, and what is the use of words? Only depend +on what I assure you, I will never be faithless to my honor nor my +love. You may think," continued she, proudly and passionately, "that +my love is a crime, but never that I could love unworthily, or that I +could bow my head under the disgrace of a dishonorable love." + +She looked beautiful in her proud, flashing maidenhood; and Bertram +felt, as he looked on her handsome, glowing countenance, that he had +never loved her so sincerely, and at the same time so painfully, as at +this moment. + +"Elise," said he, grasping her hand, "will you not have entire +confidence in your brother? Will you not tell me the name of your +lover?" + +She shook her head earnestly. "Only God and my heart dare know it." + +"Elise," continued he more urgently, "shall I tell you what has been +whispered in my ear as I returned from a long absence? Shall I tell +you what your enemies--for your youth and beauty and your father's +wealth have made you enemies--shall I tell you what your enemies +whisper to each other with malicious joy?" + +"No, no!" said she anxiously, "how would it help me to know it?" + +Bertram continued inexorably, "They say that the captive Russian, +General Sievers, was welcomed by your father into his house as +a friend, and that he overwhelmed the noble prisoner with kind +attention." + +Elise breathed more freely. "It was with the consent and by the wish +of the king that my father was kind to the captive Russian general." + +"And was it also by the wish of the king that Gotzkowsky's daughter +accepted the homage of the Russian general's adjutant?" + +A slight shudder ran through Elise's whole frame, and her cheeks +became crimson. + +"Ah," cried Bertram sadly, "I see you understand me. You will not tell +me the name of your lover--let me tell it to you. It is Feodor von +Brenda." + +"No, no!" cried Elise, looking around in alarm, and fearful lest some +treacherous ear had heard the dangerous secret. + +"Yes," said Bertram, "his name is Feodor von Brenda; he serves as a +colonel in the Russian army; he fights against our brothers and our +king; he is the enemy of our country." + +"You have no pity on me," cried Elise, wringing her hands, her eyes +streaming with tears. "You wish to kill me with your cruel words." + +"I wish to show to the daughter of the noblest and truest patriot, I +wish to point out to the young, inexperienced, credulous maiden, to +my sister, that she stands at the edge of an abyss. I wish to open her +eyes that she may be aware of the danger which threatens her. I wish +to draw her back from this abyss which threatens to engulf her." + +"It is too late," said Elise, rising proudly and drying her tears. +"I know it all, Bertram; I stand at the edge of this abyss with open +eyes, conscious of the danger; but I will not, cannot draw back, for +my heart holds me fast." + +Elise took leave of him with a sad smile, and hurried rapidly down +the dark walk which led to the retired and unfrequented parts of the +garden. + +Bertram looked after her until her pink dress disappeared behind the +dark foliage of the hedge. + +"She loves him," murmured he, letting his head drop upon his breast, +"it is certain she loves him." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FEODOR VON BRENDA. + + +Elise directed her hasty steps toward the now retired parts of +the garden. She longed to be alone. Her soul, agitated by painful +emotions, required silence and solitude, in order to settle down again +gently to rest and peace. Slowly, and with bowed head, she traversed +the dark, silent garden-walks. Her thoughts wandered afar off, and +she sought some little comfort, some relief from the privations of the +present, in the sweet and blissful recollections of bygone days. + +"What can keep him?" asked she of herself; and as she thought of him, +her countenance assumed a cheerful, almost happy expression. "He swore +to brave every danger, every difficulty, in order to let me hear from +him; and now, alas! ten weeks have passed, and no news, no token, from +him. My God! is it possible that in all this long time he could have +found no opportunity to write to me?--or perhaps his love has not +survived the test of separation and silence." + +At this thought she stopped, as if stunned, and pressed her hand to +her breast. A sharp pain shot through her, and her heart seemed to +cease to pulsate. But, in a moment, her countenance brightened up, +and she murmured, with a gentle smile, "Oh, to doubt his love were a +greater treason than to love my country's enemy. Oh, no! Feodor, my +heart does not doubt you; and notwithstanding your silence, I know +that your heart answers mine, and that we are forever and inseparably +united." + +With rapid step and cheerful mind she continued her wandering. She +had now arrived at the darkest and most secluded part of the garden. +Nothing stirred around her, and there was only heard the rustling of +the dark fir-tree moved by the wind, or the melodious note of some +bird hidden in the foliage. + +The garden, elsewhere so carefully and artistically tended, stretching +from the Leipsic Street to the Palisades, which surrounded the town +in lieu of a wall at that time, was here overgrown with underwood, +protecting the more beautiful parts like a quickset hedge. But this +bush was, besides, surrounded by a high wall, running immediately next +to the Palisades, and bounding the whole back part of the garden. It +was seldom that any one wandered in this neighborhood, and Elise +was certain, therefore, that no inquisitive eye could watch her, no +treacherous ear listen to her half-whispered words. + +She seated herself on a bench under a tree, not far from the wall, +and looked up dreamingly and thoughtfully at the patches of blue +sky visible through the tree-tops. Her whole soul was sunk in +reminiscence. Ah, how often had she sat here, but not alone--not with +this painful longing in her heart, but in the fullest contentment of +happiness, listening with delighted ear to words spoken by him who +sat next to her, holding her hand in his, and gazing on her with looks +which made her heart tremble with happiness! Here, on this spot, he +had taken leave of her, and since then it had become, as it were, the +temple of her recollections, to which she daily made her pilgrimage to +offer up her devout, sincere, and ardent prayer of love. + +She sat and looked up to heaven, and her ear, dwelling on words which +had died away long ago, did not hear sounds which were perceptible on +the other side of the wall. It appeared as if some one were striving +to climb it, and indeed there could be now seen a hand feeling about, +and then a man's figure rising above the wall. + +Cautiously spying around, large flashing eyes looked into the garden. +One moment the figure rested upon the wall, as if exhausted by the +exertion, or listening for some sound. It was a young man, in the garb +of a peasant, who sat upon the wall; but the heavy, black mustache +little suited this peaceful dress, and his bold air, verging on +insolence, seemed to challenge the dangers which surrounded him. + +He rested for a moment on the wall, and listened attentively. Then +he drew a pistol from his breast, and examined carefully its lock and +barrel. He then cocked it, and holding it in one hand, began carefully +and noiselessly to descend. With one leap he sprang to the ground; +the leaves rustled under his feet, and again he stood motionless in +a listening attitude. His glance was as keen and bright as that of an +eagle, and it seemed to penetrate the dark foliage. Suddenly a light +flashed across his countenance, and a smile of delight played about +his lips. He had seen the young girl, who was seated on the bench lost +in deep thought, and that he had recognized her was betrayed by his +animated expression. Quietly, carefully, he drew nearer, ever and +again standing still and listening. Then he stood close behind her at +the tree. Again he listens, but every thing is silent and hushed. Now +he calls her softly by name, and whispers almost inaudibly, "Elise!" + +She started and looked up, but saw no one, and as she recovered +herself, she sighed gently, and said: "I was mistaken, it was only the +wind." + +But again he whispered: "Start not, Elise; do not utter a word or +cry!" + +"O God!" murmured she in a low tone, trembling in all her limbs. An +ardent embrace, a glowing kiss upon her brow, and a well-beloved voice +whispered her name. + +"Feodor!" uttered she faintly. Overcome by the sudden violence of +her feelings, her head dropped languidly on his breast. Then, drawing +herself up, she gazed at him, and her eager, loving look encountered +his flashing eye. She was, as it were, fascinated--happy as in a +dream, and yet conscious of the most delicious waking. + +"Do you know me, Elise? Do you recognize your Feodor in spite of his +disguise?" + +"Oh, speak again," said she as he ceased. "It is so long since I have +heard your voice!" + +"Ten weeks have passed," said he, pressing her still closer to +his heart, "without my being able to see you or convey to you any +information. I could endure it no longer. I said to myself, 'God is +the friend of lovers,' and so I disguised myself as you see me, and +ventured here." + +Elise started up and gazed at him anxiously. Awaking from her ecstasy +of delight, she just began to be conscious of the present. + +"Good heavens!" she cried, "danger threatens you." + +"Death, if I am found here!" said he, solemnly--"death, if it is known +in the Russian camp why I came here!" + +She uttered a cry, and clung anxiously to him. "You should not have +come here," said she, trembling. "My God, if my father should find you +here! It was cruel of you to come." + +"It would have been more cruel," said he, smiling, "if being so near +you, I had not come at all. I have watched and yearned so long for +this meeting; I have longed so to read in your eyes that you have not +forgotten me! Why do you cast them down, Elise?" + +"Because, Feodor, you have already read too much in them, more than my +father would ever forgive." + +"Your father was always kind and friendly toward me but at that time I +was his prisoner, now he regards me only as the enemy of his country; +and yet, Elise, my object here is any thing but that of an enemy. It +is not only the desire but also the anxiety of love which brings me +here. Listen to me--my time is limited, and I am lost if I linger +too long; but I had to see you to warn you, to avert the danger which +threatens you, and all of you. Listen, therefore. Your father is the +most powerful and influential man in Berlin. His influence will go far +with the council and the citizens. Entreat him, Elise, to use all his +influence to avert a terrible bloodshed from this city." + +Elise shook her head seriously and sadly. Her sweet dream was +dissipated; she was now no longer the dreaming, loving girl, but a +conscious, reasoning, collected woman. + +"How can my father do that?" said she, doubtingly. + +"He must persuade the citizens to yield without fighting." + +"That my father will never do," said she, warmly. + +"Yes, he will do it," replied her lover, "when he learns that all +fighting is useless. Let him have compassion on his native town, on +himself. You are all lost if you fight. Already twelve thousand of our +men, under General Tottleben, stand before the gates. At this moment, +while I am speaking, Tschernitscheff, with twenty thousand regulars, +is approaching from the other side. Count Lacy, too, with his +Austrians, is drawing near. All this tell your father. Tell him, also, +that General Tottleben has promised our Empress Elizabeth to +take Berlin, if he has to lay it in ruins and ashes. Use all your +influence, implore him to do all in his power to persuade the citizens +to a peaceful surrender." + +"I have no influence over my father," said she, sadly, "and if I had +I would not abuse it. Such a surrender, without a fight, would be +cowardice." + +"But a fight, with the assured certainty of defeat, would be madness. +Your father does not know the number of troops massed around Berlin. +Do you tell him." + +She looked at him mournfully. "And shall I tell him, too, from whom I +received this information?" + +After a little reflection, he replied: "Yes, if it cannot be +otherwise, tell him. Your father will not betray me." + +"No, but he will curse his daughter," cried Elise, painfully--"curse +her for having had intercourse with our country's enemy, while the +Russian cannon threaten our town. No, no, Feodor, it were no use to +warn him. My father would not listen to me." + +"So Berlin will run toward its ruin, and I cannot prevent it," said +the colonel, sadly. "I have done all in my power. I wish to requite +your father for all the kindness he has shown me, and for that reason +I risked my life in order to warn him." + +"Believe me, Feodor, I will never forget you for it," said she, +offering him both her hands. "However angry my father may be, my heart +still remains yours. Love does not recognize any national hatred. It +yields itself without reserve to him who has won it." + +She leaned her head upon his breast, and he imprinted a kiss upon her +forehead. + +"Thank you for these words," said he; "wherever I go they shall be my +talisman." + +"Are you going already?" asked she, anxiously. + +"I must go, Elise," replied he. + +"Oh, Feodor, I dare not bid you stay. I tremble at the thought of my +father seeing you," sighed she; "but when, my beloved, when shall we +see each other again?" + +He looked at her a long time with a steady, piercing glance. He then +exclaimed, almost rudely: "You have sworn me love and constancy till +death. Do you remember it?" + +"I remember it, and never will I be faithless to my vow," whispered +she, smiling through her tears. + +"You swore to me never to belong to any one but me. Have you forgotten +that?" + +"No, I have not." + +"Well, then," said he, rising, "we shall soon see each other again." + +"When, Feodor, when?" + +"When Berlin is in our hands," said he, smiling proudly; "when we +enter your gates as conquerors." + +She shuddered painfully. He saw it, and a hateful, mocking expression +passed across his features; but this lasted only a moment, and his +changeable countenance appeared again bright and loving. He took +Elise's hand and pressed it to his lips. + +"Will you, even at such a time, allow me to see you? Will you, +faithful to your vow, remember that my Elise has sworn by God and her +love never to turn a deaf ear to my call? Will you expect me?" asked +he, coaxingly. + +"I will," answered she, in a low voice. + +"And I will come," cried he, passionately, "if the way to you leads +over mountains of dead bodies!" + +She threw herself into his open arms, and nestled like a timid dove on +his breast. + +"Oh!" cried she, "when danger threatens you, then I think I would like +to be a man to share it with you." + +He covered her lips and eyes with kisses. "Farewell, farewell, Elise; +and if it is God's will, we will meet again." + +One last kiss, one last embrace, and he tore himself from her arms +and hurried toward the wall. Now he climbs it, and throws his last +greetings to her, then descends on the other side. + +"He is gone, he is gone!" she shrieked, and, falling on her knees, +raised her hands to heaven. "O God, have mercy on me, have pity on my +love!" + +It seemed as if God did grant her prayer, for a thick veil sank over +her eyes, and a swoon robbed her of consciousness. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MR. KRETSCHMER, OF THE VOSSIAN GAZETTE. + + +The editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, Mr. Kretschmer, sat at his desk, +busily writing. That he was a learned man was seen by his earnest, +care-worn forehead, his large, well-powdered wig, and above all by the +disorder and confusion which reigned in the whole room. Besides which, +Mr. Kretschmer wore a dressing-gown, thickly sprinkled with ink-spots, +the official robe of his literary dignity. And whosoever beheld him in +this robe, his long pipe in his mouth, filling the room with a thick +blue smoke, seated on his high tripod before his desk, could not but +believe that Mr. Kretschmer was a learned man. + +But more than this, he was a great politician. Thereto testified the +numerous journals which lay scattered about on the floor, but more +especially the nineteen quarto volumes, which stood above on the +book-shelf, lettered in gold on the back, "VOSSIAN GAZETTE," and under +that the number of the year, from 1740 to 1759. The _Vossian Gazette_ +was then a young, blooming rose, of scarcely nineteen summers. It +could still pass for a vigorous, handsome, and perhaps even innocent +young maiden; and Mr. Kretschmer was the editor of the _Vossian +Gazette_. Had he not, then, a right to be regarded as a great +politician? + +Mr. Kretschmer was at this moment occupied in writing an article for +the next morning's paper, and as he had just received news "by special +courier" of another battle, subsequent to that of Liegnitz, which +had resulted favorably for the Prussians, he was composing, with the +courage of a lion, an extra, which fairly glowed with ardent hatred +against the oppressors and cannibals, namely, the Russians and the +Austrians; and declared that the salvation of all Germany depended on +the supreme dominion of Prussia. + +The bold editor of the _Vossian Gazette_ in this article called +upon the people to fly to arms against the "incendiary oppressors +of Freedom and the people's rights," as he called the Russians; he +exhorted even the women and girls to fight, and called upon them to +grasp the sword in their tender hands instead of the needle. Finally, +he entreated all Berlin, if ever the _incendiary enemy_ should +approach the gates, rather to let the whole city be destroyed by fire, +and bury themselves in the ruins before they submitted to the foe. + +Mr. Kretschmer then laid his pen down, and revised with a satisfied +look what he had written. + +"That will have an effect," said he, rubbing his hands together, +delighted. "When his majesty, our heroic king, returns victorious to +Berlin, I will send him this sheet of the _Vossian Gazette_, and I +know that he will be satisfied with my heroism." + +He looked again at the paper. "Beautiful, beautiful!" exclaimed +he, with a self-satisfied smile. "My pen has shot nothing less than +bomb-shells and grape, and my ink has turned into whole streams of the +enemy's blood. And why should I not be bold, it being perfectly safe, +since the king must certainly be victorious, and the enemy has no idea +of visiting Berlin? Tschernitscheff and Tottleben are quietly encamped +on the other side of the Oder; Soltikoff with his army is near +Frankfort; and Count Lacy with his Austrians is waiting an opportunity +to give battle to our king. Thus, as I said, I can safely exhort the +good citizens of Berlin to defend themselves heroically against the +infamous spoiler. How beautifully this peroration sounds: 'People +of Berlin! rather let yourselves be buried under the ruins of your +burning city than submit to an incendiary enemy!'--_Incendiary_," +repeated he thoughtfully, "that is rather a strong expression, and if +the Russians do come, they will revenge themselves for it; but, pshaw! +the Russians are not coming, and I can safely send this article to +the press. And, furthermore, did not the king himself stigmatize the +Russians as such? Yes, I remember last year, after the unfortunate +invasion of the Russians, he looked down from the steeple in Frankfort +upon the devastation of the country, and cried out with angry +indignation, 'Incendiaries! incendiaries!' The expression is at least +official, and can therefore remain." + +Mr. Kretschmer seized the bell-rope, and began to ring violently. +Immediately the door opened, and a small boy entered with a portfolio +under his arm. + +"Devil," said Mr. Kretschmer, majestically, "here is my article; run +as fast as you can to the printing-office with it, and impress upon +the compositor the necessity of haste, and, above all things, not +to make such mistakes as he did lately, when, in speaking of +the Russians, he put 'friends' instead of 'fiends,' which was an +unpardonable and most treasonable error of expression." + +The little boy took the paper and laid it in his portfolio. + +"The printer told me to ask you," said he, "if you had written nothing +yet for the 'Miscellaneous.' _Spener's Journal_ had yesterday such +a beautiful 'Miscellaneous,' and told about a woman who had four +children at a birth, and a stork which had arrived and built its nest, +although it was the month of October." + +Mr. Kretschmer frowned. "_Spener's Journal_ always has some wonderful +news, and amuses the Berlin people with all kinds of stupid gossip," +grumbled he. "The rivalry of such a paper is unbearable." + +"Well, how about the miscellaneous intelligence?" asked the printer's +boy. + +Mr. Kretschmer stamped his foot angrily. "Go to the devil!" said he. + +At this moment there was heard a loud crying and shouting; and while +the printer's boy pitched out of the door, Mr. Kretschmer hurried to +the window to find out the cause of the uproar. + +A heaving, noisy crowd filled the street below, and had halted right +under the editor's window. In the midst thereof was seen the tall, +lank figure of a man, whose extraordinary appearance enchained the +attention of the multitude, and excited afresh their shouts and +derisive laughter. And, in fact, nothing could be more striking or +fantastic than this man. Notwithstanding the cool October weather, +his gigantic figure was clothed from head to foot in gray linen, +harmonizing strangely with the gray color of his skin and hair, +which latter fell in long locks from his uncovered head down on his +shoulders, and gave to the apparition the semblance of a pyramidical +ash-heap, out of which his eyes shone like two burning coals. Around +his shoulders hung a long cloak of gray linen, which, in addressing +the multitude, he sometimes threw around him in picturesque folds, +sometimes spread out wide, enveloping his long arms in it, so that he +looked like an expanded bat. + +"Ah! it is Pfannenstiel, our prophetic linen-weaver," said Mr. +Kretschmer, smiling, as he opened his window, and exchanged a look of +recognition with the man who was gazing up at him. + +The linen-weaver and prophet had rapidly acquired some renown in +Berlin by his prophecies and predictions. The people believed in his +mystic words and soothsayings and mistaken fanaticism. He related to +them his visions and apparitions; he told about the angels and the +Lord Jesus, who often visited him; about the Virgin Mary, who appeared +in his room every night, and inspired him with what he was to say to +the people, and gave him pictures whose mystic signification he was to +interpret to them. The prophet possessed more than a hundred of these +pictures, given him by celestial apparitions. He had them carefully +pasted together, and rolled up always with him. These pictorial +sheets, roughly painted on coarse paper, served the linen-weaver in +lieu of cards or coffee-grounds, for the purpose of prophesying to the +people and announcing the future to them; and the good folks of Berlin +believed in these prophecies with firm faith, and listened with devout +confidence to the words of their prophet. + +Pfannenstiel was in the act of unrolling his pictures, and the +multitude, which, just before, had been shouting and screaming, became +suddenly silent, and gazed up at the weaver with intense expectation. +A breathless silence ensued, and, far down the street, sounded the +prophet's loud and sonorous voice. He pointed to the last of his +pictures, which, in coarse, clumsy drawing, represented a town, from +the houses of which flames arose in the most variegated colors. + +"Behold! behold!" cried the prophet, "and fall on your knees and pray! +Yes, pray! for I tell you the Holy Ghost appeared to me, His wings +dripping with blood, and in His burning and flaming beak He held this +picture which I now show you." + +"Well, then, how is it that the picture is not burnt too, if the Holy +Ghost held it in His burning beak?" asked an impudent shoemaker's boy. + +A low laugh ran through the crowd, but this was soon suppressed by +angry, threatening voices, commanding silence and quiet. + +The prophet turned with an air of majestic composure toward the +questioner: "Why was not this picture burnt? Because God wished to +perform a miracle, to manifest Himself to me in His glory, and to +prove to me that this vision was from Him, and not from the devil. +Yes, indeed, God gave me this picture that we might be warned--not +to terrify us. Listen, therefore, to my voice, and learn what God +announces to you from my mouth." + +"I would like indeed to hear what the stupid rascal is going to +announce to these poor foolish devils," muttered Mr. Kretschmer, +leaning out of the window and listening attentively. + +Pfannenstiel continued: "Behold these columns of fire rising from the +houses of this town. This town is Berlin, and the fire will burst out +of the roofs of your houses. Woe! woe! will sound in your streets, and +weeping and lamentation will fill the air. I say unto you, watch and +pray! Strew ashes on your heads, and fall down on your knees and pray +to God for mercy, for the enemy is before your gates, and ere the sun +sets the Russians will enter your town! I say unto you, verily I +say unto you, God spoke to me in a voice of thunder, and said, +'The Russians are coming!' Fall down and pray, for the Russians are +coming!" + +"The Russians are coming!" cried the terrified multitude and some +among them turned pale. The weeping women folded their hands in +prayer; the men looked around timidly, and the frightened children +clung to their mothers in dread of the Russians, whose name was +synonymous with that of savages and cannibals. Even Kretschmer could +not help feeling somewhat terrified. He drew back thoughtfully from +the window, muttering with a shudder, "The Russians are coming!" + +The people crowded around the prophet in still narrower circles, and +in more piercing tones wept and cried out: "What shall we do? What +shall we do to be saved? Have mercy, O God! Have mercy on Berlin, for +the Russians are coming!" + +"Yes, they are coming!" cried Pfannenstiel. "God told me so in the +roll of His thunder and the lightning of His eyes; and he said to me: +'Go and say to the people of Berlin, "The Russians are coming!" and +thou shalt see in the same hour how their hearts will shrink, and how +cast down they will be; how their eyes will run tears, and their +lips utter prayers, for the Russian is the sworn enemy of the Berlin +people; and as often as the cry, "The Russians are coming," sounds +through the streets of Berlin, there will be wailing and lamentation +in every house and every heart; and they will bow down in timid +contrition and abject obedience. Speak, therefore, to them, and say, +"The Russians are coming!" that they may become humble and quiet; that +the proud word may be silenced on their lips, and that they may submit +in peace.'" + +"What shall we do?" asked the people. "Help us, advise us, for thou +art our prophet." + +Pfannenstiel drew himself up to his utmost height, and an expression +of triumphant cunning sparkled in his eyes. "Do you not understand +the voice of God? God commands you to withdraw in silence and peace to +your own dwellings, to weep and pray. Go, then! Let the word of your +mouth and the rebelliousness of your hearts be silent. Go home to your +huts, shut the doors and windows, and do not venture out, for without, +death and the Russians await you!" + +Obedient to the voice of their prophet, the crowd separated in +different directions, and dispersed quietly. + +Pfannenstiel looked after them with a smile of scorn; then silently +rolled up his pictures, threw his gray cloak over his shoulders, and, +casting a serious and significant look up at Mr. Kretschmer's window, +strode down the street slowly and with an air of majestic dignity. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE COWARDS' RACE. + + +The warning sounded loud and threatening in Mr. Kretschmer's +ears--"The Russians are coming!" A cold chill ran through him, and +he could not prevent an involuntary shudder. But he tried to rouse +himself from this despondency, and laughed at himself for this +credulous fear. + +"This Pfannenstiel is a fool, and I would he a greater one if I +believed his nonsense," said he. "No, no, my information is warranted +and authentic. The king has had a sharp skirmish with the Russians +near Reitwan, and driven them back, and then proceeded quietly to +Meissen. Thus there is no ground for anxiety, and I can safely let off +my bomb-shells against the Russians." + +Mr. Kretschmer felt his courage return and his heart grow warm. + +"Now I see the whole game," cried he, laughing. "Pfannenstiel wishes +the _Vossian Gazette_ to take notice of him. He wants to be talked +about, and wishes the newspapers to spread his reputation. For that +reason he stationed himself right under my window, for that reason he +cast such significant looks at me, for that reason he addressed the +crowd and poured forth his nonsense right here. Yes, that's it! He +wishes to prove to me how great his power is over this people +which believes in him, even when he utters the most incredible and +unheard-of things. Well, we can help the man," continued he, +laughing, as he stepped to his desk. "The desired article for the +'Miscellaneous' is found, and I think that the prophetic linen-weaver, +Pfannenstiel, is well worth more than the four children at a birth and +the miserable stork's nest of yesterday's _Spener's Journal_. Let's +write it off quickly." + +Kretschmer began to write most industriously, when he was suddenly +interrupted by a violent knocking at the door. It opened, and a +stately old gentleman entered, with well-powdered wig and long queue. + +"Mr. Krause, my worthy colleague!" exclaimed Kretschmer, jumping +up and hastening toward the old man. But Mr. Krause had no word of +greeting. He sank sighing into a chair. + +"Do you know the news?" asked he, in a whining tone, folding his +trembling hands, and looking at Kretschmer timidly, as he stood before +him. + +"Know what?" demanded the latter in reply, feeling his heart sink. + +"The Russians are coming!" sighed Mr. Krause. + +"That is a silly tale," cried Kretschmer peevishly, with an impatient +gesture. + +"Would to God it were!" groaned Krause; "but the news is, alas, but +too true, and it can no longer be doubted!" + +"Man of misfortune," cried Mr. Kretschmer, "who told you so?" + +"Pfannenstiel." + +"Pfannenstiel?" repeated Kretschmer, laughing heartily; "oh, yes! +Pfannenstiel prophesied it just now in the streets, under my window. +Now don't distress yourself, dearest friend and colleague. That was +only a clumsy trick of the scoundrel to get me to write an article +about him in the _Vossian Gazette_. I have already gratified his +wish." + +"You are mistaken," said Krause, mournfully. "I sent Pfannenstiel +into the streets, to quiet the people, and to admonish them to behave +peaceably and soberly, even if the Russians should come." + +"Oh! you believe in all these dreams of Pfannenstiel?" + +"I believe in the truth, and in what I know!" exclaimed Krause +emphatically. "Pfannenstiel has for a long time been my agent, and +for a considerable stipend, paid every month, informs me of all that +happens, is talked and thought of in the town. He is a very useful +man, peculiarly suited to this service." + +"The approach of the Russians is then town-talk, and nothing more?" +asked Kretschmer, who was still anxious to throw doubt on the bad +news. + +"No, it is a fact," said Krause seriously. "Pfannenstiel is, as you +know, not only a prophet, but also a quack doctor, and his herbs and +decoctions are certainly often of astonishing efficacy. He always +gathers the plants for his mixtures himself, and roams about in search +of them in the neighborhood of Berlin for days together. Last evening +he was outside the town, on one of these tramps, intending to pass +the night sleeping under a tree. He was awoke by the sound of +troops marching, and as he looked carefully around, he could plainly +distinguish in the bright moonlight the uniforms of the Russian army. +It was a long column of many thousand men. They halted not far from +the place where Pfannenstiel lay, and he crept carefully nearer. He +then ascertained from their conversation that this was only a small +division of the army, which had advanced by forced marches from +Frankfort, and was commanded by General Tottleben." + +"By Tottleben!" cried Kretschmer in dismay. + +"Yes, by Tottleben," whimpered Krause, and they both looked in silence +on the ground. "Yes, his vengeance will be terrible," said Krause, +after a long and anxious pause. "Have you not heard," continued he in +whisper--"have you not heard the sad story of what occurred last year +in Erlangen? The editor of the _Erlangen Gazette_ admitted into his +columns an article abusive of our great king. A Prussian officer came +in person to Erlangen to call the editor to account. And what do you +think he did? He caused the unfortunate and pitiable journalist to be +beaten with cudgels, and then gave him a receipt for the bastinado he +had gotten." + +"Horrible!" cried Mr. Kretschmer, wringing his hands. + +Mr. Krause continued: "When a refined Prussian, officer can behave +in this way, what have we to expect from these rough, uncivilized +enemies, the Russians? Oh! they will murder us, for we, too, have +ventured to write boldly and energetically against them." + +"Yes, you particularly," said Mr. Kretschmer quickly. "Do you +recollect the famous article in your paper, in which you called +General Tottleben a notorious adventurer, who had deserted to the +enemy after having enjoyed the unmerited favor of our king? This was, +certainly, rather strong; it might even be called indiscreet." + +"Not as indiscreet as your 'Earnest and Confidential Country Talk,'" +cried Krause sharply. + +"I never avowed myself the author of that pamphlet," said Kretschmer +quickly. + +"But every one knows that you are, and you never denied it," replied +Krause maliciously. "This 'Country Talk' is more than indiscreet, +it is foolhardy. In it you nicknamed Maria Theresa, Aunt Tilla; the +Elector of Saxony, Brother Osten; the Empress of Russia, Cousin Lizzy; +and our king, Neighbor Flink. And don't you remember what words +you put into Cousin Lizzie's mouth, and how you made neighbor Flink +ridicule her? Ah, I am afraid you will pay dearly for this" piece of +boldness." + +"It is not quite so bad as your calling Tottleben a notorious +adventurer; for the princes are not here, but Tottleben is before the +gates of Berlin, and will revenge himself." + +"I am afraid our prospects are equally bad, and for that reason I have +come to you, that we might consult together as to what we had best do, +to avert this threatening blow from our heads." + +"You are right," said Kretschmer, drawing nearer to his brother +editor. "Let us consider. Above all things, no exciting calls, no +appeals to the people to perform deeds of heroic valor. Berlin is too +weak for defence; why, then, should we irritate the enemy by useless +opposition?" + +"You, too, are right," said Krause thoughtfully; "let us rather advise +the citizens of Berlin to be quiet; let us wheel boldly round, and +speak in our journals with respect and deference of our worthy enemy." + +"Besides which, it would be well to consult with some of the principal +men who have an influence on the people. For example, let us go to +Gotzkowsky," said Kretschmer. + +"Gotzkowsky gives a great holiday to his workmen to-day." + +"So much the better, for then he can immediately use his influence on +his workmen. Come, let us go at once to Gotzkowsky, this Croesus of +Berlin, who bought for our king three hundred thousand dollars' worth +of pictures in Italy, without having been paid for them up to this +day, and yet is able to take a contract for commissary stores to the +amount of eight millions. Let us go to him; and, hark ye! it would be +as well to take Pfannenstiel with us to back us." + +"Yes," said Krause, raising himself quickly by the arm of his younger +friend, "let us go to Gotzkowsky with Pfannenstiel, and preach +mildness and submission to him and his workmen." + +They both prepared to go. Suddenly Kretschmer stopped as if struck by +lightning, and sank down on a chair stunned. "My article, my article!" +moaned he. "I am a lost man!" + +"What article do you mean, my dearest friend?" + +"The leading article in tomorrow's paper," whimpered Kretschmer. +"Oh, it was a beautiful article, full of inspiration, but it is not +suitable to the times or the circumstances. I wrote it under the +erroneous impression that our armies had gained a victory, and in it I +spoke with great contempt of the incendiary enemy." + +"My God, what rashness!" exclaimed Krause, clasping his hands in +despair. + +Kretschmer flew from his stool, and grasped his hat. "My article! I +must have my article back. The printer must give it up to me. Wait for +me in the street. I come either with my article or not at all." + +Bidding Krause a hasty farewell, he hurried out. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE INTERRUPTED FESTIVAL. + + +Gotzkowsky had as yet received no intelligence of the danger which +threatened the town, and was enjoying the festival in his garden in +the midst of his people. + +They were all collected on a grass-plat for target-shooting. In the +midst of the plat rose a pole with a target. The women and girls were +standing around, attentively and curiously watching the men, who, +collected under a tent, were shooting with crossbows at the target. +Every lucky shot was greeted with a cheer, every unlucky one with +derisive laughter; and the prizes which were assigned to the fortunate +marksmen only served to increase the joy and merriment of the happy +crowd. + +Suddenly loud cries of weeping and lamentation were heard from a +distance. The people looked at each other with anxiety and alarm. The +dismal noise came nearer and still nearer, and then appeared at the +entrance gate near by the strange and wild figure of the linen-weaver, +accompanied by the two editors, Krause and Kretschmer. + +"Pfannenstiel! it is Pfannenstiel, our prophet!" shouted the crowd, +while they hastened with joyous laughter and words of greeting toward +their beloved seer. + +The linen-weaver strode forward with a serious and majestic air, +answering the greetings of the workmen with patronizing nods, and +from time to time stretching out his hand as if to bless them. The +multitude crowded around him, and seemed to look upon the advent +of the prophet as part of the programme of the entertainment. But +Gotzkowsky hastened toward the two editors with a cheerful smile, +bidding them a courteous welcome. They responded to his friendly +greeting with a solemn earnestness, and requested a conference with +a mysterious and important air. Gotzkowsky looked at them with +astonishment; but as he read in their countenances an expression of +deep and anxious concern, he motioned to them and preceded them to a +summer-house on the other side of the lawn. + +"Here we can talk without being observed," said he, casting a look +across at his workmen. "You see my guests are still busy with the +scarecrow which you brought here; and what business has this man, +indeed, among merry people?" + +"He maintains that God ordered him to come to you, to warn you in His +name, and call upon you to protect Berlin," said Krause. + +"Yes," continued Kretschmer, "and he entreated us to accompany him, +trusting to our influence with our dear friend." + +Gotzkowsky looked at both of the men with astonishment. "Tell me, my +worthy friends, which of us is crazy?" asked he, smiling, partly in +derision, partly in pity. "I am called on to protect Berlin, and from +what?" + +"Because the Russians are coming," said Mr. Krause, solemnly. + +Gotzkowsky shrugged his shoulders. "That is an idle rumor," said he; +"two days ago they were still in Frankfort. You see, therefore, that +some wag has amused himself by teasing you and frightening you a +little for the thunderbolts which you two, and particularly the +_Vossian Gazette_, have launched against the Russians." + +Mr. Kretschmer shuddered and turned pale. "I beg you," cried he, "do +not speak of it! Good Heavens! the _Vossian Gazette_ is the organ of +the popular mind, and it is its duty to take each day the exact tone +of public opinion. I abused the Russians, therefore, because--" + +"Because they were still a hundred miles from Berlin. Oh, yes! we know +you, gentlemen of the press. You are full of courage as long as no +enemy is in the field, but as soon as you scent him and see the points +of his lances, you become quite humble and mild; and when he comes +threateningly down upon you, assure him of your respect and swear to +him that you love him," interrupted Gotzkowsky. + +"You are pleased to jest," said Mr. Krause, casting a rapid glance of +hatred at Gotzkowsky; "it is well, indeed, that the rich and powerful +Gotzkowsky is so cheerful. I will notice it in my journal. It is news +for 'Change, and the funds will rise when people hear that Gotzkowsky +has laughed." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance became sad and serious. "You may tell the +world," said he, "that my lips laugh; but how my heart feels, that you +gossips and newspapers know nothing about." + +"God be praised," said Kretschmer, ironically, "you are now +talking earnestly, and I can request you to listen to our serious +representations. It is no idle rumor that I have told you. The +Russians are already at the gates of Berlin. They have hurried thither +by forced marches. This news is no longer a secret. All Berlin knows +it, and it is only accidentally that you have not learned it earlier." + +"Oh, Heavens!" sobbed Krause, wringing his hands, "what a terrible +fate awaits our unfortunate town!" + +Gotzkowsky looked at him with a gloomy frown. "You are, it is true, an +old man," said he, "but even old men should, at such a time, possess +some manhood. But you, Mr. Kretschmer, are young and hearty; what do +you say to this approach of the Russians?" + +"I say," replied Kretschmer, sharply, "I say that it would be madness +to excite the wrath of the enemy by resistance. I say, that those +citizens who call on the people to fight are rash fools." + +"Oh!" cried Gotzkowsky, joyfully, "if there be any such _rash fools_, +then all is not lost!" + +"Can you comprehend such madness?" whispered Krause, "to wish to +oppose an overwhelming force while all our capable men and youths +are with the army in Silesia, and we have no troops but the sick and +maimed; no artillery save two old rusty cannon?" + +"A people willing to fight for liberty," cried Gotzkowsky, "such a +people have the strength of a giant even without cannon and bayonets. +God has given them hands and paving-stones. If we cannot shoot down +the enemy who threatens our liberty, we can beat him down." + +"What do you say?" stammered Krause, looking with amazement at +Gotzkowsky's glowing countenance. + +"I say," said Gotzkowsky, "that you have mistaken your man. I will not +advise the brave Berlin people to yield without having at least fought +for their freedom." + +"But only reflect!" exclaimed Kretschmer, while Krause paced up +and down, wringing his hands and moaning in a low tone; "have you +forgotten that the Russian generals have proclaimed that the +empress has commanded them to leave nothing but air and earth to the +inhabitants of every conquered town and province of Prussia?" + +"Oh, pshaw!" cried Gotzkowsky, laughing, "they will have to conclude +to leave us something more." + +"And did you hear London's terrible threat? He has said his soldiers +should massacre every one, and not spare even the child in its +mother's womb." + +"And did you not hear the brave Schwerin's answer to this Austrian +bravado?" asked Gotzkowsky. "He said, 'My soldiers are not with +child, neither am I.' Well, our men of Berlin are not with child, and +therefore they need not be afraid." + +"But you must be afraid!" whined Krause. "It is disgraceful madness +not to be afraid. How! You can be so unreasonable as to advise war? +But war is the most bitter enemy of prosperity, and threatens property +above all things." + +"Then shame on the proprietors," cried Gotzkowsky, "if their property +is to make cowardly poltroons of them! Liberty is our greatest +possession, and all else must yield to it." + +At this moment loud cries and sounds of wailing were heard in the +garden from the collected workmen, who surrounded the prophet in a +dense group, and listened to his prophecies with anxious wonder as he +uttered them from a high bench. + +Gotzkowsky frowned. "Ah, I understand!" said he, "this good +linen-weaver is your accomplice, my brave gentlemen, and as you wish +to convert me, so does he wish to convert my honest workmen into old +women. Let us see first in what sort of gibberish he preaches his +wisdom to these good people." + +Without taking any further notice of the two editors, Gotzkowsky left +the summer-house rapidly and approached the listening multitude. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE LEADER OF THE PEOPLE. + + +The inspired prophet stood on a bench, and, as he unrolled his +pictures, he endeavored to explain these mystical paintings to his +devout gazers and listeners in equally mystical language. Gotzkowsky +hastened toward this group, and pressed in silent observation close up +to Pfannenstiel's side. + +The linen-weaver, wholly possessed by his prophetic god, had in the +mean while unrolled another picture, and holding it up high with +solemn countenance, exclaimed with a screaming voice: "The day of +judgment is at hand, and destiny is at your door! In my dream I saw a +face like unto no other face, and I heard a voice, and the voice was +like unto no other voice!" + +"And yet you heard it! What ears you must have!" said Gotzkowsky, +laughing. + +The prophet answered calmly, "Yes! for then were seen invisible +things, and then were heard inaudible sounds!" And showing a fresh +picture to the crowd, he continued: "Look at this picture, which +I found this morning on my sheet. It contains the history of your +future, and God announced it to me as I sat at my loom weaving. I +heard a voice crying, 'Pfannenstiel, my beloved son, dost thou hear +me?' And I fell on my knees and answered, 'Yes, I hear.' 'Dost thou +know what thou art weaving?' asked the voice. 'Yes,' said I, 'it is +linen shirting for the almshouse.' 'No,' said the voice, 'it is a +cloth of weeping for the town of Berlin, for the daughters of your +fathers will shed tears, and there will be moaning and weeping.'" + +These last words he accompanied with a sobbing and plaintive howl, +in which his trembling hearers joined. They assured each other in +uncomfortable whispers that Pfannenstiel's prophecies usually came +true, and that, even before the war, he had predicted the coming of +this day of terror. + +But soon Pfannenstiel raised his voice, and its hoarse croaking +sounded above the loud conversation and anxious cries of the +multitude. "Woe unto Berlin!" cried he, with shrieking pathos. "Blood +will flow within her walls! The voice said unto me, 'I will look upon +red, but it will not be a scarlet cloak, and when the red banner waves +thrones will tremble, and there will be no end to the lamentation. +And the cock will crow, and the heavens will shine blood-red, and +everywhere and in all places men will cry, "Blood! blood is the drink +of new life; blood makes young what is old; blood wipes out sworn +debts; blood makes the proud humble. Let us drink blood!"'" + +Here the prophet was interrupted by the loud cries and wailing of +the multitude. The women broke out in tears, sank on their knees +and prayed, or clung trembling and weeping to their moody-looking +husbands. + +Pfannenstiel looked with an air of proud triumph on this evident +effect of his speech, and then continued in a more subdued tone: "But +the voice said to me, 'Hope, and every thing will turn out well, and +the blood which flows will transform itself into a purple robe, and +men will call it freedom. Out of death will arise life.' Therefore +fall down on your knees, for the hour of judgment has come, and prayer +alone, but not the sword, can save you." + +The multitude, carried away by the deception, were in the act of +obeying this order, when Gotzkowsky, who could no longer restrain +himself, stepped rapidly forward, his countenance radiant, and his +eyes sparkling with anger. + +"Listen not to this hypocritical set, this lying prophet, my people!" +cried he, with a voice of thunder. "He will make cowards of you all, +cowards who will submit to the yoke, howling and whining. You would +not have this ignominy put upon you. You will be men, who will defend +their liberty with noble courage to the last drop of their blood, +against the invading hordes of barbarians. For the barbarians are +coming, and their fierce wrath threatens your wives and children. Will +you submit to the Russians with a humble whine?" + +"No, no!" cried the men, and many a clinched fist was raised, and many +a wild but muttered oath was heard. + +At this moment there arose in the street a confused sound of screams +and yells, then the hollow roll of the drum, and the deep clang of the +alarm-bell, which summoned the citizens to the town-hall. + +The garden gates were now violently thrown open, and a band of stout +workmen was seen hastening in wild disorder toward Gotzkowsky. + +These were the workmen from Gotzkowsky's factories, industrious men, +who had preferred working in the factory, and not losing their time, +to the enjoyment of the day's festival, and to whom Gotzkowsky had +ordered double wages to be paid, that they might not lose their share +in the celebration of his daughter's birthday. + +"The Russians are at the gates!" cried they. "All the citizens are +arming themselves. We have no arms. Give us arms, master!" + +The cry was taken up by those who had just been listening to +Pfannenstiel's words. "Yes, give us arms, give us arms. We are no +cowards, we will fight!" Gotzkowsky's flashing eye flew across the +multitude, and he saw in the earnest countenances of the men that they +were serious in their demand, and in their desire to fight. "Well, +then, if you will fight, you shall not want for weapons," cried he, +joyfully. "I have, as you know, in my house, a collection of costly +arms. Follow me, my children; we will go to the armory, and each one +shall take what he likes best. On such a day as this, arms do not +belong to any one in particular, but are the property of him who can +find and make use of them. That is the sacred right of manhood. The +country is in danger! Come to my armory and arm yourselves!" + +The men shouted for joy at Gotzkowsky's words, and pushed after him +with wild impetuosity into the house, and the large hall, in which +the costly weapons were tastefully grouped and ornamentally arranged +against the walls. With eager haste the men possessed themselves +of these arms, and Gotzkowsky saw with glad pride his rare Damascus +blades, his delicately carved silver-mounted pistols, his daggers +inlaid with gold, his costly ornamented sabres and guns in the hands +of his warlike workmen. He then armed himself, and his men, always +accustomed to look upon him cheerfully and willingly as their leader, +fell into line behind him in a long military procession. + +"Now, then, my children," cried he, "let us go to the town-hall and +offer our services to the magistrates." + +And at the head of his workmen he left the house. Soon deep silence +reigned in these rooms, so lately filled with noise and tumult. +The garden, too, had become deserted and empty. Pfannenstiel alone +remained in his elevated position, gazing pensively, as in a dream, on +his collection of pictures. + +After this silence had lasted some time, Krause and Kretschmer crept, +cautiously looking around them, out of the summer-house in which they +had secreted themselves up to this moment. Their countenances were +pale and angry. + +"Gotzkowsky is a puffed-up fool," exclaimed Krause, with a dark frown. +"With his swaggering phrases he has seduced these workmen away from +us, to rush into the fight like wounded wild boars, and to bring the +Russians down upon us." + +"We must not give up all hope," said Kretschmer; "the people are timid +and fickle, and whoever will give them the sweetest words wins them +over to his side. Come, let us try our luck elsewhere. Every thing +depends upon our being beforehand with this braggart Gotzkowsky, and +getting first the ear of the people. You, Pfannenstiel, come with us, +and get up your words strong and spirited, so that the stupid people +may believe you." + +Pfannenstiel clapped up his picture-book, and threw his cloak with +majestic dignity over his lean shoulders. "The people are like a flock +of sheep," said he; "they want a leader, never mind who. Only the +leader must be there at the right hour; and if God has bestowed upon +him the gift of eloquence, he can lead them either into the church to +contrite prayer, or to the slaughterfield to bloody combat. The people +are a flock of sheep, nothing more!" + +"Come, then," cried Kretschmer pathetically; "come and be their +bellwether, and lead the people into the church." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE RUSSIAN IS AT THE GATES. + + +In a few minutes quiet, peaceful, industrious Berlin was transformed +into an open encampment. From all the streets there poured throngs +of armed men toward the town-hall, where the wise magistrates were +consulting on the possibility of resistance, or toward the commander +of Berlin, General Rochow, who had the streets patrolled, and called +upon the citizens, by beat of drum, to assemble with arms, and assist +in the defence of the town. + +"The Russian is at the gates!" This cry of terror seemed to cure the +sick and feeble, and give courage and strength to the wavering. The +old national hatred of the German toward the Russian broke out in its +entire vigor; and vehemence made even the faint-hearted fly to arms, +and caused words of imprecation to rise to the lips of those who were +in the habit of uttering prayers and timid complaints. + +The council of war was assembled at the commander's office, and, +strange to say, it consisted of only old men and invalids. There were +present the infirm veteran general and commander, Rochow, and the +eighty-year-old Field-Marshal Lehwald, the severely-wounded General +Seidlitz, and General Knoblauch, also wounded. These four composed the +whole council, and fully aware of the danger and of the smallness of +their forces, were debating whether they should yield to the demand of +the Russian troops, and give up the town without any defence, or, +with twelve hundred garrison troops, two rusty cannon, a few thousand +wounded soldiers, and an inefficient body of citizens, give battle to +the twelve thousand irregular troops of General Tottleben, who would +soon he reënforced by the army of General Tschernitscheff, twenty +thousand strong, and fourteen thousand Austrians under Count Lacy, +who, as they well knew, were coming on by forced marches. But so great +was the heroic exasperation and eagerness for the fight of these noble +and war-worn veterans, that not one of them advised submission; but, +on the contrary, they unanimously determined to defend Berlin as long +as a drop of blood flowed in their veins. As these brave generals had +no army to lead into the fight, they would defend the town, not as +commanders of high rank, but as fighting soldiers, and waiving their +military rank and dignity to their noble love of country, like other +soldiers, they would each one defend his intrenchment or redoubt. + +But while the military commanders were adopting these heroic +resolutions, the Town Council was engaged in secret session at the +town-hall. The wise fathers were staring at each other with terror +in their countenances, and considering, in pusillanimous +faint-heartedness, whether they would really assume the heavy +responsibility of engaging the peaceful citizens in a fight, which, +after all, would be, in all probability, useless and without result. + +"I vote for submission," stammered out the chief burgomaster, Herr von +Kircheisen, with heavy tongue, as he wiped off the big drops of sweat +which stood upon his brow with his silk handkerchief. "I vote for +submission. The honorable citizens of this town are not called on to +spill their blood in useless fighting, nor to irritate the wrath of +the enemy by resistance. And besides, the enemy will doubtless lay a +war tax on us, and this will certainly be lighter if we submit at +once than if we resist. Further, it is the sacred duty of a prudent +magistrate to protect and preserve, to the best of his ability, the +property of the citizens. It is therefore my opinion that, in order +to save the hard-earned possessions of the poor citizens of Berlin, +already sufficiently oppressed, we submit at once to an overwhelming +force." + +By the brightening countenances of the worthy councilmen it could be +plainly perceived that the eloquence of the chief burgomaster had +told powerfully upon them, and that the question of money which he +had raised would prove a powerful and decisive argument in favor of +submission at this momentous period. + +The assistant burgomaster had already expressed his entire concurrence +in the views of Herr von Kircheisen, and the first alderman was in +the act of opening his mouth to do the same, when the patriotic +deliberations of the worthy gentlemen were interrupted by shouts and +cries from the street below, which drove them in terror from their +seats. They hastened to the windows, and, carefully concealed behind +the curtains, ventured to peep down into the street. + +Down there they beheld a much more lively sight--men and youths, old +men and boys streamed toward the town-hall, and, raising their eyes +and arms to the windows, demanded from the city fathers, with genuine +enthusiasm, weapons and ammunition. Perhaps, indeed, it was only fear +which had suddenly made these peaceful citizens of Berlin so bold and +lion-hearted: one thing is certain, that is, that at this moment they +were all animated by one sentiment, one impulse, and that their deadly +hatred against Russian and Austrian tendered peaceable submission +impossible. The tailor threw away his needle and grasped the sword, +the shoemaker exchanged his awl for a dagger, and all these quiet, +humble citizens had been transformed by hatred and fear, anger and +terror, into most belligerent heroes. + +"Give us arms!" was the reiterated cry. + +An heroic tailor climbed up on the shoulders of a hunchback shoemaker, +and sawing the air violently with his arms, cried out: "The people of +Berlin demand their rights; they will fight for their liberty. Give +the people of Berlin their due. Give them arms--arms!" + +"Arms!" roared the crowd. "We will have arms!" + +"And what do you want with arms?" cried suddenly a shrill, piercing +voice. All eyes were turned toward the spot whence the voice +proceeded, and there was seen the meagre figure of the linen-weaver, +who had leaped upon a bench, and from his elevated position was +looking down upon the people with the confident air of a conqueror. +But Pfannenstiel observed, to his dismay, that this time his +appearance did not produce the desired effect; on the contrary, angry +looks were cast upon him, and occasionally a threatening fist was +raised against the divinely-inspired prophet. + +"What do you want with arms?" cried he once more. "Prayer is the only +weapon becoming peaceful citizens." + +A burst of scornful laughter was the answer. "Down with the +linen-weaver! Tear him to pieces!" roared the crowd, becoming +infuriated. + +"We mean to fight, and not to pray," cried the valorous tailor. + +"We want none of your poltroonery, you blackguard of a linen-weaver!" + +"The tailor is right! Pfannenstiel is a false prophet!" cried another +voice. + +"Hang him!" + +"He wants to make cowards of us!" + +The crowd raged still more furiously, and pressed toward the spot +where Pfannenstiel stood. Threatening hands were raised against him, +and the situation of the prophet of peace began to be uncomfortable +enough, when suddenly two new figures rose near him, and, by their +unexpected appearance, restrained for a moment the wrath of the +people. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BE PRUDENT. + + +These two men, who so unexpectedly appeared at the side of the +prophetic weaver, were none else than the two editors, Kretschmer and +Krause, who came to support him in his exhortations in favor of peace, +and to use their eloquence on the multitude assembled in front of the +town-hall. + +Mr. Krause opened: "Listen to me, good citizens of Berlin; look at +my gray hairs. Age has the advantage, if not of wisdom, at least of +experience. Listen to my advice. You who wish to fight for liberty, be +at least prudent and moderate." + +"None of your moderation!" cried the tailor. "We won't be moderate!" + +"But you will be reasonable and prudent, won't you?" cried Mr. +Kretschmer, with his clear, penetrating voice, raising himself on +tiptoe, and casting his large, light-blue eyes over the crowd. "You +will be reasonable, certainly, and in reason you can tell me what you +wish, and we can deliberate, and decide whether that which you wish, +is reasonable." + +"We want arms." + +"But why do you want arms?" + +"To fight the enemy," cried the shoemaker, whom the crowd seemed +tacitly to recognize as their mouthpiece. + +"You really wish, then, to fight?" asked Mr. Kretschmer. "You wish +to precipitate yourselves into a fight, with the certainty of being +defeated. You wish to put yourselves in opposition to an enemy who +out-numbers you ten times; who, with sneering pride, will drive your +little band of warriors, with his cannon, to destruction! Consider +what you are about to do! Twelve thousand Russians are now before +your gates; their cannon pointed against your walls, your houses, your +churches, and they are awaiting only an opportunity of springing upon +you like a tiger on his prey. And what have we to oppose them? Our +little garrison consists of invalids and wounded men; for our young +men, able to fight, are all with the king on the bloody fields of +Silesia, and only a small band of worthy citizens remains here. Can +they fight against an overwhelming enemy, ten times their number? Can +they wish to do it?" + +No one answered this question. The countenances became thoughtful, and +the redness of anger grew paler on their cheeks. + +"Yes," cried one of the people, "we are very weak." + +"We cannot think of gaining a victory," grumbled out another. + +Mr. Kretschmer perceived, by the darkening faces and downcast look of +his audience, that the prudence he was preaching had already commenced +to press the courage of the poor people into the background, and +raising his voice still higher he continued: + +"Your fighting will be a species of suicide. Your wives and children +will curse you for having killed their husbands and fathers. Worthy +citizens! be prudent, and remember that work and not war is your +calling. Go home, then, and mind your business; take care of your +wives and children, and bow your heads in humbleness, for necessity +will teach you prudence." + +Mr. Kretschmer stopped, and the silent assembly seemed to be +considering whether they should listen to his prudent advice. Even +the heroic tailor had climbed down from the hump of the shoemaker, and +remained thoughtful and silent. + +"The man is right," cried the shoemaker, in his grumbling, bass voice. + +"Yes, indeed," said his gossip, the glover; "why should we sacrifice +our legs and arms? We can't beat them anyhow." + +"Now, my friends," whispered Kretschmer to his associates, "now is +your turn to speak. My breath is exhausted. You speak now and finish +the good work I commenced. Admonish the people to be moderate." + +"I will make them perfectly enthusiastic in the cause of peace +and quiet," said Mr. Krause, in a low voice. "You shall see how +irresistible the stream of my eloquence will be," and striding forward +with pathetic mien, and raising both arms as if to implore the people, +he exclaimed in a loud voice: "You say so, and it is so! We cannot be +victorious. Now, my opinion is, that as we cannot beat the enemy, we +ought not to fight him, and in that way we can cheat him out of his +victory. For where there is no fight, there can be no victory. Resist +the armed bands with the quiet obstacle of mental fortitude. Do not +act, but submit. Submit with a defiant air. Do not use your weapons, +but do not yield them up to the enemy. Keep your hands on the hilts +of your swords, and be quiet. When they mock and abuse you, be silent; +but let them read your defiance in your countenances; when they press +upon you with sword and cannon, retire with a proud smile, and do not +defend yourselves, and we will see whether they are brutal enough to +attack peaceful non-combatants. Act in this way, and the moral victory +is yours, and you then will have conquered the enemy by your moral +greatness, even if you are physically subdued. Against cannon +and bayonets a people cannot defend themselves except by passive +resistance, by submission, with secret and silent hatred in their +hearts. Use no other weapons than this passive resistance, and +posterity will praise you, and say of you, with admiration, that +you were no heroes of fight, but heroes of passive resistance. Your +country will be proud of you!" + +Mr. Krause paused, and leaned, worn out, on the shoulder of the +prophetic linen-weaver. + +"You may be in the right," said the tailor, still rebellious at heart; +"all that sounds right and reasonable, but still it don't suit me, +and I don't see how the country can be proud of us, if we behave like +cowards, and let ourselves be bamboozled this way." + +"Do you hush, tailor!" cried the hunchbacked shoemaker. "The chap +thinks because he can manage a sharp needle, he must be able to yield +a broadsword; but let me tell you, my brave boy, that a stick with a +sword hurts worse than a prick with a needle. It is not only written, +'Shoemaker, stick to your last,' but also, 'Tailor, stick to your +needle.' Are we soldiers, that we must fight? No, we are respectable +citizens, tailors and shoemakers, and the whole concern is no business +of ours. And who is going to pay us for our legs and arms when they +have been cut off?" + +"Nobody, nobody is going to do it!" cried a voice from the crowd. + +"And who is going to take care of our wives and children when we are +crippled, and can't earn bread for them? Perhaps they are going to +put us in the new almshouse, which has just been built outside of the +King's Gate, and which they call the Oxen-head." + +"No, no, we won't go into the Oxen-head!" screamed the people. "We +won't fight! let us go home." + +"Yes, go home, go home!" cried Krause and Kretschmer, delighted, and +Pfannenstiel repeated after them-- + +"Let us go home!" + +And indeed the groups began to separate and thin out; and the two +editors, who had descended from their bench, mixed with the crowd, and +enforced their peaceful arguments with zealous eloquence. + +But it seemed as if Fortune did not favor them, for now down the +neighboring street came Gotzkowsky with his band of armed workmen. He +drew them up in front of the town-hall. The sight of this bold +company of daring men, with determined countenances and flashing +eyes, exercised a magical influence on the people; and when Gotzkowsky +addressed them, and with overpowering eloquence and burning words +implored them to resist, when with noble enthusiasm he summoned them +to do their duty, and to remember their honors as men, the versatile +crowd began again to cry out--"Arms, arms! give us arms!" + +But the humpbacked shoemaker still remained cowed and timid, and the +threatenings of the preachers of peace still sounded in his ears. +He threw up his arms and cried out: "Children, remember what the +gentlemen told us. Have nothing to do with fighting. Be wise and +prudent!" + +"The devil take your prudence!" cried Gotzkowsky. In an hour like this +we have no need of prudence; we want courage! Won't you fight?" + +"No, we won't!" cried the shoemaker, resolutely. "We want to keep our +arms and legs." + +"We don't want to go to the Oxen-head!" exclaimed another. + +Gotzkowsky broke out impetuously: "Are you men, who dare to talk in +this way? You are afraid of losing your limbs, and you are not afraid +of losing, by your cowardice, your most valuable possessions, your +liberty and your honor. Even if you do crawl through our streets as +cripples, your wives and children will point to you with pride, and +men will whisper to each other, 'He too was one of the heroes +who fought for liberty, one of the brave men who, when Berlin was +besieged, met the enemy, and fought bravely for our rights.'" + +"That's fine," cried the tailor, carried away by Gotzkowsky's fiery +words. "Yes, let us be heroes, let us fight!" + +At the windows of the town-hall above, hid behind the curtains, the +wise members of the city Council still stood and listened with anxious +hearts to what was going on below. The countenance of the chief +burgomaster became ashy pale, and drops of cold sweat stood on his +brow. "This Gotzkowsky will ruin us all," sighed he heavily. "He does +not think what he is doing. His foolhardiness will compel us all to +be brave. But we will have to pay for our liberty, not only with our +blood, but with our fortunes. And this man, who calculates so badly, +pretends to be a merchant! But we must yield to this rash mob, for to +oppose an excited people might bring even the honorable Council into +danger. Good Heavens!" cried he, interrupting himself, "what is this +again?" + +To the sound of martial music, there was seen coming down the street a +band of scar-covered veterans, the invalids of the first years of the +war. Some limped, others carried their arms in slings, others again +had their heads bound up; but one could perceive, by their serious, +determined faces, that they were animated by a high and cheerful +courage, which placed them above physical suffering. In their midst, +on a litter, was borne the brave General von Seidlitz, whose wounds, +received in the battle of Kunersdorf, had not yet healed; but the +danger which threatened Berlin had roused him from a bed of suffering, +and, as he could not walk, he had himself carried to the battery at +the Kottbuss Gate, the defence of which he had undertaken. + +As the hero turned to the people with a friendly greeting, and +exhorted them to courage, with short and appropriate words, there +sounded from a thousand voices an enthusiastic "Hurrah!" The people +waved their hats, and cried loudly and tumultuously up at the windows +of the Council, "Give us arms--arms!" + +At the window above stood the chief burgomaster, with trembling limbs +and livid face. "It is decided," said he, softly; "the people of +Berlin are determined to die as heroes, or purchase their liberty with +all the wealth of the town," and, with a weak cry of grief, he sank +fainting into the arms of the head alderman. + +The assistant burgomaster opened the window and cried out: "You shall +have arms. We will defend Berlin with our last breath, and to the last +drop of our blood!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE NIGHT OF HORRORS. + + +Thus, once more, had the impetuous boldness of the patriots carried +the day against braggart cowardice. The Council, yielding to +necessity, had resolved to be brave. The chief burgomaster, who had +revived, donned his robe of office, adorned himself with his golden +chain, and followed by the councillors, proceeded to Commander Rochow, +to ask for arms for the citizens of Berlin. This petition was readily +granted; the armory was thrown open, and there were seen, not only +men and youths, old men and boys, but even women and girls, arming +themselves for the sacred fight for fatherland and freedom. As if on +a pilgrimage, the people proceeded to the armory in a long, solemn +procession, silent and devout, a noble determination, a brave and +cheerful but subdued expression observable in every face. No loud +cries, not a rude word, nor boisterous laughter was heard from this +crowd. Each one spoke in low and earnest tones to his neighbor; every +one was conscious of the deep significance of the hour, and feared to +interrupt the religious service of the country by a word spoken too +loud. In silent devotion they crossed the threshold of the armory, +with light and measured steps the crowd circulated through the rooms, +and with solemn calmness and a silent prayer in their hearts, the +people received from the hands of the veteran soldiers the weapons for +the defence of their country. And the flags which hung around on the +walls as shining mementoes of former victories, seemed to greet the +people as patriots who were arming themselves for the holy fight +against the enemy of their country, the destroyer of liberty. + +For it was no longer a fight for Silesia, a strip of territory, which +was to be fought, but a struggle between intellect and brute power, +between civilization and barbarism, the inevitable companion of the +Russian hordes. Prussia represented Germany, and on her waving banner +she bore the civilization, refinement, science, and poetry of Germany. +Her opponent was no longer the German brother, sprung from the same +stock; it was the Austrian, who had called in the assistance of +foreign barbarians, and who was fighting the Germans, the Prussians, +with the help of the Russians. For that reason, the hatred against +the Austrian was among the Prussian troops much more bitter and bloody +than the hatred and abhorrence of the Russians, the sworn enemy of +the German; and when, therefore, the Berlin citizens learned that +the Austrians, too, were approaching under Count Lacy, this news was +considered by these soldier-citizens as a consecration of their arms. + +"Better be buried under the walls of Berlin than yield to the +Austrian!" was the war-cry of the people, who flocked in constantly +renewed streams to the armory for weapons, the watchword of the brave +militia who hastened to all the gates to defend them against the +enemy. + +But all the streets did not offer so lively or proud an appearance. +Whilst the citizens and the warriors scarcely recovered from their +wounds, whilst the people were arming themselves to defend wife and +child, and the sacred liberty of fatherland; whilst these brave +troops were hurrying toward the Dresden and Kottbuss Gates to meet +the Russians, others were seen hastening down the Linden and Frederick +Streets. But these crowds were unarmed, though not empty-handed; their +faces were pale, and their eyes were gloomy and dull. These were the +faint-hearted and irresolute, who, in fear and trembling, were turning +their backs on a town in which was to be fought the fight for the +noblest possessions of mankind. This was the crowd of boasting, +versatile flatterers and parasites, who worshipped no other God +but fortune, and possessed no other faith than that of property and +personal safety. Berlin might be reduced to ashes, barbarism and +slavery might conquer, a foreign ruler might erect his throne in the +midst of the down-fallen city, what did they care, provided their own +lives and money were safe? + +At this time they were hurrying along, pale with fright, death +and terror in their distracted countenances. Women of the highest +nobility, whose silken-shod feet had never before trod the rough +pavement, fled with hasty steps down the street; shoulders which had +never borne the least burden of life or sorrow, were now laden with +treasures, and gold was the parent whom these modern Aeneases +sought to save from the ruins of the threatened town. All ranks and +conditions were confounded; no longer servant and master, fear had +made brothers of them all. Countesses were seen smiling on their +valets, in order to obtain the assistance of their arm to a more rapid +flight; high-born gentlemen were seen laden down, like the meanest of +their servants, with gold and silver ware, which they were seeking to +save from the beleaguered city. + +What did these people care whether Berlin fell, and was taken or not? +What did they care if the throne of the house of Hohenzollern was +overthrown? They had but one thought, one object--safety in flight. +So they hurried down the street, moaning and wailing, breathless and +trembling in every limb, toward the town gates. They reached the goal; +they stood before the gates beyond which were escape and safety. But +these gates were closed, and the soldiers who guarded them declared +that none should pass them, that the men must stay to defend the town, +the women to nurse the wounded and dying. All begging and pleading +were in vain; in vain did the Jew Ephraim, who had become a +millionnaire by the farming of the mint, offer the sentinel thousands +to open the gates; in vain did the gentlemen, once so proud, entreat; +in vain did the beautiful countesses wring their white hands before +the poor despised workman who now stood as sentinel at the gates. +In this moment this poor man was richer than the Hebrew mint-farmer +Ephriam, for he was rich in courage; mightier than the proudest +countess, for to his hands were intrusted the keys of a town; and +the town gates were not opened to these bands of cowards. They were +condemned to remain, condemned to the torture of trembling fear, +cowardly, inactive supplication. + +Howling and whining, they fled back again into the town, in order at +least to bury their treasures, and hold themselves in readiness to +meet the victor, whoever he might be, with flags of peace and hymns of +welcome. + +But before they had reached their houses, bombs had commenced to fly +into the town, and here and there mortar-shells were heard whizzing +through the air; with the cries of the flying and the wounded, and +the screams of the dying, was now heard the moaning toll of the +alarm-bell, telling that to the terrors of the siege were added those +of the elements. Like gigantic torches of a funeral procession shone +the flames of the burning houses, and covered the heavens with crimson +as deep as the blood of those wounded unto death. At last night set +in, but brought no rest for the sick, no refreshment for the +weary. The fire-balls and bomb-shells still flew into the town, the +alarm-bells still continued their mournful toll, the burning houses +still flamed up to the sky; but yet the courage of the besieged did +not sink. They still held their ground intrepidly, and they still +bade an heroic defiance to the attacks of the enemy. In vain did the +Russians attempt to storm the gates, the brave defenders drove them +back again and again. Suddenly the cannon ceased firing, and the enemy +drew back. + +"What is the meaning of this?" asked the combatants at the gates. + +"The meaning is," said Gotzkowsky, who had just arrived from another +part of the town with a squad of his workmen--"the meaning is that +help is approaching. It means that God is on our side, and succors our +noble and righteous cause. The Prince of Wurtemberg has just arrived +from Pasewalk with his division, and General Huelsen is hastening +hither as rapidly as possible from Koswig." + +The brave warriors received this news with a loud hurrah, and embraced +each other with tears in their eyes and thanksgiving in their hearts. + +"We are saved!" cried they to each other; "Berlin will not be +surrendered, Berlin will be victorious, for help has arrived." And +then they sank down on the pavement, to rest for an hour on this hard +bed, after the fatigue of the fierce combat. + +But Gotzkowsky could not rest. For him there was no leisure, no sleep; +neither was there any fear or danger for him. As he had left his +house, his daughter, and his riches unguarded, with the same unconcern +did he move among the rain of balls and the bursting of shells. He did +not think of death nor of danger! He only thought of his country, and +one great, lofty idea--the idea of liberty--burned in his heart and +animated his whole being. The Council, knowing his influence over +the citizens, had, therefore, as soon as the Prince of Wurtemberg had +arrived with his regiment in Berlin, communicated this intelligence to +the brave patriot, and commissioned him to acquaint his men with the +fact. With glistening eye and beaming countenance did he announce +this significant intelligence to his brave warriors, reviving their +courage, and redoubling their strength as they drove the enemy back +from the gates and silenced his cannon. + +But yet in his soul Gotzkowsky was sad and full of care. He had seen +the regiments of the Prince of Wurtemberg as they marched in, and +he had read in the dull countenances of the soldiers, staggering +and sinking from fatigue, that they were not able, nor even in a +condition, to hold a sword. But yet his heart did not fail him. The +elasticity of his courage seemed only to increase with the danger. +Perhaps a short rest, strengthening food, refreshing wine, might +restore to these men their lost strength. + +And now for the first time since the attack of the enemy did +Gotzkowsky turn toward his home; but not to visit his daughter, not to +inquire after his property, but to open his wine-cellars, and to let +his cashier fill his pockets with gold. + +He then returned rapidly down the street directly to the town-hall, +where the Council were in session, and had invited the most venerable +citizens to consult with them. + +Appearing before this august body, Gotzkowsky painted, with glowing +eloquence and impressive words, the destitute condition of the +regiments which had entered the town. He demanded for them nourishment +and support; he entreated the Council to give these weary troops +shelter and rest. + +"First let them eat and sleep," said he, "and then they will fight +for us and conquer. We cannot expect courage from a tired and starved +man." + +From the Council he hastened to the rich merchants and factory lords. +The rich man went begging for his hungry brethren, and his pride +did not feel itself lowered by the petition. No one could resist his +impetuous eagerness; every one was carried away by his unselfish and +impulsive magnanimity. For the moment, even earthly treasures lost +their value, for more valuable possessions were at stake, namely, +liberty and honor. Every one gave cheerfully and most liberally. + +And now it was a glorious sight to see how, in a few hours, the whole +city changed its appearance. As the night before had been full +of horrors and dread events, the next morning and day were like a +festival, the preparation to a great and solemn feast. Forty of the +largest and fattest oxen were slaughtered, to afford a strengthening +meal to those so much in need of nourishment. About mid-day, a strange +procession moved down the König's Street and across the Palace Square. +And what was the meaning of it? It was not a funeral, for there were +no mourning-wreaths and no hearse; it was not a bridal procession, +for the bridal paraphernalia and joyous music were wanting. Nor did it +wend its way toward the church nor the churchyard, but toward the new +and handsome opera-house, recently erected by the king, whose gates +were opened wide to receive it. It looked like a feast of Bacchus at +one time, from the enormous tuns driven along; at another time like +a festival of Ceres, as in solemn ranks came the bakers bringing +thousands of loaves in large wagons. Then followed the white-capped +cooks, bringing the smoking beef in large caldrons. The rear was +finally brought up by the butlers, with large baskets of wine. + +And the beautiful and resplendent temple of art was thrown open to the +reception of all these things, although they only served for material +nourishment, and in the magnificent hall in which formerly Frederick +the Great, with his generals and chosen friends, listened to the magic +strains of Gluck, there sounded now a wild confusion of discordant +cries. The butlers stood by the wine-casks, filling the bottles which +were carried out by the nimble and active _vivandières_, and on the +same stage on which once Galiari and Barbarini, Ostroa and Sambeni +enchanted the public with their marvellous singing, were seen now +large caldrons of beef; and, instead of the singers, the performance +was conducted by cooks, who drew the meat out of the pots, and +arranged it neatly on enormous dishes. Gotzkowsky had attained his +object, and Berlin fed this day the exhausted and hungry troops of the +Prince of Wurtemberg. The merchant of Berlin had given his choicest +and best wines to the banquet of patriotism. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RUSSIANS AND AUSTRIANS. + + +After so many horrors and so many hours of anxiety, at last, on the +evening of the second day of the siege, a momentary suspension of +hostilities occurred. Berlin rested after the excitement and turmoil, +and even the besiegers seemed to be reposing. Shells and fire-balls no +longer hissed through the groaning air, and the thunder of the cannon +had died away. Peace--the peace arising from disabling exhaustion +on the part of the combatants, reigned for a short while, and the +belligerents rested for a few hours to invigorate themselves for +a renewal of the fight. The streets of Berlin, lit by the dull +lamplight, were forsaken and empty, and only occasionally from the +dark houses was heard wailing and moaning, either the death-struggle +of a wounded man or the lamentations of his mourning friends. This +death-like silence prevailed for several hours, when it was broken +by a peculiar noise, sounding like the dull, muffled beat of +drums, followed by the measured tread of marching troops. The sound +approached nearer and nearer, and by the dim light of the street lamps +one could distinctly recognize a column of men marching in close order +from the opera-house down the Linden Street. + +It consisted of more than six thousand men, moving down the "Linden" +in deep silence, unbroken even by a word of command. To see this dark +and silent column passing along the gloomy and deserted street, was +calculated to produce a feeling of awe in the spectator. Any one +inclined to be superstitious might have imagined this warlike force, +marching through the streets at the hour of midnight, noiseless and +silent as the grave, to be, not living soldiers, but the large and +daily increasing cohort of spirits of those fallen in battle, taking +its way through the dying town, as birds of prey fly with prophetic +wing in circles round the fields of death. + +And now the head of the column reaches the Brandenburg Gate. The +sentinel stands to arms and challenges. The leader steps up to the +officer of the guard and whispers a few words in his ear. This officer +bows deeply and respectfully, and gives his sentinel a short order in +an under-tone. He then steps back to his command and presents arms. +The leaves of the gate then turned creaking on their hinges, and in +solemn silence the column marched out. This long, dark procession, +lasted nearly an hour; the gate then closed, and the same quiet +resumed its sway in the streets. + +Berlin was dreaming or sleeping, praying or weeping, but knew not that +in this hour fresh misfortune had fallen upon it; knew not that the +Prince of Wurtemberg had just left the town, and retired upon Spandau +with his regiments, feeling himself too weak to resist an enemy three +times his number. And furthermore, it was not aware that the Austrian +Count Lacy, who had already occupied Potsdam and Charlottenburg, with +his division of ten thousand men, would in a few hours be at the gates +of Berlin. + +In serious consultation, in anxious and wavering expectation, the city +fathers were assembled in the town-hall, which they had not quitted +for two days. But, at this moment, a pause seemed to have occurred in +their deliberations, for both the chief burgomaster, Von Kircheisen, +and the aldermen were leaning back in their high, carved chairs, +in sleepy repose, contemplating the wax-lights in their silver +candelabras, which shed a dim and uncertain light into the more +distant parts of the hall. One or the other occasionally threw an +inquiring glance toward the door, and leaned forward as if to +listen. After a while, steps were heard in the antechamber, and the +countenances of the honorable members of the Council lighted up. + +"At last he comes," said the chief burgomaster, raising himself with +an effort in his chair, and arranging the chain on his breast, which +had got a little out of order. + +The door now opened, and the merchant Gotzkowsky entered. + +He approached the assembly with a firm and hurried step. The light of +the candles shone upon his countenance, and in his pale, worn features +you could read the traces of the hardships, the efforts and dangers he +had undergone during the last two unfortunate days; only his eye still +shone with its mild and yet fiery glance, and in his breast there beat +still a brave and cheerful heart. + +"Ye have called me, honorable gentlemen, and, as ye see, I have not +delayed in answering your call." + +"Yes, we have summoned you," answered the chief burgomaster. "The +Council desire your advice." + +A slight, mocking smile played about Gotzkowsky's lips. "It is not the +first time," he said, "that the Council have done me this honor." + +Herr von Kircheisen plucked uneasily at his golden chain, and frowned. +Gotzkowsky's answer had wounded his pride. "Yes, you gave us your +advice yesterday, and it was only by your urgent appeal that we were +induced to feed and lodge the Prince of Wurtemberg's troops. We +might have spared ourselves the trouble, and our forty oxen remained +unslaughtered." + +"The Prince of Wurtemberg has left us, I know," said Gotzkowsky, +sorrowfully, "and we are thrown again on our own resources. Oh, I +could weep over it! Two days and nights have the citizens of Berlin +fought with the courage of a lioness defending her young, and all in +vain. So much noble blood shed in vain!" + +"We must surrender, then?" said Kircheisen, turning pale. + +"Unless the honorable Council can sow dragons' teeth and reap armed +men, unless we can mould cannon and create gunners to serve them, we +must, indeed, surrender!" said Gotzkowsky, in a sad tone. "Yes, if +we had a dozen cannon like the two at the Kottbuss Gate served by the +brave artillerist, Fritz, there might be some hope for us. Those were +beautiful shots. Like the sickle of death did they mow down the ranks +of the enemy, and whole rows fell at once. Fritz is a hero, and has +built himself a monument with the dead bodies of the Russians--and all +this for nothing!" + +"For nothing! do you say?" sighed the chief burgomaster. "On the +contrary, I rather think it will cost us a mint of money. The +Austrians have sent Prince Lowenstein in with a flag of truce, to +demand the surrender of the town. The Russians have also sent in a +flag of truce with the same demand. Now comes the important question, +To which of these two powers shall we surrender? Which will give us +the best bargain?" and as the burgomaster stammered out this question, +he seized a large goblet of wine which stood before him and emptied it +at a draught. He then ordered the servant, who stood at the door, to +replenish it with Johannisberger. + +The aldermen and senators looked significantly at each other, and the +second burgomaster ventured timidly to suggest that the heavy wine +might possibly be injurious to the health of his honor the chief +burgomaster. + +"Wine makes a man brave," he drawled out, "and as long as the city +fathers have good wine in their cellars, the citizens of Berlin may +sleep in peace, for so long will the Council have the courage to brave +the enemy! Let me have wine, then, and be brave!" and again he emptied +the replenished goblet. He then stared complacently at the ceiling, +and seemed lost in contemplation of the laurel-wreath painted above. + +The second burgomaster then rose gently from his seat, and taking +Gotzkowsky's arm, led him with the two principal councillors to one of +the more remote window-seats. With a slight motion of the hand and a +compassionate shrug of the shoulders, he pointed across to Herr von +Kircheisen. + +"Our poor oppressed chief wishes to acquire pot-valor," said he, "and +to stimulate himself into a delirium of firmness; but I am afraid +that the _delirium tremens_ of fear is the only kind that he will +experience. The poor man is very much to be pitied. It is just at +such a time, when presence of mind is most requisite, that the good +burgomaster regularly loses his head, and his brain rushes off with +him like a mad horse to death and destruction." + +"And such a man is the chief magistrate of the town of Berlin," said +Gotzkowsky, mournfully. + +"The citizens chose him, and the king confirmed their choice," said +the burgomaster; "so we ought to be satisfied. But now let us come to +the subject which induced us to disturb your slumbers, my friend. +We need your counsel. The Russians and Austrians both summon us to +surrender, and the Council of Berlin wish your advice, Gotzkowsky, as +to which of these two enemies they shall yield." + +"That is, by Heavens! a choice that the devil himself must envy +us," cried Gotzkowsky, with a sad smile. "To which party shall we +surrender? To the Austrian, who wears the imperial German crown, +and yet is the enemy of Germany! or to the Russian, the northern +barbarian, whose delight it is to trample every human right in the +dust! Let me consider a little while, for it is a sad and painful +choice." And Gotzkowsky strode up and down, absorbed in the deepest +reflection. Then turning to the gentlemen, after a long pause, he +asked, "To whom shall we yield? If my brother were among my enemies, +I would fear him above all others; for a brother's hatred is most +unnatural, and, for that very reason, the most violent. The Austrian +is the German brother of the Prussian, and yet they are striving for +the right of the first-born, instead of confederating for the +general good in unity, in equal authority, equal power, and equal +determination. On the contrary, Austria allies herself to Russia, the +sworn enemy of Germany, and with the assistance of this enemy fights +against her German brothers. Therefore, my opinion is that, if we +really must surrender, and if the Prussian really must yield, let it +not be to Austria. Subjection to an equal is doubly humiliating. It +is less painful to suffer death at the hand of a barbarian than to +be butchered by a brother. I would, then, in this instance, give the +preference to Russia." + +"That is also my opinion," said the burgomaster, and the councillors +agreed with him. They returned to the table, at which the chief +burgomaster still sat, gazing stupidly at the wine-cup. + +"Gotzkowsky is of our opinion," said the second burgomaster, turning +toward him; it would be best to yield to the Russian." + +"The Russian is a capital fellow!" stammered the chief burgomaster. +"The Russian has a great deal of money, and spends it freely. I +esteem the Russian astonishingly; and my decided opinion is, that we +surrender to the Russian." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A MAIDEN'S HEART. + + +Elise had passed the last two days and nights in her room; +nevertheless she had felt no fear; the thunder of the cannon and the +wail of the wounded had inspired her with mournful resignation rather +than with fear. As, at one time, she stood at the window, a shell +burst near the house, and shattered the window-panes of the ground +floor. + +"Oh, if this hall had only struck me," cried she, while her cheeks +burned, "then all this suffering would have been at an end, this doubt +would have been cleared up: and if my father ever again gave himself +the trouble to visit his house, and ask after his daughter, my death +would be the proper rebuke to his question." Her father's long absence +and apparent indifference tormented her and converted her grief into +anger. + +During these days of danger and mortal peril he had never once entered +his house to visit his daughter. With the unmitigated egotism of her +sex, she could not comprehend the greatness, the noble self-denial, +the manly firmness which dictated his conduct; she could see in it +nothing but indifference and cold-heartedness. + +"The most insignificant and unpolished workman is dearer to him than +his own child," said she, proudly, drying her tears. "He is now, +perhaps, watching in the cabins of his laborers, and does not care if +his own house is burned to the ground; but even if he were told that +it was so, if he heard that his daughter had perished in the flames, +he would calmly say, 'My country demands this sacrifice of me, and I +submit.' No tear would dim his eye; his country would not leave him +time to mourn for his daughter. Oh, this country! what is it? My +country is where I am happy, and where I am beloved!" She sighed +deeply, and her thoughts wandered to her lover, her Feodor, the enemy +of her country, in whose heart she thought she would find her real +country, her true home. + +The spoiled child of fortune, always accustomed to see every wish +fulfilled, Elise had not learned the power of self-control, nor to +bend her will to any higher power. Fortune seemed anxious to spare yet +awhile this warm, loving heart, and to allow her a little longer the +freedom of happy ignorance, before it initiated her into the painful +and tearful mysteries of actual life. Besides this, Elise had +inherited from her father a strong will and dauntless courage, and +behind her bright, dreamy eyes dwelt a proud and spirited soul. Like +her father, her whole soul yearned for freedom and independence; +but the difference between them was, that while she only understood +freedom as applying to herself personally, Gotzkowsky's more capacious +mind comprehended it in its larger and more general sense. She wished +for freedom only for herself; he desired it for his country, and he +would willingly have allowed his own person to be cast into bonds and +fetters, if he could thereby have secured the liberties of the people. +Out of this similarity, as well as from this difference of character, +arose all the discord which occasionally threatened to disturb the +harmony of these two hearts. + +Gotzkowsky could not understand the heart of the young maiden, nor +Elise that of the noble patriot. To these two strong and independent +natures there had been wanting the gentle, soothing influence of a +mother's love, acting conciliatingly on both. Elise's mother had died +while she was young, and the child was left to the care of strangers. +Her father could seldom find time to be with his daughter; but, +though seldom personally present, yet his whole soul was faithfully, +unalterably devoted to her. Elise did not suspect this, and in +consequence of seldom seeing or meeting him, and the want of mutual +intercourse, the heart of his daughter became estranged from him, and +in the soul of this young girl, just budding into life, brought up +without companions, in the midst of wealth and plenty, arose at first +the doubt, and later the conviction, of the indifference of her father +toward his only child. But proud as she was, and full of a feeling +of independence, she never met him with a reproach or complaint, but +withdrew into herself, and as she believed herself repelled, strove +also, on her part, to emancipate herself. + +"Love cannot be forced, nor can it be had for the asking," said she, +as, yielding sometimes to a natural childish feeling, she felt an +irresistible longing to go to her father, whom she had not seen the +livelong day; to hunt him up in the midst of his work, to lay herself +gently on his breast, and say to him: "Love me, father, for without +love we are both so lonely!" Once she had yielded to the impulse of +her heart, and had gone down to his work-room, to take refuge with all +her love and all her desire in her father's heart. It was on the very +day that Gotzkowsky had returned from a most important journey. He had +been absent for weeks from his daughter, and yet his first visit had +not been to her, but to the work-room, which he had not left since his +arrival. But Elise did not know that he had travelled with relays of +horses, and that, in spite of the intensely bitter weather, he had +driven day and night, allowing himself no rest nor refreshment, in +order to reach home as rapidly as possible, solely from desire to see +his daughter, whose fair and lovely countenance was the star which +lighted his dreary, lonesome hours of toil, and inspired him with +courage and cheerfulness. Nor could she know that he had only +undertaken this journey because, by the failure of one of the largest +mercantile firms in the Netherlands, his own house had been put in +danger, and he had been threatened with the loss of his hard-earned +wealth. + +With palpitating heart, and tears of love in her eyes, she entered his +room. Her whole bearing was sublime, full of tenderness and warmth, +full of the humble love of a child. But Gotzkowsky scarcely raised his +eyes from his books and papers, did not advance to meet her, did not +leave the circle of his officials and servants, did not even break +off the conversation he was engaged in with the directors of his +silk-factory. And yet Elise drew nearer to him, her heart yearned so +to bid him welcome. She laid her hand on his shoulder, and whispered +an affectionate greeting in his ear. Gotzkowsky only looked at her +hastily, and replied almost impatiently, "I pray you, my child, do not +disturb me; we are busy with very important matters." + +It certainly was business of great importance, which monopolized +Gotzkowsky's attention immediately on his return. It was a question of +nearly half a million, which he would probably lose in consequence +of a royal decree just issued. This decree ordained that the new +_Frederick d'ors_ coined by the Jewish farmer of the mint, and which +were much too light, should be received at par all over the whole +kingdom, and even at the treasury offices. It was, therefore, but +natural that all debtors would hasten to pay their creditors in +this coin which had imparted to it so sudden and unexpected a value. +Gotzkowsky had received from his debtors upward of eight hundred +thousand dollars in this light coin, while his foreign creditors +absolutely refused to take them, and demanded the payment of their +debts in good money. Gotzkowsky, who, in consequence of his large and +extensive connections abroad, had about three hundred thousand dollars +in exchange against him, paid his creditors in gold of full weight, +and lost by these transactions three hundred thousand dollars in one +day. + +Just at the moment when this heavy loss befell him, Elise appeared, to +welcome him. His heart sank as he beheld her, for as he looked at her +this loss appeared in its full magnitude; it seemed as if not he, but +his child, had lost a portion of her wealth. + +Elise knew and suspected nothing. She only felt that she had been +repulsed, and she withdrew, deeply wounded and mortified, with the +vow never to run the risk again of such another rebuff, such another +humiliation. + +Gotzkowsky lost in this hour, not only the three hundred thousand +dollars, but, what he valued above all earthly treasures, the +affection of his daughter, and both without any fault of his own. +Elise forced herself to close her heart against her father, or at +least to conquer her grief at the supposed indifference, or quiet, +lukewarm inclination. And yet this ardent heart longed for love, as +the plant longs for the sunshine which is to penetrate it, and ripen +it into wonderful bloom. Had the friend and companion of her youth, +Bertram, been near her, she would have confided all her sorrows to +him, and found consolation on his breast. But he had been absent for +about a year on his long journey; and Elise's heart, which had always +clung to him with a sisterly affection, became more and more alienated +from the friend of her youth. + +But fate or perhaps her evil destiny ordained that, about this time, +she should make the acquaintance of a young man who quickly won the +love of her vacant heart, and filled its void. + +This young man was Colonel Feodor von Brenda, whom the fortune of war +had thrown into Berlin. + +Elise loved him. With joy and delight, with the unbounded confidence +of innocence, she gave her whole heart up to this new sensation. + +And, indeed, this young colonel was a very brilliant and imposing +personage. He was one of those Russian aristocrats who, on the +Continent, in their intercourse with the noblest and most exclusive +society of Germany and France, acquire that external adroitness and +social refinement, that brilliant graceful polish, which so well +conceals the innate barbarism and cunning of the natural character of +the Russian. + +He was a bright companion, sufficiently conversant with arts and +sciences to talk on every subject, without committing himself. He knew +how to converse on all topics fluently enough, without betraying the +superficial character of his knowledge and his studies. Educated at +the court of the Empress Elizabeth, life had appeared to him in all +its voluptuousness and fullness, but at the same time had soon been +stripped of all its fancies and illusions. For him there existed no +ideals and no innocence, no faith, not even a doubt which in itself +implies a glimmer of faith; for him there was nothing but the plain, +naked, undeceivable disenchantment, and pleasure was the only thing in +which he still believed. + +This pleasure he pursued with all the energy of his originally noble +and powerful character; and as all his divinities had been destroyed, +all holy ideals had dissolved into myths and hollow phantoms, he +wished to secure one divinity, at least, to whom he could raise an +altar, whom he could worship: this divinity was Pleasure. + +Pleasure he sought everywhere, in all countries; and the more ardently +and eagerly he sought it, the less was he able to find it. Pleasure +was the first modest, coy woman who cruelly shunned him, and the more +he pursued her, the more coldly did she seem to fly him. + +And now he converted his whole life into an adventure, a kind of +quixotic pursuit of the lost loved one, Pleasure. In the mean time, +his heart was dead to all the better and nobler feelings. But, at one +time, it seemed as if a higher and more serious inclination promised +permanently to enchain this dreaded rival of all husbands and lovers. + +Feodor von Brenda, the most _blasé_, witty, insolent cavalier at the +court of his empress, became suddenly serious and silent. On his proud +countenance was seen, for the first time, the light of a soft and +gentle feeling, and when he approached his beautiful bride, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, there beamed from his dark eyes a glow +holier and purer than the fire of sensuality. Could he have fled with +her into some desert, could he have withdrawn into the stillness of +his mountain castle, he would have been saved; but life held him with +its thousand minute, invisible threads, and the experiences of his +past years appeared to mock him for his credulity and confidence. + +Besides this woman, whom he adored as an angel, arose the demon of +skepticism and mistrust, and regarded him with mocking smiles and +looks of contempt; but still Feodor von Brenda was a name of honor, a +cavalier to whom his pledged word was sacred, and who was ready to pay +the debt of honor which he had incurred toward his betrothed; and this +love for the Countess Lodoiska, although cankered by doubt and gnawed +by the experiences of his own life, still had sufficient power over +him to cause the future to appear not gloomy but full of promise, +and to allow him to hope, if not for happiness, at least for rest and +enjoyment. + +The war-cry roused him from these dreams and doubts of love. Elizabeth +had united with Maria Theresa against Frederick of Prussia, and the +Empress of Russia was about to send an army to the support of her +ally. Feodor awoke from the sweet rest into which his heart had sunk, +and, like Rinaldo, had torn asunder the rosy chains by which his +Armida had sought to fetter him. He followed the Russian colors, and +accompanied General Sievers as his adjutant to Germany. + +As to him all life was only an adventure, he wished also to enjoy the +exciting pastime of war. This, at least, was something new, a species +of pleasure and amusement he had not yet tried, and therefore the +young colonel gave himself up to it with his whole soul, and an ardent +desire to achieve deeds of valor. + +But it was his fate to be carried early from the theatre of war as +a prisoner, and in this character he arrived with General Sievers at +Berlin. But his durance was light, his prison the large and pleasant +city of Berlin, in which he could wander about perfectly free with the +sole restriction of not going beyond the gates. + +General Sievers became accidentally acquainted with Gotzkowsky, and +this acquaintance soon ripened into a more intimate friendship. He +passed the greater part of his days in Gotzkowsky's house. As a lover +of art, he could remain for hours contemplating the splendid pictures +which Gotzkowsky had bought for the king in Italy, and which had not +yet been delivered at Sans Souci; or, by the side of the manufacturer +he traversed the large halls of the factory in which an entirely new +life, a world of which he had no idea, was laid open to him. And then +again Gotzkowsky would impart to him the wide and gigantic plans which +occupied his mind; and this disclosed to him a view into a new era +which arose beyond the present time, an era when industry would +command and raise the now despised workman into the important and +respected citizen. + +While Gotzkowsky and his friend the general were discussing these +extensive plans, and speculating about the future of industry, the +young people, Elise and the adjutant, were dreaming about the future +of their love. + +The colonel had only commenced this love-affair with the daughter +of the rich manufacturer as a new adventure. It was so piquant to go +through all the stages of a romantic, dreamy German love, with a pure, +innocent German girl, and to let himself be led by her through +the sacred mazes of innocent romance, holy transports, and chaste +affection--it was so pleasant a diversion of his captivity, why should +he not enjoy it? + +This attachment to Elise was for him at first only a temporary +amusement, and he toyed with his vows and wooing, until, +imperceptibly, he found his heart entangled in his own net. The ardent +yet innocent love of the young girl touched his feelings. It was +something new to be the object of so chaste and devoted an affection. +He was ashamed of himself in his inmost soul to perceive with what +childish trust, what sacred security and humble resignation this +young, rich, and beautiful maiden gave herself up to him. + +For the first time, he experienced an ardent desire to be worthy of so +noble an affection, and to resemble, at least in some slight degree, +the ideal picture which Elise had formed of him--to be something of +the hero, the knight, the noble being whom Elise worshipped in him. + +At the same time it was so surprising and strange to meet a girl, who, +all submission and devoted love, yet remained firm and immovable in +her purity and chastity, so bright and proud that even he felt respect +for this innocence which surrounded the beloved one like a halo, and +his lips refused to utter words at which her pure soul might tremble. + +With his fiery and mercurial temperament, he had, with a kind of +passionate curiosity, adopted the _rôle_ of a Platonic lover, and +the libertine in his character had been subdued by the love of the +eccentric. He had converted this love into a kind of adoration. He +placed Elise upon the altar, and worshipped her as a saint to whom +he had turned from the turmoil and wild lust of life, and in the +contemplation and worship of whom he could obtain forgiveness of all +his sins and errors. It affected him to think that Elise was praying +for him while he, perhaps, forgot her in the whirlpool of pleasure; +that she believed in him so devotedly and truly, that she looked up to +him so lovingly and humbly--to him who was so far her inferior. And in +the midst of his wild life of pleasure he felt the need of some saint +to intercede for forgiveness for him. All these new and unaccustomed +feelings only enchained him the more closely, and made him consider +the possession of her as the most desirable and only worthy object of +his life. + +She must be his; he was determined to wear this brilliant diamond, +the only one he had ever found genuine and without flaw, as his +most costly possession; to become, in spite of all difficulties and +impossibilities, unmindful of his betrothed bride and his solemn vows, +the husband of this beautiful German maiden, who had given herself to +him heart and soul. + +In proportion to the difficulties that opposed such a union, increased +his fierce determination to overcome them. He was betrothed, and the +Empress Elizabeth herself had blessed the betrothal. He could +not, therefore, retract his vows without exciting the anger of his +mistress, and history had more than one example to show how violent +and annihilating this anger could be. In like wise, Elise dared not +hope ever to obtain the consent of her father to her union with a man +who was the enemy of her country. She was obliged to conceal this love +with anxious care from his eyes, if she did not wish to expose herself +to the danger of being separated from her lover forever. She knew that +her father, in every thing else uniformly kind and yielding toward +her, was on this one subject implacable, and that no tears, no +pleading, were capable of moving the firm and energetic will of the +ardent patriot. + +Both were obliged, therefore, to preserve their love a secret, and in +this concealment lay for Feodor a new charm which bound him to her, +while it estranged Elise's heart still more from her father, and +chained it in unbounded devotion to her lover. + +In the mean while the time arrived for Feodor to leave Berlin with +General Sievers. He swore eternal love and fidelity to Elise, and she +vowed to him cheerfully never to become the wife of another, but in +patience and trust to await his return, and to hope for the end of the +war and the coming of peace, which would solve all difficulties, and +remove the opposition of her father. + +That besides her father there could be any obstacle, she did not +suspect; Feodor had so often sworn that she was his first and only +love, and she, young and inexperienced as she was, believed him. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A FAITHFUL FRIEND. + + +Elise's father had not yet returned. She was still alone, but in her +soul there was neither fear nor trembling, but only a defiant grief at +this apparent indifference to the danger which had threatened her, in +common with the rest of Berlin, for the last two days. + +She had shut herself up in her room, not that she anticipated any +danger, but because she wished to be alone, because she wished to +avoid Bertram, the faithful friend, who had watched over her during +this time with the most attentive devotion. Truthfully had he remained +in the house, deserted by her father, as a careful watchman; had never +left its door; but, armed with dagger and pistol, he had stationed +himself as a sentinel in the antechamber, ready to hasten at the +slightest call of Elise, to defend her with his life against +any attack or any danger, and Elise felt herself bound to him in +gratitude, and yet this duty of gratitude was a burden to her. It was +distressing and painful to her to see Bertram's quiet and mournful +countenance, to read in his dimmed eyes the presence of a grief so +courageously subdued. But yet she had endeavored to overcome this +feeling, and she had often come to him lately to chat with him about +past times and to reward him with her society for his protection and +faithful presence. And yet Bertram's tender conscience was well aware +of the constraint Elise had put herself under, and the harmless and +cheerful chat was to him all the more painful as it reminded him of +past times and blasted hopes. + +He had, therefore, with a melancholy smile of resignation, requested +Elise not to come any more into the hall, as it would be better, by +the anticipated occupation of the enemy, to remain in her room, in the +upper story of the house, and to lock the door in order to secure her +from any possible surprise. + +Elise had completely understood the delicacy and nobleness of this +request, and since then had remained quiet and undisturbed in her +room. + +Thus the second night had commenced. She passed it like the one +preceding, wandering up and down, not needing sleep, but kept awake by +her thoughts and cares. In the middle of the night she was interrupted +in her anxious reveries by Bertram, who came to her door, and in a low +and timid voice requested permission to enter. + +Elise knew very well that she could trust Bertram like a brother, as +an unselfish, disinterested friend. Therefore, fearlessly she opened +the door, and bade him come in. Bertram entered timidly and confused, +almost overpowered by happiness, for this room into which he came was +Elise's bedroom, the sanctuary of maidenhood and beauty, and he felt +disposed to kneel down and pray, so evidently did this room seem to +him a temple of innocence. + +It appeared to him as if his unholy foot was not worthy to tread this +ground, nor to approach the bed which, with its white curtains, seemed +to wave before his dazzled eyes like a white swan. + +In soft and gentle words he brought to Elise greeting from her father. +He related to her how Gotzkowsky had visited his house, not to take +rest, but to see Elise; how, scarcely arrived there, a messenger +from the Council had called him back to the town-hall. There he had +commissioned Bertram to request his daughter to withdraw from the +front rooms of the house, and to retire into those next to the garden, +where she would be safer and have less to fear from the enemy as he +marched in. + +"At last, then, my father has consented to think of me," said Elise, +with a bitter smile. "His patriotism has allowed him leisure to +remember his only daughter, who would have remained solitary and +forsaken in the midst of servants and hirelings if my noble and +faithful brother had not assumed the duties of my father, and watched +over and protected me." She reached out both her hands to Bertram with +a look full of gratitude, but he scarcely touched them; he held them +for a moment lightly and coldly in his, and then let them go. This +slight and transient touch had shot through him like an electric shot, +and reawakened all the sorrows of his soul. + +"You will then leave this room?" asked Bertram, approaching the door. + +"I will go into the hall immediately next to it." + +"All alone?" asked Bertram; and then fearing that she might suspect +him of wishing to force his company upon her, he added, quickly, "You +ought to keep one of your maids near you, Elise." + +Smilingly she shook her head. "For what purpose?" asked she. "Bertram +is my protector, and I am quite safe. I have sent my maids to their +rooms. They were tired from long watching and weeping; let them sleep. +Bertram will watch for all of us. I have no fear, and I would not +even leave this room, if it were not that I wished to comply with the +rarely expressed and somewhat tardy desire of my father." + +Saying which, she took the silver candelabras from the table and +quietly traversed the room in order to proceed to the adjoining +hall. At the door she stopped and turned round. The full light of the +candles shone on her handsome, expressive face, and Bertram gazed on +her with a mixture of delight and anguish. + +"Bertram," said she gently and timidly, "Bertram, my brother, let me +thank you for all your love and constancy. Would that I could reward +you more worthily! In that case all would be different, and we would +not all be so sad and despondent as we now are. But always remember, +my brother, that I will never cease to love you as a sister, and that +if I cannot compel my heart to love you otherwise, yet no other power, +no other feeling can ever lessen or destroy my sisterly affection. +Remember this, Bertram, and be not angry with me." She nodded to him +with a sweet smile, and retreated through the door. + +Bertram stood rooted to the floor like one enchanted, and gazed at the +door through which this vision of light had departed. He then raised +his eyes to heaven, and his countenance shone with excitement. "God +grant that she may be happy!" prayed he, softly. "May she never be +tormented by the agonies of error or repentance; may he whom she loves +prove worthy of her!" + +Overpowered by bitter and painful thoughts, his head sank upon his +breast, and tears coursed down his cheeks. But he did not abandon +himself long to his sad and anxious thoughts, nor did he allow sorrow +long to take possession of his heart. After a short pause he raised +himself and shook his head, as if to roll off the whole burden of care +and grief with all the power of his will. + +"At least I will always be at her side," said he, his countenance +beaming from the noble decision. "I will follow her like a faithful, +watchful dog, and ward off from her every danger and every misfortune +which comes from man and not from God. She has called me her brother! +Well, a brother has both rights and duties, and I will perform them!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +The hall to which Elise had retired, next to her bedroom, was on the +garden side of the house, and its glass doors opened on a porch from +which handsomely ornamented bronze steps led winding down into the +garden. Notwithstanding the advanced season of the year, the night was +mild, and the moon shone brightly. Elise opened the glass doors and +stepped out on the porch to cool her burning forehead in the fresh +night air; and, leaning on the balustrade, she looked up smiling and +dreamily at the moon. Sweet and precious fancies filled the soul of +the young maiden, and brought the color to her cheeks. + +She thought of her lover, who so lately had appeared to her as in a +dream; she repeated to herself each one of his words. With a sweet but +trembling emotion she remembered that he had bidden her to await him; +that he had sworn to her to come, even if his way should be over dead +bodies and through rivers of blood. + +With all the pride of a loving girl she recalled his bold and +passionate words, and she rejoiced in her heart that she could call +herself the bride of a hero. Even if this hero was the enemy of +her country, what did she care? She loved him, and what to her were +nationalities or the quarrels of princes? She was his--his in love and +faith, in purity and innocence; what cared she for aught else? + +Elise started suddenly from her dreams. She had heard a noise down +in the garden, and leaned listening over the balustrade. What was the +meaning of this noise? Was it perhaps some thief, who, under cover +of the general confusion, had stolen into the garden? Elise remained +motionless, and listened. She had not deceived herself, for she +distinctly heard footsteps. A feeling of fear took possession of her, +and yet she did not dare to move from the spot, nor to cry for help. +Might it not be her lover, for whom she had promised to wait? + +With strained attention she gazed down into the garden; her eye seemed +to penetrate the darkness with its sharp, searching look. But she +could distinguish nothing; not an object moved through these silent +paths, where the yellow sand was sufficiently lighted up by the moon +to betray any one sufficiently bold to tread them. Every thing was +again quiet; but Elise shuddered at these long, black shadows cast on +both sides of the alleys; she was afraid to remain any longer on the +porch. She retired into the hall, the door to which she had left open +on purpose to perceive any noise coming from that quarter. + +Now again she became aware of steps approaching nearer and nearer. +She wished to rise, but her feet refused their office. She sank back +powerless into her chair and closed her eyes. She could not determine +whether it was fear or happy expectation which pervaded her whole +being. + +And now the footsteps ascended into the porch, and came quite near to +the window. Would a thief dare to approach these lighted windows? She +raised her eyes. He stood before her!--he, her beloved, the friend +of her heart, her thoughts, her hopes! Feodor von Brenda stood in the +doorway of the hall, and uttered softly her name. She could not rise, +her feet trembled so; and in her heart she experienced an uneasy +sensation of fear and terror. And yet she stretched her arms out to +him, and welcomed him with her looks and her smile. + +And now she lay in his arms, now he pressed her firmly to his heart, +and whispered tender, flattering words in her ear. + +She pushed him gently back, and gazed at him with a smile of delight. +But suddenly her look clouded, and she sighed deeply. Feodor's +brilliant Russian uniform pained her, and reminded her of the +danger he might be incurring. He read her fear and anxiety in her +countenance. + +"Do not be afraid, my sweet one," whispered he gently, drawing her +into his arms. "No danger threatens us. My people are now masters of +the town. Berlin has surrendered to the Russians. _The enemy_ is now +conqueror and master, and no one would dare to touch this uniform. +Even your father must now learn to yield, and to forget his hatred." + +"He will never do it," sighed Elise sadly. "You do not know him, +Feodor. His will never bends, and the most ardent prayers would not +induce him to grant that to his heart which his judgment does not +approve of. He is not accustomed to yield. His riches make him almost +despotic. Every one yields to him." + +"He is the king of merchants," said Feodor, as he passed his fingers +playfully through the dark tresses of the young girl, whose head +rested on his shoulder. "His money makes him as powerful as a prince." + +"That is exactly my misfortune," sighed Elise. + +The colonel laughed, and pressed a kiss upon her forehead. "Dreamer," +said he, "do you call yourself miserable because you are the daughter +of a millionnaire?" + +"Millions alone do not make one happy," said she sadly. "The heart +grows cold over the dead money, and my father's heart is cold toward +his daughter. He has so many thousand other things to do and think of +besides his daughter! The whole world has claims upon him; every one +requires his advice, submits to and obeys him. From all parts of the +world come letters to be answered, and, when at last, late in the +evening, he remembers he is something besides the king on 'Change, the +man of speculation, he is so tired and exhausted, that he has only a +few dull words for his child, who lives solitary in the midst of all +this wealth, and curses the millions which make her poor." + +She had spoken with increasing excitement and bitterness. Even her +love had for a moment been eclipsed by the feeling of an injured +daughter, whose grief she now for the first time disclosed to her +lover. + +As she finished speaking, she laid her arm on Feodor's shoulder, and +clung still more closely to him, as if to find in his heart protection +and shelter against all pain and every grief. Like a poor, broken +flower she laid herself on his breast, and Feodor gazed at her +with pride and pity. At this moment he wished to try her heart, and +discover whether he alone was master of it. For that purpose had he +come; for this had he risked this meeting. In this very hour should +she follow him and yield herself to him in love and submission. His +long separation from her, his wild soldier's life had crushed out +the last blossoms of tender and chaste affection in his heart, and +he ridiculed himself for his pure, adoring, timid love. Distrust had +resumed power over him, and doubt, like a mildew, had spread itself +over his last ideal. Elise was to him only a woman like the rest. She +was his property, and as such he wished to do with her as he chose. + +But yet there was something in her pure, loving being which mastered +him against his will, and, as it were, changed his determination. +In her presence, looking into her clear pure eye, he forgot his dark +designs and his dreary doubts, and Elise became again the angel of +innocence and purity, the saint to whom he prayed, and whose tender +looks shed forgiveness on him. + +This young girl, resting so calmly and confidingly on his breast, and +looking at him so innocently and purely, moved him, and made him blush +for himself and his wild, bold desires. Silent and reflecting he sat +at her side, but she could read in his looks, in his smile, that he +loved her. What further need had she of words? + +She raised her head from his breast, and looked at him for a long +time, and her countenance assumed a bright, happy expression. + +"Oh," said she, "do I call myself poor when I have you? I am no longer +poor since I have known you, but I have been so; and this, my friend, +must be the excuse for my love. I stood in the midst of the cold +glitter of gold as in an enchanted castle, and all around me was +lifeless, stiffened into torpidity by enchantment, and I knew no +talisman to break the charm. You came, and brought with you love. The +talisman was found; a warm life awoke in me, and all the splendor of +gold crumbled into dust. I was rich then, for I loved; now I am rich, +for you love me!" + +"Yes, I love you," cried he; "let your father keep his treasures. You, +and only you, do I desire." + +She sprang up startled from his arms. In the overpowering happiness +of the hour she had entirely forgotten the danger which threatened her +lover. She suddenly remembered, and her cheek paled. + +"My father!" cried she, "if he should come at this moment! His look +alone would be enough to kill me." And anxiously and tremblingly she +clung to Feodor. + +"Fear not, dear one," he whispered, "he is not coming. God protects +and watches over those who love each other. Do not think of danger. +Banish all care, all fear. This hour belongs to us, and as I now fold +you in my arms with delight, so let it be always and forever. For you +know, precious child, that you are mine, that you can never belong to +another; that you have pledged yourself, and at some future time must +follow me as your husband." + +"I know it, I know it," she murmured; and, in blissful +self-forgetfulness, she leaned her head on his shoulder, and listened +with beating heart to the burning, passionate words which he poured +into her ear. + +Of a sudden, with the rapidity of lightning, she sprang up, as if an +electric shock had pervaded her body, and listened eagerly. + +As Feodor was about to speak, to inquire the cause of her sudden +terror, she quickly pressed her hand to his mouth. "Silence," +whispered she softly. "I heard it distinctly. My father is coming +hither through the garden!" + +They both listened in silence. In the quiet of the night Gotzkowsky's +voice was now heard. He ordered his servants to shut the garden gates +carefully, and watch them well, as the Russians entering the town +would pass by this wall. + +"You are right," said Feodor; "it is your father. Truly this is an +unlucky accident." + +"He will kill me if he finds you here," murmured Elise, clinging, half +fainting, to her lover's arm. + +"I will protect you with my life," said he, pressing her more firmly +to him. + +"No, no!" cried she breathlessly; "he must not find you here. No one +must see you. Oh, Feodor, listen to me. He is not alone; Bertram +and his servants are with him. Oh, my God, they will kill you! Save +yourself; leave me, Feodor, and conceal yourself!" And drawing him +with irresistible strength to the door, she whispered, "In there, in +my bedroom conceal yourself." + +"Never," said he firmly and decidedly. "Never will I hide myself, or +sneak away like a coward!" + +"You must do it," entreated she; and as she saw that he hesitated and +drew back unwillingly, she continued: "Not for your sake--for the sake +of my honor, Feodor. Remember it is night, and I am alone with you." + +"Yes, you are right," said Feodor sadly. "Hide me; no spot must +tarnish your honor." + +With convulsive haste, Elise drew him to the door of her chamber. +Gotzkowsky's voice was heard just outside the window. + +"Quick! hasten, they are coming!" said she, pulling the door open, and +pushing him hurriedly on. + +"He is saved," cried her heart joyfully, as she closed the door after +him, and, sinking down, half fainting in a chair, her lips murmured, +"Have mercy, gracious God; have mercy on him and me!" + +At this moment her father, accompanied by Bertram and the factory +workman, Balthazar, entered the room through the door of the balcony. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE FUGITIVE. + + +Gotzkowsky at length returned to his home. Sad and sorrowful was his +soul, and his brow, at other times so smooth and clear, was now dark +and clouded. He mourned for his country, for the fruitless battles, +the blood shed in vain, and, in the bitter grief of his heart, he +asked himself what crime he had committed, that to him should be +assigned the painful duty of deciding to which of the enemies they +should surrender. And yet the decision was imperative, and Berlin had +to be surrendered to the Russians. + +In gloomy sadness, hardly casting a passing glance at his daughter, +whose anxiety and death-like paleness he did not even perceive, +Gotzkowsky entered the hall, Bertram carefully bolting the doors +behind him, and then in an undertone gave Balthazar and the servants +directions for the protection of the house. + +"What a dreadful night!" said Gotzkowsky, sinking down on a sofa +exhausted; "my heart aches as much as my limbs." + +For a moment he closed his eyes, and lay silent and motionless. Elise +was still leaning trembling and breathless on the chair near the door. +Gotzkowsky raised his head, and his eyes sought his daughter. As he +perceived her, a gentle and pleased expression passed over his face, +and his brow grew clearer. He hastened to her and raised her in his +arms. + +"Bless you, Elise, my child! for two days have I been nothing but +citizen and soldier; now at last I am permitted to remember that I +am a father. I had almost forgotten it during these wild sad days. +Good-evening, my darling child!" + +Elise kissed his hand respectfully, and muttered a low welcome. + +Gotzkowsky said in a gentle tone, "This is a comfort which makes me +forget all my sufferings. Come, my children, let us for one bright +hour put aside all care and trouble, and be happy and cheerful +together. Let us have breakfast. This poor, weak body needs +refreshment, for it reminds me that, for two days, I have been +living on prison fare, bread and water. Come, then, let us breakfast. +Bertram, sit by my side, and our sweet little housekeeper will help us +to coffee." + +Elise rose with difficulty and gave the necessary orders to the +servants; and while the latter were hurrying to and fro, serving +up breakfast, Gotzkowsky reclined on the sofa, half asleep from +exhaustion; and Bertram and Elise sat opposite to each other in +silence. Suddenly there were heard in the distance wild yells, and +loud noises and cries. Then hasty steps flew up the staircase; the +hall door was pulled open, and a soldier rushed in. With breathless +haste he bolted the door behind him, threw off the white cloak which +concealed his figure, and the broad-brimmed hat which covered his +head, and sank with a loud sigh into a chair. Gotzkowsky hurried up to +him and looked at him attentively. Elise, with an instinctive feeling +of the danger which threatened Feodor, turned to the door behind which +he was hidden. + +"The artilleryman, Fritz!" cried Gotzkowsky, with visible +astonishment. + +"Yes, it is me," groaned the soldier. "Save me, Gotzkowsky; do not +deliver me up to these barbarians!" + +Gotzkowsky laid his hand on his shoulder with a friendly smile. "I +would not betray the enemy himself, if he sought refuge in my house; +and you ask me not to betray the most valiant and renowned defender of +Berlin. Bertram, this man here, this simple cannoneer, has performed +miracles of valor, and earned for himself an enviable name in these +last unfortunate days. It was he who had charge of the only two cannon +Berlin possessed, and who, never tiring, without rest or relaxation, +gent death into the ranks of the enemy. Be assured, my son, you have +fought these two days like a hero, and it cannot be God's wish that, +as a reward for your bravery, you should fall into the hands of the +enemy." + +"They pursue me everywhere," said the artilleryman. "Hunted by De +Lacy's chasseurs like a wild beast, I fled down the street hither. You +told me yesterday that if ever I wanted a friend in need, you would +be one to me. Therefore have I come to you. The Austrians have +sworn vengeance on the cannoneer, whose balls swept their ranks so +murderously, and have set a large price on my head." + +"Ah!" cried Gotzkowsky, laughing, "the Austrians advertise rewards +before they have got the money to pay them. Let them set a thousand +ducats on your head, my son. They will have to do without the ducats, +and your head too, for Berlin will give them neither. If we must pay +the money, the Russian shall have it; and as for your head, well, I +will pay for that with my life. You have fought like a lion, and like +lions we will defend you." + +"What have I gained by fighting?" said Fritz, with a mournful shrug of +the shoulders. "The enemy have succeeded in getting into the town, and +their rage is tearful. They have sworn to kill me. But you will not +give me up! and should they come here and find me, then have pity on +me and kill me, but do not give me up to the enemy!" + +"To kill you, they must kill both of us first!" cried Bertram, taking +the brave cannoneer by the hand. "We will hide him in your house; +won't we, Father Gotzkowsky?" + +"Yes, and so safely that no one will be able to find him!" cried +Gotzkowsky, cheerfully, raising the soldier up by the hand. "Follow +me, my son. In my daughter's chamber is a safe hiding-place. The +mirror on the wall covers a secret door, behind which is a space just +large enough to conceal a person. Come." + +He led the artilleryman toward the door of Elise's room. But before +this door Elise had stationed herself, her cheeks burning and her eyes +flashing. The danger of her lover lent her courage and determination, +and enabled her to meet the anger of her father unflinchingly. + +"Not in there, father!" said she, in a tone almost commanding; "not +into my room!" + +Gotzkowsky stepped back in astonishment, and gazed at his daughter. +"How," asked he, "do you forbid me the entrance?" + +"Behind the picture of the Virgin in the large hall is a similar +hiding-place," said Elise, hurriedly; "carry him thither." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately. He only gazed firmly and +inquiringly into Elise's countenance. Dark and dismal misgivings, +which he had often with much difficulty suppressed, now arose again, +and filled his soul with angry, desperate thoughts. Like Virginius of +old, he would have preferred to kill his daughter to delivering her +into the hands of the enemy. + +"And why should he go there, and not remain here?" asked he at last +with an effort. + +"Remember, father," stammered she, blushing, "I--" + +She stopped as she met the look of her father, which rested on her +with penetrating power--as she read the rising anger of his soul in +the tense swollen veins of his brow, and his pale, trembling lips. + +Bertram had witnessed this short but impressive scene with increasing +terror. Elise's anxiety, her paleness and trembling, the watch which +she kept over that door, had not escaped him, even on his entrance, +and filled him with painful uneasiness. But as he now recognized in +Gotzkowsky's features the signs of an anger which was the more violent +for the very reason that he so seldom gave way to it, he felt the +necessity of coming to the assistance of his distressed sister. He +approached her father, and laid his hand lightly on his shoulder. + +"Elise is right," said he, entreatingly. "Respect her maiden +hesitation." + +Gotzkowsky turned round upon him with an impatient toss of the head, +and stared him full in the face. He then broke into a fit of wild, +derisive laughter. + +"Yes," said he, "we will respect her maiden hesitation. You have +spoken wisely, Bertram. Listen: you know the partition behind the +picture of the Madonna in the picture-gallery. Carry our brave friend +thither, and take heed that the spring is carefully closed." + +Bertram looked at him sadly and anxiously. He had never before seen +this man, usually so calm, so passionately excited. + +"You will not go with us, father?" asked he. + +"No," said Gotzkowsky, harshly; "I remain here to await the enemy." + +He cast on Elise, still leaning against the door, a threatening look, +which made her heart tremble. Bertram sighed, and had not the courage +to go and forsake Elise in this anxious and critical moment. + +"Hasten, friend," said Gotzkowsky, sternly. "The life of a brave man +is at stake. Hasten!" + +The young man dared not gainsay him, but he approached Gotzkowsky, +and whispered softly: "Be lenient, father. See how she trembles! Poor +sister!" + +And with a painful glance at Elise, he took the hand of the +artilleryman, and led him out of the room. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE EAVESDROPPER. + + +Elise was now alone with her father. She had sunk down near the fatal +door, and her colorless lips murmured faint prayers. + +Gotzkowsky stood there, still relentless; but his agitated +countenance, his lowering brow, his flashing eyes, betrayed the deep +and passionate emotion of his soul. Struck and wounded fatally in his +most sacred feelings, he felt no pity, no compassion for this poor +trembling girl, who followed his every motion with a timid, anxious +eye. His whole being was filled with burning rage against his +daughter, who, his misgiving heart told him, had trampled his honor in +the dust. + +A long and dreadful pause occurred. Nothing was heard but Gotzkowsky's +loud, heavy breathing, and Elise's low-muttered prayers. Suddenly +Gotzkowsky drew himself up, and threw his head proudly back. He then +walked to the door leading into the balcony, and to the opposite one, +and ascertained that they were both closed. No one could intrude, no +one interrupt this fearful dialogue. + +Elise was terribly conscious of this, and could only whisper, "Pity, +pity, merciful God! I shall die with terror!" + +Gotzkowsky approached her, and, seizing her hand, raised her rapidly +from the floor. "We are alone now," said he with a hoarse, harsh +voice. "Answer me, now. Who is concealed there in your room?" + +"No one, my father." + +"No one!" repeated he, sternly. "Why, then, do you tremble?" + +"I tremble because you look at me so angrily," said she, terrified. + +Her father cast her hand passionately from him. "Liar!" cried he. "Do +you wish me to kill him?" + +He took his sword from the table, and approached the door. + +"What are you going to do, my father?" cried she, throwing herself in +his way. + +"I am going to kill the thief who stole my daughter's honor," cried +Gotzkowsky, his eyes flashing with rage. + +"Father, father, by the God in heaven I am innocent!" cried she, +convulsively, striving to hold him back. + +"Then let me have the proof of this innocence," said he, pushing her +back. + +But she sprang forward with the agility of a gazelle, rushed again to +the door, and clung with both hands to the lock. + +"No, no, father, I remain here. You shall not insult yourself and me +so much as to believe what is dishonorable and unworthy of me, and to +require a proof of my innocence." + +This bold opposition of Elise only excited Gotzkowsky's anger the +more, and was to him a fresh proof of her guilt. His rage overpowered +him; with raised arm and flashing eye he strode up to Elise, and cried +out: "Away from the door, or by Heaven I will forget that I am your +father!" + +"Oh," cried she breathlessly, "you have often forgotten that, but +think now; remember that I am the daughter of the wife whom you loved! +Trust me, father. By the memory of my mother, I swear to you that +my honor is pure from any spot; and, however much appearances may be +against me, I am nevertheless innocent. I have never done any thing of +which my father would have to be ashamed. Believe me, father; give me +your hand and say to me--'I believe your innocence; I trust you even +without proof!'" + +She sank down on her knees, raising her arms imploringly to him, while +burning tears streamed down her cheeks. Gotzkowsky gazed at her long +and silently, and his child's tears touched the father's heart. + +"Perhaps I do her injustice," said he to himself, looking thoughtfully +into her weeping face. "She may be really innocent. Let us try," said +he, after a pause, pressing his hands to his burning temples. As he +let them drop, his countenance was again calm and clear, and there was +no longer visible any trace of his former anger. "I will believe you," +said he. "Here, Elise, is my hand." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, sprang up from her knees, rushed toward +her father, and pressed her burning lips on his extended hand. "My +father, I thank you. I will ever be grateful to you," cried she, +fondly. + +Gotzkowsky held her hand firmly in his own, and while speaking to her +approached, apparently by accident, the door so bravely defended by +Elise. "You are right, my child; I was a fool to doubt you, but I am +jealous of my honor, the most precious property of an honest man. Much +can be bought with gold, but not honor. True honor is bright and clear +as a mirror, and the slightest breath dims it. Oh, how would this +envious, grudging, malignant world rejoice if it could only find a +spot on my honor! But woe to him who dims it, even if it were my own +child!" + +Elise turned pale and cast down her eyes. Gotzkowsky perceived it. He +still held her hand in his, and approached the door with her, but he +compelled his voice to be gentle and mild. + +"I repeat," said he, "I wronged you, but it was a terrible suspicion +which tortured me, and I will confess it to you, my child. The Russian +flag of truce which came into town to negotiate with the authorities +was accompanied by ten soldiers and two officers. While the +commissioner was transacting business in the Council-chamber above, +they remained below in the lower story of the building. I accompanied +the commissioner, as he left the Council, down-stairs, and we found +his military escort in a state of anxiety and excitement, for one of +the officers had left them two hours before, and had not yet returned, +and they had called and hunted for him everywhere. The Russians were +furious, and cried out that we had murdered one of their officers. +I succeeded in quieting them, but my own heart I could not quiet; +it felt convulsively cramped when I heard the name of this missing +officer. Need I name him?" + +Elise did not answer. She looked at her father, with tears in her +eyes, and shook her head languidly. + +Gotzkowsky continued: "It is the name of a man to whom I formerly +showed much friendship; toward whom I exercised hospitality, and whom +I made free of my house, and who now shows his gratitude by stealing +the heart of my daughter, like a pitiful thief. Oh, do not attempt to +deny this. I know it, Elise; and if I have hitherto avoided speaking +to you about this matter, it was because I had confidence in your +sound sense, and in the purity of heart of a German girl to sustain +you in resisting a feeling which would lead you astray from the path +of duty and honor. I do not say that you loved him, but that he wished +to seduce you into loving him clandestinely, behind your father's +back. That is his gratitude for my hospitality." + +Speaking thus, Gotzkowsky pressed his daughter's hand more firmly in +his own, and continued approaching more closely to the door. "Only +think," continued he, "the mad thought crossed my mind--'How if this +man should be rash and foolhardy enough to have gone to my daughter?' +But I forgot to tell you his name. Feodor von Brenda was the name of +the treacherous guest, and Feodor von Brenda was also the name of +the officer who left the commissioner, perhaps in search of some love +adventure. But why do you tremble?" asked he in a loud tone, as her +hand quivered in his. + +"I do not tremble, father," replied she, striving for composure. + +Gotzkowsky raised his voice still higher till it sounded again. +"Forgive me this suspicion, my daughter. I should have known that, +even if this insolent Russian dared to renew a former acquaintance, my +daughter would never be so mean, never stoop so low as to welcome him, +for a German girl would never throw away her honor on a Russian boor." + +"Father," cried Elise, terrified and forgetting all her prudence, "oh, +father! do not speak so loud." + +"Not so loud? Why, then, some one can hear us?" asked Gotzkowsky, +pressing the arm of his daughter. "I will speak loud, I will declare +it aloud. He is a scoundrel who conceals himself in a dastardly and +dishonorable manner, instead of defending himself! a coward who would +put the honor of a maiden in the scale against his own miserable life. +No German would do that. Only a Russian would be base enough to hide +himself, instead of defending his life like a man!" + +At this moment the door of the bedroom was violently torn open, and +the Russian colonel appeared on the threshold, his cheeks burning and +his eyes flashing with anger. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE TWO CANNONEERS. + + +Elise uttered a cry of terror, and stared at her lover with +wide-opened eyes. But Gotzkowsky's countenance was illuminated with a +dark and savage joy. "Ah, at last, then!" said he, letting go the arm +of his daughter, and grasping his sword. + +But the colonel advanced proudly and collectedly toward him. "Here am +I, sir," said he; "here am I, to defend myself and avenge an insult." + +"I have driven you out of your hiding-place, as the fox draws the +badger out of his kennel," cried Gotzkowsky, with derisive laughter, +purposely calculated to irritate the anger of the young officer to the +highest pitch. + +The two men stood opposite to each other, and gazed at one another +with faces full of hatred and rage. Elise threw herself between them, +and falling on her knees before her father, exclaimed, "Kill me, +father; save your honor--kill me!" + +But Gotzkowsky slung her pitilessly aside. "Away!" cried he, roughly. +"What do you here? Make room for us! Here is a man with whom I can +fight for my honor." + +Feodor stepped quickly toward Elise, who was still kneeling on the +floor, wringing her hands, and sobbing from intense pain. He raised +her up, and whispering a few words in her ear, led her to the sofa. +He then turned to Gotzkowsky, and said, "Your honor is pure and +unspotted, sir! Whatever you may think of me, you must respect the +virtue of your daughter. She is innocent." + +"Innocent," cried Gotzkowsky derisively, "innocent! why, your very +presence has polluted the innocence of my daughter." + +"Father, kill me, but do not insult me!" cried she, a dark glow +suffusing her cheeks. + +"Pour out your anger on me," said Feodor ardently. "It is a piece of +barbarism to attack a defenceless girl." + +Gotzkowsky laughed out loud and scornfully: "You speak of barbarism, +and you a Russian!" + +An exclamation of rage escaped the colonel; he seized his sword and +drawing it quickly advanced toward Gotzkowsky. + +"At last!" cried Gotzkowsky, triumphantly, raising his blade. But +Elise, beside herself, and heedless of the flashing steel, threw +herself between them. With burning words she entreated Feodor to spare +her father, and not to raise his sword against him. But Gotzkowsky's +voice overpowered hers. Such wild words of contempt and insulting rage +issued from his lips, that the young officer, hurt in his military +honor, did not dare to listen to the voice of his beloved. It was +he now who pressed Elise back, and with raised arm placed himself +opposite to her father. + +"You must kill me, sir, or wash out this insult with your blood," +cried he, preparing himself for the combat. + +Both were then silent. It was a terrible, unearthly silence, only +broken by the clash of their swords or the occasional outcries of +anger or savage joy, as one or the other received or gave a blow. +Elise raised her head to heaven and prayed; every thing became +confused before her eyes, her head swam, and she felt as if she would +go crazy. She prayed God that He would release her by madness or death +from the suffering of this hour, or that He would point out to her +some way of deliverance or escape. But in the violence of their +dispute and combat, the two men had not heard that there arose +suddenly in the house a loud tumult and uproar; they had not perceived +that a guard of soldiers was drawn up in the street, and that the +commanding officer with a loud voice was demanding the delivery of the +cannoneer who had taken refuge in this house. + +As no attention was paid to the demand, the officer had ordered his +soldiers to break open the doors of the house and enter by force. But +Bertram had anticipated this proceeding by having the door opened, and +requesting the Austrian officer to search the house with his men, +and convince himself that no one was concealed in it. With most +industrious energy, and mindful of the price which had been set on the +head of the cannoneer, the soldiers searched every room in the house, +and had finally arrived at the closed door of the hall. + +Just as the combat between the two had reached its greatest violence, +it was interrupted by fierce blows at the door from butts of muskets, +and they were compelled to refrain from their imbittered struggle. +They stopped and listened, but Elise sprang from her knees, rushed +with a cry of delight to the door and threw it open. An officer of De +Lacy's chasseurs entered with some of his soldiers, while the rest of +the men filled the entrance hall and passages of the house with noise +and confusion. + +With a commanding tone the Austrian officer demanded the delivery of +the cannoneer, who, he asserted, had been seen by all to take refuge +in this house, whence it was impossible that he could have escaped, +as it had been immediately surrounded. And as no one answered his +threats, but only a sullen silence was opposed to his violently +repeated demand, he swore that he would burn down the house and let no +one escape if the refugee was not given up at once. + +Gotzkowsky had at first stood like one stunned, and scarcely heard +what the officer demanded of him. Gradually he began to recover from +his stupefaction and regain strength to turn his attention to things +around him. He raised his head from his breast, and, as if awaking +from a dream, he looked around with bewildered amazement. The Austrian +officer repeated his demand still more haughtily and threateningly. +Gotzkowsky had now recovered presence of mind and composure, and +declared with a determined voice, that no one was concealed in his +house. + +"He is here!" cried the Austrian. "Our men have followed his track +thus far, and marked this house well. Deliver him up to us, to avoid +bloodshed," and, turning to his soldiers, he continued, "Search all +the rooms-search carefully. The man is hidden here, and we--" + +Suddenly he interrupted his order, and gazed earnestly at the door +through which his soldiers were pressing in. + +"Had not this cannoneer, as he fled thither, a white cloak around him, +and did he not wear a broad-brimmed hat?" asked he. + +As the soldiers answered affirmatively, the officer stepped toward the +door, and drew from under the feet of his men the cloak and hat of the +cannoneer. A wild yell of joy broke from the soldiers. + +"Do you still persist in denying that this man is concealed here?" +asked the officer, raising the cloak. + +Gotzkowsky did not answer, but gazed on the ground absorbed in deep +thought. + +As the soldiers thronged into the room, the young Russian colonel had +withdrawn himself to a remote part of the room, and taken the most +lively interest in the scene acted before him. A word from him would +have brought the whole affair to an end, for, as an involuntary +listener, he had heard all that had transpired concerning the +cannoneer. Consequently he knew exactly the hiding-place in which the +latter had been concealed. But it had never come into his mind to +play the informer and traitor. He was only intensely interested in the +issue of the scene, and firmly determined, if the danger should grow +more urgent, to hasten with his weapon to Gotzkowsky's assistance, and +to defend him against the fury of the Austrians. + +Gotzkowsky still stood silent. He was trying to devise some plan by +which he might save the brave defender of Berlin, whose presence, +after such positive proof, he could no longer deny. + +As suddenly as lightning an idea seemed to penetrate his mind, his +countenance cleared, and he turned with a singular expression in his +eye to Colonel von Brenda. + +"Well!" asked the officer, "do you still deny it? + +"No, I cannot deny it any longer," said he, in a determined tone. "You +are right, sir; the cannoneer who shattered your ranks is here in my +house!" + +The soldiers broke out again in a triumphant roar. But Elise looked at +her father with anxious terror, and sought, trembling, to read in his +countenance the meaning of these words. "Can he possibly be capable of +betraying this man whom he has sworn to protect?" thought Feodor, and +yielding to his curiosity he approached the group in the middle of the +hall. Suddenly he felt Gotzkowsky's hand laid on his shoulder, and met +his dark eye, full of hatred. + +"Well," said Gotzkowsky, with a loud, defiant voice, "you are looking +for the artilleryman, Fritz. Here he is!" + +A scream and a burst of laughter were heard. It was Elise who uttered +the scream, and the colonel who greeted this unexpected turn with a +merry laugh. But Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be confused by +one or the other. + +He laid his arm on Feodor's neck, and forced his countenance to assume +a friendly expression. "Dear friend," said he, "you see it is vain any +longer to deny it. Our stratagem has unfortunately failed." + +"What stratagem?" asked the Austrian and Feodor, simultaneously. + +Gotzkowsky replied in a sorrowful tone to Feodor: "Do not disguise +yourself any longer, my son! you see it is useless." Then turning +to the officer, he continued: "We had hoped that he might escape +detection in this Russian uniform, left here by the adjutant of +General Sievers, who was formerly a prisoner of war in my house, but +unfortunately the hat and cloak have betrayed him." + +Feodor von Brenda looked at Gotzkowsky with admiring wonder, and this +rapidly invented _ruse de guerre_ pleased him astonishingly. + +It was a piquant adventure offered him by Gotzkowsky's hate and +cunning, and he did not feel inclined to throw away such an original +and interesting chance of excitement. He, the Russian colonel, and +Count von Brenda, the favorite of the empress, degraded to a Prussian +cannoneer, whose life was in danger! His wilful and foolhardy +imagination was pleased with the idea of playing the part of a +criminal condemned to death. + +"Well," asked the Austrian officer, "do you acknowledge the truth of +this statement, or do you deny being the cannoneer, Fritz?" + +"Why should I deny it?" answered Feodor, shrugging his shoulders. +"This gentleman, who ought to have saved me, has already betrayed me. +I am the man whom you seek!" + +With a scream of surprise, Elise threw herself toward her lover. + +"No!" cried she, loudly, "no, he is--" + +Her father's hand pressed heavily on her lips. "Another word, and you +are a murderess!" whispered he. + +The officer looked suspiciously at them. "You do not deny," asked he +of Feodor, "that you are he who directed such a murderous fire on our +lines? You do not deny that you are the artilleryman, Fritz, and that +this cloak and hat belong to you?" + +"I deny nothing!" replied Feodor, defiantly. + +The officer called to some of his men and ordered them to shoulder +arms, and take the prisoner in their midst; enjoining them to keep a +sharp watch on him, and at the first attempt to escape, to shoot +him down. But when he demanded his sword of the colonel, the latter +recoiled, shocked, and resisted. + +He now became aware of his foolhardiness and rashness, and that he +had not considered or foreseen the dangerous and perhaps dishonorable +consequences. However, as he had gone so far, he considered that it +would be disgraceful and cowardly to retreat now. He was also desirous +of pursuing to the end this adventure which he had begun with so much +boldness and daring. He drew his sword, and with considerable strength +breaking it in pieces, he threw them at the feet of the Austrian +officer. + +That officer shrugged his shoulders. "Your insolence will only make +your situation worse. Remember, you are our prisoner." + +"He must and shall die!" shouted the soldiers, thronging around +Feodor, angrily. + +The officer ordered silence. "He must die," said he, "that is true; +but we must first carry him to the general, to obtain the price +offered for him." + +The soldiers surrounded him and shoved him toward the door. But Elise +broke through the crowd. With flashing eyes, and cheeks burning with +a feverish excitement, she rushed toward Feodor. "No!" cried she, with +all the ardor of love, "no, I will not leave you. You are going to +your death!" + +Feodor kissed her lightly on the forehead, and replied with a smile, +"I fear nothing. Fortune does not forsake a brave soldier." + +He then took her by the hand and led her to her father. Gazing on him +with a long and speaking look, he continued: "Here, Father Gotzkowsky, +I bring your daughter to you: be a better father to her than you have +been a friend to me. These are my farewell words." + +He leaned forward as if to give Gotzkowsky a parting embrace, and +whispered to him: "I hope we are now quit! I have atoned for my fault. +You will no longer wish to punish your daughter for my transgression." + +He then threw the white cloak around him, and bidding Elise, who +leaned half fainting against her father, a tender farewell, he stepped +back into the ranks of the guard. + +"Attention! shoulder arms!" commanded the officer; and the Austrians +left the hall with closed ranks, the prisoner in their midst. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +FATHER GOTZKOWSKY. + + +The door had closed behind the soldiers and their prisoner. Gotzkowsky +and Elise remained behind, silent and immersed in the deep sorrows of +their souls. Neither spoke a word; both stood motionless and listened. + +They heard the soldiers hurry down the steps; they heard the house +door violently thrown open, and the officer announce in a loud voice +to those of his soldiers who were waiting in the street, the lucky +capture of the artilleryman. + +A cry of triumph from the Austrians was the answer; then was heard +the loud word of command from the officer, and the roll of the drum +gradually receding in the distance until it was no longer audible. +Every thing was silent. + +"Have mercy, Father in heaven have mercy! They are leading him to +death!" cried Elise in a heart-rending tone, and she sank on her knees +in prayer. + +"The brave cannoneer is saved!" murmured Gotzkowsky in a low voice +to himself, and he too folded his hands in prayer. Was it a prayer of +gratitude, or did it proceed from the despairing heart of a father? + +His countenance had a bright and elevated expression; but as he turned +his eyes down on his daughter, still on her knees, they darkened, +and his features twitched convulsively and painfully. His anger had +evaporated, and his heart was filled with boundless pity and love. He +felt nothing but painful, sorrowful compassion for this young girl +who lay deathly pale and trembling with suffering on the floor. His +daughter was weeping, and his heart yearned toward her to forgive her +every thing, to raise her up and comfort her. + +Suddenly Elise started up from her knees and strode toward her father. +There was something solemn and imposing in her proud bearing, her +extraordinary composure, which only imperfectly veiled her raging +grief and passionate excitement. + +"Father," said she solemnly, and her voice sounded hoarse and cold, +"may God forgive you for what you have done! At this moment, when +perhaps he is suffering death, I repeat it, I am innocent." + +This proud composure fell freezingly on Gotzkowsky's heart, and drove +back all the milder forgiving impulses. He remembered only the shame +and the injured honor of his daughter. + +"You assert your innocence, and yet you had a man concealed in the +night in your bedchamber!" + +"And yet I am innocent, father!" cried Elise vehemently. "Read it on +my forehead, see it in my eyes, which do not fear to meet yours. I am +innocent!" + +And completely overpowered by the bitter and desperate anguish of +her soul, she continued, still more excited, "But how does all this +concern you? It was not my honor that you were interested in; you did +not seek to avenge that. You only wished to punish me for daring to +assert my freedom and independence, for daring to love without having +asked your leave. The rich man to whom all bend, whom all worship as +the priest of the powerful idol which rules the world, the rich man +sees with dismay that there is one being not dazzled by his treasures +who owns an independent life, a will of her own, and a heart that he +cannot command. And because this being does not of her own accord how +down before him he treads it in the dust, whether it be his own child +or not." + +"Elise," cried Gotzkowsky, shocked, "Elise, are you mad? Do you know +that you are speaking to your father?" + +But her tortured heart did not notice this appeal; and only +remembering that perhaps at this moment her lover was suffering death +through her father's fault, she allowed herself to be carried away by +the overpowering force of her grief. She met the flashing eye of her +father with a smile of contempt, and said, coldly: "Oh yes, you may +look at me. I do not fear your angry glances. I am free; you yourself +have absolved me from any fear of you. You took from me my lover, and +at the same time deprived yourself of your child." + +"O God!" cried Gotzkowsky in an undertone, "have I deserved this, +Father in heaven?" and he regarded his daughter with a touching +expression. + +But she was inexorable; sorrow had unseated her judgment, and "Oh!" +cried she in a tone of triumph, "now I will confess every thing to +you, how I have suffered and what I have undergone." + +"Elise!" cried he painfully, "have I not given you every thing your +heart could desire?" + +"Yes!" cried she, with a cruel laugh, "you fulfilled all my wishes, +and thereby made me poor in wishes, poor in enjoyment. You deprived me +of the power of wishing, for every thing was mine even before I could +desire it. It was only necessary for me to stretch out my hand, and it +belonged to me. Cheerless and solitary I stood amidst your wealth, and +all that I touched was turned into hard gold. The rich man's daughter +envied the beggar woman in the street, for she still had wishes, +hopes, and privations." + +Gotzkowsky listened to her, without interrupting her by a word or even +a sigh. Only now and then he raised his hand to his forehead, or cast +a wandering, doubtful look at his daughter, as if to convince himself +that all that was passing was not a mad, bewildering dream, but +painful, cruel reality. + +But when Elise, breathless and trembling with excitement, stopped for +a moment, and he no longer heard her cutting accents of reproach, he +pressed both hands upon his breast, as if to suppress a wail over the +annihilation of his whole life. "O God!" muttered he in a low voice, +"this is unparalleled agony! This cuts into a father's heart!" + +After a pause, Elise continued: "I too was a beggar, and I hungered +for the bread of your love." + +"Elise, oh, my child, do you not know then that I love you +infinitely?" + +But she did not perceive the loving, almost imploring looks which her +father cast upon her. She could see and think only of herself and her +own tormented heart. + +"Yes," said she, "you love me as one loves a jewel, and has it set +in gold in order to make it more brilliant. You loved me as a costly +ornament of your rooms, as something which gave you an opportunity of +exercising the splendor of your liberality, and to be produced as an +evidence of your renowned wealth. But you did not love me as a father; +you did not perceive that I wept in secret, or if you did see it, you +consoled me with diamonds, with rich dresses, to make me smile. But +you did not give me your father's heart. At last the rich man's child +discovers a happiness not to be bought with gold or treasures, a +happiness that the millions of her father could not purchase for +her. This happiness is--love. The only possession that I have owned, +father, contrary to your will, you have deprived me of, because it was +mine against your will. Now, poor rich man, take all your gold, +and seek and buy yourself a child with it. Me you have lost!" and +staggering back with a sob, she sank fainting on the carpet. + +A dread silence now reigned in the room. Gotzkowsky stood motionless, +with his eyes directed toward heaven. The cruel, mocking words of +his daughter sounded over and over again in his ears, and seemed to +petrify the power of his will and chain him fast, as if rooted to the +floor. Gradually he recovered from this apathy of grief. The stagnant +blood revived in his veins, and shot like burning streams of fire to +his heart. He bent over his daughter, and gazing for a long time at +her, his features assumed a gentler and softer expression. Tenderly +with his hand he smoothed the tresses from her clear, high forehead; +and as he did so, he almost smiled again, so beautiful and charming +did she seem to him in her death-like repose. + +"She has fainted," whispered he, low, as if fearful of awakening +her. "So much the better for her; and when she recovers, may she have +forgotten all the cruel words that she has uttered!" + +He laid his hand on her head as if to bless her, and love and +forgiveness were expressed in his looks. A perfect peace seemed to +pervade his whole frame. In this moment he forgave her all the pain, +all the suffering she had caused him. He pardoned her those unjust +reproaches and accusations, and with lofty emotion, raising his eyes +toward heaven, he exclaimed, "O God! thou seest my heart. Thou knowest +that love alone has possession of its very depths, love to my child! +and my child has no faith in me. I have worked--I am rich--I have +amassed wealth--only for her. I thought of my child as I sat at +my desk during the long, weary nights, busied with difficult +calculations. I remembered my daughter when I was wearied out and +overcome by this laborious work. She should be happy; she should be +rich and great as any princess; for this I worked. I had no time to +toy or laugh with her, for I was working for her like a slave. And +this," continued he with a sad smile, "this is what she reproaches me +with. There is nothing in which I believe, nothing but my child, and +my child does not believe in me! The world bows down before me, and I +am the poorest and most miserable beggar." + +Overpowered by these bitter thoughts, which crowded tumultuously upon +his brain, he leaned his head upon his hand and wept bitterly. Then, +after a long pause, he drew himself up erect, and, with a determined +gesture, shook the tears from his eyes. + +"Enough!" said he, loudly and firmly, "enough; my duty shall cure me +of all this suffering. That I must not neglect." + +He rang the bell, and ordered the servant-maids, who appeared, to +raise up the insensible girl and bear her to her room. + +But when the maidens called the waiting-man to their assistance to +raise their mistress, Gotzkowsky pushed them all aside, and carried +her softly and gently, as carefully and tenderly as a mother, to a +couch, on which he placed her. He then pressed a fervent kiss upon her +brow. Elise began to move, a faint blush overspread her cheeks, she +opened her eyes. Gotzkowsky immediately stepped back, and signed to +her maids to carry her into her room. + +He looked after her until she had disappeared, his eyes dimmed with +tears. "My child," said he, in a low voice, "she is lost to me. Oh, I +am a poor, pitiable father!" With a deep groan he pressed his hands +to his face, and nothing was heard but the painful sobs wrung from the +heart of this father wrestling with his grief. + +Suddenly there arose from without loud lamentations and cries for +help. They came nearer and nearer, and at last reached Gotzkowsky's +house, and filled its halls and passages. It was not the outcry of +a single person. From many voices came the sounds of lamenting and +weeping, screams and shrieks: + +"Help! help! have pity on us, save us! The Austrians are hewing us +down--they are burning our houses--save us!" + +Gotzkowsky dropped his hands from his face and listened. "What was +that? who cries for help?" asked he, dreamingly, still occupied with +his own sorrows, scarcely conscious of the reality. But suddenly he +started, and from his eyes beamed life and courage. "Ah!" cried he +aloud, "mankind is suffering, and I am thinking of my own griefs. I +know these voices. The wives and children of my workmen, the poor +and oppressed of the city are calling me. The people need me. Up, +Gotzkowsky! give them your heart, your life. Endeavor to be a father +to the unfortunate, and you will not be poor in children!" + +Without the wailing and cries for help continued to resound, and the +voices of weeping and trembling women and plaintive children cried +aloud, "Gotzkowsky, help us! have pity on us, Father Gotzkowsky!" + +"Father!" cried he, raising his head, his countenance beaming with +delight. "They call me father, and yet I complain. Up! to my children +who love me, and who need my help!" + + * * * * * + + + + +BOOK II. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TWO EDITORS. + + +On the morning succeeding the night of horrors and confusion in which +Berlin had surrendered to the conqueror, the vanguard of the Russians +marched into the town through the König's Gate. But the commanding +general, Tottleben, wished to make his triumphal entry with his staff +and the main body of his army through the Kottbuss Gate, and had +ordered the magistracy of the town to meet him there, and to +bring with them a deputation of the merchants, to determine what +contribution should be laid upon them. But before the Russian general +could make his entry, the vanguard of De Lacy's army corps had +penetrated into the Frederick Street suburb, and were committing the +most atrocious acts of cruelty in the New Street. With wild yells they +entered the houses to rob and plunder, ill-treating those who refused +to give up their valuables, and by violent threats of incendiarism, +raising forced levies from the frightened inhabitants. + +But it was not alone this lust of plunder in the soldiers which spread +terror and dismay in each house and in every family. Count De Lacy +possessed a list of those persons who, by word, deed, or writing, had +declared against Austria or Russia, and he gave it to his officers, +with the order that they should not hesitate at any measures, any +threats or acts of violence, to obtain possession of these people. +Besides which, he promised a considerable reward for each "traitor" +brought to him; and it was therefore no wonder that these officers, +with brutal and avaricious zeal, had scarcely arrived in the city +before they commenced the pursuit of these outlaws. With fearful yells +they rushed into the houses, shouting out the names of those on the +pursuit of whom they were bent, and whose seizure would secure them a +golden reward. + +Naturally enough, the writers and journalists were the first on whom +the vengeful wrath of the conqueror was poured, for it has ever been +the lot of authors to suffer for the misfortunes of the people, to be +made responsible for the being and thinking, the will and action of +the nation to which they belong. But it is only in days of misfortune +that the responsibility of authors and poets commences. They must +answer for the ill luck, but are never rewarded for the happiness of +the nation. + +Three names, especially, did De Lacy's chasseurs cry out with a raging +howl for vengeance, through the Frederick-Stadt and down the Linden +Street, and they searched for their owners in every house. + +"De Justi! De Justi!"--with this cry one of the Austrian officers +rushed through the street, knocked with his sword violently against +the closed house doors, and demanded with savage threats the delivery +of this criminal for whose arrest a high premium had been offered. + +M. De Justi was indeed a notorious criminal. Not that he had written +much or badly, but principally because he had dared to use his sharp +pen against the Austrian empress, and her allies the Russians and +Saxons. It was especially three pamphlets which excited the wrath of +the victorious enemy. These pamphlets were called: "Proof that the +Empress should be deposed;" "Why and wherefore Certain Nations in +Europe are disposed to become Anthropophagous," and lastly, "Account +of the life of Count Brühl." He had offended not only the Austrians, +but also the Russians and Saxons. It was therefore natural that these +three powers reigning in Berlin should wish to take their revenge on +the writer of these insulting pamphlets. + +But De Justi had been prudent enough to escape from the pursuit of +his revengeful enemies. During the siege he had betaken himself to +the house of a friend in a more secure street, and had hidden in the +cellar, where it was impossible to find him. As they could not get +possession of the writer, they were obliged to cool their wrath on his +treasonable writings. They were dragged in his stead, as prisoners of +state and dangerous criminals, to headquarters at the New Market. + +The two other writers, whom the Austrians pursued with furious zeal, +were the two newspaper editors, Kretschmer and Krause. These two +had no idea of such pursuit; indeed, they did not even know that the +Austrians had penetrated into the city. In the safe hiding-place in +which both of them had passed the night they had only learned that +Berlin had surrendered to the Russians, and that General Tottleben +had ordered the magistrates to receive him the next morning at the +Kottbuss Gate at eight o'clock. + +It was intended that the reception should be a brilliant and solemn +one, and that the general should be mollified and conciliated by +humble subjection; it was also determined to endeavor, by an +offering of money made to him individually, to induce him to make the +contribution laid on the town moderate and light. + +The news was like a thunder-clap to the two editors, for it compelled +them to leave their safe hiding-place, and to venture out into +the dangerous world. For these gentlemen, editors of such renowned +journals, who prided themselves on giving their readers the most +recent and important intelligence, would not dare to be absent at the +reception of the Russian general. For the love of their country they +had to forget their own fears, and, for the honor of their journals, +face danger like true heroes. + +Day had scarcely dawned, and deep silence and death-like stillness +reigned at the Kottbuss Gate. The wings of the gate were closed, and +the watchman had withdrawn into his little box, and was resting from +the events of the past days. Dawn still lay like a veil over poor, +anxious Berlin, and concealed her tears and bloody wounds. + +The silence was suddenly interrupted by the sound of approaching +footsteps, and around the nearest corner glided the cowering figure +of a man. He remained still for a minute and listened; then, convinced +that all around him was quiet and silent, he crept along, keeping +anxiously close to the houses, and reached unperceived the pillar on +the right side of the gate, in the dark shadow of which he concealed +himself. This man was no other than Mr. Kretschmer, the editor of the +_Vossian Gazette,_ who made himself comfortable in his hiding-place. + +"This is quite nice and right," said he, shoving a stone behind the +pillar, in order to raise himself to a higher point of view. "From +here I can hear and observe every thing." + +So, settling himself on the stone, he leaned back in the corner of the +door-pillar, as if it were the leathern arm-chair in his _sanctum_. A +comfortable smile stole over his features. + +"This time," said he, "at least, I have forestalled my rival, good +Mr. Krause. To-morrow the _Vossian Gazette_ will be the only one which +will be able to report, from actual observation, on the formal entry +of the Russian general. Oh, how vexed _Spener's_ will be! There is +seven o'clock striking. In an hour the ceremony will begin. _Spener's +Journal_ still sleeps, while the _Vossian Gazette_ wakes and works, +and is alert to satisfy the curiosity of Berlin." + +Poor, benighted editor of the _Vossian_! You, indeed, could not +see him, but the veil of the dawning day, which spread over Berlin, +concealed your rival, as well as yourself, in its folds. His drawn-up +figure was not visible to your dimmed sight, as he sneaked along the +houses, and hid himself behind the pillar on the left of the gate. +While you were rejoicing over the long sleep of _Spener's Journal_, +its editor, Mr. Krause, was standing opposite to you, behind the +pillar, whither he had come, notwithstanding his sixty-eight years, +like you, to witness the entrance of the Russians. And happy was he +in spirit at this victory obtained over his rival, the editor of the +_Vossian Gazette_, and it made him very proud indeed to think that +this once he had forestalled Mr. Kretschmer, and consequently would +have the monopoly of describing in the morning's paper, to the people +of Berlin, the magnificent and pompous entrance of the Russians! + +The editor of the _Vossian Gazette_ had no idea of the vicinity of his +rival. He continued to congratulate himself on the advantage he had +obtained, and proceeded cheerfully in his soliloquy. "It makes me +laugh to think of _Spener's Journal_. I, myself, advised Mr. Krause +to conceal himself, and the good man faithfully followed my advice. +Perhaps the little old gentleman dreams that I am at this moment +sitting by my fireside, while there is so much matter for my newspaper +here. Good matter, too, that can be moulded into an interesting +article, is not so common that it can be carelessly squandered. Sleep, +therefore, sleep, good _Spener_--the _Vossian_ wakes." + +But _Spener_ did not sleep. He was at the opposite pillar, smirking +and saying to himself, "How lucky it is that I have anticipated the +_Vossian_!" He then was silent, but his thoughts were active, and in +the bottom of his heart he instituted some very serious reflections +upon the superfluousness of a second newspaper, how perfectly +unnecessary it was in fact. + +"This _Vossian Gazette_ is perfectly intolerable," thought he. +"There ought to be a law prohibiting the publishing of more than one +newspaper in each town. Then the public would always get reliable +news, and draw its political opinions from one source, which would be +undoubted, and it would accept as true what we gave forth for truth. +If the government would follow this plan, and allow only one newspaper +to each town, and conciliate this one with money or patronage, mankind +would be much happier and more contented, and less liable to be +distracted by the most opposite political views and information. What +profits the existence of this _Vossian Gazette_? What does it do +but rob me of my subscribers? By Heavens! I wish the Russian would +exterminate it thoroughly." + +While Mr. Krause was thus speaking to himself, Mr. Kretschmer had +followed the same course of thought, and, very naturally, arrived at +a similar conclusion. He, too, had to confess that _Spener's Journal_ +was very inconvenient, and hated its editor from the bottom of his +heart. In the vehemence of his vexation, he overlooked the necessary +precaution, and cried out, "Cursed be this rival, this man who has the +presumption to imagine he can compete with me!" + +Mr. Krause shuddered at the sound of this voice, which seemed to him +as it were the echo of his own unspoken thoughts, but he mastered +his alarm, and cried aloud, "Did any one speak?" "Did any one speak?" +sounded back again, and two heads were seen protruding from the +pillars on each side of the gate, the eyes in them inquiringly peering +at each other. The morning in the mean while had become lighter, and, +with an inward shudder, the two gentlemen recognized each other. + +"It is _Spener's_! May the devil take him!" thought Mr. Kretschmer. + +"It is the _Vossian_! Damn the fellow!" thought Mr. Krause. + +But while they thought this to themselves, they rushed forward and +embraced each other, with greetings and assurances of friendship, to +all appearances warm and sincere. + +"I am not mistaken! It is my dear friend Krause." + +"Oh, what happiness! my dear Kretschmer!" + +And they shook each other's hands and repeated their asseverations of +friendship and esteem, but, at the same time, breathed in their hearts +their curses and execrations. But the two editors were not the only +persons who had sought the Kottbuss Gate at this early hour. An +Austrian officer with a guard of soldiers, in his search after the two +editors, had also reached the spot, and was marching with his men from +the corner near the gate, looking eagerly right and left and up at all +the windows. His eye fell upon these two men who were shrinking +from his sight, uttering pious ejaculations to Heaven. The officer +approached them and demanded their names. Neither answered. The +officer repeated his question, and accompanied it with such threats as +convinced Mr. Krause of the imperative necessity of answering it. He +bowed, therefore, respectfully to the officer, and pointing to his +friend, said, "This is Mr. Kretschmer, the editor of the _Vossian +Gazette_." + +Kretschmer cast upon him a look full of hatred and revenge. "And +this," said he, with a wicked smile, "is Mr. Krause, editor of +_Spener's Journal_." + +An expression of joyous triumph shone in the countenance of the +officer: "You are my prisoners, gentlemen," said he, as he beckoned to +his soldiers to arrest them. + +Pale did Mr. Krause grow as he drew back a step. "Sir, this must be a +mistake. We are quiet, peaceable citizens, who have nothing to do with +the war, but only busy ourselves with our pens." + +"Our arrest is contrary to all national law," cried Mr. Kretschmer, +at the same time endeavoring to defend himself from the weapons which +were pointed at him. + +The officer laughed. "In war we know no national law. You are my +prisoners." And disregarding their struggles and cries for help, they +dragged the two editors as prisoners to the guard-house at the New +Market. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE OF BERLIN. + + +After a short interval of quiet and lonesomeness at the Kottbuss Gate, +there appeared, first far down the street, then approaching nearer and +nearer, a solemn procession. Foremost staggered the chief burgomaster, +Von Kircheisen, in full uniform, adorned with his golden chain, which +rustled as it rose and sank with his hurried, feverish respiration. +He was followed by the second burgomaster, with the Town Council, and +deputation of merchants, headed by Gotzkowsky. With solemn, serious +air, these gentlemen took up their position at the gate. + +The chief burgomaster then beckoned Gotzkowsky to his side. "Stand +by me, my friend," said he, with a groan, and offering his hand to +Gotzkowsky with a dismal air. "I am suffering terribly, and even the +two bottles of Johannisberger are not sufficient to inspire me with +courage. Is it not terrible that the honorable Council should be +obliged to attend in person? It is an unheard-of indignity!" + +"Not only for you, but for the Berlin citizen is the insult equally +great," said Gotzkowsky. + +Herr von Kircheisen shook his head in a most melancholy manner. "Yes," +said he, "but the Berlin citizen does not feel it so deeply. It does +not affect his honor as it does that of the magistracy." + +Gotzkowsky smiled scornfully. "Do you think," asked he, "that the +magistrates possess a different kind of honor from that of any citizen +of the town? The sense of honor is keener among the people than it is +among the noblest lords." + +The chief burgomaster frowned. "These are very proud words," replied +he, with a shrug of his shoulders. + +"Pride belongs to the citizen!" cried Gotzkowsky. "But believe me, +noble sir, my heart to-day is not as proud as my words. It is sore +with pain and grief over our deep, unmerited degradation." + +"Silence, silence!" whispered the chief magistrate, leaning +tremblingly on Gotzkowsky's arm. He heard a noise behind the closed +gates, and his mind misgave him that the dreaded enemy was at hand. + +Suddenly there sounded on the other side of the walls the loud notes +of a trumpet, and the warder hastened to throw open the gate. A rare +and motley mixture of Russian uniforms now came in sight. There were +seen Cossacks, with their small horses and sharp lances; body-guards, +with their gold-adorned uniforms; hussars, in their jackets trimmed +with costly furs, all crowding in in confused tumult and with +deafening screams and yells, that contrasted strangely with the +silence inside the gates, with the noiseless, deserted streets, +the closed windows of the houses, whose inhabitants scorned to be +witnesses to the triumphal entry of the enemy. Only the ever-curious, +ever-sight-loving, always-thoughtless populace, to whom the honor has +at times been accorded of being called "the sovereign people," only +this populace had hurried hither from all the streets of Berlin to see +the entry of the Russians, and to hurrah to the conqueror, provided +he paraded right handsomely and slowly in. And now a deep silence took +place in the ranks of the enemy; the crowd opened and formed a lane, +through which rode the Russian General Bachmann and his staff. As he +reached the gate he drew in his horse and asked, in a loud, sonorous +voice, in French, whether the magistrates and deputation of merchants +were present. + +The chief magistrate felt unable to answer; his knees tottered and his +teeth chattered convulsively. He could only wag his head in silence +and point with trembling hand to his companions. + +"Is the merchant, John Gotzkowsky, one of your deputation?" asked the +general. + +Gotzkowsky stepped out of the crowd and approached the general with a +proud step. "I am he, sir." + +"I am glad to meet you," said the general, with a gracious smile. "I +bring you greetings from General Sievers. He commissioned and ordered +me to show you all possible favor. If I can be of service to you in +any possible way, pray command me. I am General von Bachmann, and +during our presence here have been appointed to the command of +Berlin." + +"Are you a friend of the noble Sievers?" cried Gotzkowsky, his +countenance beaming with pleasure. "Oh, then, I need fear nothing +for this unfortunate town, for only a noble, high-minded man can be a +friend of Sievers. You will have pity on our distress!" + +"Tell me wherein I can serve you, and how I can oblige you; my word +has much influence on our general-in-chief, Count Tottleben." + +Gotzkowsky was silent. + +"Beg him to make the contribution as small as possible," whispered +Kircheisen in Gotzkowsky's ear. + +But Gotzkowsky took no notice of him. He fixed his dark eyes on the +general, as if he wished to read his soul. + +"Speak out," said the general. "If it is possible, your wish shall be +granted." + +"Well then, general," cried Gotzkowsky, "this is my request: Spare the +poor and needy of this town. Order your soldiers to be humane, and do +not forget mercy. Let your warriors neither murder nor plunder; let +them not deride the defenceless and conquered. Give to the world the +example of a generous and noble conqueror." + +The general looked into Gotzkowsky's noble countenance with increasing +astonishment, and his features assumed a more benevolent expression. +"I give you my word that your petition shall be granted," said he; "I +will give my soldiers strict orders, and woe be to him who does not +obey them! But you have spoken for others, and I would like to oblige +you personally. Have you no request to make for yourself?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed!" cried Gotzkowsky, "I beg you to allow me to hasten +to the Council-hall to report to the elders of the citizens your kind +promise." + +General Bachmann nodded affably to him. "Hasten then, and return +soon." + +But as Gotzkowsky turned to hasten away, Herr von Kircheisen seized +him with a convulsive grasp and drew him back. "My God! you are not +going to leave me?" he whined out. "Only think--" + +"That the brave and noble citizens may lay the general's words as +a balm to their wounds--that is what I am thinking of," cried +Gotzkowsky, tearing himself loose and hurrying away with rapid +strides. + +"And now for you, most worthy burgomaster," said General Bachmann, +sternly, "your name, if you please?" + +Von Kircheisen looked at him gloomily, but made no answer. + +The general repeated his question in a louder and sterner voice, but +the burgomaster still maintained the same obstinate silence. + +"Have you, by some unlucky chance, forgotten your name, sir?" asked +the general with a lowering brow. + +The angry, piercing look he fastened on him, seemed to awaken the +burgomaster from his lethargy. + +"My name is Kircheisen, Von Kircheisen," stammered he, with a heavy +tongue. + +"We came as conquerors, sir," said General Bachmann; "and it is usual +for conquerors to dictate their terms before they enter a captured +city. In the name of our general, Count Tottleben, I have to +communicate to you what sum we demand from you as a war contribution. +This demand amounts to four millions of dollars in good money." + +The burgomaster stared at the general with glazed eyes, broke out +into a loud laugh, and staggered back on the wall of the gate-warder's +house. + +"I implore you, collect yourself," whispered the second burgomaster, +as he endeavored to support the reeling, staggering chief. "Remember +our weal or woe depends upon you!" + +Von Kircheisen grinned an idiotic laugh. "Four millions of dollars!" +screamed he aloud. "Four millions of dollars! Hurrah! hurrah for the +Russians!" + +The countenance of the general became still more threatening, and an +angry light flashed from his eye. "Do you dare to mock me?" asked +he, in a harsh tone. "Beware, sir; and remember that you are the +conquered, and in our power. I demand from you a decided answer. You +understand my demand, do you not?" + +But still he answered not. He stared at General Bachmann with a vacant +smile, and his head wagged from side to side like the pendulum of a +clock. + +"This is disgraceful conduct," cried the general, "conduct which does +little honor to the chief magistrate of Berlin. But I warn you, sir, +to beware! I have promised the poor and suffering my protection, but I +well know how to punish those who abuse our magnanimity. If you do not +answer me this time, sir, by Heaven I will have you carried off under +arrest and let a court-martial pronounce judgment on you!" + +The chief magistrate continued dumb. The pale and terror-stricken +countenances of those present were turned toward him. The members +of the Council implored and besought him to put aside this unnatural +stubbornness. + +Von Kircheisen answered their pleadings with a loud-sounding laugh. +He then stared at the general, his features worked and struggled, +writhed, and finally he opened his mouth. + +"Ah! God be praised, he is going to speak," cried the second +burgomaster. + +But no, he did not speak; he only distorted his face. A cry of dismay +sounded from the lips of the deputation, a cry of anger from the +Russian general, who, turning to his adjutant, ordered him immediately +to arrest the burgomaster and carry him off. And now there arose an +indescribable scene of confusion and terror. Pale with fright, the +Council and deputation of merchants had flocked around Von Kircheisen +to protect him from the advancing soldiers who sought to arrest him, +while he, in the midst of all the horror and tumult, continued to +giggle and make grimaces. The enraged soldiery had already commenced +to push aside Kircheisen's defenders with blows from the butts of +their muskets, when a man made his way through the crowd. It was +Gotzkowsky, who, with a loud and full voice, demanded the cause of +this singular uproar. A hundred voices were ready to answer him, and +explain the scene in confused, unintelligible jargon. + +But General Bachmann beckoned him to his side. "Tell me, sir, is this +chief burgomaster a fool or a drunkard, or is he, indeed, so demented +as to intend to mock us?" + +As Gotzkowsky looked at the deathly pale, convulsed countenance of the +magistrate, who renewed his shrill, screeching laugh, he comprehended +the racking and terrible torture which the unfortunate man was +suffering. He hastened to him, seized him by the arm, and led the +tottering figure toward the general. + +"This man is neither a fool nor a madman, your excellency; suffering +has robbed him of speech, and he laughs, not in derision, but from the +convulsion of intense sorrow." + +And as the offended and angry general would not believe him, and +commanded his soldiers anew to arrest the burgomaster, and the +soldiers with renewed rage pressed on him, Gotzkowsky placed himself +before him, and protected him with his proud and respect-inspiring +person. + +"General Bachmann," cried he, warmly, "I remind you of your oath. +You vowed to me to protect the suffering. Well, then, this man is +a sufferer, a sick man. I demand, from the noble friend of General +Sievers, that he have compassion on the sick man, and allow him to be +escorted safely and unmolested to his house." + +"Can you give me your word that this man did not act thus out of +arrogance?" asked the general, in a milder tone; "are you convinced +that he is sick?" + +"I swear to you, please your excellency, that the chief magistrate of +Berlin has never been a healthy man; that, for many years, he has been +subject to fits of convulsive laughter." + +General Bachmann smiled. "This is an unfortunate disease for the chief +magistrate of a city," said he, "and it seems to me as if the citizens +of Berlin did wrong in choosing for their burgomaster a man who +laughs and cries indifferently, and to whom the misfortunes of his +fellow-citizens apparently serves only for a joke. But you reminded me +of my promise, and you shall see that I will keep it." + +He beckoned to his soldiers, and ordered them to fetch a litter on +which to carry the sick burgomaster home. He then turned, with a +smile, to Gotzkowsky, and said: "Sir, the Council of Berlin have cause +to be grateful to you; you have saved their chief from death." + +Herr von Kircheisen did not laugh now. His features jerked and +distorted themselves still, but a stream of tears gushed from his +eyes. + +With an unspeakable expression he seized Gotzkowsky's hand, and +pressed it to his lips, then sank unconscious in the arms of his +deliverer. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE RUSSIAN, THE SAXON, AND THE AUSTRIAN, IN BERLIN. + + +Berlin was now given up to the enemy, and through the once cheerful +and pleasant streets could be heard nothing but screams and shrieks +of terror, mingled with the wild curses and boisterous laughter of the +conqueror, who, not satisfied with attacking the trembling inhabitants +to rob them of their possessions and property, ill treated them out of +sheer cruelty, and took delight in hearing their screams and looking +at the contortions caused by pain. + +And who was this enemy, who, in scorn of all humanity and +civilization, tortured the unfortunate and hunted them down? + +They were not Russians, nor wild hordes of Cossacks. They were +Austrians and Saxons, who, robbing and plundering, murdering and +destroying, violating and burning, rushed through Berlin, filling all +the inhabitants with terror and alarm. + +General Bachmann kept faithfully the promise he had made to +Gotzkowsky, and the Russian army at first not only preserved the +strictest discipline, but even protected the inhabitants against the +violence of the Austrians and Saxons. + +The terrified citizens had one powerful and beneficent friend--this +was John Gotzkowsky. Yielding to his urgent entreaty, General von +Bachmann's adjutant, Von Brinck, had taken up his quarters in his +house, and by his assistance and his own influence with the general, +Gotzkowsky was enabled to afford material aid to all Berlin. For +those citizens who were able to pay the soldiers he procured a Russian +safeguard, and more than once this latter protected the inhabitants of +the houses against the vandalism of the Austrians and Saxons. + +Contrary to the wish of the Russians, the Austrians had forced +themselves into the city, and, in spite of the terms of the +capitulation agreed upon with the Russians, had quartered themselves +upon the citizens, from whom, with the most savage cruelty and threats +of ingenious torture, they extorted all the gold and jewels they +possessed. + +Berlin was now the open camping-ground of Croats and Austrian hussars, +and Russian Cossacks, and all minds were filled with dread and +anxiety. + +It is true that even the Cossacks forgot the strict discipline +which had been commanded them, and entered the houses, robbing and +compelling the inhabitants, by blows of the knout, to give them +all they wanted. But yet they were less cruel than the Saxons, +less barbarous than the Austrians, who, with scoffing and derision, +committed the greatest atrocities. Indeed, it was only necessary +to complain to the Russian general in order to obtain justice +immediately, and have the Cossacks punished. Eight of them were +strung up in one day at the guard-house on the New Market square, as +a warning and example to the others, and expiated their robberies by +a summary death. But with the Austrians and Saxons it was the officers +themselves who instigated the soldiers to acts of revolting barbarity, +and who, forgetful of all humanity, by their laughter and applause +excited their subordinates to fresh ill-treatment of the inhabitants. +Disregarding the capitulation, and listening to their national enmity, +and their love of plunder, they pressed forward with wild screams into +the royal stables, driving away the safeguard of four-and-twenty men, +which General von Tottleben had placed there for their protection, and +with shameless insolence defiling the Prussian coat-of-arms pictured +on the royal carriages. They then drew them out into the open street, +and, after they had stripped them of their ornaments and decorations, +piled them up in a great heap and set them on fire, in order to add +to the fright and terror of the bewildered citizens by the threatening +danger of conflagration. + +High blazed the flames, consuming greedily these carriages which had +once borne kings and princes. The screams and fright of the inmates +of the nearest houses, and the crackling of the window-glass broken by +the heat were drowned by the joyous shouts of the Austrians who danced +round the fire with wild delight, and accompanied the roaring of the +flames with insulting and licentious songs. And the fire seemed only +to awaken their inventive powers, and excite them to fresh deeds of +vandalism. After the fire had burnt out, and only a heap of ashes told +of what were once magnificent royal vehicles, the Austrians rushed +back again into the building with terrific outcry, to the apartments +of the royal master of the horse, Schwerin, in order to build a new +bonfire with his furniture, and fill their pockets with his gold and +silver ware. + +In the royal stalls a great uproar arose, as they fought with each +other for the horses that were there. The strongest leaped on them and +rode off furiously, to carry into other neighborhoods the terror and +dismay which marked the track of the Austrians through Berlin. Even +the hospitals were not safe from their brutal rage. They tore the sick +from their beds, drove them with scoffs and insults into the streets, +cut up their beds, and covered them over with the feathers. And all +this was committed not by wild barbarians, but by the regular troops +of a civilized state, by Austrians, who were spurred on, by their +hatred of the Prussians, to deeds of rude cruelty and beastly +barbarity. And this unlucky national hatred, which possessed the +Austrian and made him forgetful of all humanity, was communicated, +like an infectious plague, to the Saxons, and transformed these +warriors, who were celebrated for being, next to the Prussians, +the most orderly and best disciplined, into rude Jack Ketches and +iconoclastic Vandals. + +In the royal pleasure-palace at Charlottenburg, where Brühl's (Saxon) +dragoons had taken up their quarters by force, they set up a new +species of dragoonade, which was directed not so much against the +living as against marble statues and the sacred treasures of art. All +the articles of splendor, brilliancy, and luxury which had been +heaped up here, every thing which the royal love of the fine arts +had collected of what was beautiful and rare, was sacrificed to their +raging love of destruction. Gilded furniture, Venetian mirrors, large +porcelain vases from Japan, were smashed to pieces. The silk tapestry +was torn from the walls in shreds, the doors inlaid with beautiful +wood-mosaic were broken up with clubs, the most masterly and costly +paintings were cut in ribbons with knives. To be sure, it sometimes +happened that the officers rescued from the soldiers some costly vase, +some rare treasure or painting, and saved it from destruction, +but this was not to save the King of Prussia's property, but to +appropriate it to themselves, and carry it home with them. + +Even the art-collection of Count Polignac, embracing the most splendid +and rare treasures of art in the palace of Charlottenburg, did not +escape this mania of destruction. This collection, containing among +other things the most beautiful Greek statues, had been purchased in +Rome by Gotzkowsky, and had afforded the king peculiar gratification, +and was a source of much enjoyment to him. In the eyes of some Saxon +officers, to whom this fact was known, it was sufficient reason for +its condemnation. They themselves led the most violent and destructive +of their soldiers into the halls where these magnificent treasures +were exposed, even helped them to break the marble statues, to dash +them down from their pedestals, to hew off their heads, arms, and +legs, and even carried their systematic malice so far as to order +the soldiers to grind into powder the fragments, so as to prevent any +restoration of the statues at a subsequent period. + +The unfortunate inhabitants of Charlottenburg witnessed all this +abomination that was perpetrated in the royal palace with fear and +trembling, and in order to save their own persons and property from +similar outrage, they offered the enemy a contribution of fifteen +thousand dollars. The Saxons accepted the money, but, regardless of +every obligation usually considered sacredly binding, they only became +more savage and ferocious. With yells of rage they rushed into the +houses, and, when the money they demanded was refused them, they +stripped the men of their clothes, lashed them until the blood flowed, +or cruelly wounded or maimed them with sabre-cuts; and when the women +fled from them, they followed them up, and forced them by brutal +ill-treatment to yield themselves. No house in Charlottenburg escaped +being plundered; and so cruel were the tortures which the inhabitants +suffered, that four of the unfortunate men died a miserable death at +the hands of the Saxon soldiers. + +They were Germans who waged against their brother Germans, against +their own countrymen, a brutality and barbarous love of destruction +almost unequalled in the annals of modern history. Consequently +it seemed but natural that the Russians should be excited by such +examples of barbarity, so unstintedly set them by the Austrians and +Saxons. No wonder that they, too, at last began to rob and plunder, to +break into houses at night, and carry off women and maidens by force, +in order to have them released next day by heavy ransom; and that even +the severe punishments, inflicted on those whom the people had the +courage to complain of to the generals lost their terror, and were +no restraint on these sons of the steppes and ice-fields, led away as +they were by the other ruffians. + +Two hundred and eighty-two houses were destroyed and thoroughly +plundered in Berlin by the Austrians; the Saxons had devastated the +royal palace in Charlottenburg, and the whole town. Should not the +Russians also leave a memorial of their vandalism? They did so in +Schönhausen, the pleasure-palace of the consort of Frederick the +Great, who had left it a few days previous, by express command of the +king, to take up her residence in Magdeburg. Eight Russian hussars +forced themselves into the palace, and, with terrible threats, +demanded the king's plate. Only the castellan and his wife, and a few +of the royal servants, had been left behind to protect the place, and +the only answer they could make to the furious soldiers was, that the +booty which they were in search of had been carried with the royal +party to Magdeburg. This information excited their fury to the highest +pitch. Like the Saxon dragoons of Charlottenburg, they devastated the +Schönhausen palace, stripped the castellan and his wife, and, with +shouts of wild laughter, whipped them and pinched their flesh with +red-hot tongs. And, as if the sight of these bloody and torn human +bodies had only increased their desire for blood and torture, they +then attacked the two servants, stripped them of their clothes, cut +one to pieces like a beast, and threw the other on the red-hot coals, +roasting him alive, as formerly the warriors of her Most Christian +Majesty of Spain did those whom, in the pride of their civilization, +they denominated "the wild heathen."[1] + + +[Footnote 1: The account of all these cruelties and this vandalism is +verified in the original, by reference to Von Archenholz: "History of +the Seven Years' War," pp.194-198.--TRANSLATOR.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CADETS. + + +The day following the occupation of Berlin, a strange and singular +procession moved down the Linden Street through the Brandenburg Gate, +and took the road to Charlottenburg. Brühl's dragoons and De Lacy's +chasseurs rode on each side of the line, which would have excited +laughter, if pity and sorrow had not overcome the comical element. +It was a procession of children decked in uniform, and having +nothing military about them but their apparel, nothing manly but the +dress-sword at their side. + +This singular little regiment was the "Corps of Cadets," which had +been made prisoners of war by the Austrians and Saxons. + +The commandant, Von Rochow, did not imagine that the enemy would carry +his hard-heartedness to such an extent as to consider these lads of +tender age as part of the garrison, and make them prisoners of war in +consequence. None of these boys exceeded the age of twelve years (the +larger and older ones having been drafted into the army to supply the +want of officers), and he presumed that their very helplessness and +weakness would be their security, and therefore had omitted to mention +them specially in the surrender. But the conqueror had no compassion +on these little children in uniform, and pronounced them prisoners of +war. Even Liliputian warriors might be dangerous! Remember the pangs +suffered by Gulliver, as, lying quietly on the ground, he was suddenly +awakened by a violent discharge poured into him from behind the high +grass by the Liliputians. To be sure their weapons were only armed +with needles--whence we may infer that the Liliputians are the +original inventors of the modern Prussian needle-percussion +rifles--but, one can be killed by needle-pricks. Count De Lacy feared, +perhaps, the needle weapons of the little Liliputian cadets, and +treated the poor, delicate, tender children as if they were tough old +veterans, accustomed to all the hardships and privations of war. With +coarse abuse and blows from the butt of the musket, they were driven +out into the highway, and compelled to travel on the soft, muddy roads +without cloaks, notwithstanding the severe weather, and only the short +jackets of their uniforms. Heart-rending was the wail of the poor +little ones from whom the war had taken their fathers, and poverty +their mothers--torn from their home, the refuge of their orphaned +childhood, to be driven like a flock of bleating lambs out into the +desert wilderness of life. + +And when their feet grew weary, when their little bodies, unaccustomed +to fatigue, gave way, they were driven on with blows from sabres and +the butts of muskets. When they begged for a piece of bread, or a drop +of water for their parched lips, they were laughed at, and, instead of +water, were told to drink their own tears, which ran in streams down +their childish cheeks. They had already marched the whole day without +food or refreshment of any kind, and they could hardly drag their +bleeding feet along. With eyes bright with fever, and parched tongues, +they still wandered on, looking in the distance for some friendly +shelter, some refreshing spring. + +At nightfall the little cadets were camped in an open field, on the +wet ground. At first, they begged for a little food, a crust of bread; +but when they saw that their sufferings gave pleasure to the dragoons, +and that their groans were to them like a pleasant song, they were +silent, and the spirit of their fathers reigned uppermost in the +breasts of these little, forsaken, trembling lads. They dried their +eyes, and kept their complaints in their little trembling hearts. + +"We will not cry any more," said little Ramin, who though only twelve +years of age, was yet the oldest of the captives, and recognized as +their captain and leader. "We will not cry any more, for our tears +give pleasure to our enemies. Let us be cheerful, and that perhaps +will vex them. To spite them, and show how little we think of our +hunger, let us sing a jolly song." + +"Come on, let us do it!" cried the boys. "What song shall we sing?" + +"_Prince Eugene_," cried young Ramin; and immediately with his +childish treble struck up "Prince Eugene, the noble knight." + +And all the lads joined in with a sort of desperate enthusiasm, and +the song of the noble knight rose from their young lips like a peal of +rejoicing. + +But gradually one little trembling voice after another fell, by +degrees the song grew lower and shriller, and became lost in a +trembling whisper; then it would rise into an unnatural and terrified +scream, or sink into a whining sob or trembling wail. + +Suddenly little Ramin stopped, and a cry of pain, like the sound of +a snapped string, burst from his breast. "I cannot sing any more," +sighed he. "Hunger is killing me." And he sank down on his knees, and +raised his little arms beseechingly to one of the Austrian soldiers, +who was marching beside him, comfortably consuming a roast chicken. + +"Oh! give me a bit of bread, only a mouthful, to keep me from starving +to death." + +"Have pity on us, do not let us starve!" + +With similar piteous lamentations, the whole corps of trembling, +weeping, starving little cadets threw themselves on their knees, and +filled the air with their cries and prayers. + +"Well, if you positively insist upon eating, you shall have something +to appease your hunger," said the officer who commanded the chasseurs, +and he whispered a few words to his corporal, who received them with a +loud laugh, and then rode off. + +"Now, be quiet, and wait," commanded the Austrian officer. "I have +sent the corporal and some soldiers into the village to get food for +you. Only wait now, and be satisfied." And the children dried their +eyes, and comforted each other with encouraging words. + +With what impatience, what painful longing, did they look forward +to the promised food! How they thanked God, in the gladness of their +hearts, that He had had pity on them, and had not allowed them to die +of hunger! + +They all seemed revived, and strained their hopeful eyes toward the +quarter whence the corporal was to return. And now, with one voice, +they broke out into a cry of joy; they had espied him returning, +accompanied by soldiers who seemed to be bringing a heavy load. + +They approached nearer and nearer. "Form a ring," commanded the +officer, and they obeyed in expectant gladness; and around the thickly +crowded ring the Austrian officers and the troop of soldiers took +their stand. In silent waiting stood the cadets, and their hearts +leaped for joy. + + +"Attention! your dinner is coming," cried the officer. + +The ring opened. Ah! now the corporal and the soldiers are going to +bring in the dinner. + +But no! The dinner came walking along by itself. With a dignified +step it marched in and gave utterance to an expressive bleat. It was +a _live_ sheep, which was to be given to the poor lads who were faint +from hunger. An outburst of boisterous laughter from the Austrians +greeted the dignified wether, and drowned the cries of the bitterly +disappointed cadets. + +"A sheep!" they cried, "and what are we to do with it?"--and they +began to weep afresh. + +"Kill him and roast him!" jeered the officer. "You are brave soldiers. +Well, you will only have to do what we often do in camp. Be your own +cook and butler; none of us will help you. We want to see what sort of +practical soldiers you will make, and whether you are as good hands at +cooking as at crying and blubbering." + +And the Austrians folded their arms, and looked on idly and with +derisive satisfaction at these poor children who stood there with +their heads bowed down with helplessness and grief. + +At length little Ramin arose. His eyes glistened with fierce defiance, +and an expression of noble courage illuminated his pale countenance. + +"If the sheep belongs to us," said he, "we will eat him." + +"But he's alive," cried the boys. + +"We will kill him," answered the little fellow. + +"We? we ourselves? We are no butchers. We have never done such a +thing!" + +"Have we ever killed a man?" asked Ramin, rolling his large bright +eyes around the circle of his comrades. "Have we ever deprived a man +of his life?" + +"No!" + +"Well, then, we will have it yet to do! We hope to be able to kill +many an enemy, and to do that we will have to begin with some one. Let +us make believe, then, that this wether is the enemy, and that we have +to attack him. Now, then, down upon him!" + +"Ramin is right," cried the boys; "let us attack the enemy." + +"Attention!" commanded Ramin. + +The boys drew themselves up in military order right opposite the +bleating sheep. + +"Draw swords!" + +In the twinkling of an eye they had drawn their little rapiers, which +looked more like penknives than swords, and which the Austrians had +left to their little prisoners of war. + +"One, two, three!" commanded the little Ramin. "Attention! Forward!" + +Down they charged upon the enemy, who was standing motionless, with +staring eyes, bleating loudly. The Austrian soldiers roared and +screamed with delight, and confessed, with tears in their eyes, that +it was the best joke in the world, and no end of fun to see these poor +boys made desperate by hunger. + +The first feat of arms of the little cadets was completed, the wether +was slain. But now came the question how to dress him, how to convert +the dead beast into nice warm roast meat. + +They were well aware that none of the laughing, mocking soldiers +would help them, and therefore they disdained to ask for help. Wood, a +roasting-pit, and a kettle were given them--means enough to prepare a +good soup and roast. But how to begin and set about it they themselves +hardly knew. But gnawing hunger made them inventive. Had they not +often at home skinned many a cunningly caught mole--had they not often +killed and drawn a rabbit? The only difference was that the sheep was +somewhat larger than a mole or a rabbit. + +Finally, after much toil and trouble, and under the approving laughter +of the spectators, they accomplished it. The meat simmered in the +kettle, watched by two cadets, two others turning the spit. The work +was done; the sheep was converted into soup and roast. + +And because they showed themselves so industrious and cheerful, one +and another of the soldiers softened their hearts and threw them a +piece of bread or a canteen; and the poor boys accepted these alms +thrown at them with humble gratitude, and no feeling of resentment +or defiance remained in their hearts, for hunger was appeased; but +appeased only for the moment--only to encounter new sufferings, +renewed hunger, fresh mockeries. For onward, farther onward must they +wander. Every now and then one of them sank down, begging for pity and +compassion. But what cared the soldiers, who only saw in the children +the impersonation of the hated enemy, to be tortured and worried to +death as a sport? + +More than twenty of these little cadets succumbed to the sufferings +of this journey, and died miserably, forsaken and alone, on the high +road; and no mother was there to close their eyes, no father to +lean over them and bless them with a tear. But over these poor +martyr-children watched the love of God, and lulled them to sleep +with happy dreams and gentle fancies about their distant homes, their +little sister there, or the beautiful garden in which they had so +often chased butterflies together. And amidst such fancies and smiling +memories they dreamed away their childish souls, beyond the grave, to +a holy and happy reawakening. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE EXPLOSION. + + +General von Tottleben was alone in his chamber--at least he had no +visible company; but two invisible companions were there--Care and +Sorrow. They whispered to him uncomfortable and melancholy thoughts, +making his countenance serious and sad, and drawing deep and dark +lines across his brow. He was a German, and was fighting in the ranks +of the enemy against his German fatherland. Therein lay the secret +of his care-worn features, the reading of the suppressed sighs; the +broken, sorrowful words which he uttered, as with folded arms and +bowed head he paced up and down his room. He was a German, and +loved his country, which had repaid his love with that apathy and +non-appreciation that have destroyed and killed some of the greatest +and noblest men of Germany; while others have taken refuge in foreign +countries, to find there that recognition which was denied them at +home. General von Tottleben was only a German--why, then, should +Germany take notice of him? Because he possessed information, talent, +genius. Germany would have appreciated these if Von Tottleben had been +a foreigner; but, as unfortunately he was only a German, Germany took +no notice of him, and compelled him to seek in a foreign country the +road to fame and distinction. He had gone to Russia. There his talents +had been prized and employed. He was now a general in the Russian +army, and the alliance between Russia and Austria compelled him to +fight against his own country. + +But the Russian general still preserved his German heart, this heart +so strong in suffering, so unfaltering in its faith, so faithful in +its love, so great in hope, humble in its obedience, modest in its +desires; this German heart of his was the cause of much suffering to +him, for it could not adapt itself to his Russian instructions, +and despite his efforts to render it callous, would insist upon +overflowing with pity and sympathy. He loved Berlin, for in this city +he had passed the best years of his youth. And now he was called on to +act as a cruel tyrant, an unfeeling barbarian, to sow broadcast death +and destruction in this city, from which he yearned so to win a little +love, a little sympathy for her rejected son. + +But now his German heart was forced into silence by the exigencies +of Russian discipline, and the general had to obey the orders of his +superior officer, General von Fermore. His chief had ordered him to +exercise the utmost severity and harshness, and imposed upon him the +task of scourging Berlin like a demon of vengeance. And yet Berlin had +committed no other crime than that of remaining faithful to her king, +and of not wishing to surrender to the enemy. + +A fresh dispatch had just arrived from General von Fermore, and its +contents had darkened the brow of Tottleben with anxious care. He +had received orders to blow up the arsenal in Berlin. This noble and +handsome building, which rose in proud splendor in the midst of a +populous town, was to be destroyed without reference to the fact that +the blowing up of this colossal edifice would scatter death and ruin +throughout unfortunate Berlin. + +"I will not do it," said he, pacing up and down the room, and crushing +the accursed paper which brought the cruel order in his clinched hand. +"I cannot be such a barbarian. Fermore may command me to do barbarous +actions, but I will not accept such commands! I will not obey! No +one but myself knows of this order. I will ignore it. The Empress +Elizabeth has always been very gracious toward me, and will forgive +me for not executing an order which certainly never proceeded from +her own kind heart." At this moment the door opened, and the adjutant +entering, announced Count de Lacy. + +Tottleben's countenance assumed a gloomy expression, and, as with +hasty step he advanced toward the Austrian general, he muttered to +himself, "I perceive the bloodhounds have got the scent, and are +eager for blood." In the mean time Count de Lacy approached him with +a friendly and gracious smile. He seemed not to be at all aware that +Tottleben did not accept the hand which the Austrian general held out +to him with a hearty greeting. + +"I come to chat for a short quarter of an hour with your excellency," +said Count de Lacy, in very fluent German, but with the hard foreign +accent of a Hungarian. "After a battle won, I know nothing pleasanter +than to recall with a comrade the past danger, and to revel again in +memory the excitement of the fight." + +"May I request your excellency to remember that the Austrians cannot +count the conquest of Berlin in the list of their victories," cried +Count Tottleben, with a sarcastic smile. "It was the Russian army +which besieged Berlin, and Berlin surrendered _to us_." + +"You are very kind to remind me of it," said Count de Lacy, with his +unchangeable, pleasant smile. "In the mean time may I request a more +particular explanation than this polite reminder?" + +"You shall have it, sir," cried Tottleben, passionately. "I mean +to say that Berlin is not Charlottenburg, and to request that the +vandalism which the Austrian troops practised there, may not be +transferred to Berlin. Be satisfied with the booty which your soldiers +stowed away in their knapsacks at that place, and have the kindness to +order the Austrian army to learn a little discipline and humanity from +the Russians." + +"From the Russians?" asked Count de Lacy, with ironical astonishment. +"Truly one is not accustomed to learn humanity from that quarter. +Does your excellency mean to say that the Austrians are to learn good +manners from the Russians?" + +"Yes, from the Russians," replied Tottleben--"from my soldiers, who +neither plunder nor rob, but bear in mind that they are soldiers, and +not thieves!" + +"Sir," cried De Lacy, "what do these words mean?" + +"They mean that I have promised my protection to the people of Berlin, +and that I am prepared to afford it to them, even against our own +allies. They mean that I have made myself sufficiently strong to +bid you defiance, sir, and to defend Berlin against the cruelty and +inhumanity of the Austrian army. The Russian army will compel it to be +humane, and to pause in the cruel rage with which they have desolated +unhappy Germany." + +Count de Lacy shrugged his shoulders. "What is Germany to you, and why +do you feel for her?" asked he jeeringly. "I beg you, count, let us +not speak of Germany. What to us is this lachrymose, fantastic female +Germania, which has been betrothed to so many lords and wooers, that +she can remain faithful and true to none? Germania will then only be +happy when one of her lovers has the boldness to kill off and tread +under foot all his rivals and so build himself up an undisputed +throne. That is Austria's mission, and our duty is to fulfil it. We +are the heralds who go before Germania's Austrian bridegroom, and +everywhere illuminate the heavens with the torches of our triumphs. If +the torches now and then come too near some piece of humanity and set +it on fire, what is that to us? Germany is our enemy, and if we have +a puling compassion on our enemy, we become traitors to our own +cause. That's all. But what is the use of this strife and these +recriminations?" asked he, suddenly breaking into a smile. "I have +only come to ask your excellency when you intend to light these new +wedding-torches which are to redden the sky of Berlin?" + +"What wedding-torches?" inquired Tottleben, turning pale. + +"Well, those which are to burst out from the mint and factory +buildings," said De Lacy, with a smile of indifference. "I anticipate +with extraordinary pleasure this exhibition of fireworks which the +town of Berlin is going to give in honor of our presence." + +"You mean to say in disgrace of our presence," exclaimed Tottleben, +ardently. + +Count de Lacy looked at him with a compassionate shrug of the +shoulders. "My dear count," said he, with cutting coldness, "when a +man becomes a Russian general, he must have a Russian heart, and not +allow himself to be influenced by any German softness or sympathy. +Otherwise it might happen that they might make a mistake, and not +being able to deprive you of your German heart, might take your German +head instead." + +General Tottleben drew back with astonishment, and stared at him. + +Count de Lacy continued, smiling, and in a quiet tone: "I warn you to +guard against your own mildness and your German heart. General Fermore +is my friend, and often consults me about the meaning of German words. +How would you like it if I should explain the word _treason_ in a +manner dangerous to yourself, and if this explanation should result in +translating your excellency into Siberia?" + +"General Fermore is neither my commander nor my master," cried +Tottleben, proudly. + +"But the lord and master of your lady and mistress, the high and +mighty Empress Elizabeth--remember that. Will your excellency now +condescend to inform me at what time the Berlin armory shall rise +fluttering in the air like a bird?" + +"And do you know that, too?" asked Tottleben, with painful +astonishment. + +"I have already told you that the Russians and Austrians are faithful +allies, and have no secrets from each other, as far as their designs +upon Germany are concerned. Oh, it will be a splendid _feu de joie_ +for the house of Austria, when the Prussian armory is blown into the +air! When are we to enjoy this spectacle, general?" + +General von Tottleben sank his head in silence on his breast. Count de +Lacy regarded him with a cold and piercing glance. Tottleben felt +this look, and understood its important significance. He knew that +his whole future, his freedom, perhaps even his life, hung upon this +moment. + +"In three hours from now the spectacle will take place," said he, with +a forced laugh. "In three hours the wedding-torches shall be lighted, +and in order to make it the pleasanter, we will have the wails of the +people of Berlin as a musical accompaniment." + +"In three hours, then," said Count de Lacy, bowing low; "I hasten to +announce it to my officers. I am burning with impatience to witness +this rare spectacle." + +Count de Lacy departed, and General Tottleben was again alone. + +For a long time did he pace his room in abstract meditation, anger and +pity, fear and terror struggling in his soul. He was perfectly aware +of the danger which threatened him. He knew that Count Fermore hated +him as a dangerous rival for the smiles of the empress, and only +waited for a favorable opportunity to overthrow him. He was therefore +obliged to yield to this cruel necessity; the Berlin armory must be +sacrificed. + +Suddenly his countenance lighted up, and his features assumed an +expression of joy. He hastened rapidly to the door and summoned his +body servant and slave, Ivan Petrowitsch. "Ivan," said he, with the +stern and cold composure of a Russian--"Ivan, I have a commission for +you, and if you are successful in its execution, I will not have your +son Feodor hung, although I know that yesterday, contrary to my order, +he was present at the plundering of a house." + +"Speak, master, what am I to do? I will save my son, even if it cost +my own life." + +"It will cost your life, Ivan." + +"I am your property, master, and my life belongs to you," said the +serf, sadly. "You can have me whipped to death any time it pleases +you. Say, then, what I must do to save my son." + +"Fifty Cossacks are to ride immediately to the powder-mills to bring +powder. You will accompany them." + +Ivan looked at him with astonishment. "Is that all I have to do?" +asked he. + +Tottleben was not yet sufficiently Russian. His German heart would +assert its rights. As he met the inquiring look of Ivan, he turned his +eye away. He forgot that it was only a serf he was speaking to, and +not a human being. + +But he soon recalled it. "You will accompany these Cossacks to the +powder-mills, I say, and as you do so you will smoke your pipe, and +see that the tobacco burns well, and that you are burning tinder on +top of it." + +An expression of comprehension shone in Ivan's eyes. "I will smoke, +master," said he, sadly. + +"When you are in the powder-mills, and the Cossacks are loading the +powder, you will help them, and in doing so you will let the pipe fall +out of your mouth," said Tottleben, in an undertone, and his voice +trembled ever so little. There was a pause--Ivan leaned, pale and +trembling, against the wall. General Tottleben had turned away, as if +afraid to encounter the pallid, terrified countenance of his slave. + +"If you do not execute my command," said he, finally, "I will have +your only son hung, as he deserves to be. If you betray to any one +soever a word of my order, I will have your wife whipped to death. Now +think of it." + +Ivan shook as if in an ague. His teeth chattered together. "I will +smoke, master," said he, at last, with an effort, "and I will drop my +pipe in the powder-mills. Have pity on my son, master, and spare my +wife!" + +"I will do so, Ivan," said Tottleben. "I will give them both their +freedom, and a pension." + +Ivan dropped his head, and a convulsive groan burst from his breast. + +"Time passes; make haste!" cried the general, with assumed harshness. + +"I go, master," sighed Ivan. "You will not, then, string up my poor +Feodor, nor have my wife whipped?" + +"If you execute my order strictly and punctually, I will care for +them." + +Two tears coursed slowly down Ivan's brown cheek. "I will carry out +your orders, master; I will smoke, and I will drop my pipe. Farewell, +master!" + +He approached his master with slavish humility, and kissed the seam of +his garment. "Farewell, master. I thank you, for you have always been +a kind master to me," said he, and his tears moistened the general's +coat. + +General Tottleben was as yet unable completely to convert his German +heart into a Russian one. He felt himself touched by this humble and +heroic submission of his slave. He felt as if he must give him some +comfort on his fatal road. + +"Ivan," said he, softly, "your death will save, perhaps, not only the +property, but also the lives of many hundred other men." + +Ivan kissed passionately his proffered hand. "I thank you, master. +Farewell, and think sometimes of your poor Ivan." + +A quarter of an hour afterward was seen a troop of fifty Cossacks, on +their swift-footed little horses, racing down Frederick Street. +Each man had a powder-sack with him, and seeing them ride by, people +whispered to each other, "They are riding to the powder-mills. They +have shot away all their own powder, and now, in true Cossack style, +they are going to take our Prussian powder." At that time Frederick +Street did not reach beyond the river Spree. On the other bank began +the faubourgs and the gardens. Even Monbijou was then only a royal +country seat, situated in the Oranienburg suburb. The powder-mills, +which lay beyond the gardens, with a large sandy plain intervening, +were sufficiently remote from the town to prevent all danger from +their possible explosion. + +Ivan, the serf of Count von Tottleben, rode by the side of the officer +of the Cossacks. He pranced his pony about, and was cheerful and jolly +like his comrades, the merry sons of the steppe. As they reached the +gate they halted their horses, and gazed with evident pleasure on the +desert, wild, sandy plain, which stretched out before them. + +"How beautiful that is!" exclaimed Petrowitsch, the hetman of the +Cossacks. "Just look--what a handsome steppe!" + +"Just such a fine sand steppe as at home in our own country!" sighed +one of the Cossacks, beginning to hum a song of his home. + +"This is the finest scenery I have seen in Germany," cried another. +"What a pleasure it would be to race over this steppe!" + +"Come on, then, let us get up a race over this splendid steppe," said +a fourth, "and let us sing one of the songs we are used to at home." + +"Yes, agreed! let us!" cried all, ranging quickly their horses in +line. + +"Wait a moment," cried Ivan; "I can't sing, you all know, and I've +only one sweetheart, and that's my pipe. Let me then light my pipe +so that I can smoke." He struck fire with his steel, and lighting +the tinder, placed it in the bowl of his pipe. No one saw the +sad, shuddering look which he cast at the glowing tinder and his +spark-scattering pipe. "Now forward, boys, and sing us a lively song +from home," said Ivan. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" + +They charge over the beautiful plain, and sing in a pealing chorus, +the favorite song of the Cossack, at once so soft and sad: + + "Lovely Minka! must I leave thee?" + +Big tears ran down poor Ivan's cheek. No one saw them, no one observed +him. He charged with the others over the Berlin steppe, and blew the +smoke out of his pipe. No one heard the sad sighs which he uttered as +he drew nearer and nearer to the powder-mills. No one heard the sad +words of parting which he muttered to himself as his comrades sang: + + "Lovely Minka! must I leave thee, + Leave my happy, heather plains? + Ah! this parting does not grieve thee, + Though still true my heart remains. + Far from thee I roam, + Sadly see the sunbeams shining, + Lonely all the night I'm pining + Far from thee alone." + +They reach the powder-mills; the Cossacks halt their horses and spring +from their saddles. + +Slowly and hesitatingly does Ivan proceed; he passes about his pipe; +he puffs at the tobacco to make it burn, and smoke more freely. + +And now all's right. The pipe is alight. Like brilliant eyes of fire +the burning tobacco shines out of the bowl. Ivan puts it back in his +mouth and blows great clouds of smoke, as he and the Cossacks approach +the gates of the powder-mills. + +The Russian sentinels let them pass, and, joking and laughing merrily, +the Cossacks carry their bags into the building to fill them with +powder for the blowing up of the arsenal. How joyous and careless they +are, these sons of the steppe! How calmly does Ivan continue to smoke +his pipe, although they are now in the large hall, where casks of +powder are ranged in endless rows! + +And now a cask is opened, and merrily and jestingly the Cossacks begin +to load the powder into their sacks. + +What art thou staring at so wildly, Ivan Petrowitsch? Why do the big +drops of sweat run down thy forehead? Why do thy limbs tremble, and +why dost thou look so sadly and mournfully at thy comrades? + +They sing so merrily, they chatter so gayly, all the while pouring the +powder into their sacks nimbly and actively! + +Ivan keeps on blowing furious clouds of smoke out of his pipe. + +Suddenly he utters a cry, a heart-rending, pitiful cry. The burning +pipe drops from his mouth! + +Then rises a wild yell--an awful, horrible report! + +The earth quakes and trembles, as if about to open, to vomit forth the +burning stream of a thundering crater. The sky seems blackened by the +fearful smoke which fills the air far and wide. Everywhere may be seen +human bodies, single shattered limbs, ruins of the exploded building, +flying through the air, and covering the groaning, trembling earth. +But no syllable or sound of complaint, no death-rattle is now heard. +All is over. + +The powder-mills have flown into the air, and, though far distant +from Berlin, yet this terrible explosion was felt in every part of +the city.[1] In the Frederick Street the houses shook as if from an +earthquake, and countless panes of glass were shattered. + +With darkened brow and a burst of anger did General von Tottleben +receive the news that the powder-mills had blown up, and fifty +Cossacks had lost their lives thereby. He mourned for the unfortunate +Cossacks and his poor serf, Ivan Petrowitsch. Still more did he lament +that it was now impossible to blow up the arsenal in Berlin. But +it was not his fault that the commands of his empress could not be +executed. The Russians had shot away all their powder, and the stock +in the powder-mills having been destroyed, there was none left to +carry into execution this grand undertaking. + + +[Footnote 1: Archenholz: "History of the Seven Years' War," p. 194.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +JOHN GOTZKOWSKY. + + +A sad and anxious period had the unfortunate city of Berlin yet to +pass through. With fear and trembling did the inhabitants await the +approach of each morning, and in spiritless despondency they seemed to +have lost all capacity for helping themselves. + +There was but one man who, unterrified and unwavering, with the +cheerful courage of a noble soul, exposed himself to danger, to +suffering and grief, who proposed to himself but one object--to help +others as far as lay in his power, and to avert fresh misfortune, +additional care and anxiety from the too heavily laden inhabitants of +Berlin. + +This one man was John Gotzkowsky, the Merchant of Berlin. In this +day of their trouble the inhabitants looked up to him as to a helping +angel; the poor prayed to him, the rich fled to him with their +treasures; with him the persecuted found refuge, the hungry shelter +and food. + +For Gotzkowsky there was no rest or leisure, nor did he feel care or +sorrow. The tears he had shed about Elise he had buried in his heart, +overcoming a father's grief by the power of his will. At this time he +only remembered that he was called to the sacred duty of succoring +his fellow-men, his suffering brothers--to be a father to the needy, a +deliverer to the oppressed. + +The doors of his house were open to all who sought refuge with him. +The wives and children and aged parents of his workmen rushed there +with screams and loud lamentations, and he received them all, and +gave them beds in his splendid halls, and his gilt and silken ottomans +served for refreshing places to hungry and freezing poverty. + +But not the poor alone, the wealthy also found refuge in his house. +They knew that Gotzkowsky's word had much influence, not only with +General Bachmann, but also with General von Tottleben, and that this +latter had ordered that Gotzkowsky should always have free admission +to him. In their anxiety and need they put aside the proud bearing +of their rank and dignity, and hastened to him to plead for help and +rest, to hide their treasures and place their lives and fortunes under +his guardianship. + +But while hundreds sought refuge and safety there, Gotzkowsky himself +was like a stranger in his own house. Day and night was he seen on +the streets; where-ever danger and alarm prevailed, he appeared like a +rescuing angel; he brought help when all else despaired, and the +power of his eloquence and his pleading words silenced even the rough +insolence of the enemy's soldiers. A hundred times did he expose his +own life to save some unfortunate. In the New Frederick Street he +rushed through the flames into a burning house to save a child which +had been forgotten. + +Elsewhere he fought singly against twenty Austrian soldiers, who were +about to carry off two young girls in spite of their heart-rending +shrieks and entreaties. The rescued maidens sank at his feet, and +bathed his hand with their tears. + +Gotzkowsky raised them to his heart, and said, with an indescribable +expression: "Should I not have compassion on you? Am not I a father? +Thank my daughter, for it was she who saved you." + +But now, at last, exhausted Nature demanded her rights. After two days +and nights without rest, Gotzkowsky tottered toward his own house. As +he crossed the threshold he asked himself with an anxious heart--"Will +Elise come to meet me? Has she cared for me?" And trembling with care +and love, he went in. + +Elise did not come to meet him. No one bade him welcome but his +servant Peter. Gently at last, indeed almost timidly, he ventured to +inquire after his daughter. + +"She is in the large hall, busy nursing the wounded who have been +carried there." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance expressed great delight and relief at this +report. Elise had not, then, buried herself in the solitude of her +room in idle complaint, but had sought, like himself, comfort for her +suffering in helping and sympathizing with others. In this moment he +appreciated the infinity of his love. He yearned to take her to his +heart, and pour out to her all his unappreciated, doubted love, and +convince her that she, his daughter, the only child of his wife, was +the true end and object of his life. But unhappy, oppressed Berlin +left him no time to attend to the soft and gentle dictates of +his father's heart. He had scarcely got into his house, when two +messengers arrived from the town Council, bringing him six thousand +dollars in cash, with the urgent request that he would take charge of +this sum, which would be safe only with him. The town messengers had +scarcely left him, when there arrived the rich manufacturers, Wegeli +and Wuerst, with a wagon-load of gold and silver bars which Gotzkowsky +had promised to keep in his fire-proof cellars. + +His house had become the treasury of the whole of Berlin; and if +it had been destroyed, with all these gold and silver ingots, these +diamonds and silver ware, money and papers, all the Exchanges of +Europe would have felt the disastrous consequences. + +At last, all these treasures were stowed away, and Gotzkowsky +addressed himself to rest, when the door of his room was suddenly +opened, and General von Bachmann entered hastily. + +"Gotzkowsky," said he, "I have come with important intelligence, and +to redeem the promise I made to my friend Sievers." Approaching more +closely to Gotzkowsky, he said to him in an undertone: "General von +Tottleben has just received orders to destroy and burn all royal +factories and mills." + +Gotzkowsky turned pale, and inquired with horror, "Why this barbarous +proceeding?" + +General Bachmann shrugged his shoulders. "It is the order of the +commander-in-chief, Count von Fermore," said he; "and Tottleben will +have to be all the more particular from the fact that, instead of the +arsenal, fifty of our soldiers were blown into the air. Here, in the +mean while, take this paper, and see whether, among the factories to +be destroyed, one of yours has been included by mistake." + +Gotzkowsky looked over the list with dismay. "Did not your excellency +say that only royal factories were to be destroyed?" + +"Yes, so runs the order." + +"But the factories that stand on this list are not royal institutions. +The brass-works in Eberwalde, the gold and silver factories, and the +warehouse in Berlin, do not belong to the king, and are they going to +be so barbarous as to destroy them? That cannot be. I will hasten to +General Tottleben, and entreat him to revoke this cruel order." + +General Bachmann shook his head sadly. "I am afraid it will be in +vain," said he. "Besides, you incur great risk in your undertaking. +The general is in a very angry, excited mood, and your intercession +will only increase his bitterness and anger." + +"I fear not his anger," cried Gotzkowsky boldly. "If no one else dares +to tell him the truth, I will do it; and with argument and entreaty +compel him to be humane, and to respect the property of others. Come, +sir, let us go to General Tottleben!" + +"No, sir. I am not going with you," said Bachmann, laughing. "I am +not a man to tremble on the eve of battle, and yet I fear to meet +Tottleben's angry looks. In his wrath he is like a Jupiter Tonans, +ready to launch his thunderbolts, and dash to pieces all who approach +him." + +"I am not afraid of his thunder!" cried Gotzkowsky, fervently. +"The property and welfare of Berlin are in danger. I must go to the +general!" + +"Then go along," said Bachmann, "and may God give power to your words! +I have warned you, and that is all I can do." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer him. Trembling with eagerness and +impatience, he dressed himself, and throwing his cloak around him, he +once more left his house, with the alacrity of a young man. + +General Bachmann looked after him, smiling thoughtfully. "He is a +noble fellow," said he, "and Berlin has good reason to be grateful to +him, and to love him. But who knows? perhaps, for that very reason, +she will one day hate him. Noble-mindedness is so soon forgotten! It +is the solid weight that sinks to the bottom, while light deeds float +on top. Mankind is not fond of being grateful. I would like to know +whether Berlin will ever show a due appreciation of this noble man?" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE HORRORS OF WAR. + + +The Russians had at last allowed themselves to be carried away by the +example set them by the Austrians and Saxons. Like them, they roamed +through Berlin, robbing and plundering, unmindful of discipline, and +forgetting the severe punishments which Tottleben inflicted on those +whose misdeeds reached his ear. + +Like the Austrians, the Cossacks entered houses with wanton arrogance, +and, under the pretext of being Russian safeguards, they stole, and +robbed, and ill-treated in the rudest manner those who opposed their +demands. They had even managed to reduce their robbery and extortion +to a kind of system, and to value the human person after a new +fashion. It was a sort of mercantile transaction, and the Cossacks +were the brokers in this new-fashioned business. Stealthily and +unheard, they slipped into houses, fell upon the unsuspecting women +and children, and dragged them out, not to capture them as the Romans +did the Sabine women, but to hold them as so much merchandise, to be +redeemed by their friends and relatives at high and often enormous +ransoms. + +But the Cossacks drew but small profit from this hunt after noble +human game. They were only servants, acting under orders from their +officers. These latter divided the booty, throwing to the Cossacks a +small reward for their skill in robbing. + +Thus, for some days, Berlin was not only subjugated by the enemy, but +a prey to robbers and slave-dealers, and moans and lamentations were +heard in every house. All the more merrily did the enemy's soldiers +carouse and enjoy themselves, laugh and joke. For them Berlin was +nothing more than an orange to be squeezed dry, whose life-blood was +to be drawn out to add new zest to their own draught of life. + +The young Russian officers were sitting together in the large room +of their barracks. They were drinking and making merry, and striking +their glasses noisily together; draining them to the health of the +popular, handsome, and brilliant comrade who had just entered their +circle, and who was no other than he whom Gotzkowsky's daughter, in +the sorrow of her heart, was mourning as dead!--no one else than the +Russian colonel, Count Feodor von Brenda. + +He had been right, therefore, in trusting to Fortune. Fortune had +favored him, as she always does those who boldly venture all to +win all, and who sport with danger as with a toy. Indeed, it was +an original and piquant adventure which the Russian colonel had +experienced, the more piquant because it had threatened him with +death, and at one moment his life had been in extreme danger. It had +delighted him for once to experience all the horrors of death, the +palpitation, the despair of a condemned culprit; to acquire in his own +person a knowledge of the great and overpowering feelings, which he +had read so much about in books, and which he had not felt in reality +even in the midst of battle. But yet this bold playing with death had, +toward the last, lost a little of its charm, and a moment arrived when +his courage failed him, and his daring spirit was overpowered by +his awed physical nature. There was not, as there is in battle, the +excitement which conquers the fear of death, and drunk with victory, +mocks one to his face; there was not the wild delight which possesses +the soldier in the midst of a shower of balls, and makes him, as it +were, rush toward eternity with a shout. No, indeed! It was something +quite different which Colonel von Brenda, otherwise so brave and +valiant, now felt. + +When the Austrian soldiers had pronounced his sentence of death, when +they formed a ring around him at the Gens-d'Armes Market, and loaded +their pieces for his execution, then the haughty Russian colonel felt +a sudden change take place; his blood curdled in his veins, and +he felt as if thousands of small worms were creeping through them, +gliding slowly, horribly to his heart. At length, in the very despair +which oppressed him, he found strength to cast his incubus from his +breast, and with a voice loud and powerful as thunder to cry out for +help and succor. His voice was heard; it reached the ear of General +Bachmann, who came in person to set free the wild young officer, the +favorite of his empress, from the hands of the Austrians. + +This adventure, which had terminated so famously, Count Brenda now +related to his friends and comrades. To be sure, the general had +punished the mad freak with an arrest of four-and-twenty hours. But +after undergoing this punishment, he was more than ever the hero of +the day, the idol of his comrades, who now celebrated his release +from arrest with loud rejoicing and the cracking of champagne bottles. +After they had laughed and joked to their satisfaction, they resorted +to the dice. + +"And what stake shall we play for?" asked Feodor, as he cast a look +of ill-concealed contempt on his young companions, who so little +understood the art of drinking the cup of pleasure with decency, and +rolled about on their seats with lolling tongues and leering eyes. + +Feodor alone had preserved the power of his mind; his brain alone +was unclouded by the fumes of champagne, and that which had made the +others mad had only served to make him sad and gloomy. The drunkenness +of his comrades had sobered him, and, feeling satiated with all the +so-called joys and delights of life, he asked himself, with a smile of +contempt, whether the stammering, staggering fellows, who sat next to +him, were fit and suitable companions and associates of a man who had +made pleasure a study, and who considered enjoyment as a philosophical +problem, difficult of solution. + +"And for what stake shall we play?" he asked again, as with a powerful +grip he woke his neighbor, Lieutenant von Matusch, out of the half +sleep which had crept over him. + +"For our share of the booty!" stammered the lieutenant. + +Feodor looked at him with surprise. "What booty? Have we, then, become +robbers and plunderers, that you speak of booty?" + +His comrades burst into a wild laugh. + +"Just listen to the sentimental dreamer, the cosmopolite," cried Major +von Fritsch. "He looks upon it as dishonorable to take booty. I for +my part maintain that there is no greater pleasure, and certainly none +which is more profitable. Fill your glasses, friends, and let us drink +to our hunting. 'Hurrah! hurrah for human game!'" + +They struck their glasses together, and emptied them amidst an uproar +of laughter. + +"Colonel, you shall have your share of the booty!" said Lieutenant von +Matusch, laying his heavy, shaky hand on Feodor's shoulder. "We never +intended to cheat you out of your portion, but you were not here, and +therefore up to this time you could have no share in it." + +As Feodor pressed him with questions, he related how they had formed +a compact, and pledged themselves to have their booty and captives in +common. + +"We have caught more than a dozen head, and they have ransomed +themselves handsomely," cried Major von Fritsch. "We have just sent +out ten of our men again on the chase." + +"Oh! I hope they will bring in just such another handsome young girl +as they did yesterday," cried Matusch, rubbing his hands with delight. +"Ah, that was a pleasant evening! She offered us treasures, diamonds, +and money; she promised us thousands if we would only release her at +once! She wept like a Madonna, and wrung her snow-white hands, and all +that only made her prettier still." + +Colonel Feodor looked at him in anger. In contact with such coarse and +debauched companions his more refined self rose powerful within him, +and his originally noble nature turned with loathing from this barren +waste of vulgarity and infamy. + +"I hope," said he, warmly, "that you have behaved as becomes noble +gentlemen." + +Matusch shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "I do not know what you +call so, colonel. She was very pretty, and she pleased me. I promised +to set her free to-day, for the ransom agreed on, and I have kept my +word." + +As he spoke thus, he burst into a loud laugh, in which his friends +joined with glee. + +But Feodor von Brenda did not laugh. An inexplicable, prophetic dread +overpowered him. What if this young girl, described to him with so +much gusto, and who had been so shamefully ill-treated, should prove +to be his Elise, his beloved! + +At this thought, anger and distress took possession of him, and he +never loved Elise more ardently and truly than he did at this moment +when he trembled for her. "And was there no one," cried he, with +flashing eyes, "no one knightly and manly enough to take her part? +How! even you, Major von Fritsch, allowed this thing to happen?" + +"I was obliged to do so," replied the major. "We have made a law among +ourselves, which we have all sworn to obey. It is established that the +dice shall determine to which of the officers the booty shall belong; +and he who throws the highest number becomes the owner of the person. +He has to negotiate about the ransom. This, however, of course is +divided among his comrades." + +"But if the person is poor?" asked Feodor, indignantly, "if she cannot +pay?" + +"Then she belongs to him who has won her; he must decide on her fate. +He is--" + +The major stopped suddenly. The other officers raised themselves in +their seats, and listened with breathless attention. + +"I think I hear the signal," whispered the major. He had not deceived +himself. A shrill, piercing whistle sounded a second time. The +officers sprang from their seats, and broke into a loud cry of +triumph: + +"Our Cossacks are coming. They have caught something! Come, come, let +us throw the dice." + +With fierce eagerness, they all rushed to the table, and stretched +out their hands for the bones. Immediately a deep, expectant silence +ensued. Nothing was heard but the rattling of the dice, and the +monotonous calling of the numbers thrown. Feodor alone remained at his +place, lost in deep thought, and his tortured heart kept asking itself +the question, "Could it be her whom the barbarians had captured and +ill-used?" This question burnt in his brain like a red-hot dagger, +upsetting his reason, and driving him almost mad with anger and grief. +Still the rattling of the noisy dice went on--the calling of the +numbers. No one took notice of the young man, who, in desperate +distress, his clinched fist pressed against his breast, paced up and +down the farther end of the room, uttering broken words of anger and +grief. No one, as has been said, noticed him, nor did any one remark +that at this moment the door in the background of the hall was opened, +and six Cossacks entered, bearing a litter on their shoulders. + +Feodor von Brenda saw them, and, with deep compassion, he regarded the +veiled, inanimate figure lying on the litter, which was set down by +the Cossacks. + +"Colonel von Brenda," cried Major von Fritsch at this moment, "it is +your turn." + +"Oh, he is too sentimental!" laughed out Matusch. "Is not that the +fact, colonel?" + +Feodor remained musing and pensive. "It is a woman," said he to +himself--"perhaps a young and handsome woman like Elise. How if I +should try to save her? I have luck at the dice. Well, I will try." +And with a firm step he approached the table. "Give me the bones," +cried he. "I will throw with you for my share of the booty." + +The dice rattled and tumbled merrily on the table. + +"Eighteen spots!" + +"The highest throw!" + +"Colonel von Brenda has won!" + +"The woman is mine!" cried Feodor, his countenance beaming with joy. + +His comrades looked at him with astonishment. "A woman! How do you +know beforehand that it is a woman?" + +Feodor pointed silently to the back part of the room. There stood the +Cossacks, next to the litter, waiting in solemn silence to be noticed. + +"A woman! Yes, by Heavens! it is a woman," cried the officers. And, +with boisterous laughter, they rushed toward the Cossacks. + +"And where did you pick her up?" asked Major von Fritsch. + +"Don't know," answered one of the Cossacks. "We crept along a wall, +and when we had climbed to the top, we saw a garden. We got down +slowly and carefully, and waited behind the trees, to see if any one +would come down the long avenue. We did not have long to wait before +this lady came by herself. We rushed on her, and all her struggles, of +course, went for nothing. Luckily for her and us, she fainted, for +if she had cried out, some one, perhaps, might have come, and then we +would have been obliged to gag her." + +The officers laughed. "Well," said the major, "Colonel Feodor can +stop her mouth now with kisses." In the mean while, Lieutenant Matusch +threw the Cossacks a few copper coins, and drove them out of the room, +with scornful words of abuse. + +"And now let us see what we have won," cried the officers, rushing to +the litter. They were in the act of raising the cloth which concealed +the figure, but Feodor stepped forward with determined countenance and +flashing eyes. + +"Let no one dare to raise this veil," said he haughtily. His comrades +rushed, with easily aroused anger, on him, and attempted again to +approach the veiled woman. "Be on your guard!" cried Feodor, and, +drawing his sword from its scabbard, he placed himself before the +litter, ready for the combat. The officers drew back. The determined, +defiant countenance of the young warrior, his raised and ready sword, +made them hesitate and yield. + +"Feodor is right," said the major, after a pause; "he has fairly won +the woman, and it is his business now to settle about the ransom." + +The others cast their eyes down, perhaps ashamed of their own +rudeness. "He is right, she belongs to him," murmured they, as they +drew back and approached the door. + +"Go, my friends, go," said Feodor. "I promise you that I will settle +with her about her ransom, and give up beforehand all claim to my +share!" + +The countenances of the Russian officers brightened up. They nodded +and smiled toward him as they left the room. Count Feodor von Brenda +was now alone with the veiled and insensible woman. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BY CHANCE. + + +As soon as the officers had left the room, Feodor hastened to close +the door after them carefully, to prevent any importunate intrusion. +He then searched thoroughly all the corners of the room, and behind +the window-curtains, to make sure that no one was concealed there. He +wished to be entirely undisturbed with the poor woman whose face he +had not yet beheld, but toward whom he felt himself attracted by a +singular, inexplicable sensation. As soon as he was convinced that +he was quite alone, he went to her with flushed cheeks and a beating +heart, and unveiled her. + +But scarcely had he cast his eyes on her, when he uttered a cry, +and staggered back with horror. This woman who lay there before him, +lifeless and motionless, pale and beautiful as a broken flower, was +none other than Elise Gotzkowsky, his beloved! He stood and stared at +her; he pressed his hands to his forehead as if to rouse himself from +this spell which had hold of him, as if to open his eyes to truth and +reality. But it was no dream, no illusion. It was herself, his own +Elise. He approached her, seized her hand, passed his hands over her +glossy hair, and looked at her long and anxiously. His blood rushed +like a stream of fire to his heart, it seethed and burned in his head, +in his veins; and, quite overcome, he sank down before her. + +"It is she," murmured he softly, "it is Elise. Now she is mine, and no +one can take her from me. She belongs to me, my wife, my beloved. +Fate itself bears her to my arms, and I were a fool to let her escape +again." + +With passionate impetuosity he pressed her to his heart, and covered +her lips and face with his kisses. But the violence of his affection +aroused Elise. Slowly and stunned she raised herself in his arms, and +looked around, as if awakened from a dream. "Where am I?" asked she, +languidly. + +Feodor, still kneeling before her, drew her more closely to his heart. +"You are with me," said he, passionately, and as he felt her trembling +in his arms, he continued still more warmly: "Fear nothing; my Elise, +look not so timidly and anxiously about you. Look upon me, me, who am +lying at your feet, and who ask nothing more from Fortune than that +this moment should last an eternity." + +Elise scarcely understood him. She was still stunned--still confused +by the dreams of her swoon. She passed her hand over her forehead, and +let it drop again list-less and powerless. "My senses are confused," +whispered she in a low voice, "I do not hear; what has happened to +me?" + +"Do not ask, do not inquire," cried Feodor, ardently. "Think only that +love has sent an angel to you, on whose wings you have reposed on +your passage hither to me. Why will you ask after the nature of +the miracle, when the miracle itself brings delight to our eyes and +hearts? Therefore, fear nothing, gentle, pure being. Like an angel do +you come to me through the deluge of sin. You bear the olive-branch of +peace, and love and happiness are before us." + +But as he was about to press her still more closely to his heart, a +shudder pervaded her whole frame. "Oh, now, I recollect," she cried, +vehemently; "now I know all! I was alone in the garden. There came +those terrible men. They seized me with their rude hands. They wounded +my heart with their horrible looks, which made me shudder. Whither +have they brought me? where am I?" + +"You are with me," said Feodor, carrying her hand to his lips. + +For the first time, then, she looked at him--for the first time, +she recognized him. A deep blush of joy suffused her cheeks, and an +angelic smile beamed on her lips. She felt, she knew nothing further +than that her lover was at her side, that he was not dead--that he was +not lost to her. With an outcry of delight she threw herself into his +arms, and greeted the lost, the found one, with warm and happy words +of love. She raised her eyes and hands to heaven. "Oh, my God, he +lives!" cried she, exultingly. "I thank Thee, God, I thank Thee. Thou +hadst pity on my sufferings." + +"Love protected me," said Feodor, gazing at her passionately. "Love +saved me by a miracle. Still more miraculously, it brings you to my +arms. Fear not, Elise. No other eye than mine has seen you. No +one knows your name. That sweet secret, is only known to Love and +ourselves." + +Elise trembled. This imprudent speech woke her out of the stupor which +had so long had possession of her; it recalled her to the world, and +dispelled the charm which his presence, his looks, and his words had +thrown around her. She was now aroused, and hurried from a state of +dreamy delight to one of cruel and dread reality. The ray of joy faded +from her cheek, the smile died on her lips, and, extricating herself +forcibly from his arms, she stood before him in her pride and anger. +"Feodor," said she, terrified, "you sent those fearful men! You caused +me to be kidnapped!" With an angry, penetrating glance, she looked at +Feodor, who sank his eyes in confusion to the ground. + +As she saw this, she smiled contemptuously, and her injured maiden +honor overcame her love and tenderness. "Ah! now I understand!" said +she, with cutting scorn. "I have been told of the hunt after human +beings which is carried on in the town. Colonel Feodor von Brenda +plays a worthy part in this game!" + +Feodor wished to approach her and take her hand, but she repulsed him +sternly. "Do not touch me," cried she, haughtily; "do not seek to take +my hand. You are no longer he whom I love. You are a kidnapper. But +let me tell you, though you have compelled my body to suffer this +dishonorable deed, yet my soul remains free, and that despises you!" + +It was a splendid sight to see her in her noble wrath, which seemed to +elevate her whole frame, and drive a deep glow to her cheeks. + +Feodor looked at her with ardent gaze. Never had he seen her so +fascinating, so charmingly beautiful. Even her wrath delighted him, +for it was a token of her purity and innocence. + +He wanted again to draw near to her, to take her to his heart, but she +drew back in pride and anger. "Go," said she, "I have nothing to do +with a man who violates the most sacred laws of human honor, and like +a vile thief sneaks in to destroy innocence." Her voice failed her, +her eyes filled with tears, but she shook them from her. "I weep," +said she, "but not for grief, nor yet for love; anger it is alone +which extorts tears from me, and they are bitter--far more bitter than +death." And as she thus spoke, she pressed her hands to her face, and +wept bitterly. + +Feodor passed his arm gently around her trembling form. In the excess +of her grief she did not feel it. "No, Elise," said he, "you weep +because you love me. You weep because you think me unworthy of your +love. But before you condemn me, listen to me. I swear to you by the +memory of my mother, the only woman in whom, besides yourself, I +ever believed, that I had no part in this treachery which has been +committed toward you. You must believe me, Elise! Look at me, beloved +one--I can bear your looks. I dare raise my eyes to you. I am not +guilty of this crime." + +Her hands glided slowly from her face, and she looked at him. Their +looks met, and rested for a long time on each other. She read in his +eyes that he was innocent, for love is confiding, and she loved him. +With a charming smile she extended both hands toward him, and he read +in her looks the words of love and tenderness which her timid lips did +not dare give expression to. + +Feodor drew her warmly to his heart. "You believe me," cried he, +passionately; and as he raised her with irresistible strength in his +arms, he murmured low, "Now let us enjoy the sacred hour of happiness +without inquiring what divinity we have to thank for it." + +But the instinct of modesty prevailed over love. "No," cried she, as +she struggled out of his arms, trembling with excitement--"no, Feodor, +it is no hour of happiness in which my honor and good name are to be +buried--no hour of happiness when scandal can tell from mouth to mouth +how a German maiden let herself be carried into the Russian camp, and +shamelessly rushed into the arms of dishonor; for so will they tell +it, Feodor. No one will believe that you had no hand in this outrage. +The world never believes in innocence. Whoever is accused is already +condemned, even if the judge's sentence should a thousand times +pronounce him innocent, No, they will point at me with the finger of +scorn, and with an exultant laugh will say to each other, 'Behold the +barefaced woman who deserted to the Russians, and revelled with her +lover, while her native town was groaning amidst blood and tears. Look +at the rich man's child, who is so poor in honor!'" + +Deeply moved by her own words, she drew herself up still more in the +power of her dignity and innocence, and gazed at Feodor with flashing +eyes. "Count Feodor von Brenda," cried she, firmly, "will you allow +your bride to be suspected and defamed? that a stain should be allowed +to rest upon the name of her who is to become your wife?" + +In her proud excitement she did not perceive the rapid motion of his +lips, nor the blush of shame which suffused his cheeks; she remarked +not that he cast down his eyes and spoke to her with broken and +trembling voice. + +"Elise," said he, "you are beside yourself. Your excited fancy paints +every thing to you in sombre colors. Who will dare to defame you? Who +knows that you are here?" + +"But the whole world will know it. Scandal has a thousand tongues to +spread evil reports. Feodor, let me go. You say that no one knows that +I am here; then no one will know that I go. Be merciful with me, let +me go!" + +"No," cried he, almost rudely. "I will not let you. You ask what is +impossible. I were a fool if I were thus madly to cast the happiness +away which I would fain purchase with my heart's blood. Twice have +I risked my life to see you, to be able to kneel for one happy, +undisturbed hour at your feet, and gaze on you, and intoxicate myself +with that gaze. And now you ask that I shall voluntarily give up my +happiness and you!" + +"My happiness! my happiness! yes, even my life I ask you to preserve +by letting me go hence, and return to my father's house," cried Elise, +eagerly. + +As she perceived that he shook his head in refusal, and met his wild, +passionate looks, reading in them that she might expect no mercy +from him, her anger flashed forth. Imploringly she raised her arms to +heaven, and her voice sounded full and powerful: "Feodor, I swear to +you by God in heaven, and the memory of my mother, that I will only +become the wife of that man whom I follow of my free will out of the +house of my father. I am capable of leaving my father's house; but it +must be my own free choice, my free determination." + +"No," said Feodor, wildly; "I will not let you go. You are mine, and +you shall remain." + +Elise drew nearer to him with bashful tenderness. "You must let me go +now, in order one of these days to demand your pure wife from out +her father's house," said she. There was something so touching, so +confiding in her manner that Feodor, against his will, felt himself +overcome by it; but even while submitting to this fascination he was +almost ashamed of himself, and deep sadness filled his soul. + +Silently they stood opposite to each other, Elise looking at him with +tenderness, yet with fear--he his head bowed, wrestling with his own +heart. Suddenly this silence was interrupted by a loud and violent +knocking at the door. The voices of his wild companions and mad +comrades were calling out loudly Feodor's name, and demanding, with +vehement impetuosity, the opening of the closed door. Feodor turned +pale. The thought that his Elise, this young, innocent, and +modest girl, should be exposed to the insolent gaze of his riotous +companions, irritated him. + +Casting his angry glances around the room to seek for a hiding-place +in which to conceal Elise, he perceived that this was in vain, that +no escape was possible. Sadly he sank his head upon his breast, and +sighed. Elise understood him; she comprehended her disconsolate and +Desperate position. + +"There is then no place where I can hide myself?" said she in despair. +"Shame awaits me. The whole world will know that I am here!" + +Outside the officers raged still louder, and demanded with more +violent cries the opening of the door. Feodor still looked around him +for a secret place. Nowhere was there a possibility of hiding her, or +letting her escape unnoticed. His infuriated companions threatened to +break the door in. + +Feodor now with determination seized the large shawl which had +previously enveloped Elise's form, and threw it over her face. "Well +then," said he, "let them come; but woe to him who touches this +cloth!" + +He pressed the veiled maiden down in a chair, and, hastening to the +door, drew back the bolt. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MISTRESS OR MAID. + + +As Feodor opened the door, his comrades rushed screaming and laughing +uproariously into the room, spying round eagerly for the poor woman, +the noble game which they had hunted down. + +When they perceived Elise seated in a chair, veiled and motionless +just as they had left her, they gave vent to a cry of delight, and +began to explain to the colonel in a most confused jumble, often +interrupted by bursts of laughter and merry ejaculations, the cause +of their stormy interruption. A young man, they said, had just come +inquiring after a young lady who had been carried off by the Cossacks. +He had insisted upon seeing Colonel Feodor von Brenda, in order to +offer a ransom for the captive lady. + +"We have come to inform you of this," said Lieutenant von Matusch, +"so that you may not let her go too cheap. This is the richest haul we +have made yet." + +"The daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky!" cried another officer. + +"She'll have to pay a tremendous ransom," shouted Major von Fritsch. + +Feodor exclaimed, with assumed astonishment, "That woman there the +daughter of Gotzkowsky! Why, don't you know, my friends, that I lived +for a long time in Berlin, and am intimately acquainted with the +beautiful and brilliant daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky? I can assure +you that they do not resemble each other in a single feature." + +The officers looked at one another with amazement and incredulity. +"She is not Gotzkowsky's daughter? But the young man told us that he +came from Mr. Gotzkowsky." + +"And from that you draw the conclusion that this is his daughter whom +you have caught," cried Feodor, laughing. "Where is this man?" + +Lieutenant von Matusch opened the door, and on the threshold appeared +the serious figure of Bertram. He had fulfilled the vow which he had +made to himself, and carefully and attentively watched and guarded +every step of Elise; and while Gotzkowsky was absent from home night +and day faithfully serving his country, Bertram had been a vigilant +sentinel over his daughter. Indeed, Gotzkowsky's house had been, to +all appearance, perfectly safe; it was the sanctuary and refuge of all +the unfortunate, the only secure place where they could bestow their +valuables. Russian sentinels stood before the house, and Tottleben's +adjutant had his residence in it. But this security only applied to +the _house_. As long as Elise kept herself within-doors, Bertram had +no fear. But there was the large garden in which she loved to roam for +hours together, and especially her favorite resort at the extreme end +of the same, not far from the wall, which was so easy to climb. + +Bertram had not ventured to restrain Elise from visiting this solitary +and secluded spot, but he had followed her on her visits to it. There, +hidden behind some tree he had, with the patience and perseverance of +which love alone is capable, watched the young girl, who was neither +desirous of nor grateful for guardianship. This very day he had +followed her softly and unperceived into the garden. Then, when he had +ascertained whither she directed her steps, he had returned into the +house to complete some important business of Gotzkowsky. But impelled +by anxious and unaccountable restlessness, he had hastened back into +the garden; at a distance he heard Elise's cry for help, and, rushing +forward, had come up just in time to see her raised over the wall by +the Cossacks. + +Stunned by horror at this sight, Bertram stood for a moment +motionless. He then felt but one desire, one resolve, and that was--to +rescue her. He hurried to the house for the purpose of proceeding +to General Tottleben and invoking his assistance and support. But a +sudden and painful thought arrested his steps. + +Suppose that Elise had not gone against her will? Suppose that this +had been a preconcerted abduction to which the semblance of violence +had only been given in order, in case of failure, to maintain Elise's +reputation free from stain? + +With a sigh of anguish he recalled to mind when Elise had hidden +her lover in her bedchamber that night when Gotzkowsky had delivered +Feodor over to the Austrians. Since then father and daughter had not +met, and no word of reproach had passed Elise's lips. But Bertram +understood that Gotzkowsky's cruel and relentless sacrifice of her +lover had forever estranged the heart of his daughter from him; that +this hard though just deed had torn asunder the last link which bound +her to him. + +Elise could have learned just as well as Bertram had that Feodor had +been accidentally saved. Her lover himself could have sent her this +information, and she, who in the bitterness of her grief had torn +herself loose from her father, might not have had the strength to +withstand his ardent prayers. Perhaps in her sense of bereavement, +trusting to her love, she might have found the sad courage to brave +not only her father, but the judgment and scorn of the world, in order +to be united to her lover. + +Such thoughts as these arrested Bertram's steps, and compelled him +to reflection. Only one thing was positive--he must save her at every +hazard, even against her will, even if he should reap, as the sole +reward of his devoted love, her aversion; he must save her from +her own passionate, foolish heart, or from the wild lust of the +unprincipled man to whom she trusted her innocence, her youth, and +beauty. + +But this duty he had to perform alone; he dared not trust any one with +his secret, for fear of thereby defeating the object he had in view, +and, instead of saving, bringing disgrace upon her. His resolve was +formed. He must seek her out. He must penetrate to where she was, even +if hid behind a wall of Russian soldiers. Faithful and unselfish as +ever, she should find him at her side, ready to protect her against +every attack, every danger, even from her own inexperience or the +reckless passion of her lover. Especially above all things, her +abduction must remain a secret. To her maidens, therefore, Bertram +said, that their young mistress had withdrawn into her room, and +shut herself in, in order, after so many sleepless nights, to enjoy a +little rest. The same information he left behind for Gotzkowsky, and, +providing himself with weapons, he betook himself to the search for +Elise. In the first place, he naturally directed his steps to the +dwelling of Colonel von Brenda. Here he learned that the latter was +not at home, but had gone to an entertainment at the mess-room of +his regiment. Thither he hastened, firmly resolved to overcome all +obstacles, and in spite of every refusal to see the colonel, and +read in his countenance whether he were an accomplice of the crime +committed, or whether Elise had followed him of her own free will. + +At first, he had been obstinately refused admittance; then in his +despair and anguish he had made use of Gotzkowsky's name, a golden +key to open the doors, as he well knew. In fact, scarcely had the +gold-greedy Russian officers ascertained that the young stranger came +as a messenger from Gotzkowsky and wished to inquire of Count von +Brenda, after a young lady who had been carried off by the Cossacks, +than with a yell of delight they rushed toward the door of the room in +which were Feodor and the captured maiden. Bertram had, therefore, to +thank the avarice of the Russian officers that the door was opened and +he was allowed to enter. + +As Bertram appeared on the threshold of the room a scream escaped +the lips of the female, and he was enabled, notwithstanding the +concealment, to recognize her whom he sought. His heart was convulsed +with pain, and his impulse for a moment was, to rush upon this +audacious, dissolute young man who stood next to Elise, to murder him, +and revenge in his blood the disgrace he had brought upon her. But +remembering the sacred duty he had undertaken of protecting Elise and +concealing her flight as far as possible, he controlled his anger and +grief, and forced himself to appear calm and collected. + +Elise, in the mean while, with joyful emotion recognized Bertram. His +unexpected and unlooked-for appearance did not surprise her, it seemed +so natural to her that whenever danger threatened he should appear +as her protector and savior. She had such confidence in Bertram's +appearance whenever she stood in need of him, that when she saw him, +she looked upon herself as saved, and protected from every danger +which threatened her. She motioned Feodor to her side, and with a +touch of triumphant pride, said to him, "It is Bertram, the friend +of my youth. He has risked his life to save me from dishonor." Feodor +felt the reproof which lay in the intonation of these words, and his +brow grew dark. But he overcame this momentary irritation, and turning +to Bertram, who was approaching him with a firm and determined step, +asked him, "Well, sir, whom do you seek?" + +"A young girl who has been carried off by force," replied Bertram, and +he regarded the young man with angry looks. But Feodor met his glance +with firmness and composure. "It is true," said he, "such an outrage +has been committed; some Cossacks kidnapped a young girl in a garden +and brought her here. I myself will inform the general of this +dishonorable deed, for you understand, sir, that this outrage is an +insult to us as well as to yourself. I have promised my protection to +this young person, and I am ready to defend her against any one who +dares to touch her honor or to doubt her virtue. Come, now, sir, and +see whether this he the same young girl whom you seek." + +He stepped toward Bertram, and as he led him to Elise, he whispered +rapidly in a low tone. "Be silent, and do not betray her name, for +Elise's honor is at stake." + +He raised the veil, and, pointing to Elise's abashed and blushing +countenance, he asked, with a derisive laugh, "Well, now, do you +recognize her? Will you swear that this is Gotzkowsky's daughter?" + +Bertram looked at him with assumed surprise. "Gotzkowsky's daughter?" +asked he, shrugging his shoulders. "Why, it is the young lady herself +who sent me, and no one is looking for her." + +Colonel Feodor turned with a laugh of triumph toward his comrades. +"Did I not tell you so?" cried he. "You credulous fools were hoping to +get half a million ransom, and I have been bargaining with her for the +last hour for a hundred dollars. She swears, with tears in her eyes, +that she is not worth a hundred pence. Gotzkowsky's daughter, indeed! +Do you imagine that she goes about in a plain white dress, without any +ornament or any thing elegant about her? She is just as fond of dress +as our own princesses and pretty women, and, like them, the daughter +of the rich Gotzkowsky is never visible except in silk and +velvet, with pearls diamonds. Oh! I would like myself to catch the +millionnaire's daughter, for then we might bargain for a decent +ransom." + +"But who, then, is this woman?" roared the disappointed officers. "Why +does the rich Gotzkowsky send after her, if she is not his daughter?" + +"Who is she?" cried Feodor, laughing. "Well, I will tell you, as you +attack so much importance to it. You have been served like the seekers +after hidden treasure. You have been seeking for gold, and, instead, +you have only found coals to burn your fingers. You sought after the +millionnaire, the rich heiress, and, instead of her, you have only +caught her--chambermaid." + +"A chambermaid!" growled out his comrades, and turning their dark, +lowering looks on Bertram, they inquired of him whether this woman +were only a chambermaid in Gotzkowsky's house, and assailed him with +reproaches and curses because he had deluded them into the belief that +Gotzkowsky's daughter had been captured. + +"If we had not thought so, we would not have let you in," cried +Lieutenant von Matusch. "It was not worth while making so much fuss +about a little chambermaid." + +"It was just for that very reason," replied Bertram, "and because I +knew that you would not otherwise help me, that I let you believe it +was Gotzkowsky's daughter whom you had captured; otherwise you would +never have let me come near Colonel von Brenda. And Mademoiselle +Gotzkowsky had expressly directed me to apply to that gentleman, and +I did so. You can understand my doing so, when I inform you that this +young girl is my sister!" + +Feodor turned himself to Elise with an expression of anger on his +countenance. "Is this true?" + +"It is true!" cried she, reaching her hand out to Bertram, with a look +of heartfelt gratitude. "He is my brother, my faithful brother!" + +But, as she read in Feeder's darkened countenance the marks of +ill-concealed anger and jealousy, she turned toward her lover with a +rare, sweet smile. "Oh," said she, "there is nothing nobler, nothing +more sacred and unselfish, than the love of a brother." + +Feodor's searching look seemed to penetrate into the inmost recesses +of her heart. Perhaps he read all the love, innocence, and strength +that lay therein, for his brow cleared up, and his looks resumed +their open cheerfulness. Quickly he took Bertram's hand and laid it +in Elise's. "Well, then," said he, "you happy pair, take each other's +hands, and thank God that the danger is over. We have nothing to do +with young and pretty girls--we only want rich ones. Go!" + +"No, no," cried the officers, "not at all, not without ransom!" Saying +which, they pressed noisily and angrily nearer, raising their clinched +fists. "She must pay, or we will keep her!" + +"Dare one of you touch her?" cried Feodor, drawing his sword, and +placing himself in front of Elise. + +"I have come to fetch my sister," said Bertram, turning to the +officers, "but I knew very well that you would not let her go unless +her ransom were paid. I therefore brought all my little portion with +me. Take this purse full of ducats, and let it pay for her." + +A cry of triumph was the answer from the soldiers as they drew Bertram +toward the table that he might count out the money. While they were +dividing it among themselves, talking loudly and laughing merrily, +Feodor remained standing at Elise's side, neither daring to break the +impressive silence. Their souls communed with each other, and they +needed not words nor outward signs. At last, after a long pause, +Feodor asked-- + +"Are you satisfied now, Elise?" + +She answered him with a sweet smile, "I am thine forever!" + +"And will you never forget this hour?" + +"I will not forget it. I will remember that I have sworn to follow +you voluntarily from my father's house, even against his will." And +letting her blushing face droop upon her breast, she whispered, in a +voice scarcely audible--"I await you!" + +But these words, low as they had been spoken, reached the ears of two +men at the same time. Not only Colonel Feodor, but also Bertram, who +had drawn close up to Elise again, had overheard them. The first +they filled with emotions of delight, the other with painful anguish. +Bertram, however, was accustomed to wrestle with his love, and smother +the expression of his pain, under the appearance of quiet composure. +He approached Elise, and offered her his hand, said, "Come sister, let +us go." + +"Yes, go," said the colonel, with the proud superiority of a preferred +rival. He extended his hand to Bertram, and continued, "Be a good +brother to her, and conduct her safely home." + +Bertram's countenance, usually so quiet and calm, assumed for an +instant an offended and almost contemptuous air, and bitter words were +on his tongue; but his angry eye accidentally met Elise's, anxiously +and imploringly directed toward him. He could not master himself +sufficiently to accept Feodor's hand, but at least he could control +his anger. "Come, sister," said he, gently leading Elise toward the +door which the colonel indicated to him by a silent nod. + +Elise had not the courage to leave her lover without a word of +farewell; or rather, she was cruel enough to inflict this torture on +Bertram. Stretching both hands toward him, she said softly, "I thank +you, Feodor; God and love will reward you for having greatly and nobly +conquered yourself." + +Feodor whispered to her, "And will you remember your vow?" + +"Ever and always!" + +In bending over to kiss her hand, he murmured, "Expect me, then, +to-morrow." + +"I will expect you," said she, as she passed him on her way to the +door. + +No word of their whispered conversation escaped the attentive ear of +Bertram; and he understood it, for he loved her, and knew how to read +her thoughts in her looks and her eyes. As he followed her through the +long corridor, and her light, graceful figure floated before him like +a vision, a deep, despairing melancholy settled on his heart, and he +murmured to himself, "To-morrow she expects him!" But with desperate +determination he continued to himself, "Well, then, woe to him if I +find him going astray!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN UNEXPECTED ALLY. + + +Thanks to Bertram's forethought and caution, he had succeeded in +restoring Elise to her father's house, without her absence having been +remarked, or having occasioned any surmise. In the close carriage in +which they performed the journey home, they had not exchanged a word; +but leaning hack on the cushions, each had rest and repose after the +stormy and exciting scenes they had just passed through. Elise's hand +still rested on Bertram's, perhaps unconsciously, perhaps because she +had not the courage to withdraw it from him to whom she owed so much +gratitude. + +Bertram felt the feverish warmth of this trembling hand, and as he +looked at her and remarked the paleness of her cheeks, the painful +twitching of her lips, he was overcome by a feeling of deep +wretchedness, of pitying sadness, and was obliged to turn his head +away to conceal his tears from her. + +When the carriage stopped, and he accompanied her into the house, +Elise pressed his hand more firmly, and turned her gaze upon him +with a look of deep gratitude, which made his heart palpitate with a +mixture of delight and anguish. He wished to withdraw, he wished to +let her hand go, but she held his still more firmly clasped, and drew +him gently up the steps. Powerless with emotion, he followed her. + +As they entered the hall which led to her room, she cast a searching +look around to see if any one were present, and perceiving that +they two were alone, she turned toward Bertram with an indescribable +expression. She tried to speak, but the words died on her lips, a deep +glow suffused her cheeks, and completely overpowered, and giddy +from the tumult of her feelings, she leaned her head on her friend's +shoulder. + +Gently he passed his arm around her delicate, trembling figure, and +his eyes beamed with a pure emotion. In the depth of his heart he +renewed to God and himself his vow of fidelity and self-sacrificing +love to this poor girl who lay on his bosom like a drooping flower. + +Suddenly she raised her head, her face wet with tears and convulsed +with deep feeling. "Bertram," she said, "I know that I am not worthy +of your noble, generous love, but yet, in my crushed heart, I thank +God that I possess it. A time may come when all the thoughts and +feelings which now fill my soul will appear as vain dreams and +illusions. It may be that some day I will look upon life as a grand +delusion, a fruitless striving after happiness and repose. But never, +my brother, never will that time come when I can doubt your faithful, +pure affection. No power, no other feeling, will ever succeed in +supplanting the deep and boundless gratitude which pervades my whole +soul and binds me to you forever." + +And then it seemed to him as if he felt the breath of an angel wave +over his face; as if the dream and desire of his whole life had closed +his lips in unexpected bliss; as if the wishes and hopes of his +ardent but resigned heart had been fulfilled, and become a delightful +reality. + +When he recovered from this sweet dream, which for a moment robbed him +of his consciousness, Elise had disappeared. But her kiss still glowed +on his lips, and seemed to bless and sanctify his whole life. + +This stream of happiness lasted but for a short time, and Bertram soon +awoke, with a sad sigh, from his delightful fancies, to recall the +painful hours he had just gone through, and to say to himself that +Elise was lost to him forever, that he never could hope to rescue that +heart from the lover to whom she had yielded it with all the devotion +of her ardent nature. With a sorrowing heart did he remember the +last words of the lovers. She had appointed a meeting for him on the +morrow, she expected him, and, braving the anger of her father, had +giving him a rendezvous in his house. + +As Bertram thought over this, he paced the room up and down, panting +with excitement, and wringing his hands. "If Gotzkowsky knew this, he +would kill her, or die himself of grief. Die of grief!" continued he, +after a pause, completely buried in his sad and bitter thoughts--"it +is not so easy to die of grief. The sad heart is tenacious of life, +and sorrow is but a slow grave-digger. I have heard that one could die +of joy, and it seemed to me just now, when Elise rewarded me with a +kiss, that I could understand this. If she only loved me, it were a +blessing of God to die, conscious of her love." + +Completely overcome by his painful thoughts, he remained for a while +motionless and sad. But he soon recovered himself, and shook off the +dark cloud which overshadowed his soul. "I am not born to die such +a death. It is my destiny not to be happy myself, but to save others +from unhappiness. I feel and know that Elise cannot be happy in this +love. A loving heart is gifted with prophetic second sight to read the +future. Elise can never be happy without her father's blessing, and +Gotzkowsky will never give his sanction to this love. How can I lead +her past this abyss which threatens to engulf her? May God, who sees +my heart, help me! He knows how hopeless and disinterested it is. Help +me, Father in heaven! show me some way of saving her noble father from +the grief which lies before him." + +It seemed as if God had heard his prayer, and taken compassion on his +pure, unselfish spirit, and sent him assistance. A loud knocking +at the door aroused him suddenly from his gloomy thoughts, and he +hastened to open it. + +A veiled lady stood there, wrapped in furs, and attended by a servant +in rich livery. In fluent French, which it could be perceived, +however, was not her native tongue, she inquired whether, as she had +been told, Herr von Brink, Tottleben's adjutant, resided there. As +Bertram answered this question in the affirmative, but added, that +Herr von Brink was in the habit of not returning from the general's +quarters before evening, she added, in a decided tone, "Well, then, I +will wait for him." + +Without deeming Bertram's consent necessary, she entered the hall and +motioned to her servant to remain at the door. + +After a pause, there ensued between the two one of those superficial, +ceremonious conversations, the usual refuge of those who have nothing +to say to each other; but the evident uneasiness and confusion of the +young lady prevented her from joining freely in it. Her large, bright +eyes strayed restlessly around the room. A hectic flush alternated +on her cheeks with deathly pallor, and the smile, which occasionally +played around her lips, seemed but a painful expression of mental +suffering. Suddenly she raised her head, as if determined no longer to +bear this constraint, or submit to the fetters of conventionality. + +"Sir," said she, in a tone vibrating with excitement and anxiety, "you +will excuse my asking you a question, on the answer to which depends +my future happiness, my life, indeed--to obtain which I have travelled +from St. Petersburg here. I have just left my carriage in which I +performed the journey from that city. You can therefore judge +how important the cause of this undertaking is to me, and what an +influence it may have on my whole existence. Its object lies in the +question I am about to put to you." + +Bertram took pity on her painful agitation. "Ask" he said, "and, on +the honor of a gentleman, I assure you that your question shall be +answered truly, and that I am ready to serve you as far as it lies in +my power." + +"Are you acquainted with General Bachmann's adjutant?" asked she, +shortly and hurriedly. + +"I am," replied Bertram. + +She trembled as in an ague. "I am come to inquire after a man of whom +I have not heard for six months. I wish to know whether he is alive, +or only dead to me." + +"His name?" asked Bertram, with painful misgiving. + +Her voice was scarcely audible as she replied: "Colonel Count Feodor +von Brenda, of the regiment Bachmann." + +Bertram was quite taken aback by this unexpected turn of the +conversation, and she continued with great excitement, "You do not +answer! oh, have compassion on me, and speak! Is he alive?" + +"He is alive, and is here," answered Bertram sadly. + +A cry of delight escaped the lips of the lady. "He lives," she +exclaimed loudly. "God has then heard my prayer, and preserved him to +me." + +But suddenly the cheerful smile on her lips died away, and, dropping +her head on her breast, she cried, "He is alive, and only dead to me. +He is alive, and did not write me!" For a moment she stood in this +position, silent and depressed; then drawing herself up erect, her +eyes sparkling with passionate warmth, she said: "Sir, I crave your +pardon for a poor stranger, who hardly knows what she is doing or +saying. I am not acquainted with you, or even your name, but there is +something in your noble, calm countenance which inspires confidence." + +Bertram smiled sadly. "Fellow-sufferers always feel attracted to each +other by a community of feeling. I, too am a sufferer, and it is God's +will that our sorrows should spring from a common source. The name you +have uttered is but too well known to me." + +"You know Colonel Brenda?" she asked. + +"I do know him," answered Bertram. + +"The count was at one time a prisoner of war," continued the lady. "He +visited this house frequently, for I have been told that it belongs to +Mr. Gotzkowsky, of whom the colonel wrote me, in the commencement of +his captivity, that he received him most hospitably." + +"Did he write you any word of Gotzkowsky's handsome daughter?" asked +Bertram, looking inquiringly into the countenance of the stranger. + +She shuddered, and turned pale. "O Heaven!" she murmured low, "I have +betrayed myself!" + +Bertram seized her hand, his features evincing deep emotion. "Will +you answer me one question?" he asked, and as she bowed her head in +silence, he proceeded--"is the Count von Brenda your brother?" + +"Oh, sir," she said, with a faint smile, "one does not suffer for a +brother as I have suffered for Feodor. I am the Countess Sandomir, +and Count Feodor is my betrothed. The good empress herself joined our +hands, and blessed our union. A short time after our marriage the war +broke out, and deprived me of my lover and husband. For six months I +have had no tidings of him, and, tortured by anxiety and apprehension, +I resolved to come myself to Germany to seek my betrothed, either to +bury or nurse him, for I believed he must be sick or dead, as he did +not return to me." + +Bertram offered in his heart a prayer of gratitude to God. With +feelings of sympathy, he then turned his eyes on the quivering +features of the stranger. "Listen to me," said he, gently. "As you +entered, I had just prayed to God, in the suffering and sadness of my +heart, to show me some way and means of escape from the labyrinth +in which Count Brenda has placed us. It would seem as if He has +had compassion on us all, for at the very moment he sends you, the +affianced bride of the count, and through you alone can we be saved. +We must be open and candid toward each other. Therefore, listen to me. +I love Gotzkowsky's daughter--I love her without hope, for she loves +another." + +"And this other?" asked she breathlessly. + +"She loves Count Feodor von Brenda, and is about to escape with him." + +"Escape!" cried the lady, and her voice sounded threatening and angry, +and her eyes flashed. "Oh!" said she, gnashing her teeth, "I will +prevent this, even if I kill this girl!" + +Bertram shook his head sadly. "Let us rather try to kill this love in +her heart. Let us contrive some means of bringing your lover back to +you." + +"Are there any such means?" asked she, anxiously. + +Bertram did not answer immediately. His brow was clouded with deep +thought, and a heavy sigh escaped him. He then asked quickly, "Will +you follow me and enter into my plot?" + +"I will," she said firmly. + +"Above all things, then, let us be cautious. Count Feodor must have no +suspicion that you are here, for your presence would drive him to some +desperate resolve, and I fear Elise loves him sufficiently not to draw +back from any thing." + +"You are very cruel," murmured the lady. "You know not what torture +you are preparing for me." + +"If I did not know it, I would not undertake the enterprise that is to +serve us both. I have told you that I love Elise, but I have not told +you how deep and sacred this love is. I would cheerfully venture my +life for her, but now I dare to interfere with her love, and earn her +hatred." + +"You have, then, already made your plan?" + +"I have made my plan, and if you will allow me to escort you to +your hotel, I will disclose it to you, so that we may arrange the +particulars together." + +"Come, then," said she, grasping his hand warmly, "and may God assist +us, and restore to you your bride, and to me my lover!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE JEW EPHRAIM. + + +Much sorrow and tribulation were suffered during this time by the +inhabitants of Berlin. But the saddest lot of all fell to the Jews, +who were threatened with the greatest danger. In Berlin, as everywhere +else, they only led a tolerated, reviled, and derided existence. +They possessed no rights, only duties; no honor, only insults; no +dignities, but humiliation and disgrace. Now they were called on to +give up the last and only thing which shed some gleam of brightness on +their poor, down-trodden existence--their gold and their treasures. + +The Russian commander had imposed upon the Jewish community in Berlin +a special tax; and as they hesitated about paying it, and declared +themselves incapable of raising such a large sum, General von +Tottleben had the three elders of the Jews arrested and strictly +guarded in the Vincenti House in Brueder Street. + +But who could despise or blame the poor Jews for not wishing to +give up their gold? Gold was to them a condition of existence, their +future, their happiness, their family. Gold enabled some of them to +raise themselves from the dust and degradation to which the cruel +severity of _Christian charity_ had condemned them, and to indulge +in human aspirations, human happiness, and human feelings. Only those +among them who possessed wealth were tolerated, and dared hope by +strenuous industry, ceaseless activity, and fortunate speculation, +to amass sufficient fortune to found a family or beget children. The +happiness of domestic life was only allowed to them on condition of +their being rich. + +Frederick the Great had learned with indignation that the Jewish +families in Berlin far exceeded the number of one hundred and +fifty-two allowed by law, and that there were fifty-one too many. +Consequently a stringent decree was issued that they should no longer +be counted by families, but by heads, and that when the poll exceeded +the permitted number, the poorest and lowest of them should be +shipped off.[1] Gold was therefore to the rich Jew a certificate of +naturalization, while the poorer ones had no certainty of a home. They +could at any moment be turned off, driven out of Berlin, if a richer +one should by his wealth and trading acquire the right to take to +himself a wife, and by her have a child. But even he, the rich one, +could only have one child; only one child was allowed to him by law. +For one child only could he obtain legal protection, and only in +exceptional cases, as when their factories and firms succeeded +remarkably well, did the king, in the fulness of his grace, allow a +second child to inherit its guardianship.[2] + +Of what avail, then, was it to the poor Jews to have toiled and +worked so hard, driven by the necessity of paying the hateful +_Jewish poll-tax,_ and thereby procuring for themselves a temporary +toleration? At any moment they could be driven off in case the rich +Ephraim or the rich David Itzig, in the arrogance of their wealth, +should venture to give to the world more than one child, and +purchase for the sum of three thousand dollars another certificate of +protection for the second! Of what avail was their wealth even to the +rich Jews Ephraim and Itzig? They were nevertheless under the ban of +their proscribed race. No privileges, no offices existed for them. +They could only build factories or carry on commerce. All other paths +of life, even agriculture and horticulture, were forbidden to them. +And now they were called on to give up to the Russians their very +life, the nerve of their existence, the heart which carried blood and +warmth to their entire organization--their money. + +Ephraim and Itzig were rich and powerful in Berlin; they could build +houses, found factories, and even determine the value of money, for +the mint was in their hands. They had farmed it from the king, and +paid him an enormous rent for the same, which had increased each year, +and in 1760 amounted to seven millions. But, thanks to this farming, +the value of money had increased exorbitantly. Twenty dollars were +paid for a Frederick d'or, and five-and-thirty for the mark of fine +silver. Owing to the labors of these Jewish lessees, there were many +millions of light money, many millions of bad eight-groschen pieces, +which, to this day, are known by the name of _Ephraimites_, and whose +repudiation at a later period ruined many thousands of honest, +worthy tradesmen, while Ephraim and Itzig became wealthy and powerful +thereby. Yet it was now this same money which brought misfortune to +them, and was the cause of their suffering and mortal anxiety; for +General Tottleben had threatened that if the Jews could not pay +the tax imposed on them, he would take the mint farmers with him as +hostages, and destroy their factories. Besides this, he had, as we +said before, arrested their elders and sworn to send them to Siberia, +if the Jews did not pay. + +The payment was to be made in three days. But the three days had +elapsed, and they had not been able to raise the money which was +demanded of them. In this dire extremity, the two mint-contractors +remembered the man whom they had hitherto most cordially hated, and +whose ruin was the cherished wish of their life. They now recollected +that John Gotzkowsky was the only man who, in the generosity and +kindness of his heart, was capable of forgetting their former insults +and injuries, and of remembering only their need and misery. They +determined, therefore, to apply to him, and request his intercession +and assistance, but they did this with a bitter sigh, for they felt +the hatred and grudge which they nursed in their hearts toward him +become only more intense and stronger. + +"Who would have thought it?" said Ephraim, as, by the side of Itzig, +and accompanied by some of the most wealthy Jewish merchants, he took +the road to Gotzkowsky's dwelling--"who would have thought it? The +powerful Russian General von Tottleben is the friend of Gotzkowsky, +and the greatest men among our people are now obliged to go to +Gotzkowsky's house to implore his influence and protection." + +"Yes," sighed the rich merchant David, "we are obliged to apply to +him to befriend us, and yet what is he compared to you? You are much +richer than he is." + +"Silence, unfortunate man!" cried Ephraim with a shudder, as he looked +shyly around. "I am poor, and for that reason can pay nothing. I am +poor, as all of us wretched Jews are. Have we not to contribute the +greater portion of the war-tax? Are not all our means exhausted? Is +that not enough?" + +"Too much!" groaned Itzig, who till now had walked in melancholy +contemplation at Ephraim's other side. "It is too much. Are we then +treated like human beings? Have we any rights? Only when we have +to pay, do they remember that we have the right of giving up our +hard-earned property. If the Jew has no money, is he not at least a +man, say I?" + +"Pshaw! a man!" cried Ephraim. "Whoever is without money is no man, be +he Jew or Christian. If Gotzkowsky had no money, he would be no better +than we are. Why does the Russian general have any thing to do with +him? Because he is rich. Why do the counts and lords pay court to him? +For the same reason. Why do they call his daughter an angel, and +swear she is the handsomest woman in Berlin? Because her father is +the richest Christian merchant in the town. The whole world knows and +admires him. And why? Because he is rich." + +"No one is rich," said Itzig, shaking his head. "He who has not every +thing is not rich. There is no such thing as riches, for he who has +much has to give much." + +"God knows we will have to give much!" whimpered Ephraim, and all his +companions joined in with groans and sighs as a chorus to his speech. +"They mean to take every thing from us that we own, and Itzig is +right; if the Jew has not money, he is nobody. Have we not suffered as +much as others? Have we not protected our people, and fed and housed +our poor? No one talks about these things, but the whole town talks +about Gotzkowsky. They praise him, they exalt him; they cry out his +name everywhere, so that one's heart actually burns for vexation. And +yet at the highest calculation he is not worth more than a million." + +"He is worth more than ourselves; he is worth much more, for he has +the favor of the Russian general. For this reason we must bow down +before him, and flatter him, and assure him of our eternal gratitude, +for it is a question not of life, but what is more precious than +life--money." + +With deep-drawn sighs they whined out, "Yes, we must bow to him, and +flatter him, and yet we are richer than he is." + +As long as they were on the street they maintained an air of pride and +vexation; but as soon as they entered Gotzkowsky's house and stood in +his presence, they were all gentleness, humility, and friendliness. +With tears they implored Gotzkowsky to have pity, and to beg General +Tottleben to have compassion on them. They vowed eternal gratitude to +him, and swore with solemn oaths that if he succeeded in relieving +the Jews from the special impost, they would love him forever, and be +everlastingly thankful to him. + +Gotzkowsky smiled in pity. "That means that you would feel yourselves +under obligations to me, and, if ever you got me in your power, you +would take the opportunity to ruin me. But that is of no consequence +to me. This impost is a crying injustice, and therefore will I plead +for you, for it never shall be said that Gotzkowsky suffered an +injustice to be done when he could prevent it. Go home in peace, for, +if I can, I will help you." + +"How arrogant this man is!" said Itzig, when they had left the house. +"One would suppose that he had all virtue and honor on lease, just as +we have the mint." + +"And if he has," said Ephraim with a laugh, "if he has the monopoly +of virtue and honor, it is only to trade on. No doubt his speculation +will turn out just as profitably as ours with the mint. No doubt he +will coin it into light eight-groschen pieces, cheat the people with +them, and make more than his expenses, as we have done." + +"But woe be unto him," growled Itzig, "if any light coin of his virtue +come into my hands! I will throw them back into his face till blood +flows, and I will never forgive him that this day we have had to stand +before him begging and pleading. If he ever comes to grief, I will +remember it. If the Jew has no money, he is nobody. Well, we will see +what Gotzkowsky is worth without money. Let me tell you we will all of +us live to see that day. He has too much stupid generosity, which some +day or other will run away with his purse, and then there will be a +grand blow-up, honor and virtue and all, sky high. Then there will be +no more talk about the great Gotzkowsky and his virtue and all that. +Oh! I do so rejoice over that time a-coming. But in the mean time I am +so very glad that Gotzkowsky can be of some service to us!" + + +[Footnote 1: Büsching's Travels, 1780.] + +[Footnote 2: "Annals of the Jews in the Prussian States," +Berlin.--UNGER.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE RUSSIAN GENERAL AND THE GERMAN MAN. + + +Scarcely had the Jewish deputation left Gotzkowsky's house, before +he betook himself, full of the important information received from +General Bachmann, to General Tottleben's residence, fully determined +to venture every thing to prevent the execution of the cruel order +which threatened the factories and other branches of industry. But +this was not the sole object which led him there. He went there as +a representative of the whole town. Every one who needed assistance +applied to him, and to each one he had promised to intercede for +him. Laden with petitions and commissions from the magistracy, +the merchants, and the citizens of Berlin, he entered the Russian +general's quarters. Deeply inspired with the importance of his +commission, he traversed the halls which led to the general's private +apartments, saying to himself, "This is the most important mission I +have ever undertaken, for the welfare of the whole town depends upon +it--a million dollars depend upon every word I may utter. Many a +struggle have I had in these days, but this is the hardest of them +all, and victory hangs on my tongue." + +With beaming countenance and sparkling eyes, with his whole being +animated with the sacredness of his office, he entered the cabinet +of the Russian general. Tottleben did not offer him, as heretofore, a +friendly welcome. He did not even raise his eyes from the dispatches +which he was in the act of reading, and his contracted brows and the +whole expression of his countenance was such as to discourage any +petition or pleading. At this moment General von Tottleben was a true +Russian, and, thanks to General Fermore's dispatches, he had succeeded +in suppressing his German sympathy. At least he flattered himself that +he had, and for that reason he avoided meeting Gotzkowsky's clear, +bright eye. + +Without taking any notice, he finished reading the papers, and then +rose and walked about the room. After a while he seemed as if by +accident to perceive Gotzkowsky's presence, and stopped short. "Have +you come back already?" he asked in a sullen, grumbling tone. "I +know very well that you have returned to beg for all sorts of useless +trash; I can't bear such eternal begging and whining--a pitiful rabble +that is all the time creeping to our feet." + +"Yes, your excellency, it is nothing but a poor, pitiful rabble," said +Gotzkowsky with a smile; "and for this very reason the Russians are +despised all over Europe. Toward the high and mighty they behave +like fawning hounds, and toward the low and humble they are rude and +arrogant." + +"I am not speaking of the Russians," cried the general, as he turned +his lowering countenance toward Gotzkowsky, "I am speaking of _you_. +All day long you have done nothing but beg and demand." + +But Gotzkowsky met him with quiet and smiling composure. "Pardon, your +excellency, it is you who demand; and because you are all the time +demanding, I must all the time be begging. And, in fact, I am only +begging for yourself." + +Tottleben looked at him in inquiring astonishment, but in silence. "I +am not begging for favor," continued Gotzkowsky, "but for justice; and +if you grant this, why, it is so much gained for you. Then, indeed, +the world will esteem you as not only brave, but just; and then +only will history honor you as truly great--the equitable and humane +conqueror. The Vandals, too conquered by the sword; and if it only +depended on mere brute strength, wild bulls would be the greatest +generals." + +Tottleben cast a fierce, angry look toward him "For that reason," +cried he, threateningly, "he is a fool who irritates a wild bull." + +Gotzkowsky bowed and smiled. "It is true one should never show him +a red cloak. A firm, unterrified countenance is the only way to tame +him. The bull is powerless against the mind which beams out of the +human eye." + +It was very probably the very boldness of this answer which pleased +the general, accustomed as he was to Russian servility. His features +assumed a softer expression, and he said, in a milder tone: "You are +an extraordinary man, and there is no use in contending with you. +One is obliged to do whatever you wish. Well, now--quick, out with +it--what do you want of me?" + +"Justice," said Gotzkowsky. "You gave me your word that your soldiers +should not rob nor plunder, and, notwithstanding, they do it." + +"That is not true!" thundered the general. + +"It is true," replied Gotzkowsky, calmly. + +"Who dares to contradict me?" cried Tottleben, trembling with rage, +and striding toward Gotzkowsky. + +"I dare," answered the latter, "if you call that 'to dare' which is +only convincing you of your error. I, myself, have seen your soldiers +striking down the flying women with the butts of their muskets, +robbing and plundering the houses. Your orders have been but poorly +obeyed; and your soldiers _almost_ equal the Austrians in rudeness and +violence." + +A light smile played over Tottleben's countenance. Gotzkowsky had +understood how to soften his anger. "_Almost_--only," said he, "woe +be to my soldiers if they equal the Austrians in rudeness!" With +hasty steps he traversed the apartment, and called his adjutant. "Send +patrols through the whole town," was his order to the officer as +he entered, "and give orders to all the soldiers to maintain strict +discipline. Whoever dares to plunder, is guilty of disobedience to +military orders, and shall be tried by military law. The gallows +for thieves and marauders--say so to my men; they know that General +Tottleben keeps his word. Are you satisfied now?" he asked Gotzkowsky, +as the adjutant left the room. + +"I thank your excellency," said Gotzkowsky, hesitating. + +"Thank God that at last you are satisfied, and have nothing more to +ask!" cried Tottleben, almost cheerfully. + +"But indeed I have a great deal yet to ask, and if you allow me I will +ask your excellency a question. You have just issued an order. How +high up does this order reach?" + +"How high up?" asked the general, surprised. + +"I mean does this order which forbids the soldiers from robbing and +plundering under pain of death, affect only the common private, or +must the higher officers also obey it?" + +"I would advise every one to do so," cried Tottleben, with a harsh +laugh. "The order is for all." + +"Even the highest officers?" + +"Not even the generals are excepted." "Then, sir," said Gotzkowsky, +drawing himself up and advancing a step toward the general, "I accuse +before you an officer who has had the presumption to disobey +your general order. You forbid, under severe penalty, robbery and +plundering, and yet he is intent on them. You have strictly ordered +the army to preserve discipline, and not to ill-treat nor abuse the +defenceless, and yet a general is about to do it." + +"Who dares that? Give me the name of this general!" + +"It is General von Tottleben," answered Gotzkowsky, quietly. + +Count Tottleben stepped back and gazed at him in amazement. + +Gotzkowsky did not lower his eyes, but met his flashing glance firmly. +"Are you beside yourself?" asked the general, after a long pause. "Is +your life such a burden to you that you are determined to lose it?" + +"If my head were to fall, it would only be a confirmation of what I +have asserted--that General von Tottleben issues an order, and does +not respect it himself; that while he forbids his soldiers to rob and +steal, under penalty of death, even _he_ commits those very offences." + +The excess of this boldness had the effect upon the general on which +Gotzkowsky had calculated. He had speculated somewhat on the leonine +nature of Tottleben's character. + +The general, instead of annihilating his foolhardy antagonist, found +pleasure in his presumption, and it flattered him that he was esteemed +too magnanimous to revenge himself for a few words of insult. + +"Look here, my friend, you are so outrageously bold that you make me +laugh. For the sake of its rarity, I will hear you out, and try to +remain cool. Speak on, then. Accuse me--but woe to you if I justify +myself! Fail not to prove what you say." + +"The proverb says, 'Small thieves are hung, while great ones go +free,'" replied Gotzkowsky, shrugging his shoulders. "You wish to +prove the truth of this proverb. The soldier who enters the house +for theft and plunder, you condemn; but you acquit the general who +devastates a whole town, and in the arrogance of his victory wishes to +make himself, like Erostratos, immortal by incendiarism and arson." + +"Do not presume too much on my forbearance," interrupted Tottleben, +stretching his arm out threateningly toward the bold speaker. +"Erostratos was a violator of temples." + +"You are not less one!" cried Gotzkowsky; "you mean, with impious +hand, to cast a firebrand into the holy temple of labor. Erostratos +only destroyed the temple of an imaginary deity; but you, sir, are +worse--you wish to destroy factories!" + +"Do you know what that means?" + +"It means to deprive the poor man of the morsel of bread which, by the +sweat of his brow, he has earned for his wife and children! It means +to rob him who possesses nothing but the craft of his hands and his +body, of his only right--the right to work. You are going to destroy +the gold and silver manufactories, to burn the warehouse, to tear down +the brass works in the New Town Eberswald! And why all this? Why +do you intend to leave behind you this memorial of your vandalism? +Because your empress is angry with our king!" + +"Because enemies wish to revenge themselves on enemies," interrupted +the general. + +"Do that!" cried Gotzkowsky, warmly. "Revenge yourself on your enemy, +if you consider the destruction of his property a noble revenge. +Destroy the king's palaces; rob him, if you choose, of his most +ennobling enjoyment! Rob him of his pictures; do like the Saxons, who +yesterday destroyed Charlottenburg. Send your soldiers to my house; +there hang splendid paintings bought by me in Italy by the king's +order. I know that our noble king anticipates much pleasure in +carrying them some day to Sans Souci. But revenge yourself, take these +pictures, set fire to these noble works of art, but spare what belongs +to the poor man!" + +He spoke with noble warmth, with glowing eloquence, and against his +will Tottleben's German heart was touched, and moved him to clemency +and compassion. But he would not listen to it. General Fermore's +dispatches lay before him, and compelled him to be harsh. + +"You think you speak wisely, and yet you talk nothing but impudent +nonsense," said he, with assumed severity. "Who thinks of destroying +the poor man's property? The royal property shall be destroyed, and +nothing else." + +"But the gold and silver manufactories and the warehouse are not the +property of the king," said Gotzkowsky quickly. "Not a penny goes +thence into the king's treasury." + +The general's countenance brightened up considerably. "Not into the +king's treasury?" said he; "where, then, does it go?" + +"The money, your excellency, which is earned at the gold and silver +factories and at the warehouse is devoted to a praiseworthy and +touching purpose. Perhaps you are a father--have children; and when +you go into battle you think of them, and utter a silent prayer, +intrusting them to God's care, and praying that they may not be left +orphans." + +Count Tottleben muttered some untelligible words, and stretched +out his hand deprecatingly. His lips trembled, and to conceal his +agitation he turned away. + +Gotzkowsky cried out joyously: "Oh, I see in your eyes that you are +vainly trying to compel yourself to look at me in anger. Yes, you are +a father. Well, then, father, spare the orphans! From the proceeds +of the gold and silver factories, and the warehouse, the new, large +orphan-house in Potsdam is supported. Oh, you cannot be so cruel as +to deprive the poor children, whom the pitiless war has rendered +fatherless, of their last support, of their last refuge!" + +The general stepped up to him, and grasped his hand. "God be my +witness that I will not! But is this so certainly? Do you speak the +truth?" + +"Yes, it is the truth!" + +"Can you swear to it?" + +"Yes, with the most sacred oath." + +The general paced the room in silence several times, and then, pausing +before Gotzkowsky, laid his hand on his shoulder. "Listen," said he. +"I have often been reproached at home for being too soft and pitiful. +But never mind! I will once more follow my own inclination, and act in +spite of the orders which I have received. You must help me. Put +all that you have just stated down on paper. Write down that these +buildings are not the property of the king, but of the orphan-house. +Swear to it with a sacred oath, and affix your signature and seal. +Will you do this?" + +"Gladly will I do it," cried Gotzkowsky, his face radiant. "Never have +I signed my name with a happier heart than I will have when I sign +it to this affidavit, which will procure for us both the heart-felt +blessings of so many children." + +He stepped to the general's writing-table, and, following his +direction, seated himself and wrote. + +Tottleben in the mean while walked up and down pensively, his arms +folded. His features wore a thoughtful and mild expression. No trace +of the late angry storm was visible. Once he stopped, and murmured +in a low voice: "Orphans one dare not plunder. Elizabeth has a tender +heart, and if she learns the reason of my disobedience, she will be +content. Yes, my course is the right one." + +"I have finished, sir," said Gotzkowsky, standing up and handing him +the paper on which he had written. + +Tottleben read it over carefully, and laid it alongside of the +dispatches to his empress. He then called to his adjutant and ordered +him immediately to place strong safeguards over the gold and silver +manufactories and the warehouse, and to protect these against any +attack. + +Gotzkowsky clasped his hands, and directed his eyes to heaven with +joyful gratitude, and in the deep emotion of his heart he did not +perceive that the general again stood before him, and was looking at +him with inquiring sympathy. His voice first awakened him from his +reverie. "Are you contented now?" asked Tottleben, in a friendly tone. + +"Content, general," said Gotzkowsky, shaking his head, "only belongs +to him who lies in his coffin." + +Again the general's brow grew dark. "What is troubling you now? Don't +hesitate--" + +"To speak on, your excellency?" inquired Gotzkowsky, with a gentle +smile. + +"No--to put yourself in your coffin," answered the other, rudely. + +"I have not time for that, as yet," replied Gotzkowsky, sadly. "Both +of us, general, have still too much to do. You have to add fresh +laurels to your old ones--I have to clear thistles and thorns from the +path of my fellow-men." + +"Ah! there are more thorns, then?" asked Tottleben, as he sank down +into a chair, and regarded Gotzkowsky with evident benevolence. + +"A great many yet, sir," answered Gotzkowsky, sighing. "Our whole body +is bloody from them." + +"Then call on the regimental surgeon to cure you," said Tottleben, +with a coarse laugh. + +"You only can cure us," said Gotzkowsky, seriously, "for only you are +able to inflict such severe wounds. You are not satisfied with having +conquered and humiliated us, but you wish to tread us in the dust, and +make our cheeks, which were pale with sadness, now redden with shame. +You have ordered that the citizens of Berlin should be disarmed. You +are a brave soldier, sir, and honor courage above all things. Now, +let me ask you, how could you bear to exhibit the certificate of your +cowardice? Could you survive it? You look at me in anger--the very +question makes you indignant; and if that is your feeling, why would +you subject the citizens of Berlin to such disgrace? With our weapons +we have fought for our just rights and our liberty. God has willed +it that we should be subdued nevertheless, and that you should be the +conquerors. But methinks it would redound more to your honor to be +the conquerors of honorable men than of cowardly slaves! And when you +require of us, the conquered, that we shall give up our manly +honor, our weapons, you convert us into abject cowards, and deprive +yourselves of all honor in having conquered us. Let us then, sir, keep +our weapons; leave us this one consolation, that on our tombstones +can be inscribed: 'Freedom died, but with arms in her hand!'" and +Gotzkowsky, quite overcome by his painful emotions, leaned back +against the wall, breathless, his imploring looks fixed upon the +general. + +But the latter avoided meeting his eyes, and directed his own darkly +toward the ground. + +Gotzkowsky perceived the indecision, the wavering of the general, and +he felt that he must now risk every thing to overcome his resistance. +"Leave us our weapons. Oh, you are a German! spare your German +brethren." + +Tottleben sprang from his seat as if a venomous snake had stung +him. Dark and terrible were his features, his eyes flashed fire, and +raising his right hand threateningly, he cried out: "You remind me +in an evil hour that I am a German. Germany drove me out to find in a +foreign land the appreciation which my own country refused me! Had I +been a foreigner, Germany would long ago have proclaimed my fame; +but, being the son of the family, the mother drives me out among +strangers--and that they call German good-nature!" and he broke out +into a bitter, scornful laugh. + +"It is but too true," said Gotzkowsky, sadly. "Our mother Germany is +fond of sending her greatest sons out from home on their pilgrimage to +fame. For her great men she has but the cradle and the grave. But show +your unfeeling mother that you are better than she is; prove to her +how unjust she has been. Be magnanimous, and leave us our weapons!" + +"I cannot, by Heaven! I cannot do it," said Tottleben, sadly, in a low +tone. "I must obey the higher authorities above me--the empress and +the commander-in-chief, General Fermore. My orders are very strict, +and I have already yielded too much. It is written in these dispatches +that the arms must be given up." + +"The arms?" said Gotzkowsky, hastily. "Yes, but not _all_ arms. Take +some of them--we have three hundred inferior rifles--take them, sir, +and fulfil the letter of your orders, and save our honor." + +General von Tottleben did not answer immediately. Again he paced the +room, from time to time casting sharp, piercing glances at Gotzkowsky, +whose firmness and animation seemed to please him. He stopped +suddenly, and asked in a voice so low that Gotzkowsky was scarcely +able to distinguish the words--"Do you think the Germans will praise +me, if I do this thing?" + +"All Germany will say, 'He was great in victory, still greater in his +clemency toward the conquered,'" cried Gotzkowsky, warmly. + +The general dropped his head upon his breast in deep meditation. When +he raised it again, there was a pleasant smile upon his face. "Well, +then, I will do it. I will once more remember that I am a German. +Where are the three hundred rifles?" + +"In the armory, sir." + +The general made no reply, but stepped toward his writing-table +hastily. He wrote off a few lines, and then with a loud voice called +his adjutant again to him. As the latter entered, he handed him the +writing. "Let the disarming take place. There are not more than three +hundred muskets. Let the citizens bring them to the Palace Square. +There they will be broken up, and thrown into the river." + +"O general!" cried Gotzkowsky, his countenance radiant with delight, +when the adjutant had left the room, "how I do wish at this moment +that you were a woman!" + +"I a woman!" cried Count Tottleben, laughing, "why should I be a +woman?" + +"That I might kiss your hand. Believe me, I never thanked any man so +truly and sincerely as I now do you! I am so proud to be able to say, +'Berlin is conquered, but not dishonored!'" + +Tottleben bowed amicably toward him. "Now, after this proof of my +generosity, the town will hasten to pay its war-tax, will it not?" +Then seeing the dark cloud which gathered on Gotzkowsky's brow, he +continued with more vehemence, "You are very dilatory in paying. Be +careful how you exhaust my patience." + +"Pray let me know, sir, when it is exhausted," said Gotzkowsky. "It +is cruel to drive an exhausted animal beyond his strength. Do you not +think so?" + +The general nodded his assent in silence. + +"You are of my opinion," cried Gotzkowsky. "Well, then, you will be +just, and not exact of this exhausted city, wearied unto death, more +than she can perform." + +With glowing words and persuasive eloquence he explained to the +general how impossible it was for the city to pay the demanded war +contribution of four millions. + +Tottleben let himself again be persuaded. In the presence of this +ardent, eloquent German patriot, his German heart resumed its power, +and compelled him to mercy and charitableness. He consented to reduce +the tax to two millions of dollars, if Gotzkowsky would guarantee the +punctual payment of the bonds given by the body of merchants, and +give two hundred thousand of it in cash down, as hush-money to the +Austrians. + +The latter declared himself gladly willing to accept the orders, and +to stand security with his whole fortune for their payment. Both then +remained silent, as if fatigued by the long and severe war of words, +from which Gotzkowsky had always come out victorious. + +The general stood at the window, looking into the street. Perhaps +he was waiting for Gotzkowsky to give vent to his warm and delighted +gratitude before he took leave. But Gotzkowsky did neither the one +nor the other. He remained with folded arms, his countenance full of +earnest courage and bold determination. + +"I will finish what I have commenced," said he to himself. "I will +keep my word, and not move from the spot before I have pleaded for all +those to whom I promised my assistance. The general is at liberty to +curse my importunity, if I only do my duty toward my fellow-citizens." +As he still remained silent, Tottleben turned toward him laughingly. + +"What," said he, "are you dumb? Is your eloquence exhausted? Indeed, +when I think of all that you have got out of me to-day, it almost +makes me smile." And he broke out into a merry, good-natured laugh. + +"Well, laugh, sir," said Gotzkowsky, "I know you are fond of a laugh. +For example, you have just played a little joke on the Jews, and made +them believe that they have to pay an imposition--" + +"Made believe?" interrupted Tottleben, hastily. "Man! be satisfied +that I have remitted two millions to the citizens. Don't speak up now +for the Jews." + +"But the Jews are a part of the citizens." + +"Are you crazy, man?" cried Tottleben, violently. "Is the Jew a +citizen with you?" + +"Yes," answered Gotzkowsky, "as far as paying goes. The Jew is obliged +honestly to contribute his proportion of the war-tax. How can you, +with any semblance of justice, require of him another further tax, +when he has already, in common with us, given up all he possesses?" + +"Sir," cried Tottleben, with suppressed vexation "this is enough, and +more than enough!" + +"No," said Gotzkowsky, smiling. "It is too much. The Jews are not able +to pay it--" + +"I will remit their contribution," cried the general, stamping +violently on the floor, "to please you--just to get rid of you--but +now--" + +"But now," interrupted Gotzkowsky, insinuatingly, "one more favor." + +The general stepped back astounded, and looked at Gotzkowsky with a +species of comical terror. "Do you know that I am almost afraid of +you, and will thank God when you are gone?" + +"Then you think of me as the whole town of Berlin thinks of you," said +Gotzkowsky. + +The general laughed. "Your impudence is astonishing. Well, quick, what +is your last request?" + +"They are preparing at the New Market a rare and unheard-of +spectacle--a spectacle, general, as yet unknown in Germany. You have +brought it with you from Russia. You are going to make two men run the +gantlet of rods--not two soldiers convicted of crime, but two writers, +who have only sinned in spirit against you, who have only exercised +the free and highest right of man--_the right to say what they think_. +You are going to have two newspaper writers scourged, because they +drew their quills against you. Is not that taking a barbarous revenge +for a small offence?" + +"A small offence," cried the general, whose countenance had resumed +its dark, fierce expression. "Come, that's enough. Stop, if you do not +wish me to take back all that I have granted you. Do you call that a +small offence? Why, sir, the editor of _Spener's Journal_ called me +an adventurer, a renegade. Ah! he at least shall feel that I have the +power of punishing." + +"Why," said Gotzkowsky calmly, "that would only prove to him that he +had hit you on a tender spot." + +"And the scribbler of the _Vossian Gazette_, did he not venture even +to attack my gracious empress?" continued Tottleben, perfectly carried +away by his indignation. "He wrote a conversation between peasants, +and in it he made fun of the empress. He even went so far as to make +his own king join in the dirty talk, in the character of a peasant. +Sir, I am very much surprised that you should defend a man who carries +his impudence so far as to canvass and scandalize the conduct of his +own king in such a disrespectful and audacious manner." + +"The king is great enough to be able to bear this calumny of little +minds. Whosoever is truly great, is not afraid of free speaking nor of +calumny. Have you never heard the story of how the king was riding by, +where the people were collected at the corner of a street, stretching +out their necks to read a pasquinade which had been hung on the wall, +and was directed against the king himself? The king reigned in his +horse, and read the hand-bill. The people stood in silent terror, for +the paper contained a sharp abuse of the king, and a libel on him in +verse. What does your excellency think the king did when he had read +this most treasonable placard?" + +"He had the mob cut it down, as it deserved to be, and the author +strung up on the gallows," cried Tottleben. + +"Not at all, sir," replied Gotzkowsky. "He said, 'Let the paper be +hung lower; the people can't see to read it up so high.' He then +saluted the crowd, and rode off, laughing." + +"Did the _great Fritz_ do that?" said Tottleben, unconsciously using +the epithet which the Prussian people had applied to their king. + +"He did it _because_ he is great," replied Gotzkowsky. + +"Strange, hard to believe," muttered the general, folding his arms, +and striding up and down. After a pause, Gotzkowsky inquired, "Would +you not like to emulate the great king, general?" + +Count Tottleben awoke from his reverie. Approaching Gotzkowsky, he +laid his hand upon his shoulder; his expression was indescribably mild +and gentle, and a melancholy smile played around his lips. "Hark'ee, I +believe it would do me good if we could be always together. Come with +me. Settle in Russia. The empress has heard of you, and I know that +she would be rejoiced if you came to Petersburg. Do it. You can make +a large fortune there. The empress's favor will elevate you, and she +will not let you want for orders or a title." + +Gotzkowsky could hardly suppress a smile of contempt. "Orders for me! +A title! What would I do with them? Sir, I am more powerful than all +your counts, for the greatness of the nobility lies in the past, in +mouldering ancestors; but the greatness of the manufacturer lies in +the future, and the future belongs to industry. I founded the first +large factories here in Berlin, and the manufacturers who come after +me can call me their ancestor. No other nobility do I desire, count." + +"You would then be capable of refusing a count's title?" asked +Tottleben, in astonishment. + +Gotzkowsky shrugged his shoulders. "If I had wished for nobility I +could long ago have bought a countship of the holy German empire, for +such things are for sale, and thirty thousand ducats is the +highest price for a count's title; and as for the orders, my own +ribbon-factory turns out the ribbons for them." + +General Tottleben looked at him for a long time in mild astonishment. +"You are a wonderful man, and I wish I were like you. If I had thought +as you do, my life would have been a less stormy one, and less tossed +by care and restlessness. I would have--" + +The general was interrupted by the hasty entrance of the adjutant. +He was the bearer of dispatches brought by a courier who had just +arrived. The courier, he said, had ridden so hard, that his horse had +fallen dead on his arrival. + +Tottleben tore open the dispatches and read them rapidly. His +countenance immediately lost its former expression of mildness and +gentleness. His German heart was silenced by the will of the Russian +general. + +He seemed to forget Gotzkowsky's presence, and turning to his +adjutant, with proud military bearing, he said: "These dispatches +contain important and surprising information. They announce that the +Prussian army is drawing on in forced marches, with the king at +its head. We cannot give him battle here, and must, in consequence, +arrange for a rapid retreat from Berlin. Call all the generals and +staff-officers together. Let the alarm be sounded. In three hours +the whole army must have left the city. And, further, summon the Town +Council to the New Market, that we may take our leave, for we must not +leave Berlin as fugitives, but as conquerors, who are proceeding on +their march." + +"And the poor editors who are to be flogged?" asked Gotzkowsky, when +the adjutant had left. + +The general smiled, as he took Gotzkowsky amicably by the hand. +"We will hang them a little lower," said he, significantly. "Come, +accompany us to the market-place!" + +NOTE.--Count von Tottleben expiated his clemency toward Berlin very +dearly. A few months later he was sent to Petersburg under arrest, +accused principally of having behaved too leniently and too much in +the German interest for a Russian general. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE EXECUTION. + + +The morning was cold and rainy, the wind howled down the empty +streets, rattling the windows, and slamming the open house-doors. +Surely the weather was but little suited for going out, and yet the +Berlin citizens were to be seen flocking toward the New Market in +crowds, regardless of wind and rain. + +The Berliners have, from time immemorial, been an inquisitive race, +and where any thing is to be seen, there they rush. But this day there +was to be a rare spectacle at the New Market. + +The editors of the two newspapers were to run the gantlet; and +besides, General von Tottleben had summoned the Town Council and Jews +thither, to receive his last orders and resolutions before he left +Berlin. People were, therefore, very much excited, and curious to +witness this double show, and in their eagerness they forgave the +hostile general, who had prepared such a delightful entertainment for +them, all the terrors of the last few days. Two gentlemen--two learned +men--were to be flogged. That was, indeed, a precious and delightful +sight for cold, hungry, ragged poverty, which always takes delight in +seeing those whom fortune has favored, suffer and smart. + +How often had these shoemakers and tailors worried and fretted +themselves over their pot of beer, that the newspaper writers should +have had the hardihood and stupidity to write so violently against the +Russians, without taking into account that the Russians would one day +occupy Berlin, and take revenge on its innocent citizens! It served +these newspaper writers quite right that they should be punished for +their arrogance. And, besides, the good people would see the Russian +general and his staff, and the grand Town Council and the chief +magistrate, who, in his golden chain and his robes of office, was to +hand over to the hostile general a present of ten thousand ducats. +The Berliners were, therefore, quite happy, and delighted to hear the +hollow sound of the drum, and the Russian word of command. + +A regiment of Russian soldiers marched past the corner of the Bishop +Street, toward the market-place. They ranged themselves in two long +lines, leaving a lane between them, just wide enough for a man to pass +through. Then came two provost-marshals, and walked slowly down the +lane, delivering to each soldier one of the long slender rods they +carried under their arms. + +The Russian soldiers were now armed, and awaited the victims they were +to chastise. These were dragged out of the guard-house. First came +tottering the gray-headed Mr. Krause, slowly and sadly; then came Mr. +Kretschmer, formerly the brave, undaunted hero of the quill--now a +poor, trembling, crushed piece of humanity. They stood in the middle +of the square, and, bewildered with terror, their help-imploring looks +swept over the gaping, silent multitude, who gazed at them with eager +countenances and malicious joy, and would have been outrageously +mad if they had been denied the enjoyment of seeing two of their +brother-citizens scourged by the enemy's soldiers. + +"I cannot believe it!" whimpered Mr. Krause; "it is impossible that +this is meant in earnest. They cannot intend to execute so cruel a +sentence. What would the world, what would mankind say, if two writers +were scourged for the articles they had written? Will the town of +Berlin suffer it? Will no one take pity on our distress?" + +"No one," said Mr. Kretschmer, mournfully. "Look at the crowd which is +staring at us with pitiless curiosity. They would sooner have pity on +a murderer than on a writer who is going to be flogged. The whole town +has enjoyed and laughed over our articles, and now there is not one +who would dare to beg for us." + +At this moment another solemn procession came down the Bishop Street +toward the square. This was the Town Council of Berlin. Foremost came +the chief burgomaster Von Kircheisen, who had recovered his speech and +his mind, and was memorizing the well-set speech in which he was +to offer to the general the thanks of the town and the ten thousand +ducats, which a page bore alongside of him on a silken pillow. + +Behind the Council tottered trembling and broken-hearted the elders of +the Jews, including those of the mint, in order to receive their final +condemnation or release from General Tottleben. + +The people took no notice of the Council or of the Jews. They were +busy staring with cruel delight at the journalists, who were being +stripped by the provost-marshals of their outer clothing, and prepared +for the bloody exhibition. With a species of barbarous pleasure they +listened to the loud wailing of the trembling, weeping Krause, who was +wringing his hands and imploring the Russian officer who had charge of +the execution, for pity, for mercy. + +The Russian officer was touched by the tears of sorrow of the editor; +he did have pity on the gray hairs and bowed form of the old man, or +perhaps he only acted on instructions received from General Tottleben. +He motioned to the provosts to lead the other editor to the lane +first, and to spare Mr. Krause until Mr. Kretschmer had been +chastised. The provost seized hold of Mr. Kretschmer and dragged him +to the terrible lane; they pushed him in between the rows of soldiers, +who, with rude laughter, were flourishing the rods in their hands. + +Already the first, the second, the third blow has fallen on the back +of the editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, when suddenly there sounds +a powerful "Halt!" and General Count von Tottleben appears, with +Gotzkowsky at his side, and followed by his brilliant staff. + +With a wild scream Kretschmer tears himself loose from the hands of +the provost-marshals, and rushes toward the general, crying out aloud; +Mr. Krause awakens from his heavy, despairing brooding, and both +editors sink down before the Russian general. + +With a mischievous smile, Tottleben looked at Mr. Kretschmer's +bleeding back, and asked, "Who are you?" + +"I am the _Vossian Gazette_" whined out Mr. Kretschmer, "whom you have +accused of such cruel things. Ah! we have suffered great injustice, +and we have been represented as worse than we really are. Oh, believe +me, your excellency, I have been belied. I never hated Russia!" + +"You are both of you accused of libel," said Tottleben, sternly. + +"If we are guilty of libel, it is without our knowledge," said Mr. +Krause. "Besides, we are very willing to recall every thing. I confess +we were in error. We did not know you and your army, and we spoke +ignorantly, as the blind man does about colors. Now we are better able +to judge. You are the noblest among noble men, and finer soldiers than +the Russians, and a chaster woman than the Empress Elizabeth, are not +to be found anywhere. Oh, yes, your excellency, _Spener's Journal_ is +ready to eat its words. Only don't let me be flogged, sir, and I will +sing your praises everlastingly, and proclaim to all the world that +the Prussian has no better friend than the Russian, and that God has +ordained them to be brothers." + +"Only don't let us be flogged," implored Mr. Kretschmer, rubbing his +sore back, "I promise your excellency that the _Vossian Gazette_ +shall be as tame as a new-born infant. It shall never indulge in bold, +outspoken language; never have any decided color. I swear for myself +and my heirs, that we will draw its fangs. Have, therefore, mercy on +us!" + +The general turned away with a smile of contempt. "Enough, gentlemen," +said he, roughly, and laying his hand on Gotzkowsky's shoulder, he +continued: "I pardon you, not in consequence of your idle talk, but +for the sake of this noble gentleman, who has begged for you. You +are free, sirs!" As the two editors were about to break out into +expressions of gratefulness, Tottleben said to them, "It is Gotzkowsky +alone that you have to thank for your liberty." + +They threw themselves into Gotzkowsky's arms; with solemn oaths they +vowed him eternal, inviolable gratitude; they called him their savior, +their liberator from shame and disgrace. + +Gotzkowsky smiled at their glowing protestations of friendship, and +withdrew himself gently from their ardent embraces. "I did not do it +for the sake of your thanks, and personally you owe me therefore no +gratitude." + +"Gotzkowsky, have you entirely forgotten us?" said a plaintive voice +near him. It was Itzig, one of the rich Jews of the mint, to whom +Gotzkowsky had promised assistance. + +"Ask the general," said the latter, smiling. + +"He has spoken for you, and his intercession has freed you from the +special tax," said Count Tottleben. + +"He has saved us, the great Gotzkowsky has had pity on our +wretchedness," cried the Jews, crowding around Gotzkowsky to press his +hand, to embrace him, and with tears of grateful emotion to promise +him their unalterable attachment. + +"You have saved my life," said Itzig, "for I had determined to die +rather than pay any more money. For what is life to me without money? +If the Jew has not money, he is nobody. In saving my money you saved +my life. If ever you should be without money, Gotzkowsky, come to me; +I will lend you some at very low interest." + +"I will lend it to you gratis," said Ephraim, pressing his hand +affectionately in his own. + +Gotzkowsky answered sadly: "If it ever came to pass that I were +obliged to borrow, you would not remember this day, and I would not be +the man to remind you of it." + +"Remind us of it," protested Ephraim, "and you shall see that we +keep our word. Come to us and say, 'Remember the tax that I freed you +from,' and you shall see all that you desire shall be fulfilled." + +"God grant that I may never have need to remind you of it!" said +Gotzkowsky, pressing back the excited Jews, and approaching General +Tottleben. + +"You forget, sir, that you summoned the honorable Council of Berlin +hither, and that these gentlemen are awaiting your orders." + +The general seemed to awaken out of a deep reverie. "Yes," said he, +as if to himself, "the German dream is finished, and now I must be a +Russian again." He then turned quickly to Gotzkowsky and offered him +his hand. "Gotzkowsky," said he, gently and persuasively, "consider it +once more--come with me and be my teacher." + +"What I can teach you is but little. It is an easy lesson for him who +has a heart, an impossible one for him who has none. Learn to love +mankind. That is all my wisdom, and my farewell." + +The general sighed. "You will not go with me? Well, then, farewell!" +And as if to disperse the painful and bitter feelings which assailed +his German heart, he turned away and called, in Russian, to his +adjutant: "Let us break up, gentlemen. To horse, to horse!" + +But in the midst of the confusion of the soldiers, and the tramping +of horses, the chief burgomaster made a way for himself. He had to +sustain the honor of the Council, and pronounce the beautifully worded +oration which had cost him two sleepless nights to compose; he had to +place in the hands of the general the offering of Berlin gratitude. + +At last he succeeded in reaching the general, and he began his speech. +Full and powerful did his voice sound through the New Market, and the +delighted people rejoiced over the oratorical talent of their chief +magistrate, and gazed with pride and admiration at his golden chain +of office--that chain which had gone through so much, had endured so +much, without growing pale or dim. + +But General Tottleben did not accept the present which the city of +Berlin offered him. He said: "If the town believed that its fate was +rendered more tolerable by my discipline than it otherwise would have +been, let it thank the express orders of my empress. The honor of +having been commander of Berlin for three days is sufficient reward +for me." + +Three hours later Berlin was freed from Russians and Austrians. +Gotzkowsky, who had finally succeeded in freeing himself from the +tumultuous expressions of gratitude of the Council, the editors, and +the Jews, returned to his home, of which he himself says: "My house +resembled more a cow-house than a dwelling, having been filled for a +while, night and day, with Russians." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BRIDE AND DAUGHTER. + + +At the mere announcement of the approach of the king toward Berlin, +the Russian army had left the city and withdrawn to Frankfort. But no +inconsiderable number of officers had stayed behind; some of them +to organize the withdrawal of the troops, while others, detained by +personal affairs, had merely obtained short leave of absence. To the +latter belonged Colonel Feodor von Brenda. General Bachmann had given +him two days' leave, under the impression that he would avail himself +of the time to enjoy, undisturbed, the society of his bride, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir. + +The general knew nothing of the difference between the colonel and +his betrothed. He did not know that, according to her agreement with +Bertram, Lodoiska had not informed Feodor of her arrival in Berlin. +But, nevertheless, Feeder had heard of it. The countess's own +chambermaid, knowing the liberality of the young count, had gone to +him, and for a golden bribe had betrayed to him her presence, and +communicated all that she knew of her plans and intentions. + +This news detained the colonel in Berlin. The unexpected arrival of +his affianced pressed upon him the necessity of a decision, for he was +aware of the impossibility of tearing asunder the firm and heart-felt +bond which attached him to Elise, to unite himself to a wife to whom +he was only engaged by a given promise, a pledged word. + +Feodor would probably have given up his whole fortune to pay a debt of +honor; would have unhesitatingly thrown his life into the scale if it +had been necessary to redeem his word. But he was not ashamed to break +the vow of fidelity which he had made to a woman, and to desert her to +whom he had promised eternal love. Besides, his pride was wounded by +the advent of the countess, which appeared to him as a restraint on +his liberty and an espionage on his actions. + +She had concealed her arrival from him, and he consequently concluded +that she was acquainted with his faithlessness, and nursed some plan +of removing the obstacles which lay between her and her lover. His +pride was irritated by the thought that he should be compelled to +maintain an engagement which he could no longer fulfil from love, but +only from a sense of duty. Such a restraint on his free will seemed +to him an unparalleled hardship. He felt a burning hatred toward the +woman who thus forcibly insisted on fastening herself upon him, and +an equally ardent love toward the young girl of whom they wished to +deprive him. + +Doubly charming and desirable did this young, innocent, lovely girl +appear to him when he compared her with the mature, self-possessed, +worldly woman of whom he could only hope that he might be her last +love, while he knew that he was Elise's first. + +"If I must positively be chained, and my hands bound," said he to +himself, "let it be at least with this fresh young girl, who can +conceal the thorny crown of wedlock under freshly-blown rosebuds. My +heart has nothing more to do with this old love; it has grown young +again under the influence of new feelings, and I will not let this +youthfulness be destroyed by the icy-cold smiles of duty. Elise has +promised to be mine, and she must redeem her promise." + +Still full of the passionate and defiant thoughts which the vicinity +of his affianced bride had provoked, he had gone out to seek Elise. +But to find her had become not only difficult, but almost impossible. + +Bertram, who had not thought fit to reveal to Gotzkowsky the forcible +abduction of his daughter, had yet quietly arranged his precautions +that a repetition of the attempt from any quarter, or at any time, +should be impossible. + +Under the pretence that the withdrawal of the troops rendered the +city unsafe, and filled it with marauders and plundering stragglers, +Bertram, secure of Gotzkowsky's approval beforehand, had armed a +number of the factory workmen, and placed them as sentinels on the +wall, in the court, and on the ground-floor. These had orders not to +let any one enter who was not able to tell the object and purpose of +his coming. By this precaution Bertram prevented any attempt of Feodor +to climb the wall; and, furthermore he obtained the advantage that +Elise, to whom the presence of the sentinels was unpleasant and +objectionable, not only did not visit the dangerous, solitary parts of +the garden, but withdrew into her own room. In this manner Bertram had +rendered any meeting between Feodor and Elise impossible, but he could +not prevent his servant, Petrowitsch, from meeting his sweetheart, +Elise's chambermaid, on the street. + +By means of these a letter of Feodor reached Elise's hand. In this +Feodor reminded her solemnly and earnestly of her promise; he now +called upon her to fulfil her vow, and to follow him from the house of +her father. He adjured her to unite herself to him at the altar as his +wife, and to give him the right to carry her abroad with him as his +own. + +Elise received this letter of her beloved, and her heart during +its perusal was moved by unfamiliar emotions. She could not herself +determine whether it was joy or dread which caused it to beat so +convulsively, and almost deprived her of consciousness. She could +have screamed aloud with joy, that at last she would be united to her +lover, wholly, sacredly as his own; and yet she was filled with deep +grief that the path to the altar would not be hallowed by her father's +blessing. Even love, which spoke so loudly and powerfully in her +heart, could not silence the warning voice of conscience--that voice +which again and again threatened her with sin and sorrow, disgrace and +shame. Yet Elise, in the warmth and passion of her heart, sought to +excuse herself, and in the pride of her wounded filial love said to +herself: "My father does not regard me; he will not weep for my loss, +for I am superfluous here, and he will hardly perceive that I am gone. +He has his millions and his friends, and the whole multitude of those +to whom he does good. He is so rich--he has much on which his heart +hangs! But I am quite poor; I have nothing but the heart of my +beloved. His love is my only possession. Would it not be wicked in me +to cast this away, and lead here a lonesome, desolate life, without +pity or sympathy? If my father loved me, would he have left me during +these days so full of danger? After the terrible scene in which I, +in the desperation of my heart, offended him, he would at least have +given me some opportunity of asking his pardon, of begging him for +forbearance and pity. But he seems purposely to have secluded himself, +and avoided any meeting with me. He has shut me out from his heart, +and withdrawn his love from me forever. And so I am forced to carry +my heart full of boundless affection over to my lover. He will never +repulse, neglect, or forget me; he will adore me, and I will be his +most cherished possession." + +As these thoughts passed through her mind, she pressed his note to +her lips, each word seeming to greet her, and with Feodor's imploring +looks to entreat her to fulfil the vow she had made him. There was +no longer any hesitation or wavering in her, for she had come to a +determined resolution, and with glowing cheeks and panting breast she +hastened to the writing-table, in order to clothe it in words, and +answer Feodor's note. + +"You remind me of my pledged word," she wrote. "I am ready to redeem +it. Come, then, and lead me from my father's house to the altar, and I +will be your wife; and wherever you go I will be with you. Hence-forth +I will have no other home than your heart. But while I cheerfully +elect this home, at the same time I am shutting myself out from my +father's heart forever. May God forgive the sins that love causes me +to commit!" + +But when this note had been sent, when she knew that her lover had +received it, and that her decision was irrevocable, she was seized +with trembling faintness, with the oppression of conscious guilt; and +it seemed to her as if a new spring of love had suddenly burst forth +in her heart, and as if she had never loved her father so sincerely, +so devotedly, so tenderly, as now that she was on the point of leaving +him. + +But it was too late to draw back; for in the mean, time she had +received a second letter from Feodor, imparting the details of a plan +for their joint flight, and she had approved of this plan. + +Every thing was prepared, and all that she had to do was to remain +in her room, and await the concerted signal with which Feodor was to +summon her. + +As soon as she heard this signal she was to leave the house with her +maid, who had determined to accompany her, come out into the street, +where Feodor would be in waiting with his carriage, and drive in the +first place to the church. There a priest, heavily bribed, would meet +them, and, with the blessing of the Church, justify Feodor in carrying +his young wife out into the world, and Elise in "leaving father and +home, and clinging only unto her husband." + +Some hours were yet wanting to the appointed time. Elise, condemned to +the idleness of waiting, experienced all the anxiety and pains which +the expectation of the decisive moment usually carries with it. + +With painful desire she thought of her father, and, although she +repeated to herself that he would not miss her, that her absence +would not be noticed, yet her excited imagination kept painting to +her melancholy fancy, pictures of his astonishment, his anxiety, his +painful search after her. + +She seemed, for the first time, to remember that she was about to +leave him, without having been reconciled to him; that she was to part +from him forever, without having begged his forgiveness, without even +having felt his fatherly kiss on her brow. At least she would write to +him, at least send him one loving word of farewell. This determination +she now carried out, and poured out all her love, her suffering, her +suppressed tenderness, the reproaches of her conscience, in burning +and eloquent words, on the paper which she offered to her father as +the olive-branch of peace. + +When she had written this letter, she folded it, and hid it carefully +in her bosom, in order to carry it unnoticed to her father's room. He +would not be there--for two days he had not been at home; she could, +therefore, venture to go there without fear of meeting him. She felt +as if she would not be able to bear his gaze--the full, bright look of +his eye. + +Carefully and softly, with the secret fear of meeting Bertram, whose +sad, reproachful looks she dreaded even more, perhaps, than the eye +of her father, she crept along the corridor, and finally reached the +antechamber, breathing more freely, and glad to have met no one. Every +thing here was quiet and silent; her father, therefore, had not yet +returned, and she was quite safe from any surprise by him. + +She now entered his private room, and crossing this, was in the act of +opening the desk of his writing-table in order to deposit the letter +therein, when she heard the door of the antechamber open. It was too +late for flight, and she had only time to conceal the letter in her +bosom, when the door of the room itself was opened. + +It was her father who now entered the apartment. Speechless and +motionless they both stood, confounded at this unexpected meeting, +each waiting for a word of greeting of reconciliation from the other. +But however earnestly their hearts yearned toward each other, their +lips remained silent, and their looks avoided one another. + +"She shuns me. This is my reception after so many toilsome days of +absence," thought Gotzkowsky, and his heart was full of sadness and +sorrow. + +"He will not look at me, his eye avoids me, he has not yet forgiven +me," thought Elise, as she regarded her father's pale, care-worn +countenance. "No, he does not wish to see me. For the last time, +therefore, I will show him obedience, and leave the room." Sadly and +softly, with her looks cast on the ground, she took her way to the +door on the opposite side. + +Gotzkowsky followed her with his eyes. If she had only ventured to +raise her looks once more to him, she would have perceived all his +love, all the forgiving affection of a father, in his face. But she +did not, and Gotzkowsky said to himself, in the bitterness of his +heart, "Why should I speak to her?--she would only misunderstand me. I +will lie down and sleep, to forget my cares and my sorrows. I will not +speak to her, for I am exhausted, and tired to death. I must have rest +and composure, to be able to come to an understanding with her." + +And yet he regarded her with longing looks as she directed her sad +steps toward the door. Now she stands on the threshold; now her +trembling hand clasps the bright handle of the lock, but still she +hesitates to open it; she still hopes for a word, if even an angry +one, from her father. + +And now she hears it. Like an angel's voice does it sound in her +ear. He calls her name, he reaches his hand out to her, and says with +infinite, touching gentleness, "Give me your hand, Elise. Come here to +me, my child--it is so long since I have seen you!" + +She turned to him, and yet she dared not look upon him. Seizing his +offered hand, she pressed it to her lips. "And do you remember that +you have been so long absent? You have not then forgotten me?" + +"Forgot you!" cried her father tenderly; and then immediately, as if +ashamed of this outburst of fatherly love, he added calmly and almost +sternly--"I have much to talk with you, Elise. You have accused me." + +Elise interrupted him with anxious haste: "I was beside myself," said +she, confused and bashfully. "Forgive me, my father; passion made me +unjust." + +"No, it only developed what lay hidden in your heart," said +Gotzkowsky; and the recollection of that unhappy hour roughened his +voice, and filled his heart with sadness. "For the first time, you +were candid with me. I may have been guilty of it all, but still it +hurts!" For a moment he was silent, and sank his head on his breast, +completely overpowered by painful reminiscences. + +Elise answered nothing, but the sight of his pale and visibly +exhausted countenance moved her to tears. + +When Gotzkowsky raised his head again, his face had resumed its usual +determination and energy. "We will talk over these things another +time," said he seriously. "Only this one thing, remember. I will not +restrain you in any way, and I have never done so. You are mistress +of every thing that belongs to me except my honor. This I myself must +keep unsullied. As a German gentleman I cannot bring the dishonor upon +me of seeing my daughter unite herself to the enemy of my country--to +a Russian. Choose some German man: whoever he may he, I will welcome +him whom you love as my son, and renounce the wishes and plans I have +so long entertained. But never will I give my consent to the union of +my only child with a Russian." + +While he spoke the expression of the countenance of both changed +surprisingly. Both evinced determination, defiance, and anger, and the +charm which love had laid for a moment on their antagonistic souls was +destroyed. Gotzkowsky was no longer the tender father, easily appeased +by a word, but the patriot injured in his holiest right, his most +delicate sense of honor. Elise was no longer the humble, penitent +daughter, but a bride threatened with the loss of her lover. + +"You would, then, never give your consent?" asked she, passionately. +"But if this war were ended, if Russia were no longer the enemy of +Germany; if--" + +"Russia remains ever the enemy of Germany, even if she does not appear +against her in the open field. It is the antagonism of despotic power +against culture and civilization. Never can the free German be the +friend of the barbarous Sclavonian. Let us hear nothing more of +this--you know my mind; I cannot change it, even if you should, +for that reason, doubt my love. True love does not consist only in +granting, but still more in denying." + +Elise stood with bowed head, and murmured some low, unintelligible +words. Gotzkowsky felt that it would be better for both to break off +this conversation before it had reached a point of bitterness and +irritation. At the same time he felt that, after so much excitement, +his body needed rest. He, therefore, approached his daughter and +extended his hand toward her for a friendly farewell. Elise seized +it, and pressed it with passionate feeling to her lips. He then turned +round and traversed the room on the way to his bedchamber. + +Elise looked after him with painful longing, which increased with +each step he took. As he was in the act of leaving the room she rushed +after him, and uttered in a tone of gentle pleading, the single word, +"Father!" + +Gotzkowsky felt the innermost chord of his heart touched. He turned +round and opened his arms to her. With a loud cry of joy she threw +herself on his breast, and rested there for a moment in happy, +self-forgetting delight. They looked at one another, and smilingly +bade each other good-by. Again Gotzkowsky turned his steps toward his +bedroom. And now he was gone; she saw him no more. Father and daughter +were separated. + +But Elise felt an unutterable grief in her heart, a boundless terror +seized her. It seemed as if she could not leave her father; as if it +would be a disgrace for her, so secretly, like a criminal, to sneak +out of her father's house, were it even to follow her lover to the +altar. She felt as if she must call her father back, cling to his +knees, and implore him to save her, to save her from her own desires. +Already had she opened her lips, and stretched forth her arms, when +she suddenly let them fall, with a shudder. + +She had heard the loud rolling of a carriage, and she knew what it +meant. This carriage which stopped at her door--could it be the one in +which Feodor had come to take her? "It is too late--I cannot go back," +muttered she low, and with drooping head she slowly left her father's +room in order to repair to her own chamber. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE RIVALS. + + +Elise, immediately on reaching her room, hurried to the window and +looked into the street, already darkened by the shades of evening. She +was not mistaken--a carriage stood at the door; but to her surprise, +she did not perceive the signal agreed on, she did not hear the +post-horn blow the Russian air, "Lovely Minka, I must leave thee." Nor +was it the appointed hour; neither did her chambermaid, who waited in +the lower story, come to seek her. She still stood at the window, +and involuntarily she felt herself worried by this equipage. A sharp +knocking at the door was heard. Before she had time to come to any +determination, it was hastily opened, and Bertram entered with a lady, +deeply veiled, on his arm. + +"Bertram!" cried Elise, drawing back shyly. "What do you wish here?" + +"What do I wish here?" answered Bertram, earnestly. "I come to ask a +favor of my sister. I have promised this lady that she shall see and +speak with you. Will my sister fulfil her brother's promise?" + +"What does the lady wish with me?" asked Elise, casting a timid look +toward the mysterious veiled figure. + +"She will herself tell you. She requested me, with tears, to bring her +to Elise Gotzkowsky, for, she assured me, the happiness of her life +depended on it." + +Elise felt an icy shudder run through her. She laid her hand on her +heart, as if to protect it against the terrible danger which she felt +threatened her, and with trembling lip she repeated, "What does the +lady wish with me?" + +Bertram did not answer her, but letting go the arm of the unknown, +he bowed low. "Countess," said he, "this is Mademoiselle Elise +Gotzkowsky. I have fulfilled my promise: allow me now to leave you, +and may God impart convincing power to your words!" + +He greeted the ladies respectfully, and left the room quickly. The +two ladies were now alone together. A pause ensued. Both trembled, and +neither ventured to break the silence. + +"You desired to speak to me," said Elise, finally, in a low, languid +voice. "May I now beg of you--" + +The lady threw back her veil, and allowed Elise to see a handsome +countenance, moistened with tears. "It is I who have to beg," said +she, with a touching foreign accent, while seizing Elise's hand, she +pressed it warmly to her breast. "Forgive me; since I have seen you, +I have forgotten what I had to say. At sight of you, all my words, and +even my anger have left me. You are very beautiful. Be as noble as +you are beautiful. My fate lies in your hands. You can restore me to +happiness." + +"God alone can do that," said Elise, solemnly. + +"At this moment you are the divinity who has the disposal of my fate. +You alone can restore me to happiness, for you have deprived me of +it--yes, you, so young, so handsome, and apparently so innocent. You +are the murderess of my happiness." Her eyes sparkled, and a bright +blush suffused her hitherto pale cheeks. "Yes," cried she, with a +triumphant laugh, "now I am myself again. My hesitation has vanished, +and anger is again supreme. I am once more the lioness, and ready to +defend the happiness of my life." + +Elise drew herself up, and she, too, felt a change in her heart. With +the instinct of love, she felt that this handsome woman who stood +opposite to her was her rival, her enemy with whom she had to struggle +for her most precious property. Passion filled her whole being, and +she vowed to herself not to yield a single step to this proud beauty. +With an expression of unspeakable disdain, she fixed her eyes upon +the countess. Their flashing looks crossed each other like the bright +blades of two combatants in a duel. + +"I do not understand you," said Elise, with angry coldness. "You must +speak more plainly, if you wish to be understood." + +"You do not wish to understand me," cried the countess. "You wish to +avoid me, but I will not let you. I have suffered so much that I will +not suffer any longer. We stand here opposite each other as two women +engaged in a combat for life and death." + +Elise suppressed the cry of pain which rose in her breast, and +compelled herself to assume a proud and impassible composure. "I still +do not understand you, nor do I desire to contend with an unknown +person. But if you will not leave my room, you will allow me to do +so." + +She turned to go, but the countess seized her hand, and held her back. +"No! you cannot go!" cried she, passionately. "You cannot go, for +I know that you are going to him, to him whom I love, and I come to +demand this man of you." + +These half-threatening, half-commanding words, at last drove Elise +from the assumed tranquillity she had maintained with so much +difficulty. "I know not of whom you speak," cried she, in a loud +voice. + +But the countess was tired of dealing in these half-concealed +meanings, these mysterious allusions. "You know of whom I speak," +cried she, vehemently. "You know that I have come to demand the +restoration of my holiest possession, the heart of my beloved. Oh! +give him back to me, give me back my betrothed, for he belongs to me, +and cannot be another's. Let my tears persuade you. You are young, +rich, handsome; you have every thing that makes life happy. I have +nothing but him. Leave him to me." + +Elise felt furious. Like a tigress, she could have strangled this +woman, who came to destroy her happiness. A wild, angry laugh rang +from her lips: "You say that you love him," exclaimed she. "Well, +then, go to him and ask him for his heart. Why do you demand it of +_me_? Win it from him, if you can." + +"In order to be able to win it, you must first release him from the +fetters with which you have bound him." + +An angry flush overspread Elise's pale face. "You become insulting," +she said. + +The countess paid no attention to these words, but continued still +more vehemently: "Make him free. Loose the bands which fetter him, and +then, I am sure, he will return to me and be mine again." + +Elise stared terrified at the face of the countess, excited and +streaming with tears. She had heard but one little word, but this word +had pierced her heart like a dagger. + +"_Return_ to you?" asked she, breathlessly. "Be yours _again_? He was +then _once_ yours?" + +"I yielded to him what is most sacred in life, and yet you ask if he +was mine!" said the countess, smiling sadly. + +Elise uttered a loud, piercing shriek, and covered her face with her +hands. Her emotion was so expressive and painful that it touched the +heart even of her rival. Almost lovingly she passed her arm around +Elise's waist and drew her down gently to her on the sofa. "Come," +said she, "let us sit by each other like two sisters. Come, and listen +to me. I will disclose a picture which will make your soul shudder!" + +Elise yielded to her mechanically. She let herself involuntarily glide +down on the sofa, and suffered the countess to take her hand. "Feodor +once belonged to her," she murmured. "His heart was once given to +another." + +"Will you listen to me?" asked the countess; and, seeing Elise still +lost in silent reverie, she continued: "I will relate to you the +history of Feodor von Brenda, and his unhappy, forsaken bride." Elise +shuddered, and cast a wandering, despairing look around. + +"Will you listen to me?" repeated the countess. + +"Speak--I am listening," whispered Elise, languidly. And then, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, often interrupted by Elise's plaintive +sighs, her outbursts of heartfelt sympathy, related to the young girl +the sad and painful story of her love and her betrayal. + +She was a young girl, scarcely sixteen, the daughter of a prince, +impoverished by his own fault and prodigality, when she became the +victim of her father's avarice. Without compassion for her tears, her +timid youth, he had sold her for a million. With the cruel selfishness +of a spendthrift miser, he had sold his young, fresh, beautiful +daughter for dead, shining metal, to a man of sixty years, fit to be +her grandfather, and who persecuted the innocent girl with the ardent +passion of a stripling. She had been dragged to the altar, and the +priest had been deaf to the "No!" she had uttered, when falling +unconscious at his feet. Thus she had become the wife of the rich +Count Sandomir--a miserable woman who stood, amidst the splendor of +life, without hope, without joy, as in a desert. + +But one day this desert had changed, and spring bloomed in her soul, +for love had come to warm her chilled heart with the sunbeam of +happiness. She did not reproach herself, nor did she feel any scruples +of conscience, that it was not her husband whom she loved. What +respect could she have for marriage, when for her it had been only a +matter of sale and purchase? She had been traded off like a slave, and +with happy exultation she said to herself, "Love has come to make me +free, and, as a free and happy woman, I will tear this contract +by which I have been sold." And she had torn it. She had had no +compassion on the gray hairs and devoted heart of her noble husband. +She had been sacrificed, and now pitilessly did she sacrifice her +husband to her lover. She saw but one duty before her--to reward the +love of the man she adored with boundless devotion. No concealment, no +disguise would she allow. Any attempt at equivocation she regarded as +an act of treason to the great and holy feeling which possessed her +whole soul. + +Usually all the world is acquainted with the treachery and infidelity +of a woman, while it is yet a secret to her husband. But the countess +took care that her husband should be the first to learn of his injured +honor, her broken faith. She had hoped that he would turn from her in +anger, and break the marriage-bond which united her to him. But her +husband did not liberate her. He challenged the betrayer of his +honor, whose treachery was the blacker, because the count himself had +introduced him into his house, as the son of the friend of his youth. +They fought. It was a deadly combat, and the old man of sixty, already +bowed down by rage and grief, could not stand against the strength of +his young and practised adversary. He was overcome. The dying husband +had been brought to Countess Lodoiska, his head supported by his +murderer, her lover. Even in this terrible moment she felt no anger +against him, and as the eyes of her husband grew dull in death, she +could only remember that she was now free to become his wife. She had +thrown herself at the feet of the empress to implore her consent to +this marriage, on which depended the hope and happiness, the honor and +atonement of her life. The empress had not refused her consent, had +herself appointed the wedding day which should unite her favorite with +the young countess. + +But a short time before the arrival of this day, so ardently longed +for, looked forward to with so many prayers, such secret anxiety and +gnawing self-reproaches, the war broke out, and Lodoiska did not +dare to keep back her lover, as with glowing zeal he hastened to his +colors. He had sworn to her never to forget her; to return faithful to +her, and she had believed him. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE PUNISHMENT. + + +Elise had followed the countess in her narration with intense +attention and warm sympathy. Her face had become pale as marble, +her countenance sad, and her eyes filled with tears. A fearful +anticipation dawned in her heart, but she turned away from it. She +would not listen to this secret voice which whispered to her that this +sad tale of the countess had reference to her own fate. + +"Your lover did not deceive your trust?" asked she. "With such a +bloody seal upon your love he dare not break his faith." + +"He did break it," answered the countess, painfully. "I was nothing +more to him than a guilty woman, and he went forth to seek an angel. +He forgot his vows, his obligations, and cast me away, for I was a +burden to him." + +Both were silent in the bitterness of their sorrow. The countess +fastened her large, bright eyes upon the young girl, who stared before +her, pale, motionless, absorbed in her own grief. + +This anxious silence was finally broken by the countess. "I have not +yet told you the name of my lover. Shall I name him to you?" + +Elise awoke as if from a heavy dream. "No," cried she, eagerly, "no, +do not name him. What have I to do with him? I do not know him. What +do I care to hear the name of a man who has committed so great a +crime?" + +"You must hear it," said the countess, solemnly. "You must learn the +name of the man who chained me to him by a bloody, guilt-stained past, +and then deserted me. It is Colonel Count Feodor von Brenda!" + +Elise uttered a cry, and sank, half fainting, back on the cushions of +the sofa. But this dejection did not last long. Her heart, which for a +moment seemed to stop, resumed again its tumultuous beating; her blood +coursed wildly through her veins, and her soul, unused to the despair +of sorrow, resolved to make one last effort to free itself from the +fetters with which her evil fate wished to encompass her. She drew +herself up with glowing cheeks and flashing eyes. "This is false," she +cried; "a miserable invention, concocted to separate me from Feodor. +Oh! I see through it all. I understand now my father's solemn +asseverations, and why Bertram brought you to me. But you are all +mistaken in me. Go, countess, and tell your friends, 'Elise offers up +every thing and gives every thing to him whom she loves, in whom she +believes, even if the whole world testifies against him.'" And with a +triumphant smile, throwing back her head, she stood up and was about +to leave the room. + +The countess shrugged her shoulders as if in pity. "You do not believe +me, then?" said she; "but you will believe this witness?" and she drew +a letter from her bosom and handed it to Elise. + +"It is his handwriting," cried the young girl, terrified, as she took +the letter. + +"Ah! you know his handwriting, then? He has written to you, too?" +sighed the countess. "Well, then, read it. It is a letter he wrote me +from Berlin at the commencement of his captivity. Read it!" + +"Yes, I will read it," murmured Elise. "These written words pierce my +eyes like daggers, but I will not mind the pain. I will read it." + +She read the letter, which annihilated her whole happiness, slowly and +with terrible composure. Drop by drop did she let the poison of these +words of love, directed to another, fall into her soul. When she had +finished reading it, she repeated to herself the last cruel words, +the warm protestations, with which Feodor assured his bride of his +unalterable love and fidelity, with which he swore to her that he +looked upon his love to her not only as a happiness, but as a sacred +obligation; that he owed her not only his heart but his honor. Then +long and carefully she considered the signature of his name, and +folding up the paper, she handed it back, with a slight inclination to +the countess. + +"Oh, my God! I have loved him beyond bounds," muttered she, low; and +then, unable to restrain her tears, she put her hands to her face and +wept aloud. + +"Poor, unhappy girl!" exclaimed the countess, laying her arm tenderly +around her neck. + +Elise drew back violently and regarded her almost in anger. "Do not +commiserate me. I will not be pitied by you! I--" + +She suddenly stopped, and an electric shock passed through her whole +frame. She heard the concerted signal; and the tones of the post-horn, +which slowly and heavily sounded the notes of the sad Russian melody, +grated on her ear like a terrible message of misfortune. + +The two women stood for a moment silent and motionless. They both +listened to the dirge of their love and their happiness, and this +simple, hearty song sounded to them horrible and awful in the +boundless desolation of their hearts. At last the song ceased, and a +voice, too well known and loved, cried, "Elise! Elise!" + +The maiden started up, shuddering and terrified. "His voice frightens +me." + +But still she seemed not to be able to withstand the call; for she +approached the window, and looked down hesitatingly. + +The countess observed her jealously, and a fearful thought suddenly +entered her mind. How, if this young girl loved him as much as she +did? If she were ready to forgive him every thing, to blot out the +whole past with the hand of love and commence a new existence with +him? If she felt no compassion for Feodor's forsaken bride, and were +willing to trample triumphantly on her broken heart at the call of her +lover, and follow him to the altar? Her whole soul writhed in pain, +"Follow his call," cried she, with a derisive smile. "Leave your +father, whom you have betrayed, for the sake of a traitor! You have +vowed to love him. Go and keep your vow." + +Outside Feodor's voice called Elise's name louder and more pressingly. +A moment she listened, then rushed to the window, threw it open, and +called out, "I come, I come!" + +Lodoiska flew to her; drew back the young girl violently from the +window, and throwing both arms firmly around her, said, almost +breathlessly, "Traitress! You shall not cross this threshold! I will +call your father. I will call the whole household together! I will--" + +"You will call no one," interrupted Elise, and her proud, cold +composure awed even the countess. "You will call no one, for I stay, +and you--you go in my stead." + +"What say you?" asked Lodoiska. + +Elise raised her arm and pointed solemnly to the window. "I say," +cried she, "that your bridegroom is waiting down there for you. Go, +then." + +With an exclamation of joy the countess pressed her in her arms. "You +renounce him, then?" + +"I have no part in him," said Elise coldly. "He belongs to you; he +is bound to you by your disgrace and his crime. Go to him," cried she +more violently, as she saw that the countess looked at her doubtingly. +"Hasten, for he is waiting for you." + +"But he will recognize me; he will drive me from him." + +Elise pointed to her clothes, which were placed ready for her +departure. "There lie my hat and cloak," said she haughtily. "Take +them; drop the veil. He knows this dress, and he will think it is me." + +At this moment the door was torn open, and Bertram burst in. "Make +haste," he cried, "or all is lost. Count Feodor is becoming impatient, +and may himself venture to come for Elise. Gotzkowsky, too, has been +awakened by the unaccustomed sound of the post-horn." + +"Help the countess to prepare for the journey," cried Elise, standing +still, motionless, and as if paralyzed. + +Bertram looked at her, astonished and inquiringly; but in a few +rapid words the countess explained to him Elise's intention and +determination, to allow her to take the journey in her stead, and with +her clothes. + +Bertram cast on Elise a look which mirrored forth the admiration he +felt for this young girl, who had so heroically gained the victory +over herself. His reliance on her maiden pride, her sense of right and +honor, had not been deceived. + +The countess had now finished her toilet, and donned Elise's hat and +cloak. + +Bertram called on her to hasten, and she approached Elise to bid her +farewell, and express her gratitude for the sacrifice she had made +for her. But Elise waved her back proudly and coldly, and seemed to +shudder at her touch. + +"Go to your husband, countess," cried she, and her voice was hoarse +and cold. + +Lodoiska's eyes filled with tears. Once more she attempted to take +Elise's hand, but the latter firmly crossed her arms and looked at her +almost threateningly. "Go!" said she, in a loud, commanding voice. + +Bertram took the arm of the countess and drew her to the door. +"Hasten!" said he; "there is no time to lose." + +The door closed behind them. Elise was alone. She stood and listened +to their departing steps; she heard the house door open; she heard the +post-horn once more sound out merrily, and then cease. "I am alone!" +she screamed, with a heart-rending cry. "They are gone; I am alone!" +And stretching her arms despairingly to heaven, and almost beside +herself, she cried out, "O God! will no one have compassion on me? +will no one pity me?" + +"Elise," said her father, opening the room door. + +She sprang toward him with a loud exclamation, she rushed into his +arms, embraced him, and, nestling in his bosom, she exclaimed faintly, +"Have pity on me, my father; do not drive me from you! You are my only +refuge in this world." + +Gotzkowsky pressed her firmly to his breast and looked gratefully +to heaven. "Oh! I well knew my daughter's heart would return to her +father." + +He kissed ardently her beautiful, glossy hair, and her head that was +resting on his breast. "Do not weep, my child, do not weep," whispered +he, tenderly. + +"Let me weep," she answered, languidly; "you do no know how much +sorrow and grief pass off with these tears." + +The sound of the post-horn was now heard from the street below and +then the rapid rolling of a carriage. + +Elise clung still more closely to her father. "Save me," she cried. +"Press me firmly to your heart. I am quite forsaken in this world." + +The door was thrown open and Bertram rushed in, out of breath, +exclaiming: "She is gone! he did not recognize her, and took her for +you. The countess--" + +He stopped suddenly and looked at Gotzkowsky, of whose presence he had +just become aware. + +Gotzkowsky inquired in astonishment, "Who is gone? What does all this +mean?" + +Elise raised herself from his arms and gazed at him with flashing +eyes. "It means," she answered, "that the happiness of my life is +broken, that all is deception and falsehood where I looked for love, +and faith, and happiness!" With a touching cry of suffering, she fell +fainting in her father's arms. + +"Do not rouse her, father," said Bertram, bending over her; "grant her +this short respite, for she has a great sorrow to overcome. When she +comes to herself again, she will love none but you, her father." + +Gotzkowsky pressed his lips on her brow, and blessed her in his +thoughts. "She will find in me a father," said he, with deep emotion, +"who, if necessary, can weep with her. My eyes are unused to tears, +but a father may be allowed to weep with his daughter when she is +suffering." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE BANQUET OF GRATITUDE. + + +Berlin had recovered from the terrors it had undergone. It was eight +days since the enemy had left, and every thing was quiet and calm. But +on this day the quiet was to be interrupted by a public merry-making. +Berlin, which had suffered so much, was to rejoice again. + +The festival which was to be celebrated, was intended for none else +than John Gotzkowsky, the Merchant of Berlin, the man whom all looked +upon as their guardian angel and savior. He had cheerfully borne +hardship and toil, danger and injustice, for the good of his +fellow-men; he had always been found helping and ready to serve, +unselfish and considerate. The whole town was under obligation to him; +he had served all classes of society, and they all wished to evince +their gratitude to him. + +Gotzkowsky had been requested to remain at home on the morning of +the festal day, but to hold himself in readiness to receive several +deputations. They were to be succeeded by a grand dinner, given by the +citizens of Berlin in his honor. They were to eat and drink, be merry, +and enjoy themselves to his glorification; they were to drink his +health in foaming glasses of champagne, and Gotzkowsky was to look +upon it all as a grand festival with which the good citizens of Berlin +were glorifying him, while they themselves were enjoying the luscious +viands and fragrant wines. + +In vain did Gotzkowsky refuse to accept the proffered festival. +At first he tried to excuse himself on the plea of his daughter's +illness, alleging that he could not leave her bedside. But information +had been obtained from her physician, who reported her out of danger, +and that Gotzkowsky might leave her for several hours without risk. +Gotzkowsky being able to find no other excuse, was obliged to accept. +Elise was indeed sick. The grief and despair of her betrayed and +deceived heart had prostrated her; and her wild, fever-dreams, her +desponding complaints, the reproachful conversations she carried on +with her lover--unseen but nevertheless present in her delirium--had +betrayed her secret to her father. Full of emotion, he thanked God for +her happy escape, and felt no resentment against this poor, misguided +child, who had taken refuge from the loneliness of her heart, in his +love, as in a haven of shelter. He only reproached his own want of +discernment, as he said to himself: "Elise had cause to be angry +with me and to doubt my affection. I bore solitude and the constant +separation from my daughter because I thought I was working for her, +but I forgot that at the same time she was solitary and alone, that +she missed a father's tenderness as I did my child's love. I wished to +make her rich, and I have only made her poor and wretched." + +He kissed her burning, feverish forehead, he bedewed it with tears, +and forgave her, from the bottom of his heart, her misplaced love, her +errors and transgressions. She was with him; she had returned to his +heart. In her despair she had fled to the bosom of her father, and +sought support and assistance from him. + +The dark clouds had all rolled over, and the heavens were again bright +and clear. Berlin was freed from the enemy. Elise was convalescent, +and the town of Berlin, was preparing for her noblest citizen a +banquet of gratitude. + +The appointed hour had arrived for Gotzkowsky to receive the +deputations, and he betook himself to the hall next the garden. A +thundering hurrah received him. It proceeded from his workmen, who had +come in procession through the garden, and were waving their hats and +caps. They were followed by a multitude of women in black. This day +they had laid aside the tears and griefs for their husbands and sons +fallen in battle, in order to thank Gotzkowsky with a smile for the +magnanimous kindness with which he had taken their part and secured +their future. + +Following these women came the poor orphans, with mourning-crape on +their arms. They rushed forward joyously toward Gotzkowsky, stretching +out their little hands to him, and, at a word from the head operative, +Balthazar, they stretched open their small mouths, and gave out such a +shrill and crashing hurrah that the windows rattled, and many a stout +workman stopped his ears and felt a ringing in his head. + +"One more hurrah!" cried the enthusiastic Balthazar; and "hurrah!" +screamed and squeaked the children. + +"And now for a third--" + +But Gotzkowsky seized hold of Balthazar's arm which he was about to +move again, and with a look of comical terror, exclaimed: "But, man, +don't you know that I have further use for my ears to-day? You deafen +me with your screaming. That's enough." + +Balthazar struggled himself free from the strong grasp of his master, +and placed himself in a theatrical position opposite to him. He was +able this day to indulge in his passion for eloquence, for the workmen +had chosen him for their orator, and he had a right to speak. As +he spoke, it could be seen by his sparkling eyes, and by his fiery +enthusiasm, that his words had not been learned by rote, but proceeded +from his heart. + +"Sir, allow me to speak and express my joy, for it is a joy to have a +noble master. Look at these children, dear master. Three days ago they +had fathers who could work and care for them. But the cannon-balls +deprived them of their fathers, and God sent them a father, and you +are he. You adopted these children when they were forsaken by all +else. You said: 'God forbid that the children of these brave men, who +had fallen in defence of the liberty of Berlin, should be orphans! I +will be their father.' Yes, sir, that is what you said, and all the +weeping mothers and all your workmen heard it and wrote it down in +their hearts. Ask these widows for whom they pray to God. Ask the poor +who were without bread and whom you fed. Ask the whole town who it is +whom they bless and praise. They will all name the name of Gotzkowsky; +with one voice they will all cry out: "Long live our friend and +father! Long live Gotzkowsky!" + +Unanimously did all join in this cry, shouting out, "Long live +Gotzkowsky!" + +Deeply moved, Gotzkowsky stretched out his hands to the workmen, +and accepted, with cordial gratification, the flowers offered by +the children. "Thank you, thank you," cried he, in a voice of deep +emotion. "You have richly recompensed me, for I perceive that you love +me, and nothing can be more beautiful than love." + +"Diamonds!" cried out Ephraim, as he made his way through the crowd +with Itzig and a deputation of the Jews, toward the hero of the +day--"diamonds are more valuable than love, Gotzkowsky. Look at this +brilliant, which sparkles and shines more brightly than ever did a +look of love from any human eye." + +He presented to Gotzkowsky a costly _solitaire_ diamond, and +continued: "Be so kind and grant us the favor of accepting this +present. It is a diamond of the first water." + +"It is a petrified tear of joy," interrupted Itzig, "shed by us on our +delivery by you from taxation. You are our greatest benefactor, our +best friend. You have proved yourself the savior of the Jews, for you +freed us from the tax, and saved us what is more precious than honor, +and rank, and happiness--our money; for, without money, the Jew is +nobody. Accept, therefore, the ring, and wear it for our sakes." + +"Accept it, we pray you," cried Ephraim, and the Jews took up the cry. + +Gotzkowsky took the ring, and placed it on his finger, thanking the +givers for the costly present, and assuring them he would wear it with +pleasure in honor of them. + +Itzig's brow was clouded with a slight frown, and stepping back to +Ephraim and his friends, he muttered, "He accepts it. I was in hopes +he would refuse it, for it cost much money, and we could have made +very good use of it." + +The solemn advance of the honorable gentlemen of the Berlin Town +Council interrupted Itzig's private soliloquy, and drew his attention +toward the chief burgomaster, Herr von Kircheisen, who, in all +the splendor and dignity of his golden chain and of his office, +accompanied by the senators and town officers, strode pompously +through the crowd, and presented his hand to Gotzkowsky, who was +respectfully advancing to meet him. + +"The Council of Berlin has come to thank you. For it is an +unparalleled example for a man to undertake and go through what you +have done for us, without any interest, without any ulterior object." + +"You make me out better than I am," replied Gotzkowsky, smiling at +Herr von Kircheisen's pompous words. "I had an ulterior object. I +wished to gain the love of my fellow-citizens. If I have succeeded, I +am more than rewarded, and I pray you say no more on the subject." + +The chief burgomaster shook his head majestically. "You have exercised +toward us the virtue of philanthropy. Allow us to exercise toward +you in return the virtue of gratitude." He took from the hands of the +assistant burgomaster a dark-red _étui_, from which he a wreath of +oak-leaves, worked in silver, which he presented to Gotzkowsky. "John +Gotzkowsky," said he, solemnly, "the Council and citizens of Berlin +request you, through me, to accept this memorial of their love and +gratitude. It is the civic crown of your magnanimity. Receive it from +our hands, and accept also our vow that we will never forget what you +have done for the town of Berlin." + +Tears of delight, of heart-felt joy stood in Gotzkowsky's eyes as he +took the oaken crown from his hands, and glowing words of gratitude +poured from his lips. + +Not far off, in a niche of a window of the hall, stood Messrs. Krause +and Kretschmer, with sullen looks, witnessing the homage paid to +Gotzkowsky, their souls filled with envy and rage. They, too, had come +to thank him, but with unwilling hearts, because they could not be +well absent from the festivities which the whole town offered him. But +they were vexed to see this man, whom they hated from the bottom of +their hearts, because of their obligations to him, so universally +honored and beloved. It annoyed them to see the pleasant and affable +smile with which the otherwise proud burgomaster conversed with +him; to see with what cordial friendship the senators and councilmen +surrounded him. + +"I came hither," said Mr. Krause, softly, "to thank Gotzkowsky for +saving us, but I must confess it worries me to see him so glorified." + +Mr. Kretschmer shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. "Let them praise +him," said he; "the _Vossian Gazette_ will not notice it, and I will +not write the smallest article on this occasion. As for the service +he rendered us--well, certainly, it would have been unpleasant to +have been flogged, but then we would have been martyrs to our liberal +opinions; the whole world would have admired and pitied us, and the +king would not have refused us a pension." + +"Certainly," whispered Mr. Krause, "he would have granted us a +pension, and the whipping would have made us famous. It has never been +forgotten of the English poet, Payne, that King Charles the First had +his ears cut off, because he wrote against him. He is not celebrated +for his writings, but for his chopped ears. We, too, might have +become famous if this Gotzkowsky had not, in the most uncalled-for +manner, interfered, and--but look!" cried he, interrupting himself, +"the interview with the Council is finished, and it is now our turn to +thank him." + +The two editors hastened toward him in order, in well-arranged speech, +and with assurances of eternal gratitude, to offer their thanks. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A ROYAL LETTER. + + +Mr. Krause had not yet finished the declamation of the poem which his +inspiration had produced in honor of Gotzkowsky, when a loud noise was +heard at the door of the hall, and Gotzkowsky's body-servant rushed +in. A messenger of the Council was without, he announced; a letter +had just arrived from the king, and, as he was to deliver it to the +burgomaster in person, the messenger had brought him here. He handed +Herr von Kircheisen a letter, and the latter broke the seal with +majestic composure. + +A pause of anxious expectation ensued. Each one inquired of himself +with trembling heart what could be the meaning of this royal letter. + +The countenance of the chief magistrate grew more and more cheerful, +and suddenly he called aloud: "This is indeed a message of gladness +for our poor town. The king, our gracious lord, releases us from our +obligation to pay the promised war-tax of a million and a half. He +wishes to retaliate for the Wurzburg and Bamberg bonds captured from +the Aulic Council. For which reason his majesty's order is that we do +not pay." + +A single cry of joy sounded from the lips of all present. Gotzkowsky +alone was silent, with downcast eyes, and his earnest, pensive +expression contrasted strongly with the bright, joyous countenances +which were illuminated by the order of the king to keep their money. + +Among the happiest and most radiant, however, were the rich mint +farmers Ephraim and Itzig, and the chief burgomaster. + +"The royal decree relieves our town of a horrible burden," said Herr +von Kircheisen, with a happy smile. + +"The whole mercantile community must be grateful to the king," cried +Ephraim. "Berlin saves a million and a half, and the Russian is sold." + +Suddenly Gotzkowsky drew himself up erect, and his eagle eye ran over +the whole assembly with a bold, beaming glance. "The Russian is not +sold," cried he, "for Berlin will pay him the balance of a million and +a half. Berlin has pledged her word, and she will redeem it." + +The countenances of those around grew dark again, and here and there +were heard words of anger and wild resentment. + +"How!" cried Itzig, "do you require of the merchants to pay what they +can keep for themselves? The king has said, 'You shall not pay!'" + +"And I say, we will pay," cried Gotzkowsky. "What is written is +written, and what is promised must be performed, for this our honor +requires. The king possesses not the power of annulling a promise or +revoking an oath! He who does not fulfil his word of honor is not a +man of honor, were he even a king." + +"But," said Herr von Kircheisen, pathetically, "there are nevertheless +circumstances which render impossible the fulfilment of an +obligation." + +Gotzkowsky answered ardently: "If such do occur, the man of honor dies +when he cannot fulfil his word. But you--you do not wish to die. Oh +no! You wish to break your word in order to live pleasantly. You wish +to profit by your breach of promise. You wish to declare yourselves +insolvent and cheat your creditors of their money, and thereby amass +wealth." + +A general storm of indignation interrupted Gotzkowsky, and the very +men who had come for the purpose of making a formal demonstration of +their gratitude now approached him with angry gestures and threatening +words. + +"A million and a half is no child's play," screamed Ephraim. "Money is +more precious than honor." + +"I say money is honor," cried Itzig. "As long as we keep our millions, +we keep our honor." + +"You are very generous," sneered Kretschmer. "Like a gentleman, you +pay your debts out of other people's pockets, and the citizens will +have to pay millions to enable you to keep your word." + +Gotzkowsky cast one look of contemptuous pity on him, and replied: +"You forget, sir, that I did not act in my own name, but in that of +the magistracy and merchants of Berlin. Not I alone would be faithless +to my word, but the whole town of Berlin." + +"But I repeat," said the chief burgomaster, "that the king has +released us from the obligation of keeping our word." + +"No king can do that," interrupted Gotzkowsky. "A man of honor must +keep his word, and no one, not even a king, can absolve him from it." + +"Let us not quarrel about matters of opinion," said Kircheisen, +shrugging his shoulders. "My opinion is, that we do not pay this sum." + +"No, we will not pay it!" cried all in tumultuous excitement, as they +surrounded the burgomaster, discussing in cheerful conversation the +advantages of non-payment. + +Gotzkowsky stood listening to them alone, unobserved, and forgotten. +His heart was heavy with sadness, and painfully did he reflect: "This +is the unholy influence of money, hardening the heart and silencing +the voice of honor. For a few millions of dollars do they sell their +good name. One final attempt let me make. I will see what their +cowardice will do." + +Again did he enter their midst, and with convincing words and ardent +eloquence portray the danger which would ensue from the non-payment of +the bonds. + +The Russian was not very far from Berlin: if he had retired in forced +marches he could return thither with equal rapidity in order, in the +wantonness of his wrath, to take vengeance on the faithless town. + +"In an unlucky moment," said he, "the Russians might gain a victory +over our king. He would then return and rend us like a tiger. I +would then no longer have the power of protecting you, for General +Tottleben's anger would be turned principally against me, who +guaranteed the payment of the contribution. God himself does not +protect him who breaks his word. He is an outlaw." + +A deep silence followed Gotzkowsky's speech. All the faces were again +overcast, and in the contracted brow and anxious countenances could be +read the fact that his words had painfully convinced them that it was +necessary to pay. + +Even Herr von Kircheisen in his fear of the return of the Russians, +forgot the enormous amount of the sums to be paid, and said, with a +melancholy sigh: "Gotzkowsky is, I am afraid, right. It is very hard +to pay the money, but it is very dangerous not to do it." + +"It might cost us our heads," confirmed the first councilman. + +Ephraim stood with his head cast down, and muttered to himself, "Money +is very dear, but life is still dearer." + +Itzig cried out in despair: "Let us keep our money. Without money the +Jew is nobody." + +But the chief burgomaster, who had consulted the councilmen, now +approached Gotzkowsky, and, with a smile, offered him his hand. "We +thank you," said he, "for you have spoken wisely, and your advice +shall be followed. We will pay, for we cannot help ourselves. But we +must beg you to do us another important service. Go to the king and +beg him not to be angry with us if we do not obey his order." + +"Yes, do so, do so, Gotzkowsky!" cried all the others. "Go to the +king, he is friendly toward you--beg for us." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance beamed with generous satisfaction. "Very +well," said he; "I will go to the king and beg him to allow the town +of Berlin to preserve its honor immaculate, and pay the promised sum." + +"Use all your eloquence, that the king may remain favorably inclined +toward us, and not become angry with us for acting this once against +his orders," admonished the chief burgomaster. + +"The king is a high-minded and noble man," said Gotzkowsky, +enthusiastically. "He looks upon a man's word as sacred, and will +understand us and honor us for not wishing to break ours." + +An hour later the chief citizens and merchants of Berlin repaired to +the spacious town-hall, where an elegant banquet had been prepared, +and merriment prevailed, and glasses sounded; and Berlin, rescued, +celebrated the first day of joy and happiness. + +But John Gotzkowsky, to whom this feast was given, whom Berlin called +her deliverer and benefactor, was not present at this banquet. Deeply +buried in furs he had just entered his carriage, and braving danger +and toil, in the cold and darkness he drove away toward Meissen, where +the king had established his headquarters. + + * * * * * + + + + +BOOK III. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FREDERICK THE GREAT AT MEISSEN. + + +The great battle of Torgau had been fought, and the Prussian army, +after so many combats and such a bloody victory, was contemplating +with lively satisfaction the going into winter quarters, which, it +hoped, this time would be in Saxony. The Prussian headquarters were, +for the time being, in Meissen, and in the palace there, for a short +resting-spell, dwelt the king, who for many years had only experienced +the troubles and dangers of his position; the king who had often +struggled with hunger and care, daily privation and mortal danger, +and who one day, wearied out by sleeping night after night on the cold +ground, commissioned his adjutant to provide a bundle of straw for +the comfort of his royal person. The king had for a long time spared +Saxony. He was sorry for this beautiful, afflicted land. But Saxony +was finally to be treated as an enemy's country, as she would not +appreciate Frederick's noble forbearance and clemency, and had allied +herself to his enemies with fanatical zeal. And now her devastated +fields, her paralyzed factories, her impoverished towns and deserted +villages, testified to her distress and the calamities of war. But at +this time quiet and tranquillity reigned in the hostile camps. On both +sides they were too tired to be able to carry on a fresh conflict, +and the strength of both parties being exhausted, they were obliged to +allow each other time for rest. Besides, the winter had set in early +with unusual severity, and, to all appearances, put an end to the +campaign of 1760. + +The only contest now was for winter quarters; and it had been, +therefore, after the victory of Torgau, the king's first endeavor to +cut off the retreat of the Austrians to Dresden, or at least to drive +them out of this town. But, as the king wrote to Countess Camas, "They +laughed at us from the top of the hills--I withdrew immediately, and, +like a little boy, have stuck myself down in pure disgust in one of +the accursed Saxon villages. I assure you I lead a perfect dog's life, +such as no one else, except Don Quixote, has ever led." + +In the mean while Frederick had left this "accursed Saxon village" +(Neustadt) and had gone to Meissen, and his "dog's life" had given +place to ease and comfort. He had, therefore, for some quiet weeks +laid aside the sword, and the gentleman had become again the royal +poet and _savant_, who divided his time between music and poetry, +between serious studies and writing to his friends, to whom he sent +letters, in which his great and elevated manner of thinking, his soul +above prejudice, were displayed in all their beauty and power. + +The king was alone in his study. He had just finished a letter to the +Marquis d'Argens, calling upon him to give some news of his gallery at +Sans-Souci, and to inform him of its progress. The king laid down his +pen, and leaned back in his chair for a moment. His usually sharp, +bright eye had now a soft, gentle expression, and a light smile played +around his thin, nobly-formed lips. He has forgotten for the time the +care and bustle of war, and fancied himself in his beloved paradise, +his Sans-Souci, where it was allowed the hero to be a poet, and where +he could for some genial hours put aside his dignity, and, instead +of the enthroned ruler, be the cheerful sage, the smiling son of the +Muses. + +The king, pleased by these memories of happy days, rose and seized his +flute, which, by his express orders, always lay on his writing-table. +He put it to his lips, and began an _adagio_, in the execution of +which he was acknowledged to be one of the first _virtuosos_ of his +day, and the sounds, as they poured forth, rose plaintively, and +floated around him in bewitching melody. No one could listen to +this beautifully-executed, deeply-felt music of the royal performer, +without being impressed in his inmost soul, and feeling his heart +swell with powerful emotions. Outside, in the antechamber, were +standing the stern generals, the heroic warriors, Zeithen, and the +brave Schwerin, and General von Saldern, and their scarred, austere +features assumed a soft, touching expression, as they leaned against +the wall and listened in breathless silence to the performance of the +king. But suddenly the playing ceased. + +To these brave warriors, unaccustomed to music, the execution had +seemed superb; but the king was not satisfied with it. He, who had +in his memory the royal _artiste_ of Sans-Souci, exacted of the king, +driven about by the hardships and necessities of war, that he should +have lost nothing of the fulness of tone or the power and energy of +execution. It worried him that the notes no longer flowed so clearly; +it vexed him to hear a sharp, whistling sound, that seemed to +accompany the melody as with a painful sigh. He threw the flute +aside, and stepped to a looking-glass, which he took up with evident +unwillingness. + +It was very seldom that the king held it worth his while to consult +the mirror about his personal appearance, and when he did so, it +was usually to inquire for some failing or evidence of frailty which +restricted him in the freedom of his being. And while he thus looked +at himself, his features assumed a sad expression, and his eyebrows +became contracted. + +What was it, which thus put out of humor the brave hero, the +victory-crowned king? + +He became aware that his second front tooth had broken off. The gap +thus caused was the natural explanation of the want of clearness in +his playing. He threw the mirror angrily aside, and with a frown on +his brow paced rapidly up and down the room two or three times. + +But gradually another expression succeeded, and a sarcastic smile +played around his mouth. Again he stepped to the writing-table, on +which lay several unfinished letters. Looking for the one he had +commenced to the Countess Camas, he said to himself: "The good +countess inquires after my personal appearance. Well, now that I am in +the humor, I will draw my portrait for her." + +Again he took up the hand-glass and regarded himself long and +attentively; but this time not with vexation or ill-humor, but with +the cheerful smile and dignified calm of a philosopher. He then +applied himself to his writing: "You ask how I look, dear mother. The +disorder of war has made me so old, that you would hardly recognize +me. My hair is quite gray on the right side of my head; my teeth break +off and fall out; my face is as full of wrinkles as the furbelow of a +woman's frock; my back as bent as that of a monk of La Trappe. Only +my heart is unchanged; and, as long as I have breath, will preserve +feelings of esteem and the most tender friendship toward you, good +mamma."[1] + +As the king read over this description of his appearance once more, he +broke into a loud, merry laugh. He then pushed the letter aside, and +took up another piece of paper, and a drawing-pencil. + +Silence prevailed now in the cabinet of the king. Outside was heard +the monotonous tread of the sentinel, sometimes the sound of a +trumpet, the neighing of a horse, or the order of some officer. The +king paid no attention to all this. His ear was so accustomed to these +noises, that it seemed like perfect silence to him. He was so buried +in his work, that even the unwonted tumult which now arose was +unperceived by him; nor did he notice that a carriage drove into the +palace-yard, its post-horn sounding loud and merrily. The generals +and courtiers, who were in the antechamber, noticed it all the +more, because any thing was welcome to them which broke in upon the +prevailing quiet; for so accustomed were they to the varied business +of war, that any thing which departed from it was insupportably +tedious. They drew to the window and looked with pleasure on the +dusty, dirty travelling carriage, which, with its four panting +post-horses, had drawn up at the entrance to the palace, and out of +which descended a tall, manly figure, who went in at the palace door. + +The gentlemen in the antechamber amused themselves guessing who the +stranger who had just arrived could be; and they had all arrived at +the unanimous conclusion that it must be the Marquis d'Argens, as the +door opened, and the stranger entered. He asked for the adjutant on +duty, and, as the latter was pointed out to him, he stepped toward him +with an air of quiet dignity. + +"I pray you announce me immediately to his majesty. Have the kindness +to say to him, that I have not come hither on my private affairs, +but as a delegate from the city of Berlin, with full powers from the +Council and citizens, to request the honor of an audience with the +king, and that I am obliged to return as speedily as possible to the +capital." + +"Your name, sir?" + +"I am the merchant, John Gotzkowsky." + +The serious and proud features of the aristocratic adjutant +immediately relaxed, and assumed a more polite and obliging +expression. + +"Ah! Gotzkowsky, the rich and magnanimous merchant of Berlin--the +special _protégé_ of the king. I will announce you immediately to his +majesty." And the adjutant hurried through the halls and entered the +boudoir of the king. + +In the mean while, the generals drew near Gotzkowsky, who related +to them all about the siege of Berlin, and the cruel and relentless +conduct of the enemy; pressing him with questions, whether on his +journey thither he had encountered or come into the vicinity of any +portion of the enemy. + +"You will find the king very much out of humor," said General von +Saldern; "he has not left his study to-day, and doubtless he is +occupied with very serious plans." + +"Perhaps even with the plan of a battle," said another of the +gentlemen, "for it is said that Lacy has advanced his army, and even +that Landon has left Dresden. A battle is therefore imminent, and the +king is evidently drawing up his plan." + +At this moment the door of the study was opened, and the adjutant +motioned to Gotzkowsky to enter. As the latter was traversing the +hall, the generals cast an eager glance through the open door, anxious +to see the countenance of the king, and find out from its expression +whether this intolerable armistice was to be interrupted by the +violent clash of arms. + +In the mean time, Gotzkowsky entered the chamber of the king, and +the door closed after him. He was now alone in the presence of the +monarch, who was still sitting at his writing-table, making rapid +strokes with his drawing-pencil on the paper before him. + +"He is writing," said Gotzkowsky to himself, "and is perhaps in the +act of drawing out the plan of the battle which the generals out there +are awaiting with such joyous impatience. Yes, he is writing, and +perhaps each stroke of the pen may cost the lives of hundreds of human +beings." And he did not venture by a single word or a loud breath to +draw attention to his presence. On his entrance, the king had cast +on him one of his sharp, penetrating glances, before whose commanding +power many a general and many a brave man had quailed, and had then +bent his head again over the paper. + +Absolute silence prevailed for a while. Suddenly the king interrupted +it, and motioned to Gotzkowsky with his hand to draw near. "Just look +and see whether that pleases you," said he, in a friendly tone. "You +are known as a connoisseur in art, and you have proved to me that you +understand painting. Look at that, and tell me whether you like it." + +What was it that the king had drawn on the paper? Was it really, as +his brave generals wished, the plan of a battle soon to be fought, +was it a philosophical treatise, or one of those witty and piquant +epistles to which the king treated his friends? None of all these. + +"A nosegay!" cried Gotzkowsky, as with unconcealed astonishment he +looked now on the paper, now on the king. "Your majesty is drawing a +bouquet of flowers, and out there the gentlemen have just told me in +confidence that you were busied with a plan of battle, and that the +Austrians were approaching." + +"Nonsense!" said the king, shrugging his shoulders, "that rough set +out there are always anxious for war, and to be cutting and slashing +at each other. Don't you listen to them, but rather tell me how you +like this drawing. Don't you think these roses mixed with lilies look +well? But I see you wish to know what it is intended for. Well, it is +for a set of porcelain which I wish to have painted for the Marquis +d'Argens." And, as he met Gotzkowsky's looks, he continued with a +friendly smile: "Yes, you see, you are rich; you can make others +presents. But the king of Prussia is a poor man; he has only his coat, +his sword, and his porcelain. And this last even," continued he, with +a slight frown, "I am obliged to get from Meissen." + +"That your majesty need not do in future. Please God, your majesty +shall make your porcelain in your own dominions!" + +"Will you guarantee that? Will you undertake it?" asked the king, +kindly. + +"I will." + +"And look ye, you are just the man to carry out what you wish. I am +well satisfied with you. You have justified the confidence I placed +in you when I was crown prince. You have redeemed the vow you made me +then." + +"I swore to your majesty that I would be faithful to the fatherland +with life and property," cried Gotzkowsky, with noble ardor. + +"And you have kept your word. It is not difficult in easy and +prosperous times to find people to serve the state. Those are good +citizens who serve her when she is in difficulty and danger.[2] You +are a good citizen." And handing Gotzkowsky an open letter which lay +on the writing-table, he said: "Read, it is a letter from the Marquis +d'Argens. Read it aloud, I would like to hear it again." + +And Gotzkowsky read with a trembling voice, and cheeks reddened with +noble modesty, the following passage from a letter of the marquis, +which the king pointed out to him with his finger: "Gotzkowsky is, +indeed, an excellent man and a worthy citizen. I wish you had many +such as he. The greatest gift which fortune can make a state is a +citizen full of zeal for the welfare of his country and his prince. +And in this respect I must say, to the credit of Berlin, that in these +trying times I have met many of her citizens, Gotzkowsky the foremost +among them, whose virtues, the old historians of Rome, had they lived +at the present day, would have immortalized!"[3] + +"Are you satisfied?" asked the king, as Gotzkowsky, having finished, +handed him the paper. "Oh, I see you are a modest man, and blush like +a young girl. But tell me, now, what brings you here? What does the +city of Berlin wish?" + +"Her rights, your majesty," said Gotzkowsky, seriously. + +"And who is troubling her rights?" + +"Your majesty." + +The king frowned, and cast an angry glance on the bold jester. + +Gotzkowsky continued, calmly: "Your majesty is depriving us of our +good rights, in so far as you wish to prevent us from being honest +people, and keeping our word sacred." + +"Oh, now I understand you," said the king, laughing. "You are speaking +of the Russian war-tax. Berlin shall not pay it." + +"Berlin will pay it, in order that your majesty may retain her in +your gracious favor; in order that the great Frederick may not have +to blush for his faithless and dishonest town, which would not then +deserve to be the residence of a king. How! would your majesty trust +the men who refused to redeem their openly-pledged word? who look upon +sworn contracts as a mouse-trap, to be escaped from as soon as the +opportunity offers, and when the dangerous cat is no longer sitting +at the door? Berlin will pay--that our sons may not have to blush +for their fathers; that posterity may not say that Berlin had stamped +herself with the brand of dishonor. We have pledged our word, and we +must keep it." + +"You must not, for I do not wish you to do so," cried Frederick, with +anger-flashing eyes. "I will institute reprisals. The imperial court +has refused the payment of the Bamberg and Wurzburg bonds." + +"And your majesty considers that proceeding highly dishonest and +unjust," interrupted Gotzkowsky; "and while you wish to punish the +empire for its breach of faith, you punish doubly the town of Berlin +by depriving her of the last thing that remained to her in her day +of need and misfortune--her honorable name. You cannot be in earnest, +sire? Punish, if you choose, the imperial judge, but do not make +Berlin the dishonored Jack Ketch to carry out your sentence." + +"But are you so anxious to get rid of your money? What is the amount +that you still owe?" + +"A million and a half, sire." + +The king stepped back and looked at Gotzkowsky with astonishment. "And +the people of Berlin insist upon paying it?" + +"Yes, because their word is pledged." + +The king shook his head thoughtfully. "Hark ye," said he, "you seem to +me to be a dangerous agitator, who wishes to turn my peaceful citizens +of Berlin into true children of Haman. Some weeks ago, after the +unfortunate fight of Kunnersdorf, when I sent an express courier to +Berlin and ordered the Town Council to advise the rich and +well-to-do to retire from the city with their portable property, my +recommendation was not followed: you yourself excited the Council +to disobedience. In your self-willed obstinacy you had the impudent +assurance to make your way through a country infested by the enemy; +and if my colonel, Von Prittwitz, had not found you in those woods, +and brought you to me in the village, your obstinate head would have +adorned the lance of some Cossack or other. And what did you come for +but to assure me that the well-to-do citizens of Berlin would prefer +staying at home, and did not wish to run away? Yes, truly you are a +queer diplomatist, and rush headlong into danger and trouble only to +assure your king that his citizens will not obey him!" + +The king had spoken with apparent displeasure, but around his lips +there played a slight smile, and his large blue eyes were directed +toward Gotzkowsky with an expression of indescribable kindness. + +"In this case they do not wish to obey your majesty, because they wish +to remain worthy of the name of your majesty's citizens and subjects." + +The king paced up and down several times, with folded arms, and then +stopped before Gotzkowsky, looking steadily in his eyes. "Now tell me, +how did you manage to make the Berliners so obstinate and so lavish of +their means?" + +Gotzkowsky smiled. "Please your majesty, the Berliners prize their +honor above their life." + +The king shook his head impatiently. "You may tell that to some one +else. Tell _me_, how did you bring my Berliners up to that? But the +truth--mind, you tell me the truth." + +"Well, then, your majesty shall know the truth," said Gotzkowsky, +after a pause. + +"Yes, yes, the truth," cried the king, nodding his head violently. "I +wish to know how you inspired the citizens of Berlin with such bold +assurance." + +"The truth is, sire, that this was only the courage of cowardice, and +that the prudent magistracy and merchants were perfectly delighted +with your majesty's orders not to pay these bonds, and that I gave +myself an immense amount of trouble in vain to remind them of their +pledged word and their compromised honor." + +"Oh! I know it," said the king. "My good Berliners love money as well +as any other of the good-for-nothing children of men. Proceed!" + +"Well, when I found them deaf to the voice of honor, I let them hear +the words of cowardly prudence. I painted to them the horrors awaiting +them if the enemy perchance should return as conquerors, and what a +fearful revenge they would take on the perjured city. I reminded them +that the enemy would immediately attack all our property in Courland, +Dantzic, and Livonia, and that at the Russian headquarters they had +threatened me that they would publish, us in all the open commercial +marts as issuers of false bonds." + +"You were then in the Russian camp?" + +"A fortnight ago, sire. The Council of Berlin requested me to +undertake this journey to complete the transactions left unfinished by +the rapid retreat of General von Tottleben." + +"And did you finish them?" + +"I was obliged to give General Tottleben a written agreement that +I would return in four weeks to the Russian camp to carry out the +transactions in the name of these merchants." + +"I have been told that the Russian general would not accept the bonds +for the war-tax unless you indorsed them. Is that true, too?" + +"It is true." + +"And what did you do?" + +"I indorsed them." + +The king's eye lighted up with friendship and kindness. "D'Argens is +right," said he. "Cornelius Nepos and Livy would have mentioned you in +their writings." And he paced up and down the room in deep thought. + +A long pause ensued. Finally, Gotzkowsky was bold enough to break it. +"And the tax, your majesty, may we pay it?" + +The king stopped in front of him. "The tax shall be paid," said he +curtly; but, as Gotzkowsky was about to break out in loud expressions +of gratitude, the king waved him off with his hand. "That is," said +he, "I myself will pay it, if it cannot be otherwise. Go back into the +Russian camp, as you have promised. Endeavor to get some abatement of +the amount, or some other profitable terms; but if you do not succeed, +well, I will have to pay this million and a half for Berlin. But in +return you must grant me a favor." + +"What, sire? Whatever it may be," cried Gotzkowsky, ardently, "I am +ready to perform any service for your majesty, even to the sacrifice +of my life." + +The king smiled. "Oh, no! not quite so bad as that, although the +service I ask of you is more difficult to most men than dying--I +mean _keeping silence_." And as he laid his hand affectionately on +Gotzkowsky's shoulder, he continued: "Betray to no one what I have +said to you, and only at the very last moment, if it is absolutely +necessary, take the Council into your confidence." + +"How, sire?" said Gotzkowsky, painfully. "You wish to deprive your +Berlin citizens of the gratification of expressing to you their +gratitude, their infinite affection. Berlin may not even know how +kind, how gracious your majesty has been to her!" + +"I don't like the jingling of words, nor the throwing of wreaths. The +very people who throw laurel-wreaths would be only too glad if the +laurels were hard enough to break our heads. You pay the contribution, +that is to say, you advance it, and I'll return it to you.[4] That's +all, and now don't say another word about it." At the same time, as +if fearful that Gotzkowsky might yet venture to act contrary to his +wishes, he continued more rapidly: "Now tell me a little about Berlin, +and above all things about our gallery at Sans-Souci. How does it +fare?" + +"It is finished, sire, and the people flock to see it." + +"I only, like a fugitive or a Don Quixote, am driven about," said the +king to himself, "and cannot even enter my own house, and they call +that royal happiness!" Turning to Gotzkowsky, he remarked aloud: "Have +you seen the gallery since the enemy took up his quarters in it?" + +"Yes, sire! Prince Esterhazy was this noble enemy. He protected +Sans-Souci like something sacred. When he left he only took one single +small picture with him, as a souvenir." + +The king gave a friendly nod. "I know it," said he, "and that is the +only pleasure I have had for a long time. Once more I will see my +Titians and Correggios, my Rubenses and Vandycks, which you bought for +me. Now tell me about Charlottenburg. But mind, give me the truth. I +have noticed that no one will speak out about it, nobody will tell the +truth. They are afraid of my anger. But you are a brave man, you are +not even afraid of the Cossacks. You will have the courage to let your +king know the facts. How is it with Charlottenburg? The Saxons have +quartered there--what did they do?" + +And now Gotzkowsky, often interrupted by the violent and angry +exclamations of the king, told of the barbarous and cruel vandalism +committed by the Saxons at Charlottenburg, their unbridled +destructiveness and unsparing barbarity. + +"And the Polignac collection?" asked the king, breathlessly. + +"Almost entirely destroyed." + +The king started up from his easy-chair, his eyes flashing with rage. +He was no longer the philosopher of Sans-Souci, no longer the poet; he +was now the warrior panting for battle and bloody vengeance. "Tell me, +tell me! I wish to know all," said the king, laboring out each word, +and taking long strides up and down. + +But as Gotzkowsky gave him a more detailed account, and related +the sacrilegious barbarity which did not spare even the sacred +art-treasures, the king's brow became more darkened, and for a moment +a burning flush of anger shot across his pale cheek. At one time +he raised his arm threateningly, as if he would bring down the +thunderbolts of heaven upon such wickedness and ruthlessness. + +As Gotzkowsky finished, the king said, curtly and vehemently, "Good, +very good!" and traversing the room with hasty steps, he threw open +the door which led into the antechamber, and called out, "Saldern!" + +Immediately General von Saldern appeared at the open door. The king +commanded him to enter and shut the door; then, addressing him in a +short, decisive tone: "Go to-morrow, quietly, with a detachment of +infantry and cavalry, to Hubertsburg, take possession of the castle, +and have all the valuable furniture carefully inventoried and packed +up. I will have none of it. The money obtained from its ransom will be +turned over to the Lazaretto, and I will not forget you." + +There was a pause. General von Saldern remained at the door +motionless, in stiff military attitude. + +The king looked at him with astonishment. "Well! did you hear?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I heard. But, may it please your majesty, this is +against my honor and my oath." + +The king compelled himself to be composed, for he loved General +Saldern as a brave and noble officer. "You would be right," said he, +"if I did not use this desperate means to a good object. But let me +tell you, the head of the great lord does not feel it if you tear out +the hair of his subjects. You must hit, then, where it hurts him; and +that I intend to do. The Elector of Saxony shall find out how it feels +when one's most cherished possession is destroyed. We will teach him +to be humane, and behave himself. Go, therefore, to Hubertsburg, and +do as I told you." + +General von Saldern turned pale, and his countenance was expressive of +deep suffering, as he answered gravely and firmly: "Your majesty may +send me right off to attack the enemy and his batteries, and I will +obey with my whole heart; but against my honor, my oath, and my duty, +I cannot, dare not act." + +The king stamped with his foot, and his eye flashed with threatening +anger. + +"You must obey, as is your duty; you are bound to obey no other voice +than that of your king who commands you," said he with a voice of +thunder. + +General Saldern answered, calmly: "But, sire, I must obey the voice +of my honor! Your majesty can easily transfer this commission to +another." + +The king turned from him with an involuntary frown, and, walking up +and down hastily, he stopped near Saldern, and laid his hand gently on +his shoulder. "Look ye, Saldern, obey--go to Hubertsburg." + +"I cannot, sire!" + +"You do not desire to enrich yourself?" said the king, as he turned +away. "Do you wish your discharge? I have no use for soldiers who do +not consider obedience their first duty." + +"I herewith ask for my discharge, sire!" + +"You have it--go!"[5] + +Without saying a word, General von Saldern made a military obeisance, +and left the room. + +"You go too!" said the king to Gotzkowsky, who had been a silent, +involuntary spectator of this scene--"go and tell my adjutant to send +Quintus Icilius to me." + +In a few minutes Major Quintus Icilius entered. "Go to Hubertsburg +with a detachment of infantry and cavalry, and clear out the castle." + +Major Quintus Icilius took good heed not to contradict the king. He +had already, in the antechamber, heard of General von Saldern's fate, +and he was not indisposed to execute the king's commission. + +"Only a hundred thousand dollars you hand over to the Lazaretto, the +rest you can keep for yourself." + +"As you command, sire! Shall I proceed at once?" + +The king cast a look of disgust on him. "Are you in such a hurry to +be rich?" said he. "Go--I will appoint the time and the hour more +particularly."[6] + +When the king was alone again, he paced up and down the room in deep +thought. At one time he stopped at the window, and his bright blue +eyes were turned mournfully toward heaven. "Poor fools that we are!" +said he, with a sigh. "We have only a moment to live, and we make +this moment as bitter as possible to each other. We take pleasure in +destroying the master-pieces of industry and art, at the same time +we are erecting an accursed monument to our own devastation and our +cruelty."[7] + + +[Footnote 1: "Lettres inédites, ou Correspondance de Frédéric II.," +&c., p. 120.] + +[Footnote 2: The king's own words.] + +[Footnote 3: "Correspondance entre Fred. et M. d'Argens," vi., p. +228.] + +[Footnote 4: "Life of a Patriotic Merchant," pp. 85-254. "The king +paid the contribution in fact so quietly, one hardly knew when, where, +or how."--_Preuss's History of Frederick_.] + +[Footnote 5: This interview is historical and literal. General von +Saldern left the army, but after the peace entered it again, with high +honor and distinction.--KUSTRE, "Traits of Saldern," p. 39.] + +[Footnote 6: Not till May, 1761, was the king's order carried into +execution by Major Q. Icilius, in a most barbarous manner. The king +was apparently satisfied; but when Q. Icilius in 1764 applied for +repayment of moneys spent in executing the royal command, the king +indorsed on the application--"My officers steal like crows. They get +nothing."] + +[Footnote 7: His own words.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WINTER-QUARTERS IN LEIPSIC. + + +The king of Prussia had left Meissen, and taken up his winter-quarters +in Leipsic. The choice of this town arose from a particular need of +the king. He wished to pass the winter in a university town, and, +instead of the rough companions of war, to surround himself with +learned men and artists, poets and musicians. He had his band brought +from Berlin, and invited the professors of the Leipsic University to +his table. Thus Leipsic, the rich and luxurious commercial town, found +itself, for a few months, converted into a royal residence. But not +willingly did she undergo this transformation; and it was against her +wish that she received the Prussian king, in lieu of the troops of the +allies, within her walls. Frederick knew this, and therefore exercised +no mercy on this city, so rich in money and professions, whose +unwelcome guest he was. + +Had Leipsic welcomed the Prussian army in a ready and friendly manner, +she would certainly have met with indulgence; but her defiant and +sullen behavior, her warm partisanship of Austria, whose ally Saxony +was, naturally only tended to increase the animosity of the king, +and aggravate his ill-humor. If Leipsic insisted upon regarding the +Prussians as enemies, his duty was to consider her as an enemy, and +treat her as such. + +Enormous contributions were laid upon the town, and in spite of the +previous written promise of the king that her assessment should not, +at the utmost, exceed five hundred thousand dollars, new demands were +now constantly being made, and new contributions levied. In vain +did the Council beg and plead for mercy and justice; in vain did the +merchants protest that their means were exhausted, and that they were +not able to meet any further payments. The enormous demands determined +on were firmly and with iron obstinacy insisted upon; and as the +refractory town did not cease to oppose them, recourse was had to +threats to intimidate her. Tarred rings were hung against the +houses, and it was sworn to lay the town in ashes if Leipsic did not +immediately pay the million of dollars demanded. But the unfortunate +inhabitants had already reached that pitch of desperation at which +people are prepared for any thing, and fear nothing further because +there is nothing more to lose. They declared that they could pay no +more, and offered to seal their word with their death. + +The tarred rings were indeed taken down from the houses, but the +richest and most respectable inhabitants were seized and incarcerated. +Even the authorities were not spared, and the officers of the Council +were thrown into the prisons of the towns. In the most degrading +manner, like a flock of sheep, they were shut up in spaces hardly able +to contain them; damp straw was their bed, bread and water their only +nourishment, and this was brought to them with words of cruel insult +by their Prussian jailers. But to these latter the burden soon became +too heavy; they were weary of their cruel service, and sought to +lighten it. + +At first they had one hundred and twenty prisoners, but, after a +fortnight of useless torment, the greater number had been set free, +and only seventeen retained. To be sure, these consisted of +the richest and most respectable citizens of Leipsic. And these +unfortunate hostages, these spoilt sons of wealth and luxury, were now +forced to bear the whole weight of misfortune, the entire anger of the +victorious enemy. They, whose whole life had been one of indulgence +and effeminacy, had now to undergo the greatest privations, the +hardest sufferings. The cold earth was their bed, a piece of bread +thrown to them their nourishment; and it was a feast to them when one +of the gentlewomen of Leipsic succeeded in obtaining permission to +visit a brother or husband, and was able to smuggle in under her silk +dress a piece of meat or a little bowl of soup for the martyrs. These +cruelties would doubtless have been lessened or abolished if the king +had had positive knowledge of them, or if he had believed that the +city's inability to pay was real, and not a mere pretext. But the +king, vexed by the continually repeated complaints, out of humor at +the obstinate conduct of Leipsic, and mindful of the vandal conduct of +the Saxons at Charlottenburg, had issued strict orders not to trouble +him with this business, and not to report to him about them until they +could at the same time show that the sum demanded had been paid. And +therewith sentence had been passed upon the unfortunate citizens of +Leipsic. No one dared to mention to the king the torments and tortures +to which the hostages of the pitiable town were subjected. No one +had the courage to beg for mercy for those whose only crime was, that +their riches were exhausted, their coffers empty, and that they did +not possess the means to pay the inordinate sums demanded of them. + +But while the population of Leipsic was undergoing this grief, +this hard time of trial, an uninterrupted quiet and precious peace +prevailed in the house inhabited by the King of Prussia. Music was +performed, readings were held, and in the midst of these gentle +diversions and this pleasant rest Frederick drew up the plans of +fresh, battles and new and great undertakings. Fasch and Quanz had +been brought from Berlin to play music for him, the Marquis d'Argens +to philosophize for him, his dogs to amuse him. The king, who knew +enough of men to despise the wavering, erring, sinful creatures, was +also a sufficient connoisseur of dogs to love the faithful, obedient, +submissive animals with his whole heart, and devoted a great part of +his time to them. He who was deaf to the wailing and lamentations of +a whole city, had his ears open to the least whine of Biche, or his +favorite Psyche, and never would have forgiven him who had dared +to treat one of his dogs as so many of the noble and distinguished +citizens of Leipsic were being treated in his name. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FRIEND IN NEED. + + +No one would have dared to speak a word for the refractory +citizens and authorities of Leipsic to the king, nor act in direct +contravention to his express orders. Even the Marquis d'Argens, his +intimate friend and confidant, had refused to be the advocate of the +unfortunate town. It seemed to be lost, without hope of redemption, +and already it had been threatened with the extreme of severity. It +had been announced to the chief men, the fathers and heads of families +who were pining in the prisons, that they would be transported on foot +to Magdeburg as recruits, with knapsacks on their backs. But at +this moment the rescuer in need, of the afflicted city, made his +appearance. + +A tall, proud, manly form crossed the antechamber of the king. Power +and energy were visible in his countenance, and his eyes sparkled +with noble excitement. He was going to perform that duty from which +courtiers and flatterers shrank with trembling; and what the bravest +generals did not dare, he was going to undertake. John Gotzkowsky was +going to tell the king the truth. John Gotzkowsky was not afraid to +rouse the anger of a king, when it came to helping the unfortunate or +protecting the oppressed. He had a more noble mission to perform than +to sue for the smiles of a king, or the favor of the great. It was +the higher mission of humanity which impelled him, and, as usual, his +resolution was firm and unwavering. With bold decision he reached +the door which led into the king's chamber. He had the privilege of +entering unannounced, for the king expected him. + +He had summoned Gotzkowsky from Berlin, to obtain information as to +the progress of the Berlin industrial works, and the faithful patriot +had, in obedience to the call of his king, come to Leipsic. He had +seen the misery and suffering on this poor, down-trodden town, and, +as he traversed the antechamber, he said to himself, with an +imperceptible smile, "I brought the Russian general to clemency, and +the king will not be harder than he was." + +But before he threw off his cloak, he drew out of it a small package, +which he examined carefully. Being satisfied with its appearance, he +took it with him to the cabinet of the king. Frederick did not look at +him at first. He was reclining on the floor, and around him, on silken +cushions, lay his dogs, their bright eyes fixed on a dish which +was placed in the midst of them. The king, with an ivory stick, was +carefully dividing the portion for each dog, ordering the growling, +discontented ones to be quiet, and comforting the patiently waiting +ones with a light jest concerning the next piece. Suddenly he raised +his eyes, and his quick glance rested on Gotzkowsky's smiling, placid +face. "Ah, you laugh," said he, "and in your human conceit you find it +quite beneath one's dignity to occupy one's self with dogs, when there +are so many human beings. Let me tell you, you don't understand any +thing about it! You don't know dogs at all, and perhaps you don't know +men.--Quiet, Biche! leave that piece for Apollo. I gave it to him, and +therefore it belongs to him. One would suppose you had been learning +from men, and in the true spirit of Christian and brotherly love, +grudged each other a piece of bread. Quiet, Biche, and don't be vexed +that I compared you to human beings. I did not mean you were quite as +bad as that." + +And gently stroking and caressing the offended Biche, he rose and +seated himself in his velvet-covered _fauteuil_. His bright eye turned +toward Gotzkowsky, and rested on the package the latter had in his +hand. "What have you there?" + +"A plate and a cup," said Gotzkowsky, seriously--"the first two pieces +from my porcelain factory in Berlin." + +The king now rose from his seat and strode hastily toward Gotzkowsky. +"Give them here. I want to see what sort of potters'-ware you are +going to impose upon me for porcelain." With impatient hands he tore +off the paper coverings, and so eagerly was he engaged with them, that +he did not perceive that Biche and Apollo were already fighting for a +scrap of paper which he had thrown directly on Biche's nose, and which +she consequently mistook for a delicate morsel, a prize worth a fight +with Apollo. "Forsooth, it is porcelain!" cried the king, as he drew +out the gold-rimmed plate and the beautifully painted cup from their +wrappings, and looked at them attentively; and as his eye rested +on the painting of the cup, his features assumed a soft and +sad expression. "My house in Rheinsberg," muttered he softly to +himself--"a greeting from my happy days." + +"In the castle Rheinsberg, I first enjoyed the favor of being +presented to your majesty," said Gotzkowsky. "Castle Rheinsberg is, +therefore, to me a happy recollection, and it was for that reason +selected to adorn the proof pieces of my porcelain factory." + +The king fastened a penetrating look upon him. "You are playing me +a trick--I don't like tricks, you must know. Therefore tell me the +truth. Where did you get this porcelain? It is not from Meissen. The +mark is wanting, and it is whiter and stronger. Where did you get it?" + +"From Berlin, sire. I promised you, when you were in Meissen, that in +future you should procure your porcelain from your own dominions, and +I dare not forfeit my word." + +"And so you imitated the Almighty, and created a porcelain factory +with the breath of your mouth?" + +"Not with the breath of my mouth, but the breath of my money." + +"Tell me about it, and all the particulars," said the king, still +holding the cup in his hand, and looking at it attentively. + +And Gotzkowsky related how, on his return from Meissen, he had +accidentally made the acquaintance of a young man, who was passing +through Berlin on his way to Gotha, the duke having offered to +advance him the capital necessary to found a factory for the making of +porcelain according to a process of his own invention. The specimens +exhibited convinced Gotzkowsky that this young man was fully +acquainted with the secret of porcelain-making, and he had therefore +immediately determined to forestall the Duke of Gotha. + +Money had in this instance, as usual, exercised its charm, and nothing +more was necessary than to outbid the terms agreed on with the duke. +A few thousand dollars more offered, and double purchase-money, had +secured the secret of porcelain-making to Gotzkowsky, and bound the +inventor down in Berlin for life.[1] + +The arrangements necessary for the first attempts were made in one of +the out-buildings of his house, and the articles offered to the king +were the first-fruits of his factory. The king listened to him with +intense interest, and when Gotzkowsky had finished, he nodded to him +with a smile. + +"The Marquis d'Argens is right. I wish myself I had many such citizens +as you are. It would be a fine thing to be a king if all one's +subjects were true men, and made it worth one's while to be to them a +kind father and lord. You have fulfilled a favorite wish of mine; and +let me tell you, I do not think you will call the porcelain factory +yours long. I think it will soon be a royal factory." + +"I founded it for your majesty." + +"Good, good! you have given me a pleasure, I will give you one in +return. Ask some favor for yourself. You are silent. Do you know of +nothing to ask for?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed," said Gotzkowsky, ardently, "I have a great favor to +ask--have pity on the poor inhabitants of this town!" + +The king frowned and pressed his lips angrily together. "Do you know +that I have generally forbidden any one to trouble me with these +Leipsic jeremiades?" + +"I know it, sire." + +The king looked at him with astonishment. "And yet you do it?" + +"Yes, sire, I do it because I relied on the kind, noble heart of my +king, and because humanity bade me not to fear your majesty's anger, +when it became a question of mercy to the oppressed." + +"And for this reason you wanted to bribe me with your bits of +porcelain. Oh, you are a reckoner, but this time you have reckoned +without your host. No pity for these obstinate Leipsigers. They must +pay the eleven hundred thousand dollars, or--" + +"Or what?" asked Gotzkowsky, as he hesitated. + +The king looked angrily at him. "You are very bold," said he, "to +interrupt me. The Leipsigers must pay, for I need the money for my +soldiers, and they are rich; they are able to pay!" + +"They are not able to pay, sire! They are as little able to pay as +Berlin is if Russia insists upon her demands, and her magnanimous king +does not come to her assistance. But your majesty certainly does not +wish that the world and history shall say that Russia acted with +more forbearance and clemency toward Berlin than Prussia did toward +Leipsic? To be sure, the Russians carried off the Jewish elders into +captivity because they could not pay, but then they treated these poor +victims of their avarice like human beings. They did not make them +sleep on rotten straw; they did not let them starve, and die of misery +and filth; they did not have them scourged and tortured until they wet +with their tears the bit of bread thrown to them." + +"Who does that?" cried the king, with thundering voice and flashing +eye. + +Gotzkowsky bowed low. "Your majesty, the King of Prussia does that!" + +Frederick uttered a cry of anger, and advanced with his arm raised on +Gotzkowsky, who looked at him quietly and firmly. "You lie! retract!" +thundered the king. + +"I have, as long as I have lived, spoken the truth, sire--the truth, +without fear or dread of man. Your majesty is the first man who has +accused me of a lie. I have seen with my own eyes your majesty's +officials treating the poor captive Leipsic merchants like dogs. What +do I say--like dogs? Oh, how would the poor down-trodden men envy +those dogs the delicacies contained in that dish! It may be right to +compel and humble the refractory, but it is not right to tread out the +human soul, and even in the conquered you should honor God's image." + +The king looked at him with ludicrous surprise. "Do you wish to give +me a lesson? Well, I will forgive you this time, and, as you express +it, honor God's image in the owner of the Berlin porcelain factory. +But hush about these hard-headed Leipsigers. They must pay. My +soldiers cannot live on air, and my coffers are empty." + +"The Leipsigers are very willing to contribute, but the demand must +not exceed their powers." + +"How do you know that?" + +"The magistracy and merchant guild of Leipsic sent a deputation to me, +and entreated my mediation." + +"You have then already the reputation of one who knows how to use his +tongue well, and goes about tattling with it." + +"Sire," said Gotzkowsky, smiling, "we only follow the example of our +hero-king. We all are anxious to fight, and those who have no swords +must fight with the tongue. I have latterly been compelled to fight a +great deal with it, and the Leipsic merchants may have heard something +about that. They knew that I had some exercise with my tongue, and +gained a little victory with it over the Russians in Berlin." + +"How much do you think the city of Leipsic can pay?" asked the king +after a pause. + +"If your majesty will remit them a few hundred thousand dollars, and +allow the merchants time, they are willing to bind themselves in joint +bonds." + +"_Parbleu_! are they willing to do that?" asked the king, derisively. +"The bonds of the Leipsic merchants would be no security to me." +And turning quickly on Gotzkowsky, he asked him, "Are you willing to +guarantee the payment?" + +"If your majesty orders it, the bonds shall be drawn out with my +guaranty." + +"I look to you, then, for their payment." + +"At your orders, sire." + +"Well, then, for your sake I will remit the Leipsigers three hundred +thousand dollars; but for the rest of the million you are answerable." + +"I will be answerable for it." + +"I will let these gentlemen of Leipsic know that it is to your +intercession and your guaranty that they are indebted for the +mitigation of their contributions; and then you can, if it gives you +pleasure, bargain with the rich town for some reward for your services +rendered." + +"That would give me no pleasure, sire!" cried Gotzkowsky, with noble +indignation. "Your majesty must not think so meanly of me as to +suppose that I would make a profit out of the misfortunes of others, +and that I have interceded for the poor Leipsigers in order to make a +trade out of them!" + +"I think that you are a hard-headed, obstinate fellow, who must be +allowed to have his own way," said the king, with an affable smile. +"But I must bear you witness that, in your own way, you have rendered +me many a good service. For that reason, you will always find me well +affected toward you, and in the Sans-Souci gallery you have created a +beautiful memorial to yourself." + +"If your majesty would come there now, you would find the Correggio +about which you wrote to the Marquis d'Argens." + +The king's eyes sparkled. "The Correggio is mine!" said he, walking up +and down slowly, with his hands behind his back. "Ah," added he, after +a long pause, in a low tone, as if speaking to himself, "when will +this nomadic life cease, and the world be at peace, to allow this +poor, badgered king a few hours of leisure and recreation, to enjoy +the contemplation of his house and his pictures? The wandering Jew, if +he ever existed, did not lead such a rambling life as I do. We get at +last to be like the roving play-actors, who have neither hearth +nor home, and thus we pass through the world, playing our bloody +tragedies, with the wailings of our subjects for chorus.[2] When will +it end?" + +"When your majesty has subdued all your enemies." + +The king looked around with surprise--he had quite forgotten +Gotzkowsky. "Ah! are you still there? and you prophesy me victory? +Well, that will be as good to me as the Leipsic money. Go back home, +and tell the Leipsigers to hurry with the money. And hark ye! when you +get to Potsdam, greet the Correggio, and tell him I yearn for him as a +lover does for his mistress Adieu!" + + +[Footnote 1: Porcelain-making was then a great secret in Germany, only +known in Meissen; the process being conducted with closed doors, and +the foreman bound by oath. Gotzkowsky paid ten thousand dollars +down, a life income of a thousand dollars, and house and firewood +free.--"Life of a Patriotic Merchant," p. 87.] + +[Footnote 2: "Correspondance de Frédéric II. avec le Comte +Algarottis."] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GRATITUDE AND RECOMPENSE. + + +Thus did Gotzkowsky save unfortunate Leipsic from the heavy burden +which weighed her down. The prisoners were released, and the merchants +gave a bond, for whose punctual and prompt payment Gotzkowsky +guaranteed with his signature. + +He did not do this from a selfish or vain ambition to have the praise +of his name sounded, nor to increase the number of his addresses of +gratitude, or written asseverations of affection. He did it from love +of mankind; because he desired to fulfil the vow he had made to God +and himself on the highway as a shivering, starving lad: that if he +should ever become rich, he would be to every unfortunate and needy +one the hand which had appeared out of the dust-cloud to his relief. +He did it because, as he tells us naively and simply in his Life, "I +knew from my own experience how difficult it was for a community +to collect such a sum, and because the idea of profiting by such +misfortune was abhorrent to me." + +And now there was a brilliant banquet, and no end to the words of +gratitude and tears of emotion. This banquet was given by the Leipsic +merchants in honor of him who had so magnanimously taken their part, +saved them three hundred thousand dollars, and guaranteed their bonds. +And they devoured the delicate viands and emptied the beakers to his +honor, and praised him in high-sounding speeches. + +When Gotzkowsky, wearied and bored by this festival, returned home, he +found on his table three letters. The one which bore on its seal the +arms of Prussia he opened first. It was a cabinet order from the +king to his private secretary, Leinning, to pay to the merchant, John +Gotzkowsky, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. "Ah," said he, +smiling, "payment on account; I bought a hundred thousand ducats' +worth of paintings for the king, and he does not wish to remain always +in my debt." With a slight shrug of the shoulders he opened +the second letter. Suddenly he burst into a loud laugh, and his +countenance assumed an expression of derisive mirth. "The Elector of +Saxony, in consideration of services rendered to the town of Leipsic, +appoints me his commercial privy councillor!" cried he, waving the +paper in the air; "that is a good joke! The little elector, who has +been my debtor for many long years, is gracious enough to throw me a +bit of rank--a title! Much obliged! My name sounds well enough. It is +not necessary to have a title to be a man of honor. Throw titles to +numskulls, not to me--away with it!" + +He then threw the paper aside with scorn, and took up the third +letter. As he read it his noble countenance brightened up with proud +pleasure, and his eyes sparkled. It was a document from the town of +Leipsic, an address of thanks from the magistracy, the concluding +words of which ran thus: + +"In our extreme need we had recourse to Herr Gotzkowsky, the respected +merchant and banker of Berlin, imploring the same to intercede for +this town and its merchants with the king of Prussia; affording +them his credit and valuable assistance, to accord to said town +some reasonable respite for payment, with security. To this earnest +pleading Herr Gotzkowsky yielded, and, as a true philanthropist, +without any ulterior views of profit to himself, did in the most +praiseworthy manner assist us, and averted this misfortune from the +town. These services we are compelled to acknowledge. We therefore +offer our services in return on all possible occasions, not doubting +that the mercantile community of this place entertain the same +sentiments, and feel themselves equally bound to all imaginable +reciprocity. + +[SIGNED] "The Council of Leipsic. + +"Leipsic, _February_ 26, 1761." + +"This paper I will carry to my daughter, as a souvenir," said +Gotzkowsky, folding it up carefully, and then added thoughtfully: "Who +knows but what the time may come when it will be necessary to remind +the merchants of Leipsic of this document? The opinions and destinies +of men are very variable." + +But Gotzkowsky himself was to have occasion to remind unthankful +Leipsic of her professions of gratitude--not to call on her to +perform reciprocal favors, but to protect himself against calumny +and unfriendly suspicions. For a day came, when Leipsic forgot the +affliction and grief she had suffered, and only remembered that John +Gotzkowsky was her creditor, and that she owed him large sums of +money. So, when at last, weary of long waiting, he pressed for +payment, they accused him of self-interest, and said that he had +unnecessarily mixed himself up in their affairs, and that it would +have been better if he had left them to their captivity; for although +they might have had much to suffer, they would have had but little to +pay. + +Gotzkowsky answered these accusations in a manner characteristic of +his noble, proud self--he was silent about them. But hard times and +oppression came again upon the rich town of Leipsic. + +The Prussian king exacted fresh contributions--and now they recalled +to mind the services of Gotzkowsky; again they sent him humble +letters, begging him to have pity on them; and now the cunning, +calculating magistracy of Leipsic saw fit to take notice of these +calumnies, which they had shortly before so industriously circulated +through the public newspapers, and solemnly to declare in all the +journals: "We hereby certify, in compliance with truth, through these +writings, that the worshipful Herr Gotzkowsky, as well in past years, +as at the late Leipsic fair, out of unchanged and innate love and +friendly kindness to us, this town, and its inhabitants, has given +just cause for gratitude." + +Gotzkowsky forgot the insults, and was again of assistance to them. A +second time he persuaded the king to mitigate their contribution, and +guaranteed the new bonds issued by them. A second time the magistrates +and merchants thanked him in the most touching words for his noble +and disinterested assistance, and a second time were they destined to +forget their vows of gratitude. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FOUR YEARS' LABOR. + + +Four years of work, of industry, of productive activity, had passed +away since the stormy year of 1760. They had produced but little +alteration in the life of Gotzkowsky and his daughter. + +Gotzkowsky toiled and worked as he always had done; his factories +were enlarged, his wealth increased and his fame as a merchant sounded +through the whole world. + +But all this would he have given, if he could have seen the light on +the lips, the rosy glow on the cheek of his daughter, as in bygone +days. But the beautiful and impassioned young girl had altered into +the pale, serious, silent young woman, who had learned to throw +the veil of quiet resignation over the secret of her heart, and to +suppress any manifestation of pain. + +Elise had grown old _internally_--old, despite her two-and-twenty +years; she looked upon the life before her as a joyless, desert waste, +which she had to traverse with bleeding feet and broken heart; and in +the desolation of her soul, she sometimes shuddered at the death-like +apathy and quiet of her feelings, broken by no sound, no note, not +even the wail of woe. + +She was without a wish, without a hope. Grief had spent itself on her. +She wept no more--she wrestled no longer with her love, for she +had conquered it. But she could not rise again to any new joys of +life--she could only be resigned. She had accepted life, and she bore +it as does the bird shut up in a gilded cage, robbed of freedom and +fresh air, and given in return a brilliant prison. She, too, was an +imprisoned bird; and her wounded heart lay in the cage of her breast, +sorrowful and infinitely wretched. She prayed to God for peace, +for resignation, no longer for happiness, for she did not believe +happiness any more possible. She had sunk into that apathy which +desires nothing more than a quiet, dreamy fading away. Her grief was +deficient in the animating consolation of the thought that "it came +from God." Real and sacred suffering, which does come from God, and +is imposed upon us by fate, always carries with it the divine power +of healing; and at the same time that it casts us down and humbles us, +raises us again, steels our courage, and makes us strong and proud +to suffer and to bear. Quite different is that misfortune which comes +from man--which is laid upon us by the envy, hatred, and malice of +mankind. This carries with it no consolation, no comfort--a misfortune +full of bitterness and murmuring--a misfortune which abases us without +elevating us again, which casts us down in the mire, from the soil of +which not all the hot streams of our tears can purify and cleanse us. +Had she lost her lover, had he been snatched away from her by death, +Elise, while she gave him back to God, would have regarded this heavy +and sacred affliction as her great and holy happiness; she would have +accepted it as a precious promise which elevated her, and inspired her +with a blissful hope. + +But she had lost him by his own treachery, by worldly sin, and she +had given him up, not to God, but to his own unrighteousness and +disloyalty. She had therefore lost him irretrievably, and for +always--not for a short space of time, but for all eternity; and she +dared not even weep for him, for her misfortune was at the same time +her disgrace, and even her tears filled her with humiliation and +shame. For that reason she never spoke, either with her father or +with Bertram, about the sad and painful past, about the errors and +disappointments of her youth; and neither of them in their pure and +indulgent love ever trespassed on the silence which Elise had spread +over her sorrow. Toward her father she was a careful, attentive, and +submissive daughter; toward Bertram a confiding and loving sister; but +to both she felt as if she were only giving what was saved from the +shipwreck of her affections. They both knew that Elise could no longer +offer them an entire, unbroken heart. But they were both content to +rest on the embers of this ruined edifice, to gather the leaves of +this rose, broken by the tempest, and to remember how beautiful it was +in its bloom. + +Gotzkowsky only asked of his daughter that she should live, that she +should become again healthy and strong for new happiness. + +Bertram, in the strength and fidelity of his affections, had no other +wish than that he should some day see her cheerful and content again, +and once more brightened by the beams which only love and +happiness can spread over a human countenance; and in his great and +self-sacrificing love he said to himself: "If I only knew that her +happiness lay in the remotest corner of the world, thither would I go +to fetch it for her, even if she thereby were lost to me forever!" + +And thus did four years pass away--externally, bright and clear, +surrounded by all the brilliancy of wealth and happiness--inwardly, +silent and desolate, full of privation and deep-rooted sorrow. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +DAYS OF MISFORTUNE. + + +Gotzkowsky was alone in his room. It was an elegant, brilliantly +ornamented apartment, which the greatest prince might have envied. +The most select pictures by celebrated old masters hung around on the +walls; the most costly Chinese vases stood on gilt tables; and between +the windows, instead of mirrors, were placed the most exquisite Greek +marble statues. The furniture of the room was simple. Gotzkowsky had +but one passion, on which he spent yearly many thousands, and that +was for art-treasures, paintings, and antiques. His house resembled +a temple of art; it contained the rarest and choicest treasures; and +when Gotzkowsky passed through the rooms on the arm of his daughter, +and contemplated the pictures, or dwelt with her on one of the sublime +statues of the gods, his eye beamed with blissful satisfaction, and +his whole being breathed cheerfulness and calm. But at this moment +his countenance was care-worn and anxious, and however pleasantly and +cheerfully the pictures looked down upon him from the walls, his +eye remained sad and clouded, and deep grief was expressed in his +features. + +He sat at his writing-table, and turned over the papers which lay +piled up high before him. At times he looked deeply shocked and +anxious, and his whole frame trembled, as with hasty hand he +transcribed some notes from another sheet. Suddenly he let the pen +drop, and sank his head on his breast. + +"It is in vain," he muttered in a low voice--"yes, it is in vain. If +I were to exert all my power, if I were to collect all my means +together, they would not be sufficient to pay these enormous sums." + +Again he turned over the papers, and pointing with his finger to +one of them, he continued: "Yes, there it stands. I am a rich man +on paper. Leipsic owes me more than a million. If she pays, and De +Neufville comes, I am saved. But if not--if Leipsic once more, as she +has already done three times, protests her inability to pay--if De +Neufville does not come, what shall I do? How can I save myself from +ruin and shame?" + +Deeper and deeper did he bury himself silently in the papers. A +terrible anxiety oppressed him, and sent his blood rushing to his +heart and head. He arose and paced up and down the room, muttering +occasionally a few words, betraying the anguish and terror which +possessed him. Then standing still, he pressed his hands to his +temples, as if to crowd back the pain which throbbed and ached there. + +"Oh, it is terrible!" he uttered in a subdued voice; "with my eyes +open I stand on the brink of a precipice. I see it, and cannot draw +back. If no helping hand is stretched out to save me, I must fall in, +and my good name must perish with me. And to be obliged to confess +that not my own want of judgment, no rashness nor presumption on my +part, but only love of mankind, love of my brethren, has brought me +to this! To each one who held out his hand to me, I gave the hand of a +friend, every one in need I helped. And for that reason, for the good +I have done, I stand on the verge of an abyss." + +He cast his looks toward heaven, and tears shone in his eyes. "Was it, +then, wrong? O my God! was it, then, culpable to trust men, and must I +atone with my honor for what I did from love?" + +But this compunction, this depression, did not last long. Gotzkowsky +soon arose above his grief, and bearing his head aloft as if to shake +off the cares which lowered around it, he said in a determined tone: +"I must not lose my courage. This day requires all my presence +of mind, and the decisive moment shall not find me cowed and +pusillanimous." + +He was about to set himself to work again, when a repeated knocking +at the door interrupted him. At his reluctant bidding it opened, +and Bertram appeared on the threshold. "Pardon me," he said, almost +timidly; "I knew that you wished to be alone, but I could not bear +it any longer. I must see you. Only think, Father Gotzkowsky, it is a +fortnight since I arrived, and I have scarcely seen you in this time; +therefore do not be angry with me if I disobey your orders, and come +to you, although I know that you are busy." + +Gotzkowsky nodded to him with a sad smile. "I thank you for it," said +he. "I had ordered Peter not to admit any one. You are an exception, +as you know, my son." + +A pause ensued, during which Bertram examined Gotzkowsky with +a searching look. The latter had seated himself again at his +writing-table, and with troubled looks was examining his papers. + +Bertram had been absent for nearly a year. The silent grief which day +and night gnawed at his heart had undermined his health and exhausted +his physical strength. The physicians had deemed a prolonged residence +in Nice necessary. If Bertram yielded to their judgment and repaired +to Nice, it was because he thought, "Perhaps Elise will think of me +when I am no longer near her. Perchance absence may warm her heart, +and she may forget the brother, some day to welcome the husband." + +Returning after a year's absence, strengthened and restored to health, +he found Elise as he had left her. She received him with the same +quiet, calm look with which she had bid him farewell. She placed +her hand as coolly and as friendly in his, and although she inquired +cordially and sympathizingly after his welfare, Bertram still felt +that her heart and her inmost soul had not part in her questioning. + +Elise had not altered--but how little was Gotzkowsky like himself! +Where was the ardent man, powerful of will, whom Bertram had embraced +at his departure? where was his clear, ringing voice, his proud +bearing, his energy, his burning eloquence--what had become of all +these? What diabolical, dismal influence had succeeded in breaking +this iron will, in subduing this vital power? + +Bertram felt that a deep grief was corroding Gotzkowsky's life--a +grief whose destructive influence was greater because he avoided +the expression of it, and sought no relief nor consolation by +communicating it to others. "He shall, at least, speak to me," said +Bertram. "I will compel him to make me the confidant of his grief, and +to lighten his heart by imparting a portion of his burden to mine." +With this determination he had entered Gotzkowsky's room; he now +stood opposite to him, and with gentle sympathy looked into his pale, +sorrow-worn countenance. + +But Gotzkowsky avoided his eye. He seemed entirely occupied with his +papers, and turned them over again and again. Bertram could bear it +no longer; he hastened to him, and taking his hand pressed it +affectionately to his lips. "My father," said he, "forgive me; but +when I look at you, I am possessed by a vague fear which I cannot +explain to myself. You know that I love you as my father, and for that +reason can read your thoughts. Gotzkowsky, since my return I have read +much care and sorrow in your face." + +"Have you?" said Gotzkowsky, painfully; "yes, yes, sorrow does not +write in hieroglyphics. It is a writing which he who runs can read." + +"You confess, then, that you have sorrow, and yet you hide it from +me. You do not let me share your cares. Have I deserved that of you, +father?" + +Gotzkowsky arose and paced the room, thoughtful and excited. For +the first time he felt that the sympathy of a loving heart did good. +Involuntarily the crust which surrounded his heart gave way, and he +became gentle and eager for sympathy. He held out his hand to Bertram +and nodded to him. "You are right, my son," said he, gently, "I +should not have kept my sorrows from you. It is a comfort, perhaps, to +unbosom one's self. Listen, then--but no! first tell me what is said +of me in the city, and, above all, what is said of me at the Bourse? +Ah? you cast your eyes down--Bertram, I must and will know all. Speak +out freely. I have courage to hear the utmost." But yet his voice +trembled as he spoke, and his lips twitched convulsively. + +Bertram answered sadly: "What do you care about the street gossip of +envious people? You know that you have enemies, because you are rich +and high-minded. You have long been envied because your house is the +most extensive and solid in all Europe, and because your drafts stand +at par in all the markets. They are jealous of the fame of your firm, +and for that very reason they whisper all sorts of things that they do +not dare to say aloud. But why should you let such miserable scandal +worry you?" + +Bertram tried to smile, but it was a sorrowful, anxious one, which +did not escape Gotzkowsky. "Ah!" said he, "these light whisperings of +calumny are like the single snow-flakes which finally collect together +and roll on and on, and at last become an avalanche which buries up +our honor and our good name. Tell me, then, Bertram, what do they +whisper?" + +Bertram answered in a low, timid voice: "They pretend to know that +your house has suffered immense losses; that you were not able to +meet your drafts; that all your wealth is unfounded; and that--but why +should I repeat all the old women's and newspaper stories?" + +"Even the newspapers talk about it, then?" muttered Gotzkowsky to +himself. + +"Yes, the _Vossian Gazette_," continued Bertram, "has an article +in which it speaks mysteriously and sympathizingly of the impending +failure of one of our most eminent houses. This is said to aim at you, +father." + +"And the other paper, _Spener's Journal_?" + +"Is sorry to join in the statement, and confirms it to-day." + +Gotzkowsky broke out into a mocking laugh, his countenance brightened +with indignation, and his features expressed their former energy and +decision. "O world! O men!" he exclaimed, "how pitiful, how mean you +are! You know, Bertram, how much good I have done these men. I have +protected them as a friend in the time of their need and affliction. I +saved them from punishment and shame. In return they trumpet forth my +misfortunes, and that which might have been altered by the considerate +silence of my friends, they cry aloud to all the world, and thereby +precipitate my fall." + +"It is, then, really true?" asked Bertram, turning pale. "You are in +danger?" + +"To-day is the last term for the payment of the five hundred thousand +dollars, which I have to pay our king, for the town of Leipsic. Our +largest banking-houses have bought up these claims of the king against +me." + +"But that is not your own debt. You only stood good for Leipsic." + +"That I did; and as Leipsic cannot pay, I must." + +"But Leipsic can assume a portion of the debt least." + +"Perhaps so," said Gotzkowsky. "I have sent a courier to Leipsic, +and look for his return every hour. But it is not that alone which +troubles me," continued he, after a pause. "It would be easy to +collect the five hundred thousand dollars. The new and unexpected +ordinance from the mint, which renders uncurrent the light money, +deprives me of another half million. When I foresaw Leipsic's +insolvency, I had negotiated alone with Hamburg for half a million of +light money. But the spies of the Jews of the mint discovered this, +and when my money was in the course of transmission from Hamburg they +managed to obtain a decree from the king forbidding immediately the +circulation of this coin. In this way my five hundred thousand dollars +became good for nothing." + +"Horrible!" cried Bertram; "have you, then, not endeavored to save a +portion of this money?" + +"Yes, indeed," cried Gotzkowsky, with a bitter laugh, "I have tried. +I wished to send fifty thousand dollars of my money to the army of the +allies, to see if it would be current there; but Ephraim had foreseen +this, too, and obtained a decree forbidding even the transit of this +money through the Prussian dominions. This new and arbitrary law was +only published after my money had left Hamburg, and I had grounds +to hope that I would not be prevented from bringing it through the +Prussian dominions, for it was concealed in the double bottom of a +wagon. But avarice has sharp eyes, and the spies who were set upon all +my actions succeeded in discovering this too. The wagon was stopped at +the gates of Berlin, and the money was discovered where they knew it +was beforehand, under this false bottom. But who do you think it +was, Bertram, who denounced me in this affair? You would never guess +it--the chief burgomaster, President von Kircheisen! He stood himself +at the gate, watched for the wagon, and searched until he found the +money." + +"Kircheisen! The same, father, whom you saved from death when the +Russians were here?" + +"The same, my son; you shake your head incredulously. Read for +yourself." He took from his writing-table a large paper provided with +the official seal, and handed it to Bertram. "Read for yourself, my +son. It is an order from the minister Von Finkenstein." + +It was written thus: "The half of the sum is awarded by the king to +President von Kircheisen, as detective and informer." + +"A worthy title, 'detective and informer,'" continued Gotzkowsky. "By +Heaven, I do not envy him it! But now you shall know all. It does me +good to confide to you my sorrows--it lightens my poor heart. And now +I have another fear. You have heard of my speculation in the Russian +magazines?" + +"Of the magazines which you, with De Neufville and the bankers Moses +and Samuel, bought?" asked Bertram. + +"Yes, that is it. But Russia would not enter into the bargain unless I +made myself responsible for the whole sum." + +"And you did so?" asked Bertram, trembling. + +"I did. The purchase-money has been due for four months. My +fellow-contractors have not paid. If Russia insists upon the payment +of this debt, I am ruined." + +"And why do not Samuel and Moses pay their part?" + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately, but when he did, his features +expressed scorn and contempt: "Moses and Samuel are no longer obliged +to pay, because yesterday they declared themselves insolvent." + +Bertram suppressed with effort a cry of anger, and covered his face +with his hands. "He is lost," he muttered to himself, "lost beyond +redemption, for he founds his hopes on De Neufville, and he knows +nothing of his unfortunate fate." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CONFESSIONS. + + +Bertram raised his head again, Gotzkowsky was standing near him, +looking brightly and lovingly into his sorrowful, twitching face. It +was now Gotzkowsky who had to console Bertram, and, smiling quietly +and gently, he told him of the hopes which still remained to him. + +"De Neufville may return," he said. "He has only gone to the opening +of the bank at Amsterdam, and if he succeeds in collecting the +necessary sum there, and returns with it as rapidly as possible to +Berlin, I am saved." + +"But if he does not come?" asked Bertram with a trembling voice, +fixing his sad looks penetratingly on Gotzkowsky. + +"Then I am irretrievably lost," answered Gotzkowsky, in a loud, firm +voice. + +Bertram stepped quickly up to him, and threw himself in his arms, +folding him to his breast as if to protect him against all the danger +which threatened him. "You must be saved!" cried he, eagerly; "it +is not possible that you should fall. You have never deserved such a +misfortune." + +"For that very reason I fear that I must suffer it. If I deserved this +disgrace, perhaps it never would have happened to me. The world is so +fashioned, that what we deserve of good or evil never happens to us." + +"But you have friends; thousands are indebted to your generosity, +and to your ever-ready, helping hand. There is scarcely a merchant in +Berlin to whom, some time or other, you have not been of assistance in +his need!" + +Gotzkowsky laid his hand on his shoulder, and replied with a proud +air: "My friend, it is precisely those who owe me gratitude, who are +now trying to ruin me. The very fact of having obliged them, makes +them my bitter enemies. Gratitude is so disagreeable a virtue, that +men become implacably hostile to those who impose it on them." + +"When you speak thus, my father," said Bertram, glowing with noble +indignation, "you condemn me, too. You have bound me to everlasting +gratitude, and yet I love you inexpressibly for it." + +"You are a rare exception, my son," replied Gotzkowsky, sadly, "and I +thank God, who has taught me to know you." + +"You believe, then, in me?" asked Bertram, looking earnestly in his +eyes. + +"I believe in you," said Gotzkowsky, solemnly, offering him his hand. + +"Well, then, my father," cried Bertram, quickly and gladly, "in this +important moment let me make an urgent request of you. You call me +your son; give me, then, the rights of a son. Allow me the happiness +of offering you the little that I can call mine. My fortune is not, to +be sure, sufficient to save you, but it can at least be of service to +you. Father, I owe you every thing. It is yours--take it back." + +"Never!" interrupted Gotzkowsky. + +But Bertram continued more urgently: "At least consider of it. When +you founded the porcelain factory, you made me a partner in this +business, and I accepted it, although I had nothing but what belonged +to you. When the king, a year ago, bought the factory from you, you +paid me a fourth of the purchase-money, and gave me thirty thousand +dollars. I accepted it, although I had not contributed any part of the +capital." + +"You are mistaken, my son. You forget that you contributed the capital +of your knowledge and genius." + +"One cannot live on genius," cried Bertram, impatiently; "and with +all my knowledge I might have starved, if you had not taken me by the +hand." + +Gotzkowsky would have denied this, but Bertram continued still more +pressingly: "Father, if I were, indeed, your son, could you then deny +me the right of falling and being ruined with you? Can you deny your +son the right of dividing with you what is his?" + +"No!" cried Gotzkowsky, "from my son I could demand the sacrifice, but +it is not only a question of earthly possessions, it is a question +of my most sacred spiritual good, it is the honor of my name. Had I a +son, I would exact of him that he should follow me unto death, so that +the honor of my name might be saved." + +"Well, then, let me be, indeed, your son. Give me your daughter!" + +Gotzkowsky stepped back in astonishment and gazed at Bertram's noble, +excited countenance. "Ah!" cried he, "I thank you, Bertram; you are a +noble man! I understand you. You have found out the sorrow which +gnaws most painfully at my heart; that Elise, by my failure, becomes a +beggar. You wish most nobly to assist her and protect her from want." + +"No, father, I desire her for her own sake--because I love her! I +would wish to be your son, in order to have the right to give up all +for you, and to work for you. During your whole life you have done +so much for others; now grant me the privilege of doing something for +you. Give me your daughter; let me be your son." + +Gotzkowsky was silent for some minutes, then looked at Bertram sadly +and sorrowfully. "You know that this has always been the wish of my +heart. But what I have longed for, for so many years, that I must now +refuse. I dare not drag you down in my misfortune, and even if I were +weak enough to yield to your request, I cannot sacrifice the happiness +of my daughter to my welfare. Do you believe, Bertram, that Elise +loves you?" + +"She is kind to me, and is anxious for my welfare--that is enough," +said Bertram, sadly. "I have learned for many a long year to renounce +all claim to her love." + +"But if she loves another? I fear her heart is but too true, and has +not forgotten the trifler who destroyed her happiness. Ah! when I +think of this man, my heart trembles with anger and grief. In the hour +of death I could forgive all my enemies, but the hatred toward this +man, who has so wantonly trifled with the faith and love of my child, +that hatred I will take with me into the grave--and yet, I fear, Elise +has not forgotten him." + +"This dead love does not give me any uneasiness," said Bertram. "Four +years have passed since that unlucky day." + +"And for four years have I been faithful in my hatred to him. May not +Elise have been as constant in her love?" + +Bertram sighed and drooped his head. "It is too true, love does not +die so easily." Then after a pause he added in a determined voice: "I +repeat my request--give me your daughter!" + +"You know that she does not love you, and yet you still desire her +hand?" + +"I do. I have confidence enough in her and in myself to believe Elise +will not refuse it to me, but will freely make this sacrifice, when +she learns that you will only allow me, as your son, the privilege of +sharing my little fortune with you. For her love to you, she will give +me her hand, and invest me with the rights of a son toward you." + +"Never!" cried Gotzkowsky, vehemently. "She must never be informed +of that of which we have been speaking. She does not forebode the +misfortune which threatens her. I have not the courage to tell her, +and why should I? When the terrible event happens, she will learn it +soon enough, and if it can be averted, why then I can spare her this +unhappiness. For my child I wish a clear, unclouded sky; let _me_ bear +the clouds and storms. That has always been the object of my life, and +I will remain faithful to it to the last." + +"You refuse me, then?" asked Bertram, pained. + +"No, my son. I accept you, and that which you have given me in this +hour, the treasure of your love; that I can never lose. That remains +mine, even if they deprive me of all else." + +He opened his arms, and Bertram threw himself weeping on his breast. +Long did they thus remain, heart to heart, in silence; but soul spoke +to soul without words and without expressions of love. + +When Gotzkowsky raised himself from Bertram's embrace, his countenance +was calm, and almost cheerful. "I thank you, my son; you have given me +new courage and strength. Now I will preserve all my composure. I +will humble my pride, and apply to those who in former times professed +gratitude toward me. The Council of Berlin have owed me twenty +thousand ducats since the time that the Russians were here, and I had +to travel twice in the service of the town to Petersburg and Warsaw. +These accounts have never been asked for. I will make it my business +to remind the Council of them, as in the days of their need they +swore eternal gratitude to me. Come, Bertram, let us see whether these +worshipful magistrates are any better than other men, and whether they +have any recollection of those sacred promises which they made me in +the days when they needed help, and when misfortune threatened them." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE RUSSIAN PRINCE. + + +Before the door of the first hotel in Berlin stood a +travelling-carriage covered with dust. The team of six post-horses, +and the two servants on the coach-box, showed that it was a personage +of quality who now honored the hotel with a visit; and it was +therefore very natural that the host should hurry out and open the +carriage door with a most respectful bow. + +A very tall, thin man descended from the carriage with slow and solemn +dignity, and as he entered the house gravely and in silence, his +French valet asked the host whether he had rooms elegant enough to +suit the Prince Stratimojeff. + +The countenance of the host expanded into a glowing smile; he snatched +the candlestick hastily from the hands of the head butler, and flew up +the steps himself to prepare the room of state for the prince. + +The French valet examined the rooms with a critical eye, and declared +that, though they were not worthy of his highness, yet he would +condescend to occupy them. + +The prince still remained silent, his travelling-cap drawn deep down +over his face, and his whole figure concealed in the ample robe of +sable fur, which reached to his feet. He motioned to the host with +his hand to leave the room; then, in a few short words, he ordered his +valet to see to supper, and to have it served up in an adjoining +room, and as at that moment a carriage drove up to the house, he +commissioned him to see whether it was his suite. The valet stated +that it was his highness's private secretary, his man of business, and +his chaplain. + +"I will not see them to-day--they may seek their own pleasure," said +the prince, authoritatively. "Tell them that our business begins +to-morrow. But for you, Guillaume, I have an important commission. Go +to the host and inquire for the rich banker, John Gotzkowsky; and when +you have found where he lives, enter into further conversation, and +get some information about the circumstances of this gentleman. I wish +to learn, too, about his family; ask about his daughter--if she be +still unmarried, and whether she is now in Berlin. In short, find out +all you can." + +The courteous and obedient valet had left the room some time, but +Prince Stratimojeff still stood motionless, his eyes cast on the +ground, and muttering some unintelligible words. Suddenly, with an +impatient movement, he threw his furred robe from his shoulders, and +cast his head-gear far into the room. + +"Air! air! I suffocate!" cried he. "I feel as if this town lay on my +chest like a hundred-pound weight, and that I have to conceal myself +like a criminal from the eyes of men." + +He threw his cloak open, and took a long and deep breath. + +What was it, then, that so strangely excited Prince Stratimojeff, +and shook his very bones as with an ague? It was the memory of +former days; it was the painful and damning voice of Conscience which +tormented him. What reason had he to inquire after Gotzkowsky the +banker, and his daughter? How! Had the heart of Count Feodor von +Brenda become so hardened, that when he returned to Berlin he should +not long to hear of her whom he had once so shamefully betrayed? + +It was indeed himself. Colonel Count Feodor von Brenda had become +transformed into the Prince Stratimojeff. Four short years had passed, +but what desolation had they not caused in his inner life!--four years +of dissolute pleasure, of mad, enervating enjoyment; four bacchanalian +years of sensual dissipation and extravagance; four years passed at +the court of two Russian empresses! In these four years Elizabeth +had died; and for a few days the unfortunate Peter III. had worn the +imperial crown. But it had proved too heavy for him; and his great +consort, Catharine, full of compassion and Russian humanity for him, +had sought to lighten his load! Only, in her too great zeal, she had +taken not only his crown, but his head, and changed his prison for a +grave. + +The Guards shouted for the new empress as they had done for the old. +In the presence of their beautiful young sovereign they remembered +with delight the graciousness of her predecessor, who, in the fulness +of her kindness and power, had made princes of the subalterns, and +great lords of the privates. + +Why should not Catharine resemble Elizabeth in that respect, and show +favor to the splendid soldiers of the Guards? She was merciful. She +was a gracious mistress to all her subjects, but especially so to +the handsome men of her empire. And the Count von Brenda was a very +handsome man. He had been the favorite of Elizabeth, why should he +not also be the favorite of Catharine? The former had treated him with +motherly kindness, for she was old; but Catharine was young, and +in her proud breast there beat an ardent heart--a heart that was so +powerful and large, that it had room for more than one lover. + +The young count had been for some short months the declared darling of +the empress, and the whole world did homage to him, and looked upon +it as a matter of course that Catharine should make him Prince +Stratimojeff, and bestow on him not only orders and titles, but lands +and thousands of slaves. + +What a mad, intoxicating, joyous life was his! How all the world +envied the handsome, rich prince, surrounded by the halo of imperial +favor! But nevertheless a cloud lay always on his brow, and he plunged +into the sea of pleasure like one ill of fever, who seeks something to +cool the heat which is consuming him. He threw himself into the arms +of dissipation, as the criminal condemned to execution, who in the +intoxication of champagne revels away the last hours of life in order +to banish the thought that Death stands behind him, reaching forth his +hand to seize him. + +Thus did the prince strive in the wild excitement of pleasure to kill +thought and deaden his heart. But there would come quiet hours to +remind him of the past, and, at times, in the middle of the night, he +would start up from his couch, as if he had heard a scream, a single +heart-piercing cry, which rang through his very soul. + +But this scream existed only in his dreams, those dreams in which +Elise's pale, sad face appeared, and made him tremble before her +indignant and despairing grief. Near this light figure of his beloved +appeared another pallid woman, whose sorrowful looks tortured him, +and struck his soul with anguish. He thought he saw his wife, the late +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, who, with weeping eyes, demanded of +him her murdered happiness, her youth, her life. + +She was dead; she had died of grief, for she had felt that the man +for whom she had sacrificed every thing--her youth, her honor, and her +duty--despised her, and could never forgive her for having cheated him +into taking her for his wife. She died the victim of his contempt and +hatred. Not suddenly, not as with a lightning-stroke, did his contempt +kill, but slowly and steadily did it pierce her heart. She bore +the torture for one desolate, disconsolate year, and then she died +solitary and forsaken. No loving hand dried the death-sweat on her +cold forehead; no pitying lips whispered words of love and hope +to her; yet on her death-bed, her heart was still warm toward her +husband, and even then she blessed him. + +A letter written by her trembling hand in her last hours, full of +humble, earnest love, of forgiving gentleness, which her husband the +prince found on his writing-table, as well as another, directed to +Elise Gotzkowsky, and enclosed in the first, bore witness to this +fact. + +Lodoiska had loved her husband sufficiently to be aware of the cause +of his wild and extravagant life, to know that in the bottom of his +heart he was suffering from the only true love of his life--his love +for Elise; and that all the rest was only a mad and desperate effort +to deaden his feelings and smother his desire. + +Elise's image followed him everywhere; and his love for her, which +might have been the blessing of a good man's life, had been a cruel +curse to that of a guilty one. In the midst of the wild routs, the +private orgies of the imperial court, her image rose before him from +these waves of maddening pleasure as a guardian angel, hushing him +often into silence, and stopping the wanton jest on his quivering +lips. + +At times during these feasts and dances, he was seized with +a boundless, unspeakable dread, a torturing anxiety. He felt +inexpressibly desolate, and the consciousness of his lost, his wasted +existence haunted him, while it seemed as if an inner voice was +whispering--"Go, flee to her! with Elise is peace and innocence. If +you are to be saved, Elise will save you." + +But he had not the strength to obey the warning voice of his heart; he +was bound in gilded fetters, and, even if love were absent, pride and +vanity prevented him from breaking these bonds. He was the favorite of +the young empress, and the great of the empire bowed down before him, +and felt themselves happy in his smile, and honored by the pressure of +his hand. But every thing is changeable. Even the heart of the Empress +Catharine was fickle. + +One day the Prince Stratimojeff received a note from his imperial +mistress, in which she intrusted him with a diplomatic mission to +Germany, and requested him, on account of the urgency of the occasion, +to start immediately. + +Feodor understood the hidden meaning of this apparently gracious and +loving letter; he understood that he had fallen into disgrace--not +that he had committed any error or crime. It was only that Count +Orloff was handsomer and more amiable than himself, or at least +that he seemed so to the empress. Therefore Feodor's presence was +inconvenient to her; for at that time in the commencement of her +reign, Catharine had still some modesty left, and the place of +favorite had not yet become an official position at court, but only a +public secret. As yet, she avoided bringing the discharged favorite in +contact with the newly appointed one, and therefore Feodor had to be +removed before Count Alexis Orloff could enter on his duties. + +Prince Feodor Stratimojeff crushed the perfumed imperial note in his +hand, and muttered through his set teeth: "She has sacrificed me to +an Orloff! She wishes to send me away, that she may more securely play +this new farce of love. Very well; I will go, but not to return to be +deceived anew by her vows of love and glances of favor. No! let this +breach be eternal. Catharine shall feel that, although an empress, she +is a woman whom I despise. Therefore let there be no word of farewell, +not even the smallest request. She bids me go, and I go. And would it +not seem as if Fate pointed out to me the way I am to go? Is it not +a strange chance that Catharine should choose me for this mission to +Germany?" + +It was indeed a singular accident that the empress unintentionally +should have sent back her discharged favorite to the only woman whom +he had ever loved. He was sent as ambassador extraordinary to Berlin, +to press more urgently her claims on a Prussian banker, to bring up +before the Prussian department for foreign affairs the merchant John +Gotzkowsky with regard to her demand for two millions of dollars; +and, in case he refused to pay it, to try in a diplomatic way whether +Prussia could not he induced to support this demand of the empress, +and procure immediate payment. + +This was the mission which Catharine had confided to Prince +Stratimojeff, who, when he determined to undertake it, said to +himself: "I will take vengeance on this proud woman who thinks to +cast me off like a toy of which she has tired; I will show her that +my heart is unmoved by her infidelity; I will present to her my young +wife, whose beauty, youth, and innocence will cause her to blush for +shame." + +Never had he been so fascinating and lively, so brilliant and +sparkling with wit, as on the evening preceding his departure. His +jests were the boldest and freest; they made even the empress blush, +and sent her blood hot and bounding through her veins. The court, +that would have been delighted to have seen the long-envied and hated +favorite now abashed and humbled before his newly-declared successor, +remarked with astonishment and bitter mortification that the +humiliation was changed into a triumph; for the empress, charmed by +his amiability and wit, seemed to turn her heart again toward him, and +to entreat him with the tenderest looks to forgive her faithlessness. +She had already forgotten the unfortunate embassy which was to remove +Feodor from her court, when he himself came to remind her of it. + +While all countenances were still beaming with delight over a precious +_bon mot_ which Feodor had just perpetrated, and at which the empress +herself had laughed aloud, he stepped up to her and requested her +blessing on his voyage to Germany, which he was going to commence that +night. + +Catharine felt almost inclined to withdraw her orders and request +him to remain, but she was woman enough to be able to read pride and +defiance in his face. She therefore contented herself with wishing him +a speedy return to his duty. Publicly, in the presence of the whole +court and her new favorite, she afforded Prince Stratimojeff a fresh +triumph: she bade him kneel, and taking a golden chain to which her +portrait was attached, she threw the links around his neck. Kissing +him gently on the forehead, with a gracious smile full of promise, she +said to him only, "_Au revoir_!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OLD LOVE--NEW SORROW. + + +Elise was in her room. Her face expressed a quiet, silent resignation, +and her large dark eyes had a dreamy but bright look. She sat in an +easy-chair, reading, and whoever had seen her with her high, open +forehead and calm looks, would have thought her one of those happy +and fortunate beings whom Heaven had blessed with eternal rest and +cheerful composure, who was unacquainted with the corroding poison of +passionate grief. No trace of the storm which had raged through her +life could be seen on her countenance. Her grief had eaten inwardly, +and only her heart and the spirit of her youth had died; her face had +remained young and handsome. The vigor of her youth had overcome +the grief of her spirit, and her cheeks, although colorless and +transparent in their paleness, were still free from that sallow, +sickly pallor, which is the herald of approaching dissolution. She was +apparently healthy and young, and only sick and cold at heart. Perhaps +she only needed some sunbeams to warm up again her chilled heart, only +some gleam of hope to make her soul young again, and strong and ready +once more to love and to suffer. She had never forgotten, never ceased +to think of the past, nor of him whom she had loved so unspeakably, +whom her soul could not let go. + +The memories of the past were the life of the present to her. The tree +in the garden which he had admired, the flowers he had loved and which +since then had four times renewed their bloom, the rustling of the +fir-trees which sounded from the wall, all spoke of him, and caused +her heart to beat, she knew not whether with anger or with pain. Even +now, as she sat in her room, her thoughts and fancies were busy with +him. She had been reading, but the book dropped from her hand. From +the love-scenes which were described in it her thoughts roamed far and +wide, and awakened the dreams and hopes of the past. + +But Elise did not like to give herself up to these reveries, and at +times had a silent horror even of her own thoughts. She did not like +to confess to herself that she still hoped in the man who had betrayed +her. She had, as it were, a sympathizing pity with herself; she threw +a veil over her heart, to hide from herself that it still quivered +with pain and love. Only at times, in the quiet and solitude of her +chamber, she ventured to draw aside the veil, to look down into the +depths of her soul, and, in agonizing delight, in one dream blend +together the present and the past. She leaned back in her chair, +her large dark eyes fixed on vacancy. Some passage in the book had +reminded her of her own sad love, had struck on her heart like the +hammer of a bell, and in response it had returned but one single note, +the word "Feodor." + +"Ah, Feodor!" she whispered to herself, but with a shudder at the +name, and a blush suffused her otherwise pale cheeks for a moment. +"It is the first time my lips have spoken his name, but my heart is +constantly repeating it in hopeless grief, and in my dreams he still +lives. I have accepted my fate; to the world I have separated from +him; to myself, never! Oh, how mysterious is the heart! I hate and yet +I love him." She covered her face with her hands, and sat long silent +and motionless. A noise at the door aroused her. It was only Marianne, +her maid, who came to announce that a strange gentleman was outside, +who earnestly requested to speak to her. Elise trembled, she knew +not why. A prophetic dread seized her soul, and in a voice scarcely +audible she asked the name of her visitor. + +"He will not give his name," answered the maid. "He says the name +is of no consequence. He had a letter to deliver from the Countess +Lodoiska, of St. Petersburg." + +Elise uttered a cry, and sprang from her seat--she knew all. Her heart +told her that he was near. It must be himself. She felt as if she must +hasten to her father for protection and safety; but her feet refused +to carry her. She trembled so, that she was obliged to hold on to the +arm of a chair to keep herself from falling. She motioned with her +hand to deny him admittance, but Marianne did not understand her; for, +opening the door, she invited the stranger in, and then left him. + +And now they stood in presence of each other, silent and +breathless--Elise trembling with excitement and bitter feeling, +wrestling with her own emotion, and deeply abashed by the meeting. +Both uttered an inward prayer--but how different were their two +aspirations! + +"Now, God or devil!" thought Feodor, "give my words power, lend +enchantment to my tongue, that I may win Elise!" + +Elise prayed to herself: "Have mercy on me, O God! Take this love from +me, or let me die." + +In sad silence these two, so long separated, stood opposite to each +other--both hesitating, he knowing that he was guilty, she ashamed of +the consciousness of her love. But finally he succeeded in breaking +the silence. He whispered her name, and as she, alarmed and +shuddering, looked up at him, he stretched out his arms imploringly +toward her. And then she felt, thought, knew nothing but him. She +uttered a cry, and rushed forward to throw herself in his arms. But +suddenly she stopped. Her dream was at an end, and now awaking from +the first ecstasy of seeing him again, she collected herself, and +stood before him in the whole pride and dignity of her offended +honor. She found courage to sacrifice her own heart, and, with cold, +constrained manner, bowing to him, she asked, "Colonel von Brenda, +whom do you wish to see?" + +The prince sighed deeply, and let his arms drop. "It is over," said +he; "she no longer loves me!" + +Low as these words had been spoken, Elise had seized their purport, +and they touched her to the quick. "What do you wish?" she continued. + +"Nothing!" said he, despondently. "I have made a mistake. I expected +to find a faithful heart, a woman like an angel, ready in the hour of +meeting to forget all else, and take refuge in this heart; to forgive, +and, with her blessing, to wipe out the curse of my existence. This is +what I sought. But God is just, and I did not deserve such happiness. +I submit." + +"Oh, my God!" said Elise to herself, "it is the same voice which once +charmed me." She no longer found strength in herself to bid him go. +She would have given her life blood to be able always to be thus near +him. + +"This time, young lady," said Feodor, "I come only as a messenger, the +executor of the will of one who is dead." He took a letter from his +bosom and handed it to Elise. "I bring you," he said solemnly, "the +last will of my wife, Countess Lodoiska." + +"She is no longer alive?" cried Elise, and involuntarily an almost +joyful tone pervaded her voice. + +This did not escape the prince. "I will win her," said he to himself. +His eyes shone brighter, his countenance looked prouder, and his heart +beat higher with triumphant joy. Elise had taken the letter, and still +held it in her hand. "Will you not read it?" asked he, gently, and +her heart trembled at the pleading tone of his voice. + +"Yes, I will read it," she answered, as if awaking from a dream, and +breaking the seal hastily. + +The prince fixed his sharp, piercing eyes on her, and seemed to wish +to read in her looks her inmost thoughts, and feeling them favorable +to him, he approached still closer to her. + +The letter was short and hastily written, but every word entered her +soul and brought tears to her eyes. It ran thus: + +"My dear Elise, when you receive this letter I shall be no more, and +the heart which has suffered so much will be at rest. But when I have +found repose in the grave, do you fulfil my trust. I leave you the +dearest legacy that I possess. I give you back your property, the +heart and love of Feodor, which never ceased to belong to you. I never +have been able to win this love to myself. He gave me his hand, his +heart remains yours, and that is killing me. Take it then, it is my +legacy to you; and if you accept it my purified spirit will bless your +reunion. + +LODOISKA." + + +The letter dropped from her hand; completely overpowered by deep and +solemn emotions, she sank in her chair, and hid her tears with her +hands. Feodor felt that she was again his, that he had regained +his sway over her. He rushed toward her, falling at her feet, and +passionately snatching her hands from her face, he exclaimed, "Elise! +in this moment her spirit is hovering over us. She blesses this love +which she has already forgiven. Oh, if you only knew what I have +suffered for you, you would, at least, not be angry with me. You would +pardon me for the sake of what I have undergone." + +"Have I then not suffered also?" she asked, turning her face, covered +with tears, toward him. + +"Oh! leave me here at your feet," he continued. "Look upon me as +a poor pilgrim who has wandered to the holy Sepulchre in order to +cleanse his heart of its sins at the sanctuary by sincere repentance +and prayers for forgiveness. You are my sanctuary, to you my heart +bends; the poor pilgrim has come to you to confess and be shrived +before he dies. Will you, my Madonna, hear him? May I tell you what I +have endured, how much I have suffered?" + +"Speak," she said, half conscious, but eagerly listening to the music +of his voice. "Tell me what you have suffered, that I may forget my +own sufferings when I gave you up." + +"Oh!" he continued, with a shudder, "I shall never forget that fearful +moment when I became aware of the deception, and discovered that it +was not you, but Lodoiska, whom I held in my arms. A raving madness +seized me, which threatened my own life. Lodoiska turned aside the +dagger, and pronounced your name. That name recalled me to life, to +the knowledge of my crime. I submitted to the punishment which I had +merited, and which you had imposed upon me. I led Lodoiska to the +altar, at which I had hoped to see you. I made her my wife, and my +heart pronounced _your_ name, while my lips bound me to _her_. It was +a terrible hour, a fearful agony raged within me, and it has never +left me since. It was there, when Lodoiska pressed me to her heart. It +was present in the tumult of battle. Then, however, when death raged +around me, when destruction thundered from the enemy's cannon, then +I became cheerful, and the pang left me as I rushed amid the enemy's +ranks. But even death itself retreated before me--I found on the +battle-field only honor and fame, but not the object for which I +fought, not death. I lived to suffer and to expiate my crime toward +you, Elise. But one hope sustained me, the hope one day to fall at +your feet, to clasp your knees, and to sue for forgiveness." + +Completely overcome by his own passionate description, he bowed his +head on her knees, and wept aloud. He had succeeded in rousing his own +sympathy; he believed in his own grief. He had so feelingly played +the part of a repentant sinner, an ardent lover, that for a moment +probability and reality had become blended in one, and he felt himself +thoroughly possessed by crushing repentance. + +But Elise believed in him. His voice sounded like music in her ear, +and every fibre of her heart thrilled and quivered. The past with its +griefs and sorrows was gone forever, he was once more there, with no +stranger to come between them, and she only felt that she loved him +without bounds. + +He embraced her knees, looking pleadingly up in her face. "Elise, +forgive me," cried he; "say but one word, 'Pardon,' and I will go away +in silence, and never again dare to approach you." + +Elise had no longer power to withstand him. She opened her arms, and +threw them with passionate tenderness around his neck. "Feodor, love +does not forgive, it loves," she cried with unspeakable rapture, and +tears of delight burst from her eyes. + +Feodor uttered a cry of joy, and sprang up to draw her to his breast, +to cover her face with kisses, to whisper words of delight, of +tenderness, of passionate love, in her listening ear. "Oh! now all is +right again--now you are again mine. These four years are as if they +had not been. It was all a mournful dream--and we are now awake. +Now we know that we love each other, that we belong to each other, +forever. Come, Elise, it is the same hour which then called us to the +altar. Come, the priest waits. For four long years have I hoped for +this hour. Come, my beloved." + +He threw his strong arm around her and raised her to his breast +to draw her forth with him. As Elise drew herself gently back, he +continued still more passionately: "I will not let you go, for you are +mine. You have betrothed yourself to me for life or death. Come, +the priest is waiting, and to-day shall you be my wife. This time no +unfriendly hand shall impose itself between us, and Lodoiska no longer +lives." + +"But my father lives," said Elise, as earnestly and proudly she freed +herself from Feodor's arms. "Without his consent I do not leave this +threshold. It was for that the Lord punished us. My father's blessing +was not upon our love, and I had sinned grievously against him. Now, +it is expiated, and Fate is appeased. Let us go hand in hand to my +father, and ask his blessing on our love, that love which has remained +undiminished through so many years of grief." + +"I submit to you. I will obey your will in every thing. But will not +your father reject me? I feel that he must hate me for the tears I +have caused you to shed." + +"He will love you when he sees that you have taught me to smile once +more," said she gently. "Come to my father." + +She wished to draw him along with her. But his consciousness of guilt +held him back. He wanted the daring courage to face this man whom he +had been sent to ruin; and involuntarily he shrank back from his own +deeds. "I dare not go before him so suddenly and unprepared," said he +hesitatingly. + +"Then allow me to prepare him for your presence." + +"And if he denies his sanction?" + +"He will not do it." + +"He has sworn never to allow you to marry a Russian." + +"Oh, that was long ago," said she, smiling, "when Russia was our +enemy. Now we are at peace. The bloody streams of discord are dried +up, and an angel of peace rules over all countries. Even my father +will feel his influence, and make peace with you and me." + +Feodor did not answer immediately. He stood thoughtful and +contemplative, weighing the necessary and unavoidable, and considering +what he should do. One thing only was clear. Neither Elise nor +Gotzkowsky must be allowed to suspect on what extraordinary mission +his empress had sent him thither. Only when Elise was irrevocably +bound to him, when she was his without recall, when Gotzkowsky had +given his consent to their union, then would he dare to disclose it to +him. It was necessary, above all, to postpone the negotiations about +the Russian demands for a day, and therefore he only gave his agents +his instructions, and imposed on them silence and inactivity for a day +longer. The principal thing, however, was to convince Elise and her +father that their union should suffer no delay, because he was only +allowed to remain a few hours. He put his arm around Elise's slender +waist and pressed her to his heart. "Listen to me, my beloved; my time +has been but sparingly dealt out to me. I have come on with courier +horses, so as to allow me more leisure on my return with you. But +to-day we must leave, for the army is on the frontier, equipped and +ready for war. Only out of special favor did the empress allow me a +short leave of absence, to fetch my wife. In her clemency she has +done what she was able to do, and I must now obey her orders to return +speedily, if I do not wish to bring her anger down upon me. That +nothing might prevent or delay us, I have brought a chaplain of our +Church with me, to bless our union. You see, my beloved, that every +thing is ready, and all that is wanting is the wreath of myrtle in +your hair." + +"And the blessing of my father," she replied solemnly. + +Feeder's brow darkened and an angry expression flashed across +his countenance. Elise did not perceive it, for, in her noble +forgetfulness of self, she had leaned her head on his breast, and all +doubt and distrust were alien to her free and confiding love. The love +of a woman is of divine nature; it forgives all, it suffers all; it is +as strong in giving as in forgiving. Every woman when she loves is +an inspired poetess; the divine frenzy has seized her, and poetic +utterances of ecstasy issue from her trembling lips. This poor girl, +too, had become inspired. Confidingly happy, she reposed on the breast +of the man whom she had never ceased to love, whom she had blest in +the midst of her bitterest tears, whom she had prayed for, earnestly +entreating God to have mercy on him. + +"Do you go to your father," said Feodor, after a pause. "Pray for +his consent and his blessing on both of us--I hasten to prepare every +thing. Tell your father that my whole life shall be spent in the +endeavor to redeem every tear you have shed for me with a smile; that +I will love him as a son to whom he has given the dearest treasure of +life, his Elise." + +He pressed her to his heart and kissed her forehead. Elise raised her +face from his breast, and smiled on him with loving emotion. But he +placed his hands over her eyes; he was not callous enough to be able +to bear those innocent, yielding, tender looks. + +"I must be gone," he said. "But this shall be our last separation, +and when I return, it shall be to lead you to the altar. In an hour, +dearest, you must be ready. At the end of that time, I will come to +take you to St. Petersburg, and present you at the empress's court as +my bride, the Princess Stratimojeff." + +He looked down at her with an air of triumph, to see what impression +his words would have on her. He had expected to prepare a pleasurable +surprise for her with the princely title--to see her blush with proud +satisfaction. But Elise felt neither elevated nor honored by the high +rank. What did she care whether Feodor was a prince or a poor officer, +so that he only loved her, and would never again forsake her? + +She replied, with some surprise, "Princess Stratimojeff! What does +that mean?" + +"For three months," said he with a proud smile, "I have been Prince +Stratimojeff. The empress gave me this title. The world calls me +prince, but you--you will call me your Feodor?" + +"Oh," said she feelingly, "my heart called you so when you did not +hear me." + +"Well, then, go wind the wreath of myrtle in your hair, and wait for +me. In an hour I will return." + +He hastened to the door, but on the threshold he turned to send a +farewell greeting to her. Their eyes met and rested on each other, +and suddenly a deep, indescribable feeling of grief came over him. It +seemed to him as if he would never see her again; as if the threshold +once crossed, Elise was lost to him forever. Once again he returned, +and folded her passionately in his arms, and, completely overpowered +by his painful presentiments, he bowed his head on her shoulder, and +wept bitterly. He then tore himself loose. "Farewell!" he cried, +but his voice sounded hoarse and rough--"farewell! in an hour I +will return for you. Be prepared, do not keep me waiting in vain. +Farewell!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE MAGISTRACY OF BERLIN. + + +Gotzkowsky had conquered his proud heart; he had left his house to +apply to those whom he had benefited and saved in the days of their +need and distress, and who had then avowed him everlasting gratitude. +He resolved now, reluctantly and with deep humiliation, rather to +remind them of those days than to ask of them any favors or assistance +beyond the payment of their debts to him. + +First he went to the ober-burgomaster, President Kircheisen; to the +man whom he had saved from death, who had clung to him, and, when +he had found his speech again, had vowed with tears that he would be +forever grateful to him, and would bless the arrival of the hour in +which he could prove it to him by deeds. + +This hour had now arrived, but Herr von Kircheisen did not bless it; +on the contrary, he cursed it. He was standing at the window of his +ground floor when Gotzkowsky passed by. Their eyes met. Gotzkowsky's +were clear and penetrating; Kircheisen's were cast down, as he stepped +back from the window. He only had time to tell the servants that he +was not at home for any one, whoever it might be, when the bell rang, +and Gotzkowsky inquired for Herr von Kircheisen. + +"Not at home, sir." + +"Not at home! but I saw him just this moment standing at the window." + +"It must have been a mistake, sir. The president has just gone to the +Council-chamber." + +"Very well. I will go to the town-hall," said Gotzkowsky, as he left +the house. + +Passing by the window he looked in again. This time, however, +Kircheisen was not standing before the sashes, but at the side, +ensconced behind the curtain, he was spying Gotzkowsky through the +window. As he saw him passing by, pale of countenance, but erect and +unbent, he felt involuntarily a feeling of remorse, and his conscience +warned him of his unpaid debt toward the only man who came to his +rescue. But he would not listen to his conscience, and with a dark +frown he threw back his head with contempt. + +"He is a bankrupt--I have nothing to do with him!" So saying, he +retired to his study, and in obedience to a natural instinct, he +opened his strong box, and refreshed himself with a look at the +thousands which he had earned from Gotzkowsky as "detective and +informer." And now his conscience no longer reproached him; the sight +of the shining money lulled it into a gentle slumber. + +In the meanwhile Gotzkowsky continued his toilsome and humiliating +journey. He met men who formerly bent humbly to the earth before him, +yet who scarcely greeted him now. Others, again, as they passed him, +whispered, with a malicious smile, "Bankrupt!" As he came to the corner +of a street, he met the valiant editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, +who was coming round from the other side. As they met, he jostled +Gotzkowsky rather roughly, yet Mr. Kretschmer did not think it worth +while to excuse himself, but pulling his hat over his face he walked +on with a dark and scornful look. As Gotzkowsky passed the houses, he +could hear the windows rattle, and he knew that it was his former +good friends, who were drawing back when they saw him coming, and who, +after he had passed, opened the windows again to look after him, to +laugh at and mock him. It was an intellectual running of the gantlet, +and Gotzkowsky's heart bled from the blows, and his feet were tired +to death. What had he then done to burden himself with the cruelty and +contumely of the world? Had he not been benevolent and kind, full +of pity and humanity, obliging to every one? Had he not always shown +himself ready to serve every one, and never requested nor desired +services in return? Therein lay his fault and his crime. + +He had been independent. He had never sought the favor of any +man, but, trusting solely to himself, had always relied on his +own strength. And now mankind wished to make him feel that he had +mortified them by his self-sufficiency--for small natures never +forgive one who dares to be independent of others, and finds his +source of honor in himself. And this crime Gotzkowsky had been +guilty of. What he was, he had made himself. He had owed nothing +to protection, nothing to hypocrisy or flattery, eye-service, or +cringing. Only by the strength and power of his own genius had he +elevated himself above the world which he ruled. + +And now that he was down, it was but natural that the world should +fall upon him, tear him to pieces with its venomous fangs, to enjoy +his torture, and joyfully to witness the lowering of pride and +independence. Gotzkowsky arrived at the town-hall and slowly ascended +the steps. How often had he gone this same road in answer to the +pressing cry for help which the magistrate would utter in his +distress! How often had he mounted those steps to give his advice, to +lend his energy, his money, and his credit to these gentlemen of the +Council! + +This day the doors were not thrown open to him the beadle did not bow +down to the earth before him, but proudly and with erect head stepped +up to him and bade him wait in the antechamber until he had announced +him to the assembled Council. He had to wait long, but finally +the doors opened and he was admitted. There sat the aldermen and +councillors, and the burgomaster, just as they had when, in their +need and distress, they had appealed to Gotzkowsky for advice and +assistance--just as they had when, in solemn session, they +determined to present him with a silver laurel-wreath as an honorable +testimonial. + +Only the chief burgomaster was absent. Herr von Kircheisen was at +home, enjoying the sight of the money he had won from Gotzkowsky. This +day they did not receive him as a counsellor or friend, but more like +a delinquent. No one rose to greet him--no one offered him a seat! +They knew that he came to ask for something. Why, then, should they be +polite to him, as he was only a petitioner like all other poor +people? In the mean time Gotzkowsky did not seem to be aware of the +alteration. Smiling, and with a firm, proud step he walked to a chair +and sat down. + +After a pause the burgomaster asked him churlishly what his business +was. He drew out a parcel of papers, and laying them on the table, +said, "I have brought my accounts." + +A panic seized the worshipful gentlemen of the Council, and they sat +petrified in their seats. + +"Your worships have forgotten my claims," said Gotzkowsky quickly. +"However, that I can easily understand, as the accounts are somewhat +old. It is now four years since I have had the honor of having the +Council of Berlin as my debtor; since I thrice performed the perilous +journey to Königsberg and Warsaw in order to negotiate the war +contribution in the name of the town. At that time, too, I was +obliged, in the service of the Council, to take with me many valuable +presents. I may enumerate among them the diamond-set staff for General +von Fermore, and the snuff-box, with the portrait of the empress, +surrounded by brilliants, which I delivered to the General +Field-Marshal Count Butterlin, in the name of the magistracy and town +of Berlin. But, gentlemen, you will find the accounts of all these +things here." + +The gentlemen of the Council did not answer him; they seized upon the +papers hastily, and turned them over, and looked into them with stern +and sullen eyes. Not a word was said, and nothing was heard but the +rustling of the papers, and the low muttering of one of the senators +adding the numbers, and verifying the calculation. Gotzkowsky rose, +and walked to the window. Raising his looks to heaven, his countenance +expressed all the pain and bitterness to which his soul almost +succumbed. Ah! he could have torn the papers out of the hand of this +miserable, calculating, reckoning senator, and with pride and contempt +have thrown them in his face. But he thought of his daughter, and +the honor of his name. He had to wait it out, and bend his head in +submission. + +At last the burgomaster laid the papers aside, and turned scowlingly +toward Gotzkowsky. The latter stepped up to the table with a smile, +making a vow to himself that he would remain quiet and patient. + +"Have you read them, gentlemen?" he asked. + +"We have read them," answered the burgomaster roughly, "but the +Council cannot admit that it owes you any thing." + +"No?" cried Gotzkowsky; and then, allowing himself to be overcome by a +feeling of bitterness--"I believe you. Those in authority seldom take +cognizance of what they owe, only what is owing to them." + +"Oh, yes, indeed," said the first councillor with solemn dignity, "we +know very well that we owe you thanks for the great services you have +rendered the town." + +Gotzkowsky broke out into a loud, ironical laugh. "Do you remember +that? I am glad that you have not forgotten it." + +"It is true," continued the councillor, in a tone of conciliation, "at +the request of the magistracy you took charge of the affairs of the +town. You travelled to St. Petersburg to see the empress; twice did +you go to Warsaw to see General Fermore, and twice to Saxony to visit +the king. You see the Council knows how much it is indebted to you." + +"And we are cheerfully willing to be grateful to you," interrupted +the burgomaster, "and to serve you when and in what manner we can, but +these debts we cannot acknowledge." + +Gotzkowsky looked at him in dismay, and a deep glow suffused his +cheek. "You refuse to pay them?" he asked, faintly. + +"It pains us deeply that we cannot recognize these claims. You +must abate somewhat from them if we are to pay them," answered the +burgomaster rudely. + +"Do you dare to propose this to me?" cried Gotzkowsky, his eyes +flashing, his countenance burning with anger and indignation. "Is +this the way you insult the man to whom four years ago on this very +spot you swore eternal gratitude? In those days I sacrificed to you my +repose, the sleep of my nights; for, when the town was threatened with +danger and alarm, there was no Council, no authority in existence, for +you were base cowards, and abjectly begged for my good offices. With +tears did you entreat me to save you. I left my house, my family, +my business, to serve you. At the risk of my life, in the depth of +winter, I undertook these journeys. You did not consider that Russian +bayonets threatened me, that I risked health and life. You thought +only of yourselves. I have not put down in the account the sleepless +nights, the trouble and anxiety, the privation and hardships which I +suffered. I do not ask any money or recompense for my services. I only +ask that I may be paid back what I actually expended; and you have the +assurance to refuse it?" + +"No, we do not," said the burgomaster, quite unmoved by Gotzkowsky's +noble excitement. "We do not refuse payment; we only desire a +reduction of the amounts." + +"You wish to cheapen and bargain with me," said Gotzkowsky with a +hoarse laugh. "You take me for a chapman, who measures out his life +and services by the yard; and you wish to pay me for mine by the same +measure. Go, most sapient gentlemen; I carry on a wholesale trade, +and do not cut off yards. That I leave to shopkeepers, to souls like +yours." + +The burgomaster rose up proud and threateningly from his seat. "Do you +dare to insult the Council?" + +"No, the Council of Berlin insult themselves by their own deeds. They +dare to chaffer with me!" + +"And they have a right to do so," cried the burgomaster, quite beside +himself with rage. "Who asked you to play the great lord in our name, +and distribute royal presents--diamonds and gold snuff-boxes? +You could have done it much more cheaply. The Russian is not so +high-priced. But it was your pleasure to be magnificent at our +expense, and to strut about as a bountiful gentleman." + +"Silence!" cried Gotzkowsky, in such a commanding tone that the +burgomaster was struck dumb, and sank back in his chair. Gotzkowsky +said no more. He took the accounts from the table, and, casting a +look of anger and contempt on the worthy gentlemen, tore the papers +in pieces, and threw the scraps at their feet. "I am paid!" he said, +proudly, and turned to leave the room. + +One of the town councillors hastened after him, and held him back. +"You are too hasty: we may yet agree." + +"No!" said Gotzkowsky, striving to free himself. "I do not chaffer and +bargain for my right." + +The other held him tight. "But the Council are not averse to paying +you, if you--" + +"If I will only traffic with you, is it not so?" interrupted +Gotzkowsky. "Let me go; we have done with each other." + +"You will regret having repulsed the Council," said the burgomaster, +threateningly. + +"I never regret an action when my honor is satisfied," said +Gotzkowsky, with proud contempt; and then, without honoring the worthy +gentlemen with another look, he left the hall, and returned into the +street. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE JEWS OF THE MINT. + + +Herr Itzig was a very pious and devout Jew. He kept the Sabbath +strictly after the custom of his ancestors. He was charitable to the +poor; and no Jew beggar ever left his door without a gift. + +He sat in his room, performing his morning devotions, and so deeply +was he immersed therein, that he did not hear a repeated knocking +at the door until a low, gentle voice whispered, "Good-morning, Herr +Itzig!" + +Itzig first finished his prayer; for all the world he would not have +broken off before the end of it: "Be gracious and merciful to us, +Jehovah, and incline us to be compassionate and helpful to all who +approach us with supplication, even as we desire that thou shouldst +be to us." And now the pious Jew closed his prayer-book, and turned +slowly around. + +That pale, bent man, who greeted him with a sorrowful smile--could it +possibly be--could it be John Gotzkowsky, the celebrated banker, the +honored and bright hero of the Exchange, the money-king before whom +all Europe bowed down? + +An expression of malicious joy stole over Itzig's face; but he +suppressed it immediately, for the last words of his prayer still +floated around his lips, and somewhat purified them. "Ah!" said he, in +a friendly tone, as he stepped toward Gotzkowsky, stretching out both +his hands to him, "the great and powerful John Gotzkowsky does me the +honor to visit me. What joy for my humble house!" + +Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be misled by this seeming +politeness. He observed him with sharp and penetrating eyes, and then +proudly said: "Listen, Itzig; let us be candid with each other. You +know the reports which are current about me in the city and on the +Bourse." + +"I know them, but do not believe them," cried Itzig, with an altered, +earnest mien. "Yes, I know these reports, and I know too what they +are worth. They are a speculation of Ephraim, that your notes may +be depreciated, that he may buy them in at a low rate. I know that +Gotzkowsky is a rich man; and a rich man has judgment, and whoever +has judgment is prudent--does not venture much, nor stand security for +other people." + +"I have perhaps less of this judgment than you think," said +Gotzkowsky. "It may be that I have stood security." + +"Then you will certainly know how to pay?" said Itzig, with a forced +laugh. + +"But how if I cannot pay?" said Gotzkowsky, sadly. + +Itzig stepped back, and gazed at him horrified. + +"If I cannot pay," continued Gotzkowsky, impressively; "if I am +unable to pay half a million for Leipsic, another half million for the +Russian claims, after having lost the same amount yesterday by the new +treasury ordinance--what would you say to that, Itzig?" + +Itzig listened to him with increasing terror, and gradually his +features assumed an expression of hatred and savage rage. When +Gotzkowsky had finished, he raised his clasped hands to heaven, as if +imploring the wrath of God on the head of the sinner. "My God! sir, +are you, then, going to fail?" + +Gotzkowsky seized his hand, and looked into his quivering face with +an expression of intense anxiety. "Listen to me, Itzig. I may yet be +saved; every thing depends upon my obtaining a delay, that my credit +may not be shaken. You are rich--" + +"No, I am poor," interrupted Itzig, vehemently. "I am perfectly poor; +I have nothing but what I earn." + +"But you can earn a great deal," said Gotzkowsky, with a faint smile. +"I wish to effect a loan from you. Take my word of honor as security." + +"Your word of honor!" cried Itzig, thrusting back his hand. "What can +I do with your word of honor? I cannot advance any money on it." + +"Consider! the honor of my name is concerned--and this, till now, +I have kept unsullied before God and man!" cried Gotzkowsky, +imploringly. + +"And if my own honor was concerned," exclaimed Itzig, "I would rather +part with it than my money. Money makes me a man. I am a Jew. I have +nothing but money--it is my life, my honor! I cannot part with any of +it." + +But Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be repulsed. It seemed to him +that his future, his honor, his whole life hung upon this moment. He +felt like a gambler who has staked his last hope upon one throw of +the dice. If this fails, all hope is gone; no future, no life is left, +nothing but the grave awaits him. With impetuous violence he seized +the hand of the rich Itzig. "Oh!" said he, "remember the time when you +swore eternal gratitude to me." + +"I never would have sworn it," cried Itzig--"no, by the Eternal, I +never would have done it, if I had thought you would ever have needed +it!" + +"The honor of my name is at stake!" cried Gotzkowsky, in a tone of +heart-rending agony. "Do you not understand that this is to me my +life? Remember your vow! Let your heart for once feel sympathy--act as +a man toward his fellow-man. Advance me money upon my word of honor. +No, not on that alone--on my house, on all that belongs to me. Lend me +the sum I need. Oh! I will repay it in a princely manner. Help me over +only these shoals, and my gratitude to you will be without bounds. You +have a heart--take pity on me!" + +Itzig looked with a malicious smile into his pale, agitated face. +"So the rich, the great Christian banker, in the hour of his trouble, +thinks that the poor derided Jew has a heart; I admit that I have a +heart--but what has that to do with money? When business begins, there +the heart stops. No, I have no heart to lend you money!" + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately. He stood for an instant +motionless, as if paralyzed in his inmost being. His soul was crushed, +and he scarcely felt his grief. He only felt and knew that he was +a lost man, and that the proud edifice of his fortune was crumbling +under him, and would bury him in its ruins. He folded his hands +and raised his disconsolate looks on high; he murmured: You see my +suffering, O God! I have done my utmost! I have humbled myself to +begging--to pitiful complaining. My God! my God! will no helping hand +stretch itself once more to me out of the cloud?" + +"You should have prayed before to God," said Itzig, with cruel +mockery. "You should have begged Him for prudence and foresight." + +Gotzkowsky did not heed him. He fought and struggled with his immense +suffering, and, being a noble and a brave man, he at length conquered +it. For a moment he had been cowed and downcast, but now he recovered +all the power of his energetic nature. He raised again his bowed head, +and his look was once more determined and defiant. "Well, then, I have +tried every thing; now I accept my fate. Listen, then, Herr Itzig, I +am going to suspend payment; my house must fail!" + +Itzig shuddered with a sudden terror. "My God!" cried he, "only +yesterday I bought a draft of yours. You will not pay it?" + +"I will not do it, because I cannot; and I would not do it, if I +could. I have humbled myself before you in the dust, and you have +stretched out no hand to raise me. Farewell, and may that now happen +which you would not prevent when you could! You punish yourself. +Farewell!" + +Itzig held him convulsively back, and cried, in a voice drowned by +rage, "You will pay my draft?" + +"I will not," said Gotzkowsky. "You have judged; take now your +reward." He threw Itzig's hands from him, and hastened from the spot. + +Behind him sounded the wailing and raging of Itzig, who implored +Heaven and hell to punish the criminal who had cheated him of his +money. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE LEIPSIC MERCHANT. + + +Exhausted and weary, Gotzkowsky returned to his house, and retired to +his room, to give himself up to the sad and terrible thoughts which +tortured him. He could not conceal from himself that the sword above +his head was only suspended by two thin threads. If De Neufville did +not return from Amsterdam, and if the courier did not bring a relief +from Leipsic, then was he lost without redemption, and the deadly +sword must fall. For the first time did he think of death; for the +first time did the thought of it flash like lightning through his +brain, and make him almost cheerful and happy. + +He could die; it was not necessary that he should bear the pain and +humiliation of life. He could take refuge in the quiet, silent grave +under the turf, which would soon be decked with flowers over his +agonized breast. He had worked much; his feet were sore, and his heart +weary, from his walk through life. Why should he not lay himself down +in the grave to rest, to dream, or to sink in the arms of eternal, +dreamless sleep? + +But this enticing thought he cast forcibly from him. He had not yet +lost all hope. His anticipations rose as the door opened, and the +servant handed him a large sealed letter, which the courier from +Leipsic had just brought. With hasty hand he seized the letter, and +motioned to Peter to retire. But as soon as he was alone, and was +about to break the seal, he drew back and hesitated. This letter +might, indeed, contain his salvation; but it might also contain his +death-sentence. He weighed it in his hand thoughtfully, and muttered +to himself: "It is as light as a feather, and yet its contents may +be heavy enough to hurl me down the abyss. But this is foolish," he +exclaimed aloud, drawing himself up proudly. "At least I will know my +fate, and see clearly into the future." + +With a firm hand he broke the seal. But as he read, horror and dismay +were depicted in his countenance, and his whole frame shook. +Violently he flung the paper on the ground. "This, then, this is my +reward--reproaches, accusations, instead of thanks; scorn and +malice, instead of compassion. Reproaches, because I assisted them; +accusations, that I had offered to help them; only because without me +it would have been impossible for the King of Prussia to raise so much +money. Without my mediation, they say, they would not have paid, but +at the utmost would have had to endure a somewhat longer imprisonment, +which would have been more tolerable than the loss of such immense +sums." + +He paced impatiently up and down, and as he came to the letter he +spurned it with his foot, like a poisonous adder, too loathsome to +touch. "I have deserved this punishment," cried he, laughing aloud +from inward pain. + +"Who bade me love mankind? who bade me help them, instead of like +a highwayman falling upon and plundering them, when they were +defenceless? Fool that I was to give to life any other interpretation, +any other end!" He threw himself in a chair, and was soon buried in +thought. Once more he reviewed his whole past, and as he made up the +accounts of his life, he had to confess that the total of his hours +of happiness was but small, while that of his years of misery and toil +was heavy enough to bear him down. But there was still one hope, and +as long as he could expect De Neufville's arrival all was not lost, +and he must still wait in patience, still struggle with the worm that +gnawed at his heart. With such painful thoughts as these was he busied +when the door opened, and Elise entered with a glowing countenance. + +She was so happy, that in her selfishness she did not perceived his +troubled and care-worn looks. "Oh" said she, kissing his hand, "I +am so happy at last to find you alone at home. Several times have I +sought you here." + + +"With letters for me?" asked he, hurriedly, for he had not observed +Elise's excited countenance. Both were so occupied with their own +thoughts and feelings, that they took note of nothing else. "Have not +letters arrived?" asked he once more. + +"No letters have arrived," said she, smiling joyously, "but happiness +has come." + +"De Neufville is here, then!" cried Gotzkowsky, anxiously, hurrying +toward the door. + +"What has De Neufville to do with it?" asked Elise, with surprise +holding him back. + +Gotzkowsky stared for a moment, terrified at her bright face, and then +a sad smile stole across his own. "Poor fool that I am!" he muttered; +"I complain of the egotism of men, while I am selfish enough to think +only of myself." He drew Elise toward him, and looking at her with +infinite tenderness, said, "Well, my child, speak: what happiness has +arrived?" + +"Look at me," said she, playfully; "can you read nothing in my looks?" + +Sadly he looked down deep into her large bright eyes. "Oh, your eyes +shine as bright as two stars of hope, the last that are left me!" + +Elise threw both her arms around his neck, and kissed him, then drew +him with gentle force toward the ottoman, and, as she forced him down +on the cushions, she took her own seat, smiling, on the stool at his +feet. "How often, my father, have you sat here and cared for me! Ah! +I know well how much sorrow I have caused you in these last four sad +years, I could not command my heart to forget. You knew this, and yet +you have been considerate and gentle as a mother, and kind as the best +of fathers. You were never angry with me on account of my grief; you +knew of it, and yet you allowed me to weep." She took his hand in +hers, and for a moment covered her hot, burning face with it, then +looked cheerfully up in his face. "See," she said, "I do not shed any +more tears, or, if I do, they are tears of joy. My father, I come to +ask your blessing. Feodor is again here; he has come to ask me of you +for his wife. Oh, forgive him, and grant your blessing to a love which +till now has been the anguish of my life, but which hereafter will be +its chief happiness!" + +Blushing and with maiden modesty she nestled in her father's breast. +Gotzkowsky felt himself paralyzed with terror. He pressed his child's +head warmly to his breast, saying to himself, "And this, too, my God! +you try me sorely. This is the greatest sacrifice you have demanded of +me yet; but my pride is gone. This offering, too, will I make." + +"Well, my father, you do not answer?" asked Elise, still leaning +on his breast. "All is right, is it not? and you will give us your +fatherly blessing, and forgive Feodor the errors of former years, and +receive him as a son?" + +Gotzkowsky, with his eyes still raised to heaven, moved his lips in +silent prayer. At last, after a long, painful pause, he said solemnly: +"Well, let it be so; I give my consent." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, and, amidst tears of unalloyed delight, +kissed him, as smiling, and often interrupted by her own deep emotion, +she narrated her meeting with Feodor, Lodoiska's death, and the letter +she had written to her. "Oh, how delightful this hour would be," +continued she, after finishing her narrative, "if I could only remain +with you! Love bids me go, and yet it keeps me here! I have promised +Feodor to go with him, but I did it in my haste, seeing only him and +listening only to his prayers. Now I see you, my father, and it seems +to me as if I could not leave you to-day." + +"To-day!" cried Gotzkowsky, and a ray of joy shone from his face. He +arose, and, with folded arms, paced the room. His soul was full of +gratitude to God, to whom he had prayed in his despair. Was this not +a sign that God was with him, even if men forsook him?--that God had +pity on him, even if all others were pitiless. This day his child +wished to leave him, to enter on a brilliant destiny. He had, +therefore, no longer any need to be anxious about her fate; and, as +she was going to leave at once, he would be spared the torture of +having her as a witness to his disgrace and degradation. He took her +to his breast, and kissed her with heartfelt fervor. "Farewell, my +child, my only happiness; you wish to leave me. I will be alone, but +I will have time to think of and pray for you." He then cast her from +him almost roughly, for he felt as if his grief would unman him. "Go," +he cried, "your bridegroom is waiting for you; go, then, and order +your bridal ornaments." + +Elise smiled. "Yes, I will adorn myself; but you, father, will place +the wreath of myrtle on my head, will you not? That is the sacred +and last office of love with which a mother sends a daughter from her +arms. I have no mother. You are both father and mother to me. Will you +not crown me with the myrtle-wreath?" + +"Yes," said he, with a sigh, "I will place the myrtle on your brow, +and God grant it may not turn to a crown of thorns! Go now, my child, +adorn thyself, and leave me alone to pray for you." + +He greeted her smilingly, and accompanied her to the door. But when +she had left the room he felt indescribably lonesome, and, pressing +his hands against his breast to suppress the cry which choked him, he +muttered in a low tone, "I have lost her--she is mine no longer. Every +thing forsakes me. The unfortunate is ever alone!" + +Once more a knocking, repeated at his door, awakened him from his +reverie. Peter his servant entered, and announced Herr Ephraim. + +A ray of joyful astonishment flashed across him, and, as he stepped +hastily toward the rich Jew of the mint, he said to himself: "Is it +possible that this man comes to have pity on me in my distress? Will +he be more magnanimous than Itzig? Will he assist me?" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +EPHRAIM THE TEMPTER. + + +"You seek me?" asked Gotzkowsky, as Ephraim entered and saluted him in +silence. + +Gotzkowsky's sharp glance had detected in his insolent hearing and +contracted features that it was not pity or sympathy which had brought +the Jew to him, but only a desire to gloat over the sufferings of his +victim. "He shall not enjoy his triumph. He shall find me collected +and determined, and shall not suspect my grief." Thus thinking, he +forced his features into a cheerful expression, and handing a chair +to the still silent Ephraim, said laughingly: "Indeed, I must be in a +dangerous plight, if the birds of prey are already settling around me. +Do you already scent my death, Herr Ephraim? By Heaven! that would be +a dainty morsel for you!" + +"You are angry with me," said Ephraim, shaking his head slowly; "but +you shall know how much injustice you do me. I bring you an important +and fearful piece of news." + +"It must be fearful, indeed," interrupted Gotzkowsky, "as you do +yourself the pleasure of bringing it to me in person." + +Ephraim shrugged his shoulders and abruptly replied, "De Neufville has +failed!" + +A cry of horror escaped Gotzkowsky's lips; he staggered, and was +obliged to support himself by a chair to keep himself from falling. +This was the last, decisive blow, and it had wounded him mortally. "De +Neufville has failed!" he muttered low to himself. + +"Yes, he is bankrupt!" said Ephraim with scarcely suppressed malice. +"The proud Christian merchant, whose greatest pleasure it was to +look down with contempt upon the Jew Ephraim, he is bankrupt. The Jew +stands firm, but the Christian merchant is broken." And as he spoke, +he broke into a scornful laugh, which brought back to Gotzkowsky his +composure and self-possession. + +"You triumph!" he said, "and on your brow is marked your rejoicing +over our fall. Yes! you have conquered, for De Neufville's failure +is your deed. It was you who persecuted him so long, and by cunning +suspicions and calumny undermined his credit until it was destroyed, +and the whole edifice of his honorable industry fell together." + +"It _is_ my work," cried Ephraim exultingly, "for he stood in my way, +and I have pushed him out of it--what more? Life is but a combat; +whoever is the strongest--that is, has the most money--is conqueror." + +"De Neufville has fallen--that is a hard blow," muttered Gotzkowsky; +and as his wandering eye met Ephraim's, he added with an expression +of complete prostration: "Enjoy my suffering; you have succeeded--I am +hurt unto death!" + +"Listen to me, Gotzkowsky," said Ephraim, approaching nearer to him; +"I mean well by you." + +"Oh, yes!" said Gotzkowsky, bitterly; "after you have hastened my +downfall, you condescend to love me. Yes, indeed! I believe in your +friendship; for none but a friend would have had the heart to bring +such a Job's message." + +Ephraim shook his head. "Listen to me," said he; "I will be quite +candid with you. Formerly I hated you, it is true, for you were more +powerful and richer than I was; you were renowned for being honest and +punctual, and that hurt me. If a large bargain was to be made, they +were not satisfied unless Gotzkowsky was concerned in it, and if your +name stood at the bottom of a contract, every one was pleased. Your +name was as good as gold, and that vexed me." + +"And for that reason you wished to overthrow me, and worked +unceasingly for my downfall; because you knew that I expected this +remittance of light money from Hamburg!" + +"I procured the decision that the light money should be declared +uncurrent, that is true. I succeeded. From this hour I am more +powerful and richer than you. You shall see that I only hated your +house, not yourself; I have come to help you. You must indeed fail; +that I am aware of, and that if you were to put forth all your power, +you could not stand this blow, You must and will fail, and that this +very day." + +Gotzkowsky muttered some unintelligible words, and covered his face +with his hands. "Yes," he cried, piteously, "I and all my hopes have +suffered shipwreck." + +Ephraim laid his hand suddenly upon his shoulder. "Seek, then, to save +some plank from the wreck, on which you may swim. You can no longer +save your creditors; save yourself." + +Gotzkowsky removed his hands slowly from his face, and looked at him +with astonishment and wonder. + +Ephraim met his look with a smiling and mysterious expression, and +bending down to Gotzkowsky's ear, whispered: "I think you will not be +such a fool as to give up all you have to your creditors, and to go +out of your house a poor man. Intrust me with your important papers, +and all that you possess of money and valuables, and I will preserve +them for you. You do not answer. Come, be reasonable; do not allow the +world the pleasure of pitying you; it does not deserve it. Believe +me, mankind is bad; and he is a fool who strives to be better than +his fellows." He stopped, and directed an inquiring look toward +Gotzkowsky. + +The latter regarded him proudly and with contempt. "This, then, is +your friendship for me? You wish to make me a cheat!" + +"Every man cheats his neighbor," cried Ephraim, shrugging his +shoulders; "why should you alone be honest?" + +"Because I do not wish to be ashamed of myself. It is the fault of +others that I fall to-day. It shall not be said that Gotzkowsky is +guilty of any crime of his own." + +"It will be said, nevertheless," interrupted Ephraim; "for whoever is +unfortunate, is in the wrong, in the eyes of men. And if he can help +himself at the expense of others, and does not do it, do you think men +will admire him for it? No! believe me, they will only laugh at him. +I have often been sorry for you, Gotzkowsky; for, with all your good +sense, your whole life through has been a miscalculation--" + +"Or rather say," said Gotzkowsky, sadly, "I have not calculated +enough, and from all the experiences of my life I have not drawn the +sum total." + +"You miscalculated," said Ephraim, "for you calculated on gratitude. +That is a bad investment which does not bear interest. Mankind cannot +be grateful, and when any one tries to be so he must sink, for others +are not so. Whoever wishes to succeed in this world, must think only +of himself, and keep his own interest in sight." + +"You wise men of the world are right!" cried Gotzkowsky, with a hoarse +laugh. + +Unhindered by Gotzkowsky's vehement and scornful bearing, Ephraim +continued: "If I had thought as you did, I would not have been able +to operate against you, nor could I have brought the mint ordinance +to bear on you. Then, to be sure, I would have been grateful, but it +would not have been business-like. Therefore I thought first of my +own welfare, and after that I came here to serve you, and show you my +gratitude." + +"I do not desire any gratitude. Let me go my way--you go yours." + +Ephraim looked at him almost pityingly. "Be reasonable, Gotzkowsky; +take good advice. The world does not thank you for being honorable. +Mankind has not deserved the pleasure of laughing at you. And they +will laugh!" + +"Leave me, I tell you!" cried Gotzkowsky; "you shall not deprive me of +my last possession, my conscience!" + +"Conscience!" sneered Ephraim. "You will starve on that capital." + +Gotzkowsky sighed deeply and dropped his head on his breast. At this +moment there were heard from without loud hurrahs and jubilant sounds, +mingled with the tones of martial music. + +King Frederick II. was returning this day to Berlin, after a long +absence, and the happy and delighted Berliners had prepared for him a +pompous and brilliant entry. They had built triumphal arches, and the +guilds had gone forth to accompany him into the city, now adorned +for festivity. The procession had to pass by Gotzkowsky's house, and +already were heard the sounds of the approaching music, while the +shouts and cries of the people became louder and shriller. + +Ephraim stepped to the window, opened it, and pointing down into the +street, he said, with a mocking laugh: "Just look, Gotzkowsky! There +is the true test of your beautiful, high-toned principles. How often +has Berlin not called you her benefactor, and yet she is overjoyed +on the very day you are going to ruin! The whole town of Berlin knows +that Gotzkowsky fails to-day, and yet they pass by your house with +merry music, and no one thinks of you." + +"He is right," murmured Gotzkowsky, as the huzzas sounded under his +window. "He is right! I was a fool to love mankind." + +Ephraim pointed down into the street again. "See," said he, "there +comes Count Salm, whom you saved from death when the Russians +were here. He does not look up here. Ah, there goes the banker, +Splittyerber, whose factories in Neustadt Eberswald you saved at the +same time. He, too, does not look up. Oh! yes, he does, and laughs. +Look there! There goes the king with his staff. You have caused his +majesty much pleasure. You accomplished his favorite wish--you founded +the porcelain factory. You travelled at your own expense into Italy, +and bought pictures for him. You preserved his capital from pillage +by the Austrians and Russians. The Dutch ambassador, who at that time +interfered in favor of Berlin with the Austrians, him has the king in +his gratitude created a count. What has he done for you? What Verelse +did was but a trifle in comparison with your services, yet he, +forsooth, is made a count. What has the king done for you? See, the +king and his staff has passed by, and not one of them has looked up +here. Yesterday they would have done so, for yesterday you were rich; +but to-day they have forgotten you already: for to-day you are poor, +and the memory of the people is very short for the poor. Ah! look down +again, Gotzkowsky--so many gentlemen, so many high-born people are +passing! Not one looks up!" + +Against his will Gotzkowsky had been drawn to the window, and, enticed +by Ephraim's words, he had looked down anxiously and mournfully at the +brilliant procession which was passing by. How much would he not have +given if only one of the many who had formerly called themselves his +friends had looked up at him, had greeted him cordially? But Ephraim +was right. No one did so. No one thought of him who, with a broken +heart, was leaning beside the window, asking of mankind no longer +assistance or help, but a little love and sympathy. But, as he looked +down into the street again, his countenance suddenly brightened up. +He laid his hand hastily on Ephraim's shoulder, and pointed to the +procession. + +"You are right," said he; "the respectable people do not look up here, +but here comes the end of the procession, the common people, the poor +and lowly, the workmen. Look at them! See how they are gazing at me. +Ah, they see me, they greet me, they wave their hats! There, one of +them is putting his hand to his face. He is a day-laborer who formerly +worked in my factory. This man is weeping, and because he knows that +I have been unfortunate. See! here come others--poor people in ragged +clothes--women with nurslings in their arms--tottering old men--they +all bend dewy eyes on me. Do you see? they smile at me. Even the +children stretch up their arms. Ah, they love me, although I am no +longer rich." + +And turning with a beaming face and eyes moistened with tears toward +Ephraim, he exclaimed: "You tell me that I have miscalculated. No! +you are mistaken. I calculated on the kernel of humanity, not on the +degenerate shell. And this noble kernel of humanity resides in the +people, the workmen, and the poor. I trusted in these, and they have +not betrayed my confidence." + +Ephraim shrugged his shoulders. "The people are weathercocks; they +will stone to-morrow the same men whom they bless to-day. Only wait +until public opinion has condemned you, and the people, too, will +forsake you. Protect yourself, then, against men. When you were rich, +every one partook of your liberality; now that you are poor, no one +will be willing to share your misfortune. Therefore save yourself, +I tell you. Collect whatever papers and valuables you may have. Give +them to me. By the God of my fathers I will preserve them faithfully +and honestly for you!" + +Gotzkowsky repulsed him with scorn, and indignant anger flashed from +his countenance. "Back from me, tempter!" cried he, proudly. "It is +true you possess the wisdom of the world, but one thing is wanting in +your wisdom--the spirit of honor. I know that this does not trouble +you much, but to me it is every thing. You are right: I will be a +beggar, and men will point at me with their finger, and laugh me to +scorn. But I will pass them by proudly, nor will I bend my head before +them, for my dignity and honor as a man are unconnected with gold +or property. These are my own, and when I die, on my tomb will be +written--'He died in poverty, but he was an honorable man.'" + +"Fool that you are!" exclaimed Ephraim, laughing in contempt. "You are +speculating on your epitaph, while the fortune of your life slips away +from you. Take my advice: there is yet time to secure your future." + +"Never, if it is to be accomplished by frauds!" + +"Think of your daughter." + +A painful quivering flitted across Gotzkowsky's face. "Who gives you a +right to remind me of her?" asked he angrily. "Do not soil her name by +pronouncing it. I have nothing in common with you." + +"Yes, you have, though," said Ephraim with a wicked smile. "You have +done me a good deed, and I am thankful. That is something in common." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer him. He crossed the room hastily, and +stepped to his writing-table, out of a secret drawer of which he drew +a dark-red case. He opened it and snatched out the diamond ring that +was contained in it. + +"I do not wish your gratitude," said he, turning to Ephraim, anger +flashing from his countenance--"and if you could offer me all the +treasures of the world, I would throw them to the earth, as I do this +ring!" And he cast down the costly jewel at Ephraim's feet. + +The latter raised it coolly from the ground and examined it carefully. +He then broke out into a loud, scornful laugh. "This is the ring which +the Jews presented to you when you procured our exemption from the +war-tax. You give it to me?" + +"I give it to you, and with it a curse on the tempter of my honor!" + +"You repulse me, then? You will have none of my gratitude?" + +"Yes; if your hand could save me from the abyss, I would reject it!" + +"Let it be so, then," said Ephraim; and his face assumed an expression +of hatred and malice--for now it could be perceived that the rich +Ephraim was again overcome by Gotzkowsky, although the latter was a +poor and shattered man. His sympathy and his help had only met with +a proud refusal from him whom he had not succeeded in humbling and +dragging down to the dust. + +"Let it be so, then!" he repeated, gnashing his teeth. "You will +not have it otherwise. I take the ring," and looking at Gotzkowsky +maliciously, he continued: "With this ring I will buy you a place in +the churchyard, that the dishonored bankrupt may, at least, find +an honorable grave, and not be shovelled in like De Neufville the +suicide!" + +"What do you say--De Neufville is dead?" cried Gotzkowsky, hurrying +after him as he neared the door, and seizing him violently by the arm. +"Say it once more--De Neufville is dead?" + +Ephraim enjoyed for a moment, in silence, Gotzkowsky's terrible grief. +He then freed himself from his grasp and opened the door. But turning +round once more, and looking in Gotzkowsky's face with a devilish +grin, he slowly added, "De Neufville killed himself because he could +not survive disgrace." And then, with a loud laugh, he slammed the +door behind him. + +Gotzkowsky stared after him, and his soul was full of inexpressible +grief. He had lost in De Neufville not only a friend whom he loved, +and on whose fidelity he could count, but his own future and his last +hope were buried in his grave. But his own tormenting thoughts left +him no leisure to mourn over his deceased friend. It was the kind of +death that De Neufville had chosen which occupied his mind. + +"He came to his death by his own hand; he did not wish to survive his +disgrace. He has done right--for when disgrace begins, life ends--and +shall I live," asked he aloud, as almost angrily he threw his head +back, "an existence without honor, an existence of ignominy and +misery? I repeat it, De Neufville has done right. Well, then, I dare +not do wrong; my friend has shown me the way. Shall I follow him? Let +me consider it." + +He cast a wild, searching look around the room, as if he feared +some eye might be looking at him, and read desperate thoughts in +the quivering of his face. "Yes! I will consider it," whispered he, +uneasily. "But not here--there in my cabinet, where every thing is +so silent and solitary, no one will disturb me. I will think of it, +I say." And with a dismal smile he hurried into his study, and closed +the door behind him. + + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ELISE. + + +The bridal costume was completed, and with a bright face, smiling and +weeping for sheer happiness, Elise stood looking at herself in a large +Venetian mirror. Not from vanity, nor to enjoy the contemplation of +her beauty, but to convince herself that all this was not a dream, +only truth, delightful truth. The maiden, with blushing cheeks, stood +and looked in the glass, in her white dress, till she smiled back +again; so like a bride, that she shouted aloud for joy, kissed her +hand to herself, in the fulness of her mirth, as she greeted and +smiled again to her image in the mirror. "I salute you, happy bride!" +said she, in the exuberance of her joy. "I see in your eyes that you +are happy, and so may God bless you! Go forth into the world and teach +it by your example, that for a woman there is no happiness but love, +no bliss but that of resting in the arms of her lover. But am I +not too simply clad?" cried she, interrupting herself suddenly, and +examining herself critically in the glass. "Yes, indeed, that simple, +silly child is not worthy of such a handsome and splendid cavalier: +a white silk dress and nothing else! How thoughtless and foolish has +happiness made me! My Heaven! I forgot that he comes from the land +of diamonds, and that he is a prince. Oh! I will adorn myself for my +prince." And she took from her desk the costly set of diamonds, the +legacy of her mother, and fastened the glittering brilliants in her +ears, on her arms, and the necklace set with diamonds and emeralds +around her snow-white neck. + +"Now that looks splendid," said she, as she surveyed herself again. +"Now perhaps I may please him. But the last ornament is still +wanting--my myrtle-wreath--but that my father shall put on." Looking +at the wreath, she continued, in a more serious and sad tone: "Crown +of love and of death! it is woven in the maiden's hair when she dies +as a maiden, whether it be to arise again as a wife or as a purified +spirit." And raising her tearful eyes to heaven, she exclaimed: "I +thank Thee, O God, for granting me all this happiness. My whole life, +my whole future, shall evince but gratitude toward Thee, who art the +God of love." + +Soon, however, it became too close and solitary in this silent +chamber. She wished to go to her father, to throw herself on his +breast, to pour out to him all her happiness, her affection, her joy, +in words of thankfulness, of tender child-like love. How the +white satin dress rustled and shone! how the diamonds sparkled and +glittered, as, meteor-like, they flitted down the dark corridor! With +a bright, happy smile, holding the wreath in her hand, she stepped +into her father's room. But the apartment was empty. She crossed it +in haste to seek him in his study. The doors were locked and no one +answered her loud calls. She supposed he had gone out, and would +doubtless soon return. She sat down to await him, and soon sank into +deep thought and reverie. What sweet and precious dreams played around +her, and greeted her with happy bodings of the future! + +The door opened, and she started up to meet her father. But it was not +her father--it was Bertram. And how altered--how pale and troubled +he looked! He hardly noticed her, and his eye gleamed on her without +seeing her. What was it that had so changed him? Perhaps he already +knew that she was to be married to-day, and that her lover, so long +mourned, had returned to her. She asked confusedly and anxiously for +her father. + +"My God! is he not here, then?" asked Bertram in reply. "I must speak +to him, for I have things of the greatest importance to tell him." + +Elise looked at him with inquiring astonishment. She had never seen +him so intensely excited in his whole being, and unwillingly she asked +the cause of his trouble and anxiety. + +Bertram denied feeling any anxiety, and yet his eye wandered around +searchingly and uneasily, and his whole frame was restless and +anxious. This only made Elise the more eager to find out the cause of +his trouble. She became more pressing, and Bertram again assured her +that nothing had happened. + +Elise shook her head distrustfully. "And yet I do not deceive myself! +Misfortune stands written on your brow." Then, turning pale with +terror, she asked, "Do you bring my father bad news?" + +Bertram did not answer, but cast his eyes on the ground to escape her +searching gaze. There awoke in her breast all the anxiety and care of +a loving daughter, and she trembled violently as she implored him +to inform her of the danger that threatened her father. He could +withstand her no longer. "She must learn it some time; it is better +she should hear it from me," muttered he to himself. He took her hand, +led her to the sofa, and, sitting down by her side, imparted to her +slowly and carefully, always endeavoring to spare her feelings, the +terrible troubles and misfortunes of her father. But Elise was little +acquainted with the material cares of life. She, who had never +known any extreme distress, any real want, could not understand how +happiness and honor could depend on money. When Bertram had finished, +she drew a long breath, as if relieved from some oppressive anxiety. +"How you have frightened me!" said she, smiling. "Is that all the +trouble--we are to be poor? Well, my father does not care much about +money." + +"But he does about his honor," said Bertram. + +"Oh, the honor of my father cannot stand in any danger," cried Elise, +with noble pride. + +Bertram shook his head. "But it is in danger, and though _we_ are +convinced of his innocence, the world will not believe it. It will +forget all his noble deeds, all his high-mindedness and liberality, it +will obliterate all his past, and only remember that this day, for the +first time in his life, he has it not in his power to fulfil his word. +It will condemn him as if he were a common cheat, and brand him with +the disgraceful name of bankrupt." With increasing dismay Elise had +watched his countenance as he spoke. Now, for the first time, the +whole extent of the misfortune which was about to befall her father +seemed to enter her mind, and she felt trembling and crushed. She +could feel or think of nothing now but the evil which was rushing +in upon her parent, and with clasped hands and tears in her eyes she +asked Bertram if there was no more hope; if there was no one who could +avert this evil from her father. + +Bertram shook his head sadly. "His credit is gone--no one comes to his +assistance." + +"No one?" asked Elise, putting her hand with an indescribable +expression on his shoulder. "And you, my brother?" + +"Ah, I have tried every thing," said he; and even in this moment +her very touch darted through him like a flash of delight. "I have +implored him with tears in my eyes to accept the little I possess, to +allow me the sacred right of a son. But he refused me. He will not, he +says, allow a stranger to sacrifice himself for his sake. He calls me +a stranger! I know that my fortune cannot save him, but it may delay +his fall, or at least cancel a portion of his debt, and he refuses me. +He says that if I were his son, he would consent to what he now +denies me. Elise," he continued, putting aside, in the pressure of the +moment, all consideration and all hesitation, "I have asked him for +your hand, my sister, that I may in reality become his son. I know +that you do not love, but you might esteem me; for the love I bear +your father, you might, as a sacrifice to your duty as a daughter, +accept my hand and become my bride." + +He ceased, and looked anxiously and timidly at the young girl, who +sat blushing and trembling by his side. She felt that she owed him an +answer; and as she raised her eyes to him, and looked into his noble, +faithful face, which had never changed, never altered--as she thought +that Bertram had always loved her with the same fidelity, the same +self-sacrifice--with a love which desired nothing, wished for nothing +but her happiness and contentment, she was deeply moved; and, for the +first time, she felt real and painful remorse. Freely and gracefully +she offered him her hand. + +"Bertram," she said, "of all the men whom I know, you are the most +noble! As my soul honors you, so would my heart love you, if it were +mine." + +Bertram bent over her hand and kissed it; but as he looked at her, his +eye accidentally caught sight of the sparkling jewels which adorned +her arms and neck, and aware for the first time of her unusually +brilliant toilet, he asked in surprise the occasion for it. + +"Oh, do not look at it," cried Elise; "tell me about my father. What +did he answer you when you asked him for my hand?" + +"That he would never accept such a sacrifice from his daughter, even +to save himself from death." + +"And is his fall unavoidable?" asked Elise thoughtfully. + +"I almost fear it is. This morning already reports to that effect were +current in the town, and your father himself told me that if Russia +insisted on payment, he was lost irretrievably. Judge, then, of my +horror, when I have just received from a friend in St. Petersburg the +certain intelligence that the empress has already sent a special envoy +to settle this business with the most stringent measures. This half +a million must be of great importance to the empress, when, for the +purpose of collecting it, she sends her well-known favorite, Prince +Stratimojeff!" + +Elise started from her seat in horror, and stared at Bertram. "Whom +did she send?" + +"Her favorite, Stratimojeff," repeated Bertram, calmly. + +Elise shuddered; her eyes flashed fire, and her cheeks burned. "Who +has given you the right to insult the Prince Stratimojeff, that you +call him the favorite of the adulterous empress?" + +Bertram looked at her in astonishment. "What is Prince Stratimojeff +to you?" said he. "The whole world knows that he is the favorite +of Catharine. Read, then, what my correspondent writes me on the +subject." He drew forth a letter, and let Elise read those passages +which alluded especially to the mission of the imperial favorite. + +Elise uttered a scream, and fell back fainting on the sofa; every +thing swam before her; her blood rushed to her heart; and she muttered +faintly, "I am dying--oh, I am dying!" But this momentary swoon soon +passed over, and Elise awoke to full consciousness and a perception of +her situation. She understood every thing--she knew every thing. With +a feeling of bitter contempt she surveyed all the circumstances--her +entire, pitiable, sorrowful misfortune. "Therefore, then," said she to +herself, almost laughing in scorn, "therefore this hasty wedding, this +written consent of the empress--I was to be the cloak of this criminal +intercourse. Coming from her arms, he was anxious to present me to the +world. 'Look! you calumniate me! this is my wife, and the empress is +as pure as an angel!'" She sprang up, and paced the room with +hasty steps and rapid breathing. Her whole being was in a state of +excitement and agitation. She shuddered at the depth of pitiable +meanness she had discovered in this man, who not only wished to cheat +and delude her, but was about, as if in mockery of all human feeling, +to make herself the scapegoat of her imperial rival. + +She did not notice that Bertram was looking at her in all +astonishment, and in vain seeking a clew to her conduct. "This is too +much!" cried she, half soliloquizing. "Love cannot stand this! Love! +away with the word--I would despise myself if I could find a spark of +this love in my heart!" She pressed her hands to her breast, as if she +wished thereby to extinguish the flames which were consuming her "Oh!" +she cried, "it burns fearfully, but it is not love! Hate, too, has +its fires. I hate him! I know it now--I hate him, and I will have +vengeance on the traitor! I will show him that I scorn him!" Like an +infuriated tigress she darted at the myrtle-wreath which lay on the +table. "The bond of love is broken, and I will destroy it as I do this +wreath!" she exclaimed, wildly; but suddenly a gentle hand was laid +upon her extended arm, and Bertram's soft and sympathizing voice +sounded in her ear. + +What he said, what words he used--he who now understood all, and +perceived the fulness of her grief--with what sincere, heart-born +words he sought to comfort her, she neither knew nor understood. But +she heard his voice; she knew that a sympathizing friend stood at +her side, ready to offer a helping hand to save her from misery, and +faithfully to draw her to his breast. She would have been lost, she +would have gone crazy, if Bertram had not stood at her side. She felt +it--she knew it. Whenever she had been threatened with calamity, he +was always near, to watch and shield, to afford her peace and comfort. + +"Bertram! Bertram!" she cried, trembling in every limb, "protect me. +Do not shut me out from your heart! have pity on me!" She leaned her +head on his breast and wept aloud. Now, in her sorrow, she felt it to +be a blessing that he was present, and for the first time she had +a clear consciousness that God had sent him to her to be a helping +friend, a guardian angel. + +The illusions and errors of her whole life fell from before her eyes +like a veil, and she saw in a clear light both herself and Bertram. +And now, as she leaned her head upon his breast, her thoughts became +prayers, and her tears thank-offerings. "I have entertained an angel +unawares," said she, remembering, unintentionally, the language of +Holy Writ. When Bertram asked the meaning of her words, she answered, +"They mean that an erring heart has found the right road home." + +She wiped away her tears with her long locks. She would no longer +weep, nor shed a single tear for the false, intriguing traitor, the +degenerate scion of a degenerate race. He was not worthy of a sigh of +revenge, not even of a reproach. A mystery had slept in her breast, +and she thought to have found the true solution in the word "Feodor!" +but she was mistaken, and God had allowed this long-mourned, +long-desired man to return to her, that she might be allowed to read +anew the riddle of her heart more correctly, to find out its deceitful +nature, its stubborn pride, and to conquer them. Thus thinking, she +raised her head from Bertram's breast, and looked at him "You asked my +father for my hand. Do you still love me?" + +Bertram smiled. This question seemed so strange and singular! "Do I +love you?" asked he. "Can he ever cease to love who has once loved?" + +"Do you still love me?" she repeated. + +"Faithfully and honorably," said he, with feeling. + +"Faithfully and honorably!" cried Elise, deeply moved. "Oh those are +words as strong as rocks, and like the shipwrecked sailor, I will +cling to them to save myself from sinking. Oh, Bertram, how good you +are! You love my father, and desire to be his son, only for the sake +of helping him." + +"And if need be, to work for him, to give up my life for him!" + +With her bright eyes she looked deeply into his, and held out her hand +to him. "Give me your hand, Bertram," said she, softly. "You were a +better son to my father than I have been a daughter. I will learn from +you. Will you be my teacher?" + +Bertram gazed at her astonished and inquiringly. She replied to this +look with a sweet smile, and like lightning it shot through his heart, +and a happy anticipation pervaded his entire soul. "My God! my God! +is it possible?" murmured he, "is the day of suffering, indeed, past? +Will--" + +He felt Elise suddenly shudder, and pressing his hand significantly, +she whispered, "Silence, Bertram, look there!" + +Bertram followed the direction of her eyes, and saw Gotzkowsky, who +had opened the door of his study, and was entering the room, his +features pale and distorted, and his gaze fixed. "He does not see us," +whispered Elise. "He is talking to himself. Do not disturb him." + +In silence she pointed to the curtains just behind them, concealing +a recess, in the middle of which stood a costly vase. "Let us conceal +ourselves," said she, and, unnoticed by Gotzkowsky, they glided behind +the curtains. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE RESCUE. + + +Gotzkowsky had closed with life and earthly affairs. He had signed the +document declaring him a bankrupt, and he had delivered over all his +property to his creditors. The die had been cast. He had been powerful +and great through money, but his power and greatness had now gone from +him, for he was poor. The same men who yesterday had bowed down to the +ground before him, had to-day passed him by in pride and scorn; and +those who had vowed him eternal gratitude, had turned him from their +door like a beggar. Why should he continue to bear the burdens of +a life which had no longer any allurements, and whose most precious +jewel, his honor, he had lost? + +De Neufville had done right, and only a coward would still cling to +life after all that was worth living for had disappeared. They should +not point scornfully at him as he went along the streets. He would not +be condemned to hear whispered after him, "Look! there goes Gotzkowsky +the bankrupt." No, this fearful word should never wound his ears or +pierce his heart. + +Once more only would he pass through those streets, which had so often +seen him in his glory--once more, not poor, nor as the laughing-stock +of children, but so that those who now derided him should bow down +before him, and honor him as the mourning emblem of departed honor: +only his body should pass by these men who had broken his heart. He +had determined to quit this miserable existence, to leave a world +which had proved itself to him only a gulf of wickedness and malice, +and his freed spirit would wing its way to regions of light and +knowledge. + +With such thoughts he entered the room which was to be the scene of +his last hours. But he would not go down to the grave without bearing +witness to the wickedness and malice of the world. His death should be +a monument of its disgrace and ingratitude. + +For this purpose he had sought this room, for in it was the costly +_étagère_ on which stood the silver pitcher presented to him by the +Council of Leipsic as a token of their gratitude, and from it he would +drink his fatal draught. He took it and emptied into it a small white +powder, that looked so innocent and light, and yet was strong enough +to drag him down with leaden weight into the grave. He then took the +water-goblet and poured water on it. The draught was ready; all that +was necessary was for him to put it to his lips to imbibe eternal +rest, eternal oblivion. + +Elise saw it all--understood it all. She folded her hands and prayed; +her teeth chattered together, and all that she could feel and know +was, that she must save him, or follow him to the grave. "When he +raises the pitcher to his lips, I will rush out," she whispered to +Bertram, softly, and opened the curtains a little in order to watch +him. + +Gotzkowsky had returned to the _étagère_. He took the silver-oaken +wreath, the civic crown presented to him by the city of Berlin, and +looked at it with a bitter, scornful smile. "I earned this," he said, +half aloud--"I will take it with me to the grave. They shall find my +corpse crowned with this wreath, and when they turn away in shame, the +broken bankrupt, John Gotzkowsky, will enjoy his last triumph over a +degenerate world." And as if in a dream, in the feverish delirium of +grief, he placed the wreath on his brow, then for a moment stood with +his head bent in deep thought. + +It was a strange picture to see his proud, tall figure, his pale, +nervous face, crowned with the silver wreath, and opposite to him, +looking through the curtains, his daughter, whose glowing eyes were +eagerly watching her father. + +And now Gotzkowsky seized the silver pitcher, raised it on high--it +had already touched his lips--but suddenly he staggered back. A +dearly-loved voice had called his name. Ah, it was the voice of his +daughter, whom he had forgotten in the bitterness of his grief. He had +believed his heart dead to all feeling, but love still lived in him, +and love called him back to life. Like an electric shock it flew +through his whole frame. + +He put the pitcher down, and covering his face with his hands, cried, +"Oh, unnatural father! I forgot my child!" + +Behind him stood Elise, praying to God eagerly and fervently. She +wished to appear quite composed, quite unsuspicious, that her father +might not have even an inkling of her knowledge of his dark design. +Her voice dare not tremble, her eye must remain clear and calm, and a +smile play about her lips, which yet quivered with the anxious prayers +she had just offered to God. "My father!" she said, in a low but quiet +voice--"my father, I come to beg your blessing. And here is the myrtle +wreath with which you were to adorn me." + +Gotzkowsky still kept his face covered, but his whole frame trembled. +"I thank Thee, O my God! I thank Thee! the voice of my child has saved +me." And turning round suddenly, he stretched out both arms toward +her, exclaiming aloud: "Elise, my child, come to my heart, and comfort +your father." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, rushed into his arms, and nestled close to +his heart. She whispered in his ear words of fervent love, of warmest +affection. They fell on Gotzkowsky's heart like soothing balm; they +forced tears of mingled joy and repentance from his eyes. + +A long while did they remain locked in each other's arms. Their lips +were silent, but their hearts spoke, and they understood each other +without words. Then Elise raised herself from her father's embrace, +and, again offering him the myrtle-wreath, said with a smile, "And +now, my father, bless your daughter." + +"I will," said Gotzkowsky, drying his eyes. "Yes, from my whole soul +will I bless you. But where is the bridegroom?" + +Elise looked at him inquiringly. "Will you bid him, also, welcome?" + +"That I will with all my heart!" + +Elise approached the curtain, drew it back, and taking Bertram's hand, +led him to her father, saying, with indescribable grace: "My father, +bless your children." + +"This is your bridegroom?" asked Gotzkowsky, and for the first time a +sunbeam seemed to flash across his face. + +Bertram with a cry of delight drew Elise to his heart. She clung to +him, and said warmly: "I will rest on your breast, Bertram. I will +be as true and as faithful as yourself. You shall reconcile me to +mankind. You will make us both happy again. My father and I put our +hope in you, and we both know it will not be in vain. Is it not so, my +father?" She extended her hand to Gotzkowsky. + +He took it, but was too much affected to speak. He pressed it to his +eyes and his breast, and then looked with a smile into the countenance +of his daughter. + +Elise continued: "Look, father, life is still worth something. It +gives you a son, who is happy to share your unhappiness with you. It +gives you a daughter, who looks upon every tear of yours as a jewel in +your crown; who would be proud to go as a beggar with her father from +place to place, and say to all the world, 'Gotzkowsky is a beggar +because he was rich in love toward his fellow-men; he has become poor +because he was a noble man, who had faith in mankind.'" And as she +drew her father into her own and Bertram's embrace, she asked him, +smiling through her tears, "My father, do you still wish to leave your +children?" + +"No, I will live--live for you!" cried Gotzkowsky, as, almost overcome +with emotion and pleasure, he threw his arms around their necks, and +kissed them both warmly and lovingly. "A new life is to begin for us," +said he, cheerfully. "We will seek refuge in a quiet cottage, and take +with us none of the show and luxury for which men work and sell their +souls--none of the tawdriness of life. Will you not be content, Elise, +to be poor, and purchase the honor of your father with the loss of +this vain splendor?" + +Elise leaned her head on his shoulder. "I was poor," she said, "when +the world called me rich. Now I am rich when it will call me poor. +Give up every thing that we possess, father, that no one may say +Gotzkowsky owes him any thing, and has not kept his word." With ready +haste she loosened the necklace from her throat, the bracelets from +her arms, and the drops from her ears. "Take these, too," said she, +smiling. "Add them to the rest. We will keep nothing but honor, and +the consciousness of our probity." + +"Now I am your son, father," cried Bertram, with beaming eyes. "Now +I have a right to serve you. You dare no longer refuse to accept all +that is mine for your own. We will save the honor of our house, and +pay all our creditors." + +"That we will do," exclaimed Gotzkowsky; "I accept your offering, my +son." And joining Elise and Bertram's hands together, he cast grateful +looks to heaven, saying: "From this day forward we are poor, and yet +far richer than many thousands of rich people; for we are of sound +health, and have strong arms to work. We have good consciences, and +that proud contentment which God gives to those only who trust in His +help." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +RETRIBUTION. + + +The appointed hour had arrived, and in the full splendor of his rich +uniform, decorated with orders, and glittering with diamonds bestowed +upon him by the favor of two empresses, Prince Feodor von Stratimojeff +entered Gotzkowsky's house. With the proud step of victory he ascended +the stairs that led to the apartments of his bride. The goal was at +last reached. The beautiful, lovely, and wealthy maiden was finally to +become his wife. He could present her at the court of St. Petersburg, +and with her beauty, her virtue, and his happiness revenge himself on +the fickle empress. These were his thoughts as he opened the door and +entered Elise's room. There she stood in her white bridal attire, as +delicate, as slender, and as graceful as a lily to the sight. There +stood also her father, and the friend of her youth, Bertram. The +witnesses to the ceremony were present, and nothing more was necessary +but to lead her to the altar. Elise had requested of her father that +she herself should see the prince, and give him his dismissal. She had +also requested that Bertram should be present. She wished to show him +that her heart had, at once and forever, been healed of its foolish +and unholy love, and that she could face the prince without trembling +or hesitation. This was an offering which she wished to bring to the +honor of her future husband and her own pride; and she would have +despised herself if a motion of her eyebrow or a sigh from her breast +had betrayed the sadness which, against her will, she felt in her +heart. She looked, therefore, with a cold and calm eye on the prince +as he entered, and for the first time he seemed no longer the handsome +man, the being endowed with numberless fascinations, of former days. +She read only in his flaccid features the sad history of the past. The +charm was broken which had held her eyes captive. Her vision was clear +again, and she shuddered before this wild, demoniacal beauty which she +had once adored as God's image in man. As she looked at him, she felt +as if she could hate him, because she had loved him; because she had +spent her first youth, her first love, her first happiness, on him; +because he had defrauded her of the peace and innocence of her heart; +and because she no longer had even the right of weeping for her lost +love, but was forced to turn away from it with blushes of shame. + +Feodor approached with an air of happy triumph and satisfaction, and, +bowing low to her father, said, with a most exquisite smile, "I have +come to seek my bride--to request Elise's hand of her father." + +With eyes beaming with pleasure he offered Elise his hand, but hers +remained calm and cold, and her voice did not tremble or falter as +she said: "I am a bride, but not yours, Prince Stratimojeff;" and +extending her hand to Bertram, she continued: "This is my husband! +To-day, for the third time, he has saved me--saved me from you!" + +Prince Feodor felt annihilated, and staggered back as if struck by an +electric shock. "Elise! is this the way you reward my love?" asked he +sadly, after a pause. "Is this the troth you plighted me?" + +She stepped up close to him, and said softly: "I kept my heart +faithful to my Feodor, but he ceded it to Prince Stratimojeff. Elise +is too proud to be the wife of a man who owes his title of prince to +the fact of being the favorite of an empress." + +She turned and was about to leave the room, but Feodor held her back. +No reserve, no concealment were any longer possible to him. He only +felt that he was infinitely wretched, and that he had lost the hope of +his life. "Elise," he said, in that soft, sad tone, which had formerly +charmed her heart, "I came to you to save me; you have thrust me back +into an abyss. Like a drowning man I stretched out my hand to you, +that in your arms I might live a new life. But Fate is just. It hunts +me back pitilessly from this refuge, and I must and will sink. Well, +then, though the waves of life close over me, my last utterance will +be your name." + +Elise found herself capable of the cruel courage of listening to his +pathetic words with a smile: "You will yet have time to think over +your death," said she, with proud composure; and, turning to her +father, she continued, "My business with this gentleman is finished. +Now, father, begin yours." She gave her hand to Bertram, and, without +honoring the prince with another look, she left the room with her +betrothed. + +"And now," said Gotzkowsky coldly, "now, sir, let us proceed to our +affairs. Will you have the kindness to follow me to my counting-room? +You have come to Berlin to rob me of my daughter and my property! You +have been unsuccessful in the one; try now the other." + +"That I will, that I shall!" cried the prince, gnashing his teeth, and +anger flashing from his eyes. "Elise has been pitiless, I will be so +too." + +"And I would hurl your pity from me as an insult," said Gotzkowsky, +"if you offered it." + +"We are then enemies, for life and death--" + +"Oh, no! We are two tradesmen who bargain and haggle with each other +about the profits. There is nothing more between us." He opened the +door and called in his secretary and his cashier. "This gentleman," +said Gotzkowsky, with cutting coldness, "is the agent of Russia, sent +here to negotiate with me, and in case I cannot pay, to adopt the most +severe measures toward me. You, gentlemen, will transact this business +with him. You have the necessary instructions." He then turned to the +prince, who stood breathless and trembling from inward excitement, +burning with anger and pain, and leaning against the wall to keep +himself from falling. "Prince," said he, "you will be paid. Take these +thirty thousand dollars; they are the fortune of my son-in-law. He +has given it cheerfully to release us from you. Here, further, are my +daughter's diamonds. Take them to your empress as a fit memorial +of your German deeds, and my pictures will cover the balance of my +indebtedness to you."[1] + +"It is too much, it is too much!" cried Prince Feodor; and as if +hunted by the furies, he rushed out, his fists clinched, ready to +crush any one who should try to stop him. + + +[Footnote 1: Gotzkowsky paid his debt to Russia with thirty thousand +dollars cash; a set of diamonds; and pictures which were taken by +Russia at a valuation of eighty thousand dollars, and formed the first +basis of the imperial gallery at St. Petersburg. Among these were some +of the finest paintings of Titian, some of the best pieces of Rubens, +and one of Rembrandt's most highly executed works--the portrait of his +old mother.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TARDY GRATITUDE. + + +John Gotzkowsky, the rich merchant of Berlin, had determined to +struggle no longer with Fate; no longer to undergo the daily +martyrdom of an endangered honor, of a threatened name. Like the +brave Sickenhagen, he said to himself, "Better a terrible end than an +endless terror," and he preferred casting himself down the abyss at +once, to be slowly hurled from cliff to cliff. He had given notice to +the authorities of his failure, and of his intention of making over +all his property to his creditors. He was now waiting to hand over the +assets to the assignees, and leave the house which was no longer his. +Not secretly, however, but openly, in the broad daylight, he would +cross the threshold to pass through the streets of that town which +was so much indebted to him, and which had formerly hailed him as her +savior and preserver. It was inevitable--he must fall, but his fall +should at the same time be his revenge. For the last time he would +open the state apartments of his house; for the last time receive his +guests. But these guests would be the legal authorities, who were to +be his heirs while he was yet alive, and who were to consign his name +to oblivion before death had inscribed it on any tomb-stone. + +The announcement of his fall had spread rapidly through the town, +and seemed at last to have broken through the hardened crust which +collects around men's hearts. The promptings of conscience seemed +for a moment to overcome the voice of egotism. The magistrates were +ashamed of their ingratitude; and even the Jews of the mint, Ephraim +and Itzig, had perceived that it would have been better to have +avoided notoriety, and to have raised up the humbled Gotzkowsky, than +to have trodden him in the dust entirely. + +Instead of the officials whom he had expected, however, a committee of +the Council, accompanied by Ephraim and Itzig, entered his house and +asked to speak with him. He received them in his apartments of state, +with his children at his side. His figure was erect, his head proudly +raised, and he regarded them, not as an unfortunate, downcast man, but +as a superior would regard his inferiors; and they lowered their eyes +before his penetrating glances, ashamed and conscious of wrong. + +"The Council have sent us," said one of the aldermen. + +"I have no further business with the Council," said Gotzkowsky, +contemptuously. + +"Gotzkowsky, do not be angry with us any longer," said the aldermen, +almost imploringly. "The magistracy, in acknowledgment of your +great services to the city, are ready and willing to pay the sum you +demand." Gotzkowsky shook his head proudly. "I am no longer ready to +accept it. The term has expired; you can no longer buy me off; you +remain my debtors." + +"But you will listen to us," cried Itzig. "We come in the name of the +Jews." + +"We are empowered to assist you," added Ephraim. "We have been +instructed by the Jews to give you, on the security of your signature +and the prepayment of the interest, as much money and credit as will +prevent your house from failing." + +Gotzkowsky's large bright eyes rested for a moment searchingly and +speculatively on Ephraim's countenance; and the light, mocking smile +which stood on the lips of the Jew confirmed his determination, and +strengthened him in his resolution. "My house has failed," said he, +quietly and proudly, and, reading the anxiety and terror depicted on +their countenances, he continued almost exultingly: "yes! my house +has failed. The document in which I announced it and declared myself +a bankrupt, has already been sent to the magistracy and the merchant's +guild." + +"You dare not fail!" cried Itzig, in a rage. + +"You dare not put this insult upon the Council and the town," +exclaimed the aldermen, with dignity. "We cannot allow posterity to +say of us, 'The town of Berlin left the noblest of her citizens to +perish in want and misery.'" + +"It will be well for me if posterity should say so, for then my name +and my honor will be saved." + +"But the magistracy will be delighted to be able to show its gratitude +toward you." + +"And the Jews will be delighted, too," cried Itzig. "The Jews are +ready to help you." + +Gotzkowsky cast an angry look at him. "That is to say, you have +calculated that it will not profit you if I do fail. You have large +drafts on me, and if I fail, you only get a portion of your debt; +whereas, if I stand, you get the whole. You would be magnanimous from +self-interest, but I do not accept your magnanimity--you shall lose. +Let that be your punishment, and my revenge. You have wounded my heart +unto death, therefore I will strike you on the only spot in which +you are sensitive to pain: I attack your greed of money. You come too +late; I am bankrupt! My drafts are no longer current, but my honor +will not die with my firm." + +They were all silent, and gazed down to the earth frowningly. Only one +looked toward Gotzkowsky with a clear, bright eye. This was Ephraim, +who, mindful of his conversation with Gotzkowsky, said to himself, +triumphantly, "He has taken one lesson from me--he has learned to +despise mankind." + +But Itzig was only the more furious. "You wish our ruin," said he, +angrily. "You will be ungrateful. The Jews, who made you a present of +a handsome ring, have not deserved that of you. What will the world +say?" + +"The world will learn the cause of my ruin, and condemn you," said +Gotzkowsky. "Go, take all that I have; I will reserve nothing; I +despise riches and estate. I wish to be poor; for in poverty is peace. +I turn my back upon this house, and I take nothing with me but this +laurel-wreath and you, my children." + +Smilingly he gave his hands to Bertram and Elise. "Come, my children! +let us wander out in the happiness of poverty. We shake the dust from +our feet, and are light and free, for though we are poor, we are rich +in love. Yes, we are poor; but poverty means freedom. We are no longer +dependent upon prejudices, conventionalities, and forms. We have +nothing more to conceal or hide. We need not be ashamed of our +poverty, for we dare to show it to all the world; and when we go +through the streets as ragged beggars, these rich people will cast +down their eyes in shame, for our poverty will accuse them, and our +rags testify against them. Come, my children, let us begin our life of +poverty. But when death comes to take me away, crown my cold brow with +this laurel-wreath, given me by the city of Berlin, and write on my +coffin: 'This is the world's reward!'"[1] + +And firm and erect, leaning on his children, Gotzkowsky crossed the +room. No one dared to detain him. Shame and remorse, anger and terror, +kept them all spell-bound. "Let us go, let us go; I have a horror of +this house, and this splendor sickens me." + +"Yes! let us go," said Elise, throwing her arms around her father's +neck. They went out into the street. How refreshing did the cool air +seem to them, and how soft and sweet did the calm blue sky look +down upon them! Gotzkowsky gazed up at it. He did not perceive the +multitude of people which stood before his own door, or rather he did +not wish to see them, because he took them for a portion of the idle, +curious populace, which follows misfortune everywhere, and finds a +spectacle for the amusement of its _ennui_ in the suffering of others. + +But for this once, Gotzkowsky was mistaken; it was indeed only poor +people who were standing in the street, but their countenances bore +the marks of sympathy, and their looks were sad. They had heard of +his misfortunes, and had hastened hither, not from curiosity, but from +interest in him. They were only factory-hands, to whom Gotzkowsky had +been benefactor, friend, and adviser; they were the poor whom he had +supported and comforted, who now stood before his house, to bid him a +last farewell. To be sure, they could render him no assistance--they +had no money, no treasures--but they brought their love with their +tears. + +At the head of the workmen stood Balthazar, with his young wife, and +although his eyes were dimmed with tears, he still recognized his +master who had done him so much kindness; and although his breast was +stifled with grief, yet he controlled himself, and cried out, "Long +live Gotzkowsky, our father!" + +"Hurrah for Gotzkowsky! Long may he live!" cried the crowd, not +jubilantly, but in a sad tone, half smothered by tears. + +Gotzkowsky's countenance beamed with joy, and with a grateful smile +he stretched out his hand to Balthazar. "I thank you, my friend," he +said; "you have often shouted in compliment to me, but never has it +given me so much pleasure as to-day." + +"Never has it been done more cordially and sincerely," said Balthazar, +pressing Gotzkowsky's hand to his lips. "You have always been a father +and a friend to us, and we have often been sorry that you were so rich +and powerful that we could not show you how dear you were to us. Now +that you are no longer rich, we can prove that we love you, for we can +work for you. We have come to an agreement among ourselves. Each of +us will give one working-day in the week, and the proceeds shall go to +you, and as there are one hundred and seventy of us workmen, you shall +at least not starve, Father Gotzkowsky." + +Gotzkowsky looked at him with eyes glistening with pleasure. "I thank +you, my friends," said he, deeply moved; "and if I do not accept your +offer you must not think that I do not appreciate its greatness or its +beauty. Who can say that I am poor when you love me, my children?" + +At that moment, a carriage stopped at the door. Bertram had brought it +to convey them to their new and modest residence. + +"Are you going, then, to leave us forever?" said Balthazar mournfully. + +"No, my children, I remain among you, in the midst of you. I am only +going to exchange this large house for a smaller one." + +"Come," cried Balthazar, "come, my friends, we will escort our father, +Gotzkowsky, to his new house. The town of Berlin shall see that only +rich people are ungrateful, and that the poor never forget their +benefactor and their friend. Come, let us take out the horses. We will +draw Father Gotzkowsky through the streets." + +The crowd answered with a thundering hurrah; and with busy haste they +proceeded to the work. The horses were unharnessed, and twelve of the +most powerful workmen crowded around the pole. In vain did Gotzkowsky +beg them to refrain, not to make him an object of general curiosity. +But the people paid no heed to his request--it was a necessity to +their hearts to give him a public proof of their love. Almost by force +they raised him into the carriage, and compelled Bertram and Elise, +who had mixed with the crowd for the purpose of escaping attention, +to take their seats beside him. And now the procession advanced. Women +and workmen went on before, rejoicing and jumping about merrily at the +side of the carriage; and when they met other workmen, these latter +stopped and waved their hats, and greeted Gotzkowsky, calling him +the great factory-lord, the father of his workmen, the benefactor of +Berlin. Especially when the procession came to the low houses and +the poor cottages, the small dusty windows were thrown open, and +sun-browned faces looked out, and toil-hardened hands greeted and +waved. + +The forsaken, the ruined Gotzkowsky celebrated this day a splendid +triumph. The jubilant voice that thus did him homage was that of the +people--and the voice of the people is the voice of God! + + +[Footnote 1: With these words Gotzkowsky closes his autobiography.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE AUCTION. + + +All was now over--the curtain had fallen: Gotzkowsky had run his +brilliant career, and retired into oblivion. His fall was for some +days the topic of conversation of the good Berliners; but it was +soon superseded by some other novelty, and without either sympathy or +ill-feeling they passed by the deserted house with the closed windows +which had once been Gotzkowsky's residence. The king had purchased +it, in order to carry on, at the expense of the royal government, the +porcelain factory which Gotzkowsky had founded. + +Months had passed by. How many changes had taken place in this short +space of time! How many tears had been shed there, how many hopes +destroyed! + +Elise had become Bertram's wife; and she lived with him in the small, +quiet residence which they had selected in the most remote quarter of +the town. The three had entered the low, narrow rooms, which were to +be their home, with the firm determination not to let themselves +be annoyed by such slight material privation as they might have to +endure, but to pass them over with cheerful equanimity and proud +indifference, consoling themselves with the conviction that no one +could rob them of their great and pure love. And besides this, +their honor and their reputation were untouched, for every one was +acquainted with Gotzkowsky's fate, every one knew that he had not +fallen through his own fault, but through the force of circumstances, +and the baseness of mankind. + +He might have cause of complaint against the world, it had none +against him. With his creditors he had been honest. All that he +possessed he had given up to them, and they were all satisfied. With +proud step and unbent head could he pass through the streets, for no +one dared to follow him with insulting words. Nor had he need to be +ashamed of his poverty, for it was in itself a proof not only of +his unmerited misfortune, but of his integrity. All this he said and +repeated to himself daily, and yet it pained him to go through the +streets, feeling solitary and downcast. His eyes even filled with +tears, as one day passing by his house he saw the gates open, and +equipages, as in former days, at his door, while genteel and rich +people, with cold, apathetic countenances, were entering his house +as they had done of yore. Formerly they came to Gotzkowsky's splendid +dinners, now they had come to the auction. The _fauteuils_ and +velvet-covered sofas, the carpets and gold-embroidered curtains, the +chandeliers of bronze and rock crystal, the paintings and statuary, +the silver table-ware, and the costly porcelain service, all these +were now exposed for sale. + +There is something sad and mournful about an auction. It speaks always +of the ruin and breaking up of a man's life and the happiness of his +family, of the wreck of a shattered existence, and the sad remains of +what was once, perhaps, a brilliant destiny. On the day of an auction +there ceases to be a home, the sacred secrets of family life vanish; +home is no longer the abode of peace, and the long-cherished _penates_ +hide their heads in grief. + +Then the gates are opened, and the curious multitude rushes in, and +with callous eye spies into each corner and every room; tries the +sofas on which, perhaps, yesterday some poor widow sat weeping for her +lost husband; throws itself down on the bed which once had been the +sacred temple of their love; and coldly and unfeelingly examines the +furniture of parlor and boudoir, which yet retains the appearance +of comfort and of genial repose, though soon to be scattered to +the winds, to proclaim aloud its sad and secret story in the gaudy +show-room of some second-hand dealer. All the beauty and splendor of +Gotzkowsky's former days were now to be displayed at auction. For this +reason there stood so many carriages before his door; for this reason +did so many noble and wealthy persons come to his house, and, mixed +with brokers and speculators, crowd into those halls, which they had +formerly trod with friendly smiles and in costly dresses. + +No one took any heed of the figure of a man crouching, leaning against +the staircase, with his hat pressed down over his brow, and the collar +of his cloak drawn up high over his face. No one perceived how he +shuddered when the auctioneer handled the beautiful articles and +called on the public to bid. It was to him a terrible grief to assist +at these obsequies of his past life, and yet he could not tear himself +away. He felt fascinated, as it were, by some supernatural power, and +forced to remain in the house and attend this horrible ceremony. +In the tediousness of his lonesome, inactive, idle misery, it was a +species of diversion to him, something to arouse him from his dull +rumination, to be present at this disintegration and demolition of his +own house. + +As Jeremiah once sat among the ruins of Jerusalem, so sat Gotzkowsky +with concealed face at the threshold of his house, listening with +savage joy to the strokes of the auctioneer's hammer--albeit each blow +struck him to the heart, and made its wounds smart still more keenly. +At times, when a well-known voice fell on his ear, he would raise +his head a little, and look at the bidders, and examine their cold, +unsympathizing faces. How many were there among them whom he had +once called his friends, and to whom he had done good! And now, like +vultures, they flocked to the carcass of his past; they bought his +treasures, while their eyes glistened with malicious joy. They were +delighted to be able to boast that they possessed a souvenir of the +rich Gotzkowsky. + +When Gotzkowsky saw this, he felt ashamed that he had once smiled +lovingly on these men, had confided in them, and believed in their +assurances of friendship. He rose to leave, feeling himself refreshed +and strengthened, for his depression and grief had left him. Never had +he walked the streets more proudly than on the day when he returned +from the auction to his dark, lowly dwelling. Never had he looked upon +mankind with greater pity or more bitter scorn. And yet it pained him +to reënter this dismal, quiet house, and to force himself back +into the _ennui_ and indolence of his inactive life. It was such +a sensitive, burning pain, so, in the fulness of his strength and +manhood to be condemned to do nothing more than drag on a weary +existence--to sleep, to eat, and to dream of the past! And yet he +would repeat to himself, he was strong and active to work and create; +and nevertheless, he was condemned to idleness, to live by the favor +and toil of others, even if these others were his children. + +But they worked for him with so much pleasure and so much love! +Bertram had accepted the situation of book-keeper in a large factory, +and his salary was sufficient to support the three. To be sure, they +had to manage carefully, and provide scantily enough. But Elise was +active and notable; though as the spoilt child of wealth, she had, +indeed, been able to learn nothing of those minor offices of life +which are called by women "housekeeping." Still the instinct of her +sex had enabled her soon to acquire this knowledge, and in a short +time she became mistress of it. It was, indeed, a pleasant sight to +see Elise, with the same quiet cheerfulness, acting at one moment the +part of cook in the kitchen, at another setting her little chamber to +rights with busy hands, and making amends in cleanliness and neatness +for what was wanting in elegance and beauty. True, she was altered, +but never since she had been. Bertram's wife had her brow been +darkened or her eye dimmed. Her face was always bright and clear: for +her husband, when he returned home, she had always a smile of welcome, +a cordial greeting--never a word of complaint or of mourning over the +privations she was obliged to undergo, or the wealth she had lost. +Elise felt rich--for she loved her husband; not with that ardent, +consuming passion which she had once felt, and which had been the +cause of so much disappointment and so many tears; but with that +gentle, affectionate flame which never dies out, but is constantly +supplied and nourished by esteem and appreciation. + +Bertram was no longer her brother; he was her beloved, her friend, her +counsellor, and comforter, above all. With him she was always certain +to be understood and appreciated, to find comfort and help. As on a +rock, she could now rely on the noble heart of one who was at the same +time so firm, and yet so soft in loving, that he had never doubted +her, never turned away from her. Her whole heart was given up to him +in gratitude and affection, and with her whole life did she wish to +reward him for his noble love, for the self-sacrificing gratitude with +which he had given up his entire fortune to her father, and saved +the name and honor of his house from disgrace and shame. She desired +neither splendor nor jewels. Surrounded by the halo of her love, and +of her quiet, peaceful happiness, this poor, little dwelling seemed +to her as a temple of peace and of holy rest; and, locked in Bertram's +embrace, her wishes never reached beyond its narrow sphere. + +But Gotzkowsky was not as yet able to attain this resignation. This +repose was to him an annihilating torment, and the inactive vegetation +a living death. With each day the torture increased, the soreness of +his heart became more corroding and painful. At times he felt as if he +must scream out aloud in the agony of his despair. He would strike his +chest with his clinched fists, and cry to God in the overflow of +his sufferings. He who his whole life long had been active, was now +condemned to idleness; he who through his whole life had worked for +others, was now obliged to lay his hands in his lap, and allow +others to labor for him. How had he deserved this? What crime had he +committed, that after he had toiled and worked honestly, he should go +down, whilst others who had enriched themselves by fraud and lying, +by cunning and malice, should drive through the streets in splendid +carriages, surrounded by elegance and wealth, while he was obliged to +creep along, bowed down with sorrow? He had gone down, while Ephraim +had risen higher and higher. He had become poor because he was honest; +but Ephraim had grown rich on usury. His firm had failed, while +Ephraim continued to coin money. What did the Jew care that his name +was branded by the people, that they spoke with cutting sarcasm of the +pewter-money to which he had so skilfully imparted the appearance of +silver coin, and that he was derided by all? Gotzkowsky's name, too, +had been scoffed at, and he had been a benefactor of the people, while +Ephraim had been their blood-sucking leech. + +At last, Gotzkowsky came to a firm determination that he would have +revenge--yes, revenge on this ungrateful generation which had betrayed +and forsaken him--revenge on the men who had shown themselves so small +and pitiful. He wanted to remind those who were flourishing in pride +and splendor, of their meanness and ingratitude. He would accuse no +one, but his whole life was an indictment, not against individual men, +but whole communities and cities, against the king himself. They had +all been ungrateful toward him. They were all his debtors, and in +presence of the whole world he would cast their ingratitude, their +meanness, their malice, and knavery in their face, and humble them +by recalling the past. He wrote for that purpose _The History of his +Life_, not in anger and scorn; he did not dip his pen in gall, he made +no ill-natured reflections, no contemptuous remarks. He did nothing +more than quietly and simply, clearly and truthfully, describe +his life and his deeds, and whenever it was necessary, confirm +his assertions by quotations from the official documents relating +thereto.[1] + +The very simplicity and truthfulness of this "_Biography of a +Patriotic Merchant_" procured for it an enormous success, and made the +long-forgotten, much-calumniated Gotzkowsky for a while the topic of +conversation, not only in Berlin, but throughout all Germany. Every +one wanted to read the book. All wished to have the malicious pleasure +of seeing how much people of rank, communities, cities, and princes, +were indebted to this man, and how pitilessly they had let him sink. + +The natural consequence was that the book, though written simply and +with reserve, gave great offence. Gotzkowsky had accused no one, but +the facts accused. His present poverty and need condemned the proud, +high-born people, and showed to the world their cold-heartedness and +miserable conduct. He had not exposed _individuals_ to the judgment +of the world; no--his book accused the whole magistracy of Berlin of +deeds of ingratitude; and it even included the king, for whom he had +bought a hundred thousand _ducats_' worth of pictures, and who had +only paid him back a hundred and fifty thousand _dollars_. + +If his book had contained the smallest untruth, if there had been +the least false statement in it, they would have stigmatized him as a +calumniator and scandalizer of majesty. But Gotzkowsky had only told +the truth. They could not, therefore, punish him as a false witness +or slanderer. Consequently they had to content themselves with +suppressing "The Life of a Patriotic Merchant." + +The booksellers in Berlin were therefore ordered to give up all the +copies, and even Gotzkowsky received an order to return those in his +possession. He did so; he gave up the book to the authorities, who +persecuted him because they had cause to blush before him; but his +memory he could not surrender. His memory remained faithful to +him, and was his support and consolation, whenever he felt ready to +despair; this made him proud in his misfortune, and free in the bonds +of poverty. And now they were really poor; and penury, with all its +horrors, its humiliations and sufferings, crept in upon them. + +Gotzkowsky's book had awakened all those who envied and hated him, and +they vowed his ruin. It showed how much the merchants of Berlin +were indebted to him, and how little of this indebtedness they +had cancelled. It was therefore an accusation against the wealthy +merchants of Berlin, against which they could not defend themselves, +but for which they could wreak revenge. Not on him, for he had nothing +they could take from him--no wealth, no name, no credit, and, in +their mercantile eyes, no honor. But they revenged themselves on his +family--on his son-in-law. The rich factory-lord, whose book-keeper +Bertram had been, deprived him of his situation; and in consequence of +a preconcerted arrangement, he could find no situation elsewhere. How +could he now support his family? He was willing to work his fingers to +the bone for his wife, for his father, for his child; who looked up so +lovingly to him with its large, clear, innocent eyes, and dreamt +not of the anxiety of its father, nor of the sighs which told of +the anguish of its young mother. But nowhere could he procure +employment--nowhere was there a situation for the son-in-law of +Gotzkowsky, who had accused the merchants, the magistrates, yea, even +the king! And now they were indeed poor, for they had no work; but, +condemned to inactivity, to comfortless brooding, they shudderingly +asked themselves what was to become of them--how this life of +privation was to end. + +But while Bertram and Elise remained sad and dispirited, Gotzkowsky +suddenly brightened up. For a long time he had walked up and down in +silent thought. Now, of a sudden, his countenance assumed the cheerful +expression of former days, and energetic self-reliance was expressed +in his features. Elise looked on with astonishment. He drew out from +his chest the last remains of by-gone days, the silver oak-wreath set +with diamonds, presented him by the town of Berlin, and the golden +goblet given by the town of Leipsic. He looked at them for a long time +attentively, and then went out, leaving Elise alone, to weep and pray +to God to send them help, and to console Bertram when he came home +from his fruitless search after a situation. + +It was some hours before Gotzkowsky returned, but his countenance +still retained its cheerfulness, and his features exhibited the energy +and activity of past days. He stretched out his hands to both of his +children, and drew them affectionately toward him and embraced them. +"Are we then really poor, possessing one another? I say that we are +still rich, for our hearts are yet warm, and our honor is not yet +lost. But we have not yet learned to bear the indigence of our outer +life, We have covered our poverty with the gloss of respectability; we +have been ashamed to appear in the streets in coarse clothes; we have +not yet learned to distinguish the necessary from the superfluous; we +have endeavored to be poor, and yet happy, in a city. That has been +our mistake. The happiness of poverty does not reside within the cold +walls of a town. It is not sown among the paving-stones of a street. +It is only in Nature, who is rich enough to nourish and give to all +those who trustingly cast themselves on her bosom--only in Nature, and +the privacy of country life, that we can find rest and peace. Come, +my children, let us leave this town; let us have the courage to become +children of Nature and free citizens of poverty. Let us cast the show +and glitter of a city life behind us, and wander forth, not over the +sea nor into the desert, but to a cottage in a wood. I have stripped +off the last vestige of the past, and the silver wreath and the golden +goblet have been of some use, for they have furnished us the means to +found a new existence. Bertram, have you the courage to commence life +anew and become a peasant?" + +Bertram smiled. "I have both the courage and the strength, for I am +hearty and able to work." + +"And you, Elise, are you not too proud to bring up your child as a +peasant?" + +Elise kissed her child, and handed him to her father. "Let us bring +him up to be a good and healthy man--a man like you and his father, +and he will overcome the world and poverty, and be happy." + +"Oh! I well knew that I could count upon you; and now I know how we +all can be helped. We are rich enough to buy, in some corner of the +world, a little piece of land that we can cultivate, and on which we +can build a cottage. The product of my valuables is sufficient for +that purpose; and what we can realize from these articles of furniture +will be sufficient to defray our travelling expenses. Get ready, then, +children; to-morrow we leave for Silesia. In the mountains there +we will look out some quiet, secluded valley, where the newly-made +peasants can build them a cottage. There we will forget the past, and +cast all its sufferings behind us; or if we do speak of them, it will +be as of the tales of our childhood. Come, my children, let us return +to Nature, God, and contentment. Do you remember, Elise, how I once +related to you that as a lad I once lay hungry and wretched on the +high-road? The hand which was then stretched out to me did not proceed +out of the cloud, but from heaven. It was not the consolation of +an alms that it gave me, but the comforting assurance of love which +raised me up and strengthened me, directing my looks to God, and +teaching me to love Him in all His works. God dwells and speaks in +Nature. Let us seek Him there, and serve Him in the sweat of our brow +and in the coarse peasant's frock." + + * * * * * + +And they went, and did as Gotzkowsky said. They moved to Silesia, and +bought themselves there, among the mountains, a piece of land and a +cottage, in which they led a quiet, retired, happy life. The world +forgot them. Gotzkowsky's name passed into oblivion. But history +preserved it, and still holds him up as an example, not only of the +most noble patriotism, but also of the ingratitude of men. His book, +too, is left us, and bears witness for him. But as we read it, we +become sad, and are ready to cry out, as he does, "_This is the +world's reward_!" + + +THE END. + + +[Footnote 1: His biography begins in those words: "I know that I +subject myself to a variety of judgments. How ridiculous will I appear +in the eyes of many, because I did not use my fortune for my own +benefit! They will say, 'A man who pretends to know the world, a +merchant, furthermore, whose principal merit is to make himself rich, +and found a great house, gives so little heed to self-interest, and +entertains dreams of humanity and benevolence, hardly pardonable in +a philosopher. Others, again, will deem my acts too good-natured, +improvident, or vain, as usually happens, when such are considered +from a point of view different from the actual one. But as long as +I am convinced that I have acted as a true Christian and an honest +patriot, I can despise all these criticisms. I would not act +otherwise, if I had my whole life to live over again. But I would be +more prudent, as I am better acquainted with the character of those +in whom I confided most. The peace of mind and cheerfulness which +innocence and the consciousness of good deeds impart, are too +perceptible to me, to allow me to hesitate for a moment between the +demands of selfishness and those of humanity."] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Merchant of Berlin, by L Mühlbach + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12016 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..14ae02f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12016 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12016) diff --git a/old/12016-8.txt b/old/12016-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13fdcac --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12016-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14280 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Merchant of Berlin, by L Mühlbach + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Merchant of Berlin + An Historical Novel + +Author: L Mühlbach + +Release Date: April 14, 2004 [EBook #12016] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN + +An Historical Novel + +L. MÜHLBACH + +TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY AMORY COFFIN, M.D. + +1910 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + BOOK I. + + CHAP. I.--The Festival + + II.--The Workman's Holiday + + III.--Brother and Sister + + IV.--Feodor von Brenda + + V.--Mr. Kretschmer, of the "Vossian Gazette" + + VI.--The Cowards' Race + + VII.--The Interrupted Festival + + VIII.--The Leader of the People + + IX.--The Russian is at the Gates + + X.--Be Prudent + + XI.--The Night of Horrors + + XII.--Russians and Austrians + + XIII.--A Maiden's Heart + + XIV.--A Faithful Friend + + XV.--An Unexpected Meeting + + XVI.--The Fugitive + + XVII.--The Eavesdropper + + XVIII.--The Two Cannoneers + + XIX.--Father Gotzkowsky + + * * * * * + + BOOK II. + + CHAP. I.--The Two Editors + + II.--The Chief Magistrate of Berlin + + III.--The Russian, the Saxon, and the Austrian, in Berlin + + IV.--The Cadets + + V.--The Explosion + + VI.--John Gotzkowsky + + VII.--The Horrors of War + + VIII.--By Chance + + IX.--Mistress or Maid? + + X.--An Unexpected Ally + + XI.--The Jew Ephraim + + XII.--The Russian General and the German Man + + XIII.--The Execution + + XIV.--Bride and Daughter + + XV.--The Rivals + + XVI.--The Punishment + + XVII.--The Banquet of Gratitude + + XVIII.--A Royal Letter + + * * * * * + + + BOOK III. + + CHAP. I.--Frederick the Great at Meissen + + II.--The Winter-quarters in Leipsic + + III.--The Friend in Need + + IV.--Gratitude and Recompense + + V.--Four Years' Labor + + VI.--Days of Misfortune + + VII.--Confessions + + VIII.--The Russian Prince + + IX.--Old Love--New Sorrow + + X.--The Magistracy of Berlin + + XI.--The Jews of the Mint + + XII.--The Leipsic Merchant + + XIII.--Ephraim the Tempter + + XIV.--Elise + + XV.--The Rescue + + XVI.--Retribution + + XVII.--Tardy Gratitude + + XVIII.--The Auction + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Feodor's Visit to the Garden + The Merchant draws Feodor from his Hiding-place + The Rich Jews appeal to Gotzkowsky + The Great Frederick examining the Porcelain Cup + + + + +BOOK I. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FESTIVAL. + + +The sufferings of the long war still continued; still stood Frederick +the Great with his army in the field; the tremendous struggle between +Prussia and Austria was yet undecided, and Silesia was still the apple +of discord for which Maria Theresa and Frederick II. had been striving +for years, and for which, in so many battles, the blood of German +brothers had been spilt. + +Everywhere joy seemed extinguished; the light jest was hushed; each +one looked silently into the future, and none could tell in whose +favor this great contest would finally be decided, whether Austria or +Prussia would be victorious. + +The year 1760, the fifth of the war, was particularly sad for Prussia; +it was marked in the history of Germany with tears and blood. Even +Berlin which, up to that time, had suffered but little from the +unhappy calamities of war, assumed now an earnest, mournful aspect, +and it seemed as if the bright humor and sarcastic wit which had +always characterized the inhabitants of this good city had now +entirely deserted them. Going through the wide and almost empty +streets there were to be met only sad countenances, women clothed in +black who mourned their husbands or sons fallen in one of the many +battles of this war, or mothers who were looking with anxiety into the +future and thinking of their distant sons who had gone to the army. + +Here and there was seen some wounded soldier wearily dragging himself +along the street, but hearty, healthy men were seldom to be met, and +still more seldom was seen the fresh countenance of youth. + +Berlin had been obliged to send not only her men and youths, but +also her boys of fourteen years to the army, which, according to the +confession of Frederick the Great, consisted, in the campaign of the +year 1760, only of renegades, marauders, and beardless boys. + +For these reasons it seemed the more strange to hear at this time +issuing from one of the largest and handsomest houses on the Leipsic +Street the unwonted sounds of merry dance-music, cheerful singing and +shouting, which reached the street. + +The passers-by stopped and looked with curiosity up to the windows, at +which could be seen occasionally a flushed joyous man's face or pretty +woman's head. But the men who were visible through the panes evidently +did not belong to the genteeler classes of society; their faces were +sunburnt, their hair hung down carelessly and unpowdered upon the +coarse and unfashionable cloth coat, and the attire of the maidens had +little in common with the elegance and fashion of the day. + +"The rich Gotzkowsky gives a great feast to his workmen to-day," +remarked the people in the street to one another; and as they passed +on they envied with a sigh those who were able at the same time +to enjoy a merry day in the rich and brilliant halls of the great +manufacturer, and admire the splendor of the rich man's house. + +The mansion of Gotzkowsky was indeed one of the handsomest and most +magnificent in all Berlin, and its owner was one of the richest men of +this city, then, despite the war, so wealthy and thriving. But it was +not the splendor of the furniture, of the costly silver ware, of the +Gobelin tapestry and Turkish carpets which distinguished this house +from all others. In these respects others could equal the rich +merchant, or even surpass him. + +But Gotzkowsky possessed noble treasures of art, costly paintings, +which princes and even kings might have envied. Several times had he +travelled to Italy by commission from the king to purchase paintings, +and the handsomest pieces in the Royal Gallery had been brought from +the land of art by Gotzkowsky. But the last time he returned from +Italy the war of 1756 had broken out, and the king could then spare +no money for the purchase of paintings: he needed it all for his army. +Therefore Gotzkowsky was obliged to keep for himself the splendid +originals of Raphael, Rubens, and other great masters which he had +purchased at enormous prices, and the wealthy manufacturer was just +the one able to afford himself the luxury of a picture gallery. + +The homely artisans and workmen who this day had dined in Gotzkowsky's +halls felt somewhat constrained and uncomfortable, and their +countenances did not wear a free, joyous expression until they had +risen from table, and the announcement was made that the festival +would continue in the large garden immediately adjacent to the house, +to which they at once repaired to enjoy cheerful games and steaming +coffee. + +Bertram, Gotzkowsky's head book-keeper, had been commissioned by him +to lead the company, consisting of more than two hundred persons, into +the garden, where Gotzkowsky would follow them, having first gone in +search of his daughter. + +With lively conversation and hearty laugh the people retired, the +halls were emptied, and now the deep silence of these state-apartments +was only interrupted by the gentle ticking of the large clock which +stood over the sofa on its handsomely ornamented stand. + +When Gotzkowsky found himself at last alone, he breathed as if +relieved. The quiet seemed to do him good. He sank down into one +of the large chairs covered with gold-embroidered velvet, and +gazed earnestly and thoughtfully before him. The expression of his +countenance was anxious, and his large dark eyes were not as clear and +brilliant as usual. + +John Gotzkowsky was still a handsome man, despite his fifty years; his +noble intellectual countenance, his tall proud figure, his full +black hair, which, contrary to the custom of that period, he wore +unpowdered, made an imposing and at the same time pleasing impression. + +And certainly it was not because of his personal appearance that +Gotzkowsky, notwithstanding the early death of his wife, had never +contracted a second marriage, but had preferred to remain a solitary +widower. Nor did this occur from indifference or coldness of heart, +but solely from the love for that little, helpless, love-needing +being, whose birth had cost his young wife her life, to whom he had +vowed at the bedside of her dead mother to stand in stead of +that mother, and never to make her bend under the harsh rule of a +step-mother. Gotzkowsky had faithfully fulfilled his vow; he had +concentrated all his love on his daughter, who under his careful +supervision had increased in strength and beauty, so that with the +pride and joy of a father he now styled her the handsomest jewel of +his house. + +Where then was this daughter whom he loved so dearly? Why was she not +near him to smile away the wrinkles from his brow, to drive with light +chat serious and gloomy thoughts from his mind? She it was, doubtless, +whom his wandering glance sought in these vast, silent rooms; and +finding her not, and yearning in vain for her sweet smiles, her rosy +cheeks, he sighed. + +Where was she then? + +Like her father, Gotzkowsky's daughter sat alone in her room--her +gaze, as his, fixed upon empty space. The sad, melancholy expression +of her face, scarcely tinged with a delicate blush, contrasted +strangely with her splendid dress, her mournful look with the full +wreath of roses which adorned her hair. + +Elise was the daughter of the wealthiest man in Berlin, the world +proclaimed her the handsomest maiden, and yet there she sat solitary +in her beautiful chamber, her eyes clouded with tears. Of a sudden she +drew a golden case from her bosom and pressed it with deep feeling to +her lips. Looking timidly at the door she seemed to listen; convinced +that no one approached, she pressed a hidden spring of the medallion; +the golden cover flew open and disclosed the portrait of a handsome +man in Russian uniform. + +The young girl contemplated this portrait with a strange mixture +of delight and melancholy, and then, completely overpowered by its +aspect, she approached it to her lips. "Feodor!" murmured she, so +softly that it sounded almost like a sigh, and stretching out the hand +which held the medallion, in order to be able better to contemplate +the picture, she continued-- + +"Feodor, why did we meet, to be separated forever again? Why did +not Fate allow me to be born as a poor serf upon one of thy estates, +giving to thee the right to possess me, to me the sweet duty of loving +thee? O Heaven, why art thou an enemy of my country, or why am I a +German? Men call me happy; they envy me my father's wealth; they know +not how wretched and forsaken I am." + +She bowed her head upon her breast and wept bitterly. Suddenly steps +were heard quite close to her door. She started, and concealed the +medallion quickly in her breast. "My father," murmured she, and +drying her tears she arose to open the door. She was right, it was her +father. He held out his hand to her. She took it and pressed it to her +lips respectfully, but she did not see the look of almost passionate +tenderness with which he regarded her, for she had cast down her eyes +and did not dare to look at him. + +"I have come, Elise, to lead you to our garden festival. You will go +with me, my child?" + +"I am ready," said she, taking her hat and shawl. + +"But why in such a hurry, my child?" asked her father. "Let us leave +these good people yet a little while to themselves. We will still be +in time to witness their games. I would like to stay a quarter of an +hour with you, Elise." + +Without answering, she rolled an arm-chair to the window, and laid +aside her hat and shawl. + +"It is very seldom, father, that you make me such a present," said +she. + +"What present, my child?" + +"A quarter of an hour of your life, father." + +"You are right," said he, thoughtfully. "I have little time for +pleasure, but I think so much the more of you." + +She shook her head gently. + +"No," said she, "you have no time to think of me. You are too busy. +Hundreds of men claim your attention. How could you have time, father, +to think of your daughter?" + +Gotzkowsky drew a dark-red case from his breast pocket and handed it +to her. + +"Look, Elise! see if I have not thought of you. To-day is your +birthday, and I have celebrated it as I have done every year by giving +my workmen a festival, and endowing a poor bridal pair who on this +day become betrothed. Their prayers and tears constitute the most +beautiful thank-offering to you, and being happy they bless you, the +authoress of their happiness. But how is this? You have not yet opened +the case. Are you so little like other girls that diamonds cause you +no pleasure?" + +She opened the case, and contemplated the jewels with weary looks and +scarcely concealed indifference. + +"How wonderfully they shine and sparkle, and what tempting promises +their brilliant colors hold forth! But this is a princely present, +father; your poor Elise it not worthy to wear this diadem and collar." + +"Oh, you are worthy to wear a crown!" cried her father with tender +pride. "And let me tell you, my child, you have only to choose whether +you will place on this beautiful hair an earl's coronet or a prince's +diadem. And this, my child, is the reason of my visit to-day." + +"On business," murmured she, almost inaudibly, with a bitter smile. + +Gotzkowsky continued-- + +"Young Count Saldem applied to me yesterday for your hand." + +"Count Saldem?" asked Elise. "I hardly know him. I have only spoken to +him twice in the saloon of Countess Herzberg." + +"That does not prevent him from loving you ardently," said Gotzkowsky, +with scarcely perceptible irony. "Yes, Elise, he loves you so ardently +that he would overcome all obstacles of rank and make you a genuine +countess, if I will only promise to endow you with half a million." + +The habitually pale countenance of Elise suddenly assumed life and +color. She drew herself up and threw her head proudly back. + +"Do you wish to sell me, father? Do you wish to give some value to +this noble nonentity by the present of half a million, and will his +lordship be kind enough in return to take the trifling burden of my +person into the bargain?" + +Her father gazed at her glowing countenance with eyes beaming with +joy; but he quickly suppressed this emotion, and reassumed a serious +air. + +"Yes," he said, "the good count, in consideration of half a million, +will consent to raise the manufacturer's daughter to the rank of a +countess. But for a whole million we can obtain still more; we can +rise yet higher in the scale. If I will advance his uncle, Prince +Saldem, half a million to redeem his mortgaged estates, the prince +promises to adopt the nephew, your suitor, as his son. You would +then be a princess, Elise, and I would have the proud satisfaction of +calling a prince my son." + +"As if the king would consent to a nobleman thus demeaning himself!" +cried Elise; "as if he would graciously allow the count so far to +degrade himself!" + +"Oh, the king will consent," continued her father in a light tone. +"You know that he is fond of me. Only say whether you consent to +become Countess Saldem." + +"Never!" cried she proudly. "I am no chattel to be bartered, and this +miserable title of princess has no charms for me. You can command me, +father, to renounce the man I love, but you can never compel me to +give my hand to a man I do not love, were he even a king!" + +Her father clasped her vehemently in his arms. + +"That is blood of my blood, and spirit of my spirit," cried he. "You +are right, my child, to despise honors and titles; they are empty +tinsel, and no one believes in them any longer. We stand at the portal +of a new era, and this era will erect new palaces and create new +princes; but you, my child, will be one of the first princesses of +this new era. Manufactories will be the new palaces, and manufacturers +the new princes. Instead of the sword, money will rule the world, and +men will bow down before manufacturers and merchants as they are +wont to do before generals. Therefore I say you are right in refusing +Prince Saldem's offer, for I promise you, you shall be a princess, +even without the title, and the great and noble shall bow as low +before your riches as if they were a ducal diadem." + +Elise shook her head with a melancholy smile: "I have no desire for +such homage, and I despise the base metal with which you can buy +everything." + +"Despise it not!" cried her father, "prize it rather! Gold is a holy +power; it is the magic wand of Moses which caused springs to gush +forth from the sterile rock. See, my child--I, who despise all the +rank and honors which the world can offer me, I tell you gold is the +only thing for which I have any respect. But a man must perceive and +understand the secret of this magic power. He who strives for wealth +only to _possess_ it is a heartless fool, and his fate will be that +of Midas--he will starve in the midst of his treasures. But he who +strives for wealth for the purpose of _giving_, he will discover that +money is the fountain of happiness; and in his hands the dead metal is +transformed into a living blessing. You may believe your father, who +knows the world, and who has drunk the bitter cup of poverty." + +"You were once poor?" asked Elise, looking at her father with +astonishment. + +Gotzkowsky smiled, and sank back in his chair, musing and silent. +After a pause he resumed: "Yes, I was poor. I have endured all the +horrors of poverty. I have hungered and thirsted, suffered misery +and privation, even as a little boy. Thus lay I once, wretched and +forsaken, in a ditch by the highway, and raised my hands to God on +high, praying but for a drop of water, but for a morsel of bread. Ah! +so strong was the belief of the goodness of God in my heart, that I +was convinced He would open the heavens, and reach to me with His own +hand the food for which I prayed. I waited and waited, in despairing +anxiety, but the heavens were not opened, and not even a drop of rain +came to cool my parched lips. But the cloud, which I had looked for in +vain in the sky, was seen at last on the highway, and, as I saw this +whirling cloud of dust, in the midst of which a splendid equipage +came rolling on, I said to myself: 'Here comes God!' and then I found +strength enough to raise myself from my knees, to hurry toward the +rapidly passing vehicle, and to cry with a voice which was almost +overpowered by the noise of the wheels, 'Pity! pity! give me a morsel +of bread, a drop of water! Have pity on me!' A hand was stretched +toward me out of the cloud of dust, and I saw a small, brightly +shining object drop. The carriage rolled on, and disappeared in its +cloud. But I sank on my knees and searched the dust for the piece of +money, for in this coin lay for me life, health, and strength. I was +obliged to hunt in the dust for a long time with hands tremulous with +anxiety, and finally, when I found it, I rejoiced aloud and thanked +God. Then I hurried with fleet steps toward the neighboring town, to +the same baker's shop near the gate, where, shortly before, they +had refused to my entreaties a bit of bread. Now, willingly and with +smiles, they handed me a loaf, for I had money to pay for it. In that +hour I said to myself: 'I must seek money, even if I have to grovel +in the dust for it; for money is life, and poverty is death!' The hand +which, from the cloud of dust threw me that piece of money, decided my +whole future, for it taught me that even dust was not to be despised, +as therein money might be found; but it taught me something more--it +taught me compassion and charity. Then, as I crouched down with +bleeding feet at the street-corner and devoured my loaf, I vowed to +myself that I would become rich, and when I had grown rich, to be to +each poor and needy one the helping hand stretched forth out of the +cloud of dust." + +Elise had listened to her father with deep emotion, and in the depth +of her heart she at this moment absolved him from many a silent +reproach, and many a suspicion, which her soul had harbored against +him. + +"You have kept your word, my father!" cried she. "How did you contrive +to become a rich man from a beggar?" + +Gotzkowsky laughed. "How did I contrive that?" said he. "I worked, +that is the whole secret--worked from sunrise until late in the night, +and by work alone have I become what I am. But no, I had one friend +who often helped me with his sympathy and valuable counsel. This +friend was the king. He protected me against my malicious enemies, who +envied me every little piece of fortune. He cheered me on. Frederick's +eye rested on me with pleasure, and he was delighted to see my +manufactories thrive and increase. The king's satisfaction was for +many years the only spur to my exertions, and when he looked on me +with smiling benevolence, it seemed to me as if a sunbeam of fortune +shone from his large blue eyes into my heart. I have learned to love +the king as a man, and because I love mankind I love the king. It +is said that he likes the French better than he does us, and prefers +every thing that comes from them; but, indeed, he was the first to +supply his wants from my manufactories, and in that way to encourage +me to new undertakings.[1] Mankind, in general, do not like to see +others favored by fortune in their enterprises and they hate him +who succeeds where they have failed. I have experienced that often in +life. I knew that men hated me because I was more fortunate than they +were, and yet I saw how they cringed before me, and flattered me. Oh, +my child, how many bitter and painful experiences do I not owe to my +wealth! In wealth lies Wisdom, if one would only listen to her. It has +humbled and subdued me, for I said to myself, 'How quickly would all +these men who now surround me with attention and flattery, disappear +if I became suddenly poor!' These princes and counts, who now invite +me as a guest to their tables, would no longer know me if I appeared +before them as a poor man. Wealth is rank and worth; and no prince's +title, no star of honor, shines so brightly as golden coin. But we +must learn how to use it, and not convert the means of fortune into +the end. We must also learn to despise men, and yet to love mankind. +My philosophy may be condensed into a few sentences. Strive for +gold; not to take, but to give. Be kind and faithful to all men; most +faithful, however, to thyself, thy honor, and thy country." + +Elise looked at him with a strange expression: "You love all mankind! +Do you then include our country's enemies?" + +"The enemies of our country are the only men whom I hate," cried +Gotzkowsky quickly. + +"Even were they noble and good?" asked Elise with reproachful tone. + +Gotzkowsky looked at her with astonishment and curiosity, and a cloud +flitted across his brow. Then, as if shocked at his own thoughts, +he shook his head, and murmured in a low tone, "No, that were too +terrible!" He rose and paced the room in thoughtful mood. Suddenly a +burst of lively music and gleeful shouts were heard from the garden. +Gotzkowsky's brow brightened immediately, and he extended his hand +with a tender look. + +"Come, my child," exclaimed he, "come, and see how happy you have made +men! Come, and see the power of wealth!" + + +[Footnote 1: "Gotzkowsky founded the first large velvet and silk +manufactories in Berlin. He was also the first to attend the Leipsic +fair with domestic goods, and thus open the commerce with Poland and +Russia."--_History of a Patriotic Merchant of Berlin_, 1768, pages +10-12.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WORKMAN'S HOLIDAY. + + +The garden, which stretched from behind Gotzkowsky's house to the +limits of the city, was really of artistic beauty, and he had spent +thousands in creating a park out of this dead level of sand. Now, his +work was completed, and all Berlin spoke with praise and admiration +of this garden, which ranked among the lions to be visited by every +traveller. The most splendid groups of trees were seen here and there, +interspersed among green plats of grass, ornamented by marble statues +or graceful fountains; in other places, trimmed hedges stretched +along, and from the conservatories exotic plants filled the air with +perfume. + +On this day, however, the garden presented a peculiarly lively +spectacle. On the lawn, the young girls and lads were dancing to the +music of a fiddle and bass-viol, while the older workmen and their +wives had seated themselves around tables, on which all kinds of +refreshments were spread. + +At the largest of these tables, ornamented with flowers, was seated +the betrothed couple, the workman Balthazar and Gretchen his young +bride, who bashfully and affectionately clung to his side. They had +loved each other long and faithfully in silence, but without hope, for +they were both poor, and had to support themselves and their parents +by the work of their hands. But Gotzkowsky had come to them as a +helping benefactor; he had given Balthazar a considerable sum of +money, and his daughter Elise had bestowed a dower upon the bride. +On this day, Elise's eighteenth birthday, was to be celebrated the +marriage of the happy couple. No wonder, then, that they regarded +Gotzkowsky with feelings almost of adoration, and that this young girl +appeared to them as a benevolent angel. + +Elise had just come into the garden with her father, and had taken +her seat at the table of the bridal pair. Next to her sat a young +man, whose mild and noble countenance seemed to be lighted up with +happiness and adoration whenever he looked upon her. He followed every +one of her motions with watchful eyes, and the most trifling shade, +the slightest change in the expression of her countenance, did not +escape him. At times he sighed, reading perhaps in her features the +secret thoughts of her soul, and these thoughts saddened him, and +clouded his bright clear eye. + +This young man, who sat at Elise's side, was Bertram, Gotzkowsky's +head book-keeper. From his earliest youth he had been in the house of +the rich manufacturer, who had adopted the poor orphan, and treated +him as a tender father would have done, and Bertram loved him with all +the affection of a son. And never by the lips of a true son was the +name of father pronounced with more warmth and tenderness than by this +son, adopted and won by deeds of generosity. + +But Bertram, who called Gotzkowsky father, had never ventured to call +Gotzkowsky's daughter sister. Brought up together, they had in their +childhood shared their games, their childish joys and sorrows with one +another; he had been a protecting brother to her, she an affectionate +sister to him. But ever since Bertram had returned from a journey of +three years, which Gotzkowsky had caused him to make, all this had +changed. Elise, whom he had left almost a child, he found on his +return a blooming young woman, and a feeling of joyous emotion flashed +through him as he stood blushing before her; while she, perfectly +collected, with a quiet look bade him welcome. + +Under the charm of this look he had lived several weeks of rapture +and yet of anxiety. He soon felt that he loved this young girl +passionately, but he also felt that she returned his passion with +the lukewarm affection of a friend or a sister, and that she had no +suspicion of the tumult and pain, the joy and ecstasy which filled his +breast. And yet he had a right to strive for the prize of her love; +and if he raised his eyes to the daughter of his benefactor, it was +not presumption, it was Gotzkowsky himself who emboldened him to do +so. He had said to him, "Seek to win the love of my daughter, and I +will cheerfully bid you welcome as my son, for I know that in your +hands Elise's happiness is safe." + +Thus he had the consent of her father, but Elise's love was wanting, +and how could he ever deserve this love, how win this heart which +shone as bright and clear, as hard and cold as rock crystal? Of +what avail was it that he worked indefatigably in the service of his +benefactor? how did it help him that the money, which Gotzkowsky had +given to him as a boy, had borne rich interest and made him a man of +means, and even, if he chose, of independence? What did it profit +him that all men loved him, if this one being, by whom he so ardently +longed to be loved, always remained the same, unchanged toward him, +always affectionate and friendly, always open and candid, never +abashed, never blushing, never casting her eyes down before him? + +"It must at last be decided," thought Bertram, as he sat next Elise; +"I must at last know whether she returns my love, or whether that be +true which I have heard whispered since my return. I must at least +have certainty, even if it annihilates all my wishes." + +At this moment there sounded near him merry shouts and laughter. +Gotzkowsky had accosted the bridal pair with a jest, and the grateful +audience had taken up this jest with delight. + +"Long life to the bridal pair!" cried he, raising his glass on high. +"Health, wealth, and happiness to them!" A perfect uproar followed +this appeal, and brought tears of delight into the eyes of the +blushing little bride, who stood up with the bridegroom and bowed her +thanks. + +Balthazar laughed, and, as soon as every thing had become quiet, +replied: "There, that will do! you have hurrahed enough. I don't wish +for wealth; health, happiness, and content are enough for me with my +little Gretchen; but for these blessings I have to thank, we have all +to thank, our lord and master, our father Gotzkowsky. Therefore, you +boys up there, stop your clatter and dancing, and listen to what I +have to say to you." + +Balthazar's loud clear voice overpowered the music which now ceased, +and the lads and maidens crowded around him. + +"Balthazar is going to make a speech!" cried one with hearty laughter, +in which the others joined lustily. "Silence, silence! Balthazar is +going to make a speech. Come, Balthazar, out with it! It's a failing +he has." + +"Well, why shouldn't I?" said Balthazar, laughing; "many a great lord +does nothing else all his life but make pretty speeches. Why shouldn't +I play the great lord on this my wedding-day?" He drew himself up, +cleared his throat, and continued: "I want to talk to you about our +master, who turned us from good-for-nothing drones into industrious +workmen, who gave us bread when nobody else had bread for us. Nobody, +I say, not even our mayor, who is a very good mayor, but who cannot +help the poor, feed the hungry, and give bread and work to hands +willing to work. Who is able to do that, and who does it? Who in +Berlin is the rich, the good man, who gives work to all, and in his +large and celebrated mills procures us food and wages? Who is it?" + +"Gotzkowsky, our father Gotzkowsky!" cried the crowd unanimously. + +Balthazar waved his hat joyfully in the air. "Therefore, say I, long +live Gotzkowsky our father!" cried he with stentorian voice. And +loud shouts and cheers followed this appeal. Men and women surrounded +Gotzkowsky and offered him their hand, and thanked him with those +simple and plain words which never fail to reach the heart, because +they come from the heart. All hailed him as friend and father, +benefactor and master. Gotzkowsky stood in their midst, proud and +erect. A deep emotion was evident in his noble features, and he raised +his beaming, radiant face to heaven, thanking God in the humbleness of +his heart for the proud joy of this hour. + +"Long live Gotzkowsky, our father!" reiterated the happy multitude. + +He lowered his eyes, and glanced with friendly looks at the cheerful +assemblage. + +"Thank you, my children," said he, "but I beg you not to overrate my +merits. You are of as much service to me as I am to you. He who gives +work is nothing without the worker; the one has need of the other, to +increase and thrive. Of what avail would my looms and my money be if +I had not your industrious hands and your good will to serve me? Money +alone will not do it, but the good will and love of the workmen carry +the day. I thank you all for your good will and your love; but above +all," continued he, turning to Bertram, "above all things I must thank +you, my friend. You have stood by me and helped me bravely, and it is +full time that I should try to reward you. Children, one more surprise +have I in reserve for you to-day. I appoint Mr. Bertram my partner +and sole director of the silk factory." "That's right, that's noble!" +cried the workmen. + +Bertram said nothing. He only turned his eyes, clouded with tears, +toward Gotzkowsky, and the latter read in his looks his deep emotion +and affectionate gratitude. + +"My son," said he, opening his arms. + +"My father, oh my dear, noble father," cried the young man, throwing +himself, with streaming eyes, on Gotzkowsky's breast. The workmen +stood round, deeply moved, and in silence; and in their hearts they +sent up quiet prayers to God on high for their employer. At last +Gotzkowsky raised himself from Bertram's arms and sought his daughter +with his eyes. She was still sitting, silent and pensive, at the +table, and did not appear to have observed what was going on around +her. A light cloud crossed his brow as he took Bertram's hand and +approached Elise. + +"Well, Elise, have you no word of congratulation for him?" + +She shuddered, as if awaking from a dream. "Oh," said she, "my good +brother Bertram knows that I rejoice in his fortune." + +"Brother! still brother?" murmured Gotzkowsky impatiently. + +"And why should she not give me that sweet name?" asked Bertram, +quickly. "Have you not often called me son, and allowed me to call you +father?" + +"Oh, I would like indeed to be your father, my son, without Elise's +having to call you brother. But we will speak of this another time," +said he, interrupting himself; and turning to his workmen, continued: +"Come, let us be merry, and of good cheer. Who knows how long Heaven +will grant us sunshine? Come, you young folks, I have caused a target +to be set up in the court. Let us go there. He who makes the best shot +shall get a new coat. Come, bride Greta, take my arm; I will be your +groomsman to-day. Bertram, you and Elise follow us. Now, music, strike +up a song for the bride." + +Gotzkowsky offered his arm to the bride and led her out. Cheerfully +the motley crowd followed him, and soon there was heard in the +distance their happy laughter and the merry sound of the music. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BROTHER AND SISTER. + + +Elise did not follow the joyous multitude. She still sat musing, +unaware that Bertram was standing opposite to her, considering her +attentively. At last he ventured to pronounce her name softly. She +looked up at him with perfect composure. + +"You do not go with them, Elise?" asked he. "Do you not take any part +in the general rejoicing?" + +She tried to smile. "Oh yes," said she, "I am glad to see how much +these good people love my father. And he deserves it too. The welfare +of his workmen is his only thought, and the only fame for which he +strives." + +"You are too modest in your estimate of your father, Elise," cried +Bertram. "Gotzkowsky's fame extends far beyond the walls of this town. +All Germany, yes, even Holland and England, are familiar with his +name, and the Prussian merchant is as much a hero on "'Change' as the +Prussian king is on the battle-field." + +"Only my father's victories are less bloody," said Elise, smiling. + +A pause ensued. Both felt anxious and embarrassed, and neither dared +to break the silence. It was the first time, since Bertram's return +from his grand tour, that she had found herself in his presence +without witnesses, for she had carefully avoided being alone with him. +This had not escaped Bertram's notice, and he had therefore determined +to take advantage of the present opportunity to have his fate decided. +But yet he did not venture to speak, and the words died away on +his lips as he remarked her silent, indifferent composure. As he +contemplated her, memories of former days rose up before him. He +saw her as, half child, half maiden, she clung trustingly and +affectionately to his side, and with charming blushes listened to the +teasing jokes of her father. Then her whole soul lay open and clear +before him; then she disclosed to him the entire treasure of her pure, +full heart, and all the fanciful and dreamy thoughts of her young +virgin soul were perceptible; then he had participated in her joys, +her little sorrows, every feeling which agitated her breast. + +And now, why was it all so different? + +A deep, painful melancholy took possession of him, and made him +overcome his fear of her decision. He sat down resolutely at her side, +and took her hand. + +"Elise," said he, "do you still remember what you said to me three +years ago, as I took leave of you?" + +She shook her head and turned her eyes toward him. These eyes were +full of tears, and her countenance was agitated with painful emotion. + +Bertram continued: "You then said to me, 'Farewell, and however far +you may travel my heart goes with you, and when you return I will be +to you the same loving, faithful sister that I now am.' These were +your words, Elise; you see that I have preserved them in my memory +more faithfully than you, my sister." + +Elise shuddered slightly. Then she said, with a painfully subdued +voice, "You were so long absent, Bertram, and I was only a child when +you left." + +"The young woman wishes, then, to recall the words spoken by the +child?" + +"No, Bertram, I will always love you as a sister." + +Bertram sighed. "I understand you," said he, sadly; "you wish to erect +this sisterly love into an impassable barrier separating me from you, +and to pour this cool and unsubstantial affection like a soothing balm +upon my sufferings. How little do you know of love, Elise; of that +passion which desires every thing, which is satisfied with nothing +less than extreme happiness, or, failing that, extreme wretchedness, +and will accept no pitiful compromise, no miserable substitute!" + +Elise looked at him firmly, with beaming eyes. She too felt that the +decisive hour had come, and that she owed the friend of her youth an +open and unreserved explanation. + +"You are mistaken, Bertram," said she. "I know this love of which you +speak, and for that very reason, because I know it, I tell you I will +always love you as a sister. As a true sister I bid you welcome." + +She offered him her hand; but as she read in his pale face the agony +which tormented his soul, she turned her eyes away and drew her hand +back. + +"You are angry with me, Bertram," said she, sobbing. + +He pressed his hand convulsively to his heart, as if he would suppress +a cry of agony, then held it firmly to his eyes, which were scalded by +his hot tears. He wrestled with his sufferings, but he wrestled like +a hero and a man who would not be subjugated, but is determined to +conquer. As his hand glided from his face his eyes were tearless, +and nothing was visible in his countenance but an expression of deep +earnestness. + +"Well, then," said he, recovering himself, "I accept this sisterly +love as a sick man accepts the bitter medicine which he will not cast +away lest he commit suicide. I accept you as my sister, but a sister +must at least have confidence in her brother; she must not stand +before him like a sealed book whose contents he is ignorant of. If I +am to be your brother, I demand also the rights of a brother. I demand +truth and trust." + +"And who says that I will deny you either?" asked she, quickly. + +"You, yourself, Elise; your whole conduct, your shyness and reserve, +the manner in which you avoid me, the intentional coldness with which +you meet me. Oh! even at this moment you would withdraw from me, but I +will not let you, Elise; I will compel your heart to reveal itself to +me. I will move you with my devotion, my tender anxiety, so that the +cruel crust will fall from your gentle and pure heart, and you +will become again my candid and confiding sister. Oh, Elise, have +compassion on me! tell me what secret, mysterious charm has suddenly +seized you; what wicked, hurtful demon has suddenly converted this +bright ingenuous girl into a pale, sad, serious woman. Have courage +and trust me, and let me read as in those happier days." + +Elise looked at his noble countenance with a deep and painful emotion, +and met his inquiring look with unabashed eye. + +"Well, then," said she, "I will trust you, Bertram. I will tell you +what I have confided to no human ear. Know, then, that my heart also +has felt the pains which affect yours. Know that an ardent, hopeless +love burnt my soul." + +"A hopeless love?" asked Bertram. + +"Yes, hopeless," said she, firmly; "for never can I hope for my +father's blessing on this love, and never, without it, will I leave my +father's house to follow the man I love." + +"The man you love!" cried Bertram, painfully. "Does he also then love +you, and does he know that you love him?" + +She looked at him with astonishment. "Can one then love without being +beloved?" asked she, with the unconscious pride of a young girl. + +"You are right," said Bertram; "I was a fool to ask this question of +you. But why do you doubt your father's consent? Why do you not go +confidingly to him and confess your love? But how? Is this love such +that it dare not face the light, and must conceal itself from the eyes +of your father?" + +"Yes, Bertram, it is such a love; but yet you must not doubt me, you +must not think that this love which conceals itself from the eyes of +my father need therefore fear the light of the world. My father would, +perhaps, if he knew my secret, declare me unworthy of him; but never, +be assured, never would I commit any act unworthy of myself, and for +which I would have to blush. It is possible that not only my father +but the whole world would pronounce me guilty if it knew my love; but, +believe me, that in the consciousness of my rectitude I would have the +courage to brave the verdict of the whole world, provided that my own +heart acquitted me, and that I am guilty of no other crime than this +accidental one, which fate, and not my own will and trespass, imposes +on me. Love allows itself neither to be given nor taken, and when it +cannot command fortune, it can at least lighten misfortune. More I +cannot tell you, my brother, and what is the use of words? Only depend +on what I assure you, I will never be faithless to my honor nor my +love. You may think," continued she, proudly and passionately, "that +my love is a crime, but never that I could love unworthily, or that I +could bow my head under the disgrace of a dishonorable love." + +She looked beautiful in her proud, flashing maidenhood; and Bertram +felt, as he looked on her handsome, glowing countenance, that he had +never loved her so sincerely, and at the same time so painfully, as at +this moment. + +"Elise," said he, grasping her hand, "will you not have entire +confidence in your brother? Will you not tell me the name of your +lover?" + +She shook her head earnestly. "Only God and my heart dare know it." + +"Elise," continued he more urgently, "shall I tell you what has been +whispered in my ear as I returned from a long absence? Shall I tell +you what your enemies--for your youth and beauty and your father's +wealth have made you enemies--shall I tell you what your enemies +whisper to each other with malicious joy?" + +"No, no!" said she anxiously, "how would it help me to know it?" + +Bertram continued inexorably, "They say that the captive Russian, +General Sievers, was welcomed by your father into his house as +a friend, and that he overwhelmed the noble prisoner with kind +attention." + +Elise breathed more freely. "It was with the consent and by the wish +of the king that my father was kind to the captive Russian general." + +"And was it also by the wish of the king that Gotzkowsky's daughter +accepted the homage of the Russian general's adjutant?" + +A slight shudder ran through Elise's whole frame, and her cheeks +became crimson. + +"Ah," cried Bertram sadly, "I see you understand me. You will not tell +me the name of your lover--let me tell it to you. It is Feodor von +Brenda." + +"No, no!" cried Elise, looking around in alarm, and fearful lest some +treacherous ear had heard the dangerous secret. + +"Yes," said Bertram, "his name is Feodor von Brenda; he serves as a +colonel in the Russian army; he fights against our brothers and our +king; he is the enemy of our country." + +"You have no pity on me," cried Elise, wringing her hands, her eyes +streaming with tears. "You wish to kill me with your cruel words." + +"I wish to show to the daughter of the noblest and truest patriot, I +wish to point out to the young, inexperienced, credulous maiden, to +my sister, that she stands at the edge of an abyss. I wish to open her +eyes that she may be aware of the danger which threatens her. I wish +to draw her back from this abyss which threatens to engulf her." + +"It is too late," said Elise, rising proudly and drying her tears. +"I know it all, Bertram; I stand at the edge of this abyss with open +eyes, conscious of the danger; but I will not, cannot draw back, for +my heart holds me fast." + +Elise took leave of him with a sad smile, and hurried rapidly down +the dark walk which led to the retired and unfrequented parts of the +garden. + +Bertram looked after her until her pink dress disappeared behind the +dark foliage of the hedge. + +"She loves him," murmured he, letting his head drop upon his breast, +"it is certain she loves him." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FEODOR VON BRENDA. + + +Elise directed her hasty steps toward the now retired parts of +the garden. She longed to be alone. Her soul, agitated by painful +emotions, required silence and solitude, in order to settle down again +gently to rest and peace. Slowly, and with bowed head, she traversed +the dark, silent garden-walks. Her thoughts wandered afar off, and +she sought some little comfort, some relief from the privations of the +present, in the sweet and blissful recollections of bygone days. + +"What can keep him?" asked she of herself; and as she thought of him, +her countenance assumed a cheerful, almost happy expression. "He swore +to brave every danger, every difficulty, in order to let me hear from +him; and now, alas! ten weeks have passed, and no news, no token, from +him. My God! is it possible that in all this long time he could have +found no opportunity to write to me?--or perhaps his love has not +survived the test of separation and silence." + +At this thought she stopped, as if stunned, and pressed her hand to +her breast. A sharp pain shot through her, and her heart seemed to +cease to pulsate. But, in a moment, her countenance brightened up, +and she murmured, with a gentle smile, "Oh, to doubt his love were a +greater treason than to love my country's enemy. Oh, no! Feodor, my +heart does not doubt you; and notwithstanding your silence, I know +that your heart answers mine, and that we are forever and inseparably +united." + +With rapid step and cheerful mind she continued her wandering. She +had now arrived at the darkest and most secluded part of the garden. +Nothing stirred around her, and there was only heard the rustling of +the dark fir-tree moved by the wind, or the melodious note of some +bird hidden in the foliage. + +The garden, elsewhere so carefully and artistically tended, stretching +from the Leipsic Street to the Palisades, which surrounded the town +in lieu of a wall at that time, was here overgrown with underwood, +protecting the more beautiful parts like a quickset hedge. But this +bush was, besides, surrounded by a high wall, running immediately next +to the Palisades, and bounding the whole back part of the garden. It +was seldom that any one wandered in this neighborhood, and Elise +was certain, therefore, that no inquisitive eye could watch her, no +treacherous ear listen to her half-whispered words. + +She seated herself on a bench under a tree, not far from the wall, +and looked up dreamingly and thoughtfully at the patches of blue +sky visible through the tree-tops. Her whole soul was sunk in +reminiscence. Ah, how often had she sat here, but not alone--not with +this painful longing in her heart, but in the fullest contentment of +happiness, listening with delighted ear to words spoken by him who +sat next to her, holding her hand in his, and gazing on her with looks +which made her heart tremble with happiness! Here, on this spot, he +had taken leave of her, and since then it had become, as it were, the +temple of her recollections, to which she daily made her pilgrimage to +offer up her devout, sincere, and ardent prayer of love. + +She sat and looked up to heaven, and her ear, dwelling on words which +had died away long ago, did not hear sounds which were perceptible on +the other side of the wall. It appeared as if some one were striving +to climb it, and indeed there could be now seen a hand feeling about, +and then a man's figure rising above the wall. + +Cautiously spying around, large flashing eyes looked into the garden. +One moment the figure rested upon the wall, as if exhausted by the +exertion, or listening for some sound. It was a young man, in the garb +of a peasant, who sat upon the wall; but the heavy, black mustache +little suited this peaceful dress, and his bold air, verging on +insolence, seemed to challenge the dangers which surrounded him. + +He rested for a moment on the wall, and listened attentively. Then +he drew a pistol from his breast, and examined carefully its lock and +barrel. He then cocked it, and holding it in one hand, began carefully +and noiselessly to descend. With one leap he sprang to the ground; +the leaves rustled under his feet, and again he stood motionless in +a listening attitude. His glance was as keen and bright as that of an +eagle, and it seemed to penetrate the dark foliage. Suddenly a light +flashed across his countenance, and a smile of delight played about +his lips. He had seen the young girl, who was seated on the bench lost +in deep thought, and that he had recognized her was betrayed by his +animated expression. Quietly, carefully, he drew nearer, ever and +again standing still and listening. Then he stood close behind her at +the tree. Again he listens, but every thing is silent and hushed. Now +he calls her softly by name, and whispers almost inaudibly, "Elise!" + +She started and looked up, but saw no one, and as she recovered +herself, she sighed gently, and said: "I was mistaken, it was only the +wind." + +But again he whispered: "Start not, Elise; do not utter a word or +cry!" + +"O God!" murmured she in a low tone, trembling in all her limbs. An +ardent embrace, a glowing kiss upon her brow, and a well-beloved voice +whispered her name. + +"Feodor!" uttered she faintly. Overcome by the sudden violence of +her feelings, her head dropped languidly on his breast. Then, drawing +herself up, she gazed at him, and her eager, loving look encountered +his flashing eye. She was, as it were, fascinated--happy as in a +dream, and yet conscious of the most delicious waking. + +"Do you know me, Elise? Do you recognize your Feodor in spite of his +disguise?" + +"Oh, speak again," said she as he ceased. "It is so long since I have +heard your voice!" + +"Ten weeks have passed," said he, pressing her still closer to +his heart, "without my being able to see you or convey to you any +information. I could endure it no longer. I said to myself, 'God is +the friend of lovers,' and so I disguised myself as you see me, and +ventured here." + +Elise started up and gazed at him anxiously. Awaking from her ecstasy +of delight, she just began to be conscious of the present. + +"Good heavens!" she cried, "danger threatens you." + +"Death, if I am found here!" said he, solemnly--"death, if it is known +in the Russian camp why I came here!" + +She uttered a cry, and clung anxiously to him. "You should not have +come here," said she, trembling. "My God, if my father should find you +here! It was cruel of you to come." + +"It would have been more cruel," said he, smiling, "if being so near +you, I had not come at all. I have watched and yearned so long for +this meeting; I have longed so to read in your eyes that you have not +forgotten me! Why do you cast them down, Elise?" + +"Because, Feodor, you have already read too much in them, more than my +father would ever forgive." + +"Your father was always kind and friendly toward me but at that time I +was his prisoner, now he regards me only as the enemy of his country; +and yet, Elise, my object here is any thing but that of an enemy. It +is not only the desire but also the anxiety of love which brings me +here. Listen to me--my time is limited, and I am lost if I linger +too long; but I had to see you to warn you, to avert the danger which +threatens you, and all of you. Listen, therefore. Your father is the +most powerful and influential man in Berlin. His influence will go far +with the council and the citizens. Entreat him, Elise, to use all his +influence to avert a terrible bloodshed from this city." + +Elise shook her head seriously and sadly. Her sweet dream was +dissipated; she was now no longer the dreaming, loving girl, but a +conscious, reasoning, collected woman. + +"How can my father do that?" said she, doubtingly. + +"He must persuade the citizens to yield without fighting." + +"That my father will never do," said she, warmly. + +"Yes, he will do it," replied her lover, "when he learns that all +fighting is useless. Let him have compassion on his native town, on +himself. You are all lost if you fight. Already twelve thousand of our +men, under General Tottleben, stand before the gates. At this moment, +while I am speaking, Tschernitscheff, with twenty thousand regulars, +is approaching from the other side. Count Lacy, too, with his +Austrians, is drawing near. All this tell your father. Tell him, also, +that General Tottleben has promised our Empress Elizabeth to +take Berlin, if he has to lay it in ruins and ashes. Use all your +influence, implore him to do all in his power to persuade the citizens +to a peaceful surrender." + +"I have no influence over my father," said she, sadly, "and if I had +I would not abuse it. Such a surrender, without a fight, would be +cowardice." + +"But a fight, with the assured certainty of defeat, would be madness. +Your father does not know the number of troops massed around Berlin. +Do you tell him." + +She looked at him mournfully. "And shall I tell him, too, from whom I +received this information?" + +After a little reflection, he replied: "Yes, if it cannot be +otherwise, tell him. Your father will not betray me." + +"No, but he will curse his daughter," cried Elise, painfully--"curse +her for having had intercourse with our country's enemy, while the +Russian cannon threaten our town. No, no, Feodor, it were no use to +warn him. My father would not listen to me." + +"So Berlin will run toward its ruin, and I cannot prevent it," said +the colonel, sadly. "I have done all in my power. I wish to requite +your father for all the kindness he has shown me, and for that reason +I risked my life in order to warn him." + +"Believe me, Feodor, I will never forget you for it," said she, +offering him both her hands. "However angry my father may be, my heart +still remains yours. Love does not recognize any national hatred. It +yields itself without reserve to him who has won it." + +She leaned her head upon his breast, and he imprinted a kiss upon her +forehead. + +"Thank you for these words," said he; "wherever I go they shall be my +talisman." + +"Are you going already?" asked she, anxiously. + +"I must go, Elise," replied he. + +"Oh, Feodor, I dare not bid you stay. I tremble at the thought of my +father seeing you," sighed she; "but when, my beloved, when shall we +see each other again?" + +He looked at her a long time with a steady, piercing glance. He then +exclaimed, almost rudely: "You have sworn me love and constancy till +death. Do you remember it?" + +"I remember it, and never will I be faithless to my vow," whispered +she, smiling through her tears. + +"You swore to me never to belong to any one but me. Have you forgotten +that?" + +"No, I have not." + +"Well, then," said he, rising, "we shall soon see each other again." + +"When, Feodor, when?" + +"When Berlin is in our hands," said he, smiling proudly; "when we +enter your gates as conquerors." + +She shuddered painfully. He saw it, and a hateful, mocking expression +passed across his features; but this lasted only a moment, and his +changeable countenance appeared again bright and loving. He took +Elise's hand and pressed it to his lips. + +"Will you, even at such a time, allow me to see you? Will you, +faithful to your vow, remember that my Elise has sworn by God and her +love never to turn a deaf ear to my call? Will you expect me?" asked +he, coaxingly. + +"I will," answered she, in a low voice. + +"And I will come," cried he, passionately, "if the way to you leads +over mountains of dead bodies!" + +She threw herself into his open arms, and nestled like a timid dove on +his breast. + +"Oh!" cried she, "when danger threatens you, then I think I would like +to be a man to share it with you." + +He covered her lips and eyes with kisses. "Farewell, farewell, Elise; +and if it is God's will, we will meet again." + +One last kiss, one last embrace, and he tore himself from her arms +and hurried toward the wall. Now he climbs it, and throws his last +greetings to her, then descends on the other side. + +"He is gone, he is gone!" she shrieked, and, falling on her knees, +raised her hands to heaven. "O God, have mercy on me, have pity on my +love!" + +It seemed as if God did grant her prayer, for a thick veil sank over +her eyes, and a swoon robbed her of consciousness. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MR. KRETSCHMER, OF THE VOSSIAN GAZETTE. + + +The editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, Mr. Kretschmer, sat at his desk, +busily writing. That he was a learned man was seen by his earnest, +care-worn forehead, his large, well-powdered wig, and above all by the +disorder and confusion which reigned in the whole room. Besides which, +Mr. Kretschmer wore a dressing-gown, thickly sprinkled with ink-spots, +the official robe of his literary dignity. And whosoever beheld him in +this robe, his long pipe in his mouth, filling the room with a thick +blue smoke, seated on his high tripod before his desk, could not but +believe that Mr. Kretschmer was a learned man. + +But more than this, he was a great politician. Thereto testified the +numerous journals which lay scattered about on the floor, but more +especially the nineteen quarto volumes, which stood above on the +book-shelf, lettered in gold on the back, "VOSSIAN GAZETTE," and under +that the number of the year, from 1740 to 1759. The _Vossian Gazette_ +was then a young, blooming rose, of scarcely nineteen summers. It +could still pass for a vigorous, handsome, and perhaps even innocent +young maiden; and Mr. Kretschmer was the editor of the _Vossian +Gazette_. Had he not, then, a right to be regarded as a great +politician? + +Mr. Kretschmer was at this moment occupied in writing an article for +the next morning's paper, and as he had just received news "by special +courier" of another battle, subsequent to that of Liegnitz, which +had resulted favorably for the Prussians, he was composing, with the +courage of a lion, an extra, which fairly glowed with ardent hatred +against the oppressors and cannibals, namely, the Russians and the +Austrians; and declared that the salvation of all Germany depended on +the supreme dominion of Prussia. + +The bold editor of the _Vossian Gazette_ in this article called +upon the people to fly to arms against the "incendiary oppressors +of Freedom and the people's rights," as he called the Russians; he +exhorted even the women and girls to fight, and called upon them to +grasp the sword in their tender hands instead of the needle. Finally, +he entreated all Berlin, if ever the _incendiary enemy_ should +approach the gates, rather to let the whole city be destroyed by fire, +and bury themselves in the ruins before they submitted to the foe. + +Mr. Kretschmer then laid his pen down, and revised with a satisfied +look what he had written. + +"That will have an effect," said he, rubbing his hands together, +delighted. "When his majesty, our heroic king, returns victorious to +Berlin, I will send him this sheet of the _Vossian Gazette_, and I +know that he will be satisfied with my heroism." + +He looked again at the paper. "Beautiful, beautiful!" exclaimed +he, with a self-satisfied smile. "My pen has shot nothing less than +bomb-shells and grape, and my ink has turned into whole streams of the +enemy's blood. And why should I not be bold, it being perfectly safe, +since the king must certainly be victorious, and the enemy has no idea +of visiting Berlin? Tschernitscheff and Tottleben are quietly encamped +on the other side of the Oder; Soltikoff with his army is near +Frankfort; and Count Lacy with his Austrians is waiting an opportunity +to give battle to our king. Thus, as I said, I can safely exhort the +good citizens of Berlin to defend themselves heroically against the +infamous spoiler. How beautifully this peroration sounds: 'People +of Berlin! rather let yourselves be buried under the ruins of your +burning city than submit to an incendiary enemy!'--_Incendiary_," +repeated he thoughtfully, "that is rather a strong expression, and if +the Russians do come, they will revenge themselves for it; but, pshaw! +the Russians are not coming, and I can safely send this article to +the press. And, furthermore, did not the king himself stigmatize the +Russians as such? Yes, I remember last year, after the unfortunate +invasion of the Russians, he looked down from the steeple in Frankfort +upon the devastation of the country, and cried out with angry +indignation, 'Incendiaries! incendiaries!' The expression is at least +official, and can therefore remain." + +Mr. Kretschmer seized the bell-rope, and began to ring violently. +Immediately the door opened, and a small boy entered with a portfolio +under his arm. + +"Devil," said Mr. Kretschmer, majestically, "here is my article; run +as fast as you can to the printing-office with it, and impress upon +the compositor the necessity of haste, and, above all things, not +to make such mistakes as he did lately, when, in speaking of +the Russians, he put 'friends' instead of 'fiends,' which was an +unpardonable and most treasonable error of expression." + +The little boy took the paper and laid it in his portfolio. + +"The printer told me to ask you," said he, "if you had written nothing +yet for the 'Miscellaneous.' _Spener's Journal_ had yesterday such +a beautiful 'Miscellaneous,' and told about a woman who had four +children at a birth, and a stork which had arrived and built its nest, +although it was the month of October." + +Mr. Kretschmer frowned. "_Spener's Journal_ always has some wonderful +news, and amuses the Berlin people with all kinds of stupid gossip," +grumbled he. "The rivalry of such a paper is unbearable." + +"Well, how about the miscellaneous intelligence?" asked the printer's +boy. + +Mr. Kretschmer stamped his foot angrily. "Go to the devil!" said he. + +At this moment there was heard a loud crying and shouting; and while +the printer's boy pitched out of the door, Mr. Kretschmer hurried to +the window to find out the cause of the uproar. + +A heaving, noisy crowd filled the street below, and had halted right +under the editor's window. In the midst thereof was seen the tall, +lank figure of a man, whose extraordinary appearance enchained the +attention of the multitude, and excited afresh their shouts and +derisive laughter. And, in fact, nothing could be more striking or +fantastic than this man. Notwithstanding the cool October weather, +his gigantic figure was clothed from head to foot in gray linen, +harmonizing strangely with the gray color of his skin and hair, +which latter fell in long locks from his uncovered head down on his +shoulders, and gave to the apparition the semblance of a pyramidical +ash-heap, out of which his eyes shone like two burning coals. Around +his shoulders hung a long cloak of gray linen, which, in addressing +the multitude, he sometimes threw around him in picturesque folds, +sometimes spread out wide, enveloping his long arms in it, so that he +looked like an expanded bat. + +"Ah! it is Pfannenstiel, our prophetic linen-weaver," said Mr. +Kretschmer, smiling, as he opened his window, and exchanged a look of +recognition with the man who was gazing up at him. + +The linen-weaver and prophet had rapidly acquired some renown in +Berlin by his prophecies and predictions. The people believed in his +mystic words and soothsayings and mistaken fanaticism. He related to +them his visions and apparitions; he told about the angels and the +Lord Jesus, who often visited him; about the Virgin Mary, who appeared +in his room every night, and inspired him with what he was to say to +the people, and gave him pictures whose mystic signification he was to +interpret to them. The prophet possessed more than a hundred of these +pictures, given him by celestial apparitions. He had them carefully +pasted together, and rolled up always with him. These pictorial +sheets, roughly painted on coarse paper, served the linen-weaver in +lieu of cards or coffee-grounds, for the purpose of prophesying to the +people and announcing the future to them; and the good folks of Berlin +believed in these prophecies with firm faith, and listened with devout +confidence to the words of their prophet. + +Pfannenstiel was in the act of unrolling his pictures, and the +multitude, which, just before, had been shouting and screaming, became +suddenly silent, and gazed up at the weaver with intense expectation. +A breathless silence ensued, and, far down the street, sounded the +prophet's loud and sonorous voice. He pointed to the last of his +pictures, which, in coarse, clumsy drawing, represented a town, from +the houses of which flames arose in the most variegated colors. + +"Behold! behold!" cried the prophet, "and fall on your knees and pray! +Yes, pray! for I tell you the Holy Ghost appeared to me, His wings +dripping with blood, and in His burning and flaming beak He held this +picture which I now show you." + +"Well, then, how is it that the picture is not burnt too, if the Holy +Ghost held it in His burning beak?" asked an impudent shoemaker's boy. + +A low laugh ran through the crowd, but this was soon suppressed by +angry, threatening voices, commanding silence and quiet. + +The prophet turned with an air of majestic composure toward the +questioner: "Why was not this picture burnt? Because God wished to +perform a miracle, to manifest Himself to me in His glory, and to +prove to me that this vision was from Him, and not from the devil. +Yes, indeed, God gave me this picture that we might be warned--not +to terrify us. Listen, therefore, to my voice, and learn what God +announces to you from my mouth." + +"I would like indeed to hear what the stupid rascal is going to +announce to these poor foolish devils," muttered Mr. Kretschmer, +leaning out of the window and listening attentively. + +Pfannenstiel continued: "Behold these columns of fire rising from the +houses of this town. This town is Berlin, and the fire will burst out +of the roofs of your houses. Woe! woe! will sound in your streets, and +weeping and lamentation will fill the air. I say unto you, watch and +pray! Strew ashes on your heads, and fall down on your knees and pray +to God for mercy, for the enemy is before your gates, and ere the sun +sets the Russians will enter your town! I say unto you, verily I +say unto you, God spoke to me in a voice of thunder, and said, +'The Russians are coming!' Fall down and pray, for the Russians are +coming!" + +"The Russians are coming!" cried the terrified multitude and some +among them turned pale. The weeping women folded their hands in +prayer; the men looked around timidly, and the frightened children +clung to their mothers in dread of the Russians, whose name was +synonymous with that of savages and cannibals. Even Kretschmer could +not help feeling somewhat terrified. He drew back thoughtfully from +the window, muttering with a shudder, "The Russians are coming!" + +The people crowded around the prophet in still narrower circles, and +in more piercing tones wept and cried out: "What shall we do? What +shall we do to be saved? Have mercy, O God! Have mercy on Berlin, for +the Russians are coming!" + +"Yes, they are coming!" cried Pfannenstiel. "God told me so in the +roll of His thunder and the lightning of His eyes; and he said to me: +'Go and say to the people of Berlin, "The Russians are coming!" and +thou shalt see in the same hour how their hearts will shrink, and how +cast down they will be; how their eyes will run tears, and their +lips utter prayers, for the Russian is the sworn enemy of the Berlin +people; and as often as the cry, "The Russians are coming," sounds +through the streets of Berlin, there will be wailing and lamentation +in every house and every heart; and they will bow down in timid +contrition and abject obedience. Speak, therefore, to them, and say, +"The Russians are coming!" that they may become humble and quiet; that +the proud word may be silenced on their lips, and that they may submit +in peace.'" + +"What shall we do?" asked the people. "Help us, advise us, for thou +art our prophet." + +Pfannenstiel drew himself up to his utmost height, and an expression +of triumphant cunning sparkled in his eyes. "Do you not understand +the voice of God? God commands you to withdraw in silence and peace to +your own dwellings, to weep and pray. Go, then! Let the word of your +mouth and the rebelliousness of your hearts be silent. Go home to your +huts, shut the doors and windows, and do not venture out, for without, +death and the Russians await you!" + +Obedient to the voice of their prophet, the crowd separated in +different directions, and dispersed quietly. + +Pfannenstiel looked after them with a smile of scorn; then silently +rolled up his pictures, threw his gray cloak over his shoulders, and, +casting a serious and significant look up at Mr. Kretschmer's window, +strode down the street slowly and with an air of majestic dignity. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE COWARDS' RACE. + + +The warning sounded loud and threatening in Mr. Kretschmer's +ears--"The Russians are coming!" A cold chill ran through him, and +he could not prevent an involuntary shudder. But he tried to rouse +himself from this despondency, and laughed at himself for this +credulous fear. + +"This Pfannenstiel is a fool, and I would he a greater one if I +believed his nonsense," said he. "No, no, my information is warranted +and authentic. The king has had a sharp skirmish with the Russians +near Reitwan, and driven them back, and then proceeded quietly to +Meissen. Thus there is no ground for anxiety, and I can safely let off +my bomb-shells against the Russians." + +Mr. Kretschmer felt his courage return and his heart grow warm. + +"Now I see the whole game," cried he, laughing. "Pfannenstiel wishes +the _Vossian Gazette_ to take notice of him. He wants to be talked +about, and wishes the newspapers to spread his reputation. For that +reason he stationed himself right under my window, for that reason he +cast such significant looks at me, for that reason he addressed the +crowd and poured forth his nonsense right here. Yes, that's it! He +wishes to prove to me how great his power is over this people +which believes in him, even when he utters the most incredible and +unheard-of things. Well, we can help the man," continued he, +laughing, as he stepped to his desk. "The desired article for the +'Miscellaneous' is found, and I think that the prophetic linen-weaver, +Pfannenstiel, is well worth more than the four children at a birth and +the miserable stork's nest of yesterday's _Spener's Journal_. Let's +write it off quickly." + +Kretschmer began to write most industriously, when he was suddenly +interrupted by a violent knocking at the door. It opened, and a +stately old gentleman entered, with well-powdered wig and long queue. + +"Mr. Krause, my worthy colleague!" exclaimed Kretschmer, jumping +up and hastening toward the old man. But Mr. Krause had no word of +greeting. He sank sighing into a chair. + +"Do you know the news?" asked he, in a whining tone, folding his +trembling hands, and looking at Kretschmer timidly, as he stood before +him. + +"Know what?" demanded the latter in reply, feeling his heart sink. + +"The Russians are coming!" sighed Mr. Krause. + +"That is a silly tale," cried Kretschmer peevishly, with an impatient +gesture. + +"Would to God it were!" groaned Krause; "but the news is, alas, but +too true, and it can no longer be doubted!" + +"Man of misfortune," cried Mr. Kretschmer, "who told you so?" + +"Pfannenstiel." + +"Pfannenstiel?" repeated Kretschmer, laughing heartily; "oh, yes! +Pfannenstiel prophesied it just now in the streets, under my window. +Now don't distress yourself, dearest friend and colleague. That was +only a clumsy trick of the scoundrel to get me to write an article +about him in the _Vossian Gazette_. I have already gratified his +wish." + +"You are mistaken," said Krause, mournfully. "I sent Pfannenstiel +into the streets, to quiet the people, and to admonish them to behave +peaceably and soberly, even if the Russians should come." + +"Oh! you believe in all these dreams of Pfannenstiel?" + +"I believe in the truth, and in what I know!" exclaimed Krause +emphatically. "Pfannenstiel has for a long time been my agent, and +for a considerable stipend, paid every month, informs me of all that +happens, is talked and thought of in the town. He is a very useful +man, peculiarly suited to this service." + +"The approach of the Russians is then town-talk, and nothing more?" +asked Kretschmer, who was still anxious to throw doubt on the bad +news. + +"No, it is a fact," said Krause seriously. "Pfannenstiel is, as you +know, not only a prophet, but also a quack doctor, and his herbs and +decoctions are certainly often of astonishing efficacy. He always +gathers the plants for his mixtures himself, and roams about in search +of them in the neighborhood of Berlin for days together. Last evening +he was outside the town, on one of these tramps, intending to pass +the night sleeping under a tree. He was awoke by the sound of +troops marching, and as he looked carefully around, he could plainly +distinguish in the bright moonlight the uniforms of the Russian army. +It was a long column of many thousand men. They halted not far from +the place where Pfannenstiel lay, and he crept carefully nearer. He +then ascertained from their conversation that this was only a small +division of the army, which had advanced by forced marches from +Frankfort, and was commanded by General Tottleben." + +"By Tottleben!" cried Kretschmer in dismay. + +"Yes, by Tottleben," whimpered Krause, and they both looked in silence +on the ground. "Yes, his vengeance will be terrible," said Krause, +after a long and anxious pause. "Have you not heard," continued he in +whisper--"have you not heard the sad story of what occurred last year +in Erlangen? The editor of the _Erlangen Gazette_ admitted into his +columns an article abusive of our great king. A Prussian officer came +in person to Erlangen to call the editor to account. And what do you +think he did? He caused the unfortunate and pitiable journalist to be +beaten with cudgels, and then gave him a receipt for the bastinado he +had gotten." + +"Horrible!" cried Mr. Kretschmer, wringing his hands. + +Mr. Krause continued: "When a refined Prussian, officer can behave +in this way, what have we to expect from these rough, uncivilized +enemies, the Russians? Oh! they will murder us, for we, too, have +ventured to write boldly and energetically against them." + +"Yes, you particularly," said Mr. Kretschmer quickly. "Do you +recollect the famous article in your paper, in which you called +General Tottleben a notorious adventurer, who had deserted to the +enemy after having enjoyed the unmerited favor of our king? This was, +certainly, rather strong; it might even be called indiscreet." + +"Not as indiscreet as your 'Earnest and Confidential Country Talk,'" +cried Krause sharply. + +"I never avowed myself the author of that pamphlet," said Kretschmer +quickly. + +"But every one knows that you are, and you never denied it," replied +Krause maliciously. "This 'Country Talk' is more than indiscreet, +it is foolhardy. In it you nicknamed Maria Theresa, Aunt Tilla; the +Elector of Saxony, Brother Osten; the Empress of Russia, Cousin Lizzy; +and our king, Neighbor Flink. And don't you remember what words +you put into Cousin Lizzie's mouth, and how you made neighbor Flink +ridicule her? Ah, I am afraid you will pay dearly for this" piece of +boldness." + +"It is not quite so bad as your calling Tottleben a notorious +adventurer; for the princes are not here, but Tottleben is before the +gates of Berlin, and will revenge himself." + +"I am afraid our prospects are equally bad, and for that reason I have +come to you, that we might consult together as to what we had best do, +to avert this threatening blow from our heads." + +"You are right," said Kretschmer, drawing nearer to his brother +editor. "Let us consider. Above all things, no exciting calls, no +appeals to the people to perform deeds of heroic valor. Berlin is too +weak for defence; why, then, should we irritate the enemy by useless +opposition?" + +"You, too, are right," said Krause thoughtfully; "let us rather advise +the citizens of Berlin to be quiet; let us wheel boldly round, and +speak in our journals with respect and deference of our worthy enemy." + +"Besides which, it would be well to consult with some of the principal +men who have an influence on the people. For example, let us go to +Gotzkowsky," said Kretschmer. + +"Gotzkowsky gives a great holiday to his workmen to-day." + +"So much the better, for then he can immediately use his influence on +his workmen. Come, let us go at once to Gotzkowsky, this Croesus of +Berlin, who bought for our king three hundred thousand dollars' worth +of pictures in Italy, without having been paid for them up to this +day, and yet is able to take a contract for commissary stores to the +amount of eight millions. Let us go to him; and, hark ye! it would be +as well to take Pfannenstiel with us to back us." + +"Yes," said Krause, raising himself quickly by the arm of his younger +friend, "let us go to Gotzkowsky with Pfannenstiel, and preach +mildness and submission to him and his workmen." + +They both prepared to go. Suddenly Kretschmer stopped as if struck by +lightning, and sank down on a chair stunned. "My article, my article!" +moaned he. "I am a lost man!" + +"What article do you mean, my dearest friend?" + +"The leading article in tomorrow's paper," whimpered Kretschmer. +"Oh, it was a beautiful article, full of inspiration, but it is not +suitable to the times or the circumstances. I wrote it under the +erroneous impression that our armies had gained a victory, and in it I +spoke with great contempt of the incendiary enemy." + +"My God, what rashness!" exclaimed Krause, clasping his hands in +despair. + +Kretschmer flew from his stool, and grasped his hat. "My article! I +must have my article back. The printer must give it up to me. Wait for +me in the street. I come either with my article or not at all." + +Bidding Krause a hasty farewell, he hurried out. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE INTERRUPTED FESTIVAL. + + +Gotzkowsky had as yet received no intelligence of the danger which +threatened the town, and was enjoying the festival in his garden in +the midst of his people. + +They were all collected on a grass-plat for target-shooting. In the +midst of the plat rose a pole with a target. The women and girls were +standing around, attentively and curiously watching the men, who, +collected under a tent, were shooting with crossbows at the target. +Every lucky shot was greeted with a cheer, every unlucky one with +derisive laughter; and the prizes which were assigned to the fortunate +marksmen only served to increase the joy and merriment of the happy +crowd. + +Suddenly loud cries of weeping and lamentation were heard from a +distance. The people looked at each other with anxiety and alarm. The +dismal noise came nearer and still nearer, and then appeared at the +entrance gate near by the strange and wild figure of the linen-weaver, +accompanied by the two editors, Krause and Kretschmer. + +"Pfannenstiel! it is Pfannenstiel, our prophet!" shouted the crowd, +while they hastened with joyous laughter and words of greeting toward +their beloved seer. + +The linen-weaver strode forward with a serious and majestic air, +answering the greetings of the workmen with patronizing nods, and +from time to time stretching out his hand as if to bless them. The +multitude crowded around him, and seemed to look upon the advent +of the prophet as part of the programme of the entertainment. But +Gotzkowsky hastened toward the two editors with a cheerful smile, +bidding them a courteous welcome. They responded to his friendly +greeting with a solemn earnestness, and requested a conference with +a mysterious and important air. Gotzkowsky looked at them with +astonishment; but as he read in their countenances an expression of +deep and anxious concern, he motioned to them and preceded them to a +summer-house on the other side of the lawn. + +"Here we can talk without being observed," said he, casting a look +across at his workmen. "You see my guests are still busy with the +scarecrow which you brought here; and what business has this man, +indeed, among merry people?" + +"He maintains that God ordered him to come to you, to warn you in His +name, and call upon you to protect Berlin," said Krause. + +"Yes," continued Kretschmer, "and he entreated us to accompany him, +trusting to our influence with our dear friend." + +Gotzkowsky looked at both of the men with astonishment. "Tell me, my +worthy friends, which of us is crazy?" asked he, smiling, partly in +derision, partly in pity. "I am called on to protect Berlin, and from +what?" + +"Because the Russians are coming," said Mr. Krause, solemnly. + +Gotzkowsky shrugged his shoulders. "That is an idle rumor," said he; +"two days ago they were still in Frankfort. You see, therefore, that +some wag has amused himself by teasing you and frightening you a +little for the thunderbolts which you two, and particularly the +_Vossian Gazette_, have launched against the Russians." + +Mr. Kretschmer shuddered and turned pale. "I beg you," cried he, "do +not speak of it! Good Heavens! the _Vossian Gazette_ is the organ of +the popular mind, and it is its duty to take each day the exact tone +of public opinion. I abused the Russians, therefore, because--" + +"Because they were still a hundred miles from Berlin. Oh, yes! we know +you, gentlemen of the press. You are full of courage as long as no +enemy is in the field, but as soon as you scent him and see the points +of his lances, you become quite humble and mild; and when he comes +threateningly down upon you, assure him of your respect and swear to +him that you love him," interrupted Gotzkowsky. + +"You are pleased to jest," said Mr. Krause, casting a rapid glance of +hatred at Gotzkowsky; "it is well, indeed, that the rich and powerful +Gotzkowsky is so cheerful. I will notice it in my journal. It is news +for 'Change, and the funds will rise when people hear that Gotzkowsky +has laughed." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance became sad and serious. "You may tell the +world," said he, "that my lips laugh; but how my heart feels, that you +gossips and newspapers know nothing about." + +"God be praised," said Kretschmer, ironically, "you are now +talking earnestly, and I can request you to listen to our serious +representations. It is no idle rumor that I have told you. The +Russians are already at the gates of Berlin. They have hurried thither +by forced marches. This news is no longer a secret. All Berlin knows +it, and it is only accidentally that you have not learned it earlier." + +"Oh, Heavens!" sobbed Krause, wringing his hands, "what a terrible +fate awaits our unfortunate town!" + +Gotzkowsky looked at him with a gloomy frown. "You are, it is true, an +old man," said he, "but even old men should, at such a time, possess +some manhood. But you, Mr. Kretschmer, are young and hearty; what do +you say to this approach of the Russians?" + +"I say," replied Kretschmer, sharply, "I say that it would be madness +to excite the wrath of the enemy by resistance. I say, that those +citizens who call on the people to fight are rash fools." + +"Oh!" cried Gotzkowsky, joyfully, "if there be any such _rash fools_, +then all is not lost!" + +"Can you comprehend such madness?" whispered Krause, "to wish to +oppose an overwhelming force while all our capable men and youths +are with the army in Silesia, and we have no troops but the sick and +maimed; no artillery save two old rusty cannon?" + +"A people willing to fight for liberty," cried Gotzkowsky, "such a +people have the strength of a giant even without cannon and bayonets. +God has given them hands and paving-stones. If we cannot shoot down +the enemy who threatens our liberty, we can beat him down." + +"What do you say?" stammered Krause, looking with amazement at +Gotzkowsky's glowing countenance. + +"I say," said Gotzkowsky, "that you have mistaken your man. I will not +advise the brave Berlin people to yield without having at least fought +for their freedom." + +"But only reflect!" exclaimed Kretschmer, while Krause paced up +and down, wringing his hands and moaning in a low tone; "have you +forgotten that the Russian generals have proclaimed that the +empress has commanded them to leave nothing but air and earth to the +inhabitants of every conquered town and province of Prussia?" + +"Oh, pshaw!" cried Gotzkowsky, laughing, "they will have to conclude +to leave us something more." + +"And did you hear London's terrible threat? He has said his soldiers +should massacre every one, and not spare even the child in its +mother's womb." + +"And did you not hear the brave Schwerin's answer to this Austrian +bravado?" asked Gotzkowsky. "He said, 'My soldiers are not with +child, neither am I.' Well, our men of Berlin are not with child, and +therefore they need not be afraid." + +"But you must be afraid!" whined Krause. "It is disgraceful madness +not to be afraid. How! You can be so unreasonable as to advise war? +But war is the most bitter enemy of prosperity, and threatens property +above all things." + +"Then shame on the proprietors," cried Gotzkowsky, "if their property +is to make cowardly poltroons of them! Liberty is our greatest +possession, and all else must yield to it." + +At this moment loud cries and sounds of wailing were heard in the +garden from the collected workmen, who surrounded the prophet in a +dense group, and listened to his prophecies with anxious wonder as he +uttered them from a high bench. + +Gotzkowsky frowned. "Ah, I understand!" said he, "this good +linen-weaver is your accomplice, my brave gentlemen, and as you wish +to convert me, so does he wish to convert my honest workmen into old +women. Let us see first in what sort of gibberish he preaches his +wisdom to these good people." + +Without taking any further notice of the two editors, Gotzkowsky left +the summer-house rapidly and approached the listening multitude. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE LEADER OF THE PEOPLE. + + +The inspired prophet stood on a bench, and, as he unrolled his +pictures, he endeavored to explain these mystical paintings to his +devout gazers and listeners in equally mystical language. Gotzkowsky +hastened toward this group, and pressed in silent observation close up +to Pfannenstiel's side. + +The linen-weaver, wholly possessed by his prophetic god, had in the +mean while unrolled another picture, and holding it up high with +solemn countenance, exclaimed with a screaming voice: "The day of +judgment is at hand, and destiny is at your door! In my dream I saw a +face like unto no other face, and I heard a voice, and the voice was +like unto no other voice!" + +"And yet you heard it! What ears you must have!" said Gotzkowsky, +laughing. + +The prophet answered calmly, "Yes! for then were seen invisible +things, and then were heard inaudible sounds!" And showing a fresh +picture to the crowd, he continued: "Look at this picture, which +I found this morning on my sheet. It contains the history of your +future, and God announced it to me as I sat at my loom weaving. I +heard a voice crying, 'Pfannenstiel, my beloved son, dost thou hear +me?' And I fell on my knees and answered, 'Yes, I hear.' 'Dost thou +know what thou art weaving?' asked the voice. 'Yes,' said I, 'it is +linen shirting for the almshouse.' 'No,' said the voice, 'it is a +cloth of weeping for the town of Berlin, for the daughters of your +fathers will shed tears, and there will be moaning and weeping.'" + +These last words he accompanied with a sobbing and plaintive howl, +in which his trembling hearers joined. They assured each other in +uncomfortable whispers that Pfannenstiel's prophecies usually came +true, and that, even before the war, he had predicted the coming of +this day of terror. + +But soon Pfannenstiel raised his voice, and its hoarse croaking +sounded above the loud conversation and anxious cries of the +multitude. "Woe unto Berlin!" cried he, with shrieking pathos. "Blood +will flow within her walls! The voice said unto me, 'I will look upon +red, but it will not be a scarlet cloak, and when the red banner waves +thrones will tremble, and there will be no end to the lamentation. +And the cock will crow, and the heavens will shine blood-red, and +everywhere and in all places men will cry, "Blood! blood is the drink +of new life; blood makes young what is old; blood wipes out sworn +debts; blood makes the proud humble. Let us drink blood!"'" + +Here the prophet was interrupted by the loud cries and wailing of +the multitude. The women broke out in tears, sank on their knees +and prayed, or clung trembling and weeping to their moody-looking +husbands. + +Pfannenstiel looked with an air of proud triumph on this evident +effect of his speech, and then continued in a more subdued tone: "But +the voice said to me, 'Hope, and every thing will turn out well, and +the blood which flows will transform itself into a purple robe, and +men will call it freedom. Out of death will arise life.' Therefore +fall down on your knees, for the hour of judgment has come, and prayer +alone, but not the sword, can save you." + +The multitude, carried away by the deception, were in the act of +obeying this order, when Gotzkowsky, who could no longer restrain +himself, stepped rapidly forward, his countenance radiant, and his +eyes sparkling with anger. + +"Listen not to this hypocritical set, this lying prophet, my people!" +cried he, with a voice of thunder. "He will make cowards of you all, +cowards who will submit to the yoke, howling and whining. You would +not have this ignominy put upon you. You will be men, who will defend +their liberty with noble courage to the last drop of their blood, +against the invading hordes of barbarians. For the barbarians are +coming, and their fierce wrath threatens your wives and children. Will +you submit to the Russians with a humble whine?" + +"No, no!" cried the men, and many a clinched fist was raised, and many +a wild but muttered oath was heard. + +At this moment there arose in the street a confused sound of screams +and yells, then the hollow roll of the drum, and the deep clang of the +alarm-bell, which summoned the citizens to the town-hall. + +The garden gates were now violently thrown open, and a band of stout +workmen was seen hastening in wild disorder toward Gotzkowsky. + +These were the workmen from Gotzkowsky's factories, industrious men, +who had preferred working in the factory, and not losing their time, +to the enjoyment of the day's festival, and to whom Gotzkowsky had +ordered double wages to be paid, that they might not lose their share +in the celebration of his daughter's birthday. + +"The Russians are at the gates!" cried they. "All the citizens are +arming themselves. We have no arms. Give us arms, master!" + +The cry was taken up by those who had just been listening to +Pfannenstiel's words. "Yes, give us arms, give us arms. We are no +cowards, we will fight!" Gotzkowsky's flashing eye flew across the +multitude, and he saw in the earnest countenances of the men that they +were serious in their demand, and in their desire to fight. "Well, +then, if you will fight, you shall not want for weapons," cried he, +joyfully. "I have, as you know, in my house, a collection of costly +arms. Follow me, my children; we will go to the armory, and each one +shall take what he likes best. On such a day as this, arms do not +belong to any one in particular, but are the property of him who can +find and make use of them. That is the sacred right of manhood. The +country is in danger! Come to my armory and arm yourselves!" + +The men shouted for joy at Gotzkowsky's words, and pushed after him +with wild impetuosity into the house, and the large hall, in which +the costly weapons were tastefully grouped and ornamentally arranged +against the walls. With eager haste the men possessed themselves +of these arms, and Gotzkowsky saw with glad pride his rare Damascus +blades, his delicately carved silver-mounted pistols, his daggers +inlaid with gold, his costly ornamented sabres and guns in the hands +of his warlike workmen. He then armed himself, and his men, always +accustomed to look upon him cheerfully and willingly as their leader, +fell into line behind him in a long military procession. + +"Now, then, my children," cried he, "let us go to the town-hall and +offer our services to the magistrates." + +And at the head of his workmen he left the house. Soon deep silence +reigned in these rooms, so lately filled with noise and tumult. +The garden, too, had become deserted and empty. Pfannenstiel alone +remained in his elevated position, gazing pensively, as in a dream, on +his collection of pictures. + +After this silence had lasted some time, Krause and Kretschmer crept, +cautiously looking around them, out of the summer-house in which they +had secreted themselves up to this moment. Their countenances were +pale and angry. + +"Gotzkowsky is a puffed-up fool," exclaimed Krause, with a dark frown. +"With his swaggering phrases he has seduced these workmen away from +us, to rush into the fight like wounded wild boars, and to bring the +Russians down upon us." + +"We must not give up all hope," said Kretschmer; "the people are timid +and fickle, and whoever will give them the sweetest words wins them +over to his side. Come, let us try our luck elsewhere. Every thing +depends upon our being beforehand with this braggart Gotzkowsky, and +getting first the ear of the people. You, Pfannenstiel, come with us, +and get up your words strong and spirited, so that the stupid people +may believe you." + +Pfannenstiel clapped up his picture-book, and threw his cloak with +majestic dignity over his lean shoulders. "The people are like a flock +of sheep," said he; "they want a leader, never mind who. Only the +leader must be there at the right hour; and if God has bestowed upon +him the gift of eloquence, he can lead them either into the church to +contrite prayer, or to the slaughterfield to bloody combat. The people +are a flock of sheep, nothing more!" + +"Come, then," cried Kretschmer pathetically; "come and be their +bellwether, and lead the people into the church." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE RUSSIAN IS AT THE GATES. + + +In a few minutes quiet, peaceful, industrious Berlin was transformed +into an open encampment. From all the streets there poured throngs +of armed men toward the town-hall, where the wise magistrates were +consulting on the possibility of resistance, or toward the commander +of Berlin, General Rochow, who had the streets patrolled, and called +upon the citizens, by beat of drum, to assemble with arms, and assist +in the defence of the town. + +"The Russian is at the gates!" This cry of terror seemed to cure the +sick and feeble, and give courage and strength to the wavering. The +old national hatred of the German toward the Russian broke out in its +entire vigor; and vehemence made even the faint-hearted fly to arms, +and caused words of imprecation to rise to the lips of those who were +in the habit of uttering prayers and timid complaints. + +The council of war was assembled at the commander's office, and, +strange to say, it consisted of only old men and invalids. There were +present the infirm veteran general and commander, Rochow, and the +eighty-year-old Field-Marshal Lehwald, the severely-wounded General +Seidlitz, and General Knoblauch, also wounded. These four composed the +whole council, and fully aware of the danger and of the smallness of +their forces, were debating whether they should yield to the demand of +the Russian troops, and give up the town without any defence, or, +with twelve hundred garrison troops, two rusty cannon, a few thousand +wounded soldiers, and an inefficient body of citizens, give battle to +the twelve thousand irregular troops of General Tottleben, who would +soon he reënforced by the army of General Tschernitscheff, twenty +thousand strong, and fourteen thousand Austrians under Count Lacy, +who, as they well knew, were coming on by forced marches. But so great +was the heroic exasperation and eagerness for the fight of these noble +and war-worn veterans, that not one of them advised submission; but, +on the contrary, they unanimously determined to defend Berlin as long +as a drop of blood flowed in their veins. As these brave generals had +no army to lead into the fight, they would defend the town, not as +commanders of high rank, but as fighting soldiers, and waiving their +military rank and dignity to their noble love of country, like other +soldiers, they would each one defend his intrenchment or redoubt. + +But while the military commanders were adopting these heroic +resolutions, the Town Council was engaged in secret session at the +town-hall. The wise fathers were staring at each other with terror +in their countenances, and considering, in pusillanimous +faint-heartedness, whether they would really assume the heavy +responsibility of engaging the peaceful citizens in a fight, which, +after all, would be, in all probability, useless and without result. + +"I vote for submission," stammered out the chief burgomaster, Herr von +Kircheisen, with heavy tongue, as he wiped off the big drops of sweat +which stood upon his brow with his silk handkerchief. "I vote for +submission. The honorable citizens of this town are not called on to +spill their blood in useless fighting, nor to irritate the wrath of +the enemy by resistance. And besides, the enemy will doubtless lay a +war tax on us, and this will certainly be lighter if we submit at +once than if we resist. Further, it is the sacred duty of a prudent +magistrate to protect and preserve, to the best of his ability, the +property of the citizens. It is therefore my opinion that, in order +to save the hard-earned possessions of the poor citizens of Berlin, +already sufficiently oppressed, we submit at once to an overwhelming +force." + +By the brightening countenances of the worthy councilmen it could be +plainly perceived that the eloquence of the chief burgomaster had +told powerfully upon them, and that the question of money which he +had raised would prove a powerful and decisive argument in favor of +submission at this momentous period. + +The assistant burgomaster had already expressed his entire concurrence +in the views of Herr von Kircheisen, and the first alderman was in +the act of opening his mouth to do the same, when the patriotic +deliberations of the worthy gentlemen were interrupted by shouts and +cries from the street below, which drove them in terror from their +seats. They hastened to the windows, and, carefully concealed behind +the curtains, ventured to peep down into the street. + +Down there they beheld a much more lively sight--men and youths, old +men and boys streamed toward the town-hall, and, raising their eyes +and arms to the windows, demanded from the city fathers, with genuine +enthusiasm, weapons and ammunition. Perhaps, indeed, it was only fear +which had suddenly made these peaceful citizens of Berlin so bold and +lion-hearted: one thing is certain, that is, that at this moment they +were all animated by one sentiment, one impulse, and that their deadly +hatred against Russian and Austrian tendered peaceable submission +impossible. The tailor threw away his needle and grasped the sword, +the shoemaker exchanged his awl for a dagger, and all these quiet, +humble citizens had been transformed by hatred and fear, anger and +terror, into most belligerent heroes. + +"Give us arms!" was the reiterated cry. + +An heroic tailor climbed up on the shoulders of a hunchback shoemaker, +and sawing the air violently with his arms, cried out: "The people of +Berlin demand their rights; they will fight for their liberty. Give +the people of Berlin their due. Give them arms--arms!" + +"Arms!" roared the crowd. "We will have arms!" + +"And what do you want with arms?" cried suddenly a shrill, piercing +voice. All eyes were turned toward the spot whence the voice +proceeded, and there was seen the meagre figure of the linen-weaver, +who had leaped upon a bench, and from his elevated position was +looking down upon the people with the confident air of a conqueror. +But Pfannenstiel observed, to his dismay, that this time his +appearance did not produce the desired effect; on the contrary, angry +looks were cast upon him, and occasionally a threatening fist was +raised against the divinely-inspired prophet. + +"What do you want with arms?" cried he once more. "Prayer is the only +weapon becoming peaceful citizens." + +A burst of scornful laughter was the answer. "Down with the +linen-weaver! Tear him to pieces!" roared the crowd, becoming +infuriated. + +"We mean to fight, and not to pray," cried the valorous tailor. + +"We want none of your poltroonery, you blackguard of a linen-weaver!" + +"The tailor is right! Pfannenstiel is a false prophet!" cried another +voice. + +"Hang him!" + +"He wants to make cowards of us!" + +The crowd raged still more furiously, and pressed toward the spot +where Pfannenstiel stood. Threatening hands were raised against him, +and the situation of the prophet of peace began to be uncomfortable +enough, when suddenly two new figures rose near him, and, by their +unexpected appearance, restrained for a moment the wrath of the +people. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BE PRUDENT. + + +These two men, who so unexpectedly appeared at the side of the +prophetic weaver, were none else than the two editors, Kretschmer and +Krause, who came to support him in his exhortations in favor of peace, +and to use their eloquence on the multitude assembled in front of the +town-hall. + +Mr. Krause opened: "Listen to me, good citizens of Berlin; look at +my gray hairs. Age has the advantage, if not of wisdom, at least of +experience. Listen to my advice. You who wish to fight for liberty, be +at least prudent and moderate." + +"None of your moderation!" cried the tailor. "We won't be moderate!" + +"But you will be reasonable and prudent, won't you?" cried Mr. +Kretschmer, with his clear, penetrating voice, raising himself on +tiptoe, and casting his large, light-blue eyes over the crowd. "You +will be reasonable, certainly, and in reason you can tell me what you +wish, and we can deliberate, and decide whether that which you wish, +is reasonable." + +"We want arms." + +"But why do you want arms?" + +"To fight the enemy," cried the shoemaker, whom the crowd seemed +tacitly to recognize as their mouthpiece. + +"You really wish, then, to fight?" asked Mr. Kretschmer. "You wish +to precipitate yourselves into a fight, with the certainty of being +defeated. You wish to put yourselves in opposition to an enemy who +out-numbers you ten times; who, with sneering pride, will drive your +little band of warriors, with his cannon, to destruction! Consider +what you are about to do! Twelve thousand Russians are now before +your gates; their cannon pointed against your walls, your houses, your +churches, and they are awaiting only an opportunity of springing upon +you like a tiger on his prey. And what have we to oppose them? Our +little garrison consists of invalids and wounded men; for our young +men, able to fight, are all with the king on the bloody fields of +Silesia, and only a small band of worthy citizens remains here. Can +they fight against an overwhelming enemy, ten times their number? Can +they wish to do it?" + +No one answered this question. The countenances became thoughtful, and +the redness of anger grew paler on their cheeks. + +"Yes," cried one of the people, "we are very weak." + +"We cannot think of gaining a victory," grumbled out another. + +Mr. Kretschmer perceived, by the darkening faces and downcast look of +his audience, that the prudence he was preaching had already commenced +to press the courage of the poor people into the background, and +raising his voice still higher he continued: + +"Your fighting will be a species of suicide. Your wives and children +will curse you for having killed their husbands and fathers. Worthy +citizens! be prudent, and remember that work and not war is your +calling. Go home, then, and mind your business; take care of your +wives and children, and bow your heads in humbleness, for necessity +will teach you prudence." + +Mr. Kretschmer stopped, and the silent assembly seemed to be +considering whether they should listen to his prudent advice. Even +the heroic tailor had climbed down from the hump of the shoemaker, and +remained thoughtful and silent. + +"The man is right," cried the shoemaker, in his grumbling, bass voice. + +"Yes, indeed," said his gossip, the glover; "why should we sacrifice +our legs and arms? We can't beat them anyhow." + +"Now, my friends," whispered Kretschmer to his associates, "now is +your turn to speak. My breath is exhausted. You speak now and finish +the good work I commenced. Admonish the people to be moderate." + +"I will make them perfectly enthusiastic in the cause of peace +and quiet," said Mr. Krause, in a low voice. "You shall see how +irresistible the stream of my eloquence will be," and striding forward +with pathetic mien, and raising both arms as if to implore the people, +he exclaimed in a loud voice: "You say so, and it is so! We cannot be +victorious. Now, my opinion is, that as we cannot beat the enemy, we +ought not to fight him, and in that way we can cheat him out of his +victory. For where there is no fight, there can be no victory. Resist +the armed bands with the quiet obstacle of mental fortitude. Do not +act, but submit. Submit with a defiant air. Do not use your weapons, +but do not yield them up to the enemy. Keep your hands on the hilts +of your swords, and be quiet. When they mock and abuse you, be silent; +but let them read your defiance in your countenances; when they press +upon you with sword and cannon, retire with a proud smile, and do not +defend yourselves, and we will see whether they are brutal enough to +attack peaceful non-combatants. Act in this way, and the moral victory +is yours, and you then will have conquered the enemy by your moral +greatness, even if you are physically subdued. Against cannon +and bayonets a people cannot defend themselves except by passive +resistance, by submission, with secret and silent hatred in their +hearts. Use no other weapons than this passive resistance, and +posterity will praise you, and say of you, with admiration, that +you were no heroes of fight, but heroes of passive resistance. Your +country will be proud of you!" + +Mr. Krause paused, and leaned, worn out, on the shoulder of the +prophetic linen-weaver. + +"You may be in the right," said the tailor, still rebellious at heart; +"all that sounds right and reasonable, but still it don't suit me, +and I don't see how the country can be proud of us, if we behave like +cowards, and let ourselves be bamboozled this way." + +"Do you hush, tailor!" cried the hunchbacked shoemaker. "The chap +thinks because he can manage a sharp needle, he must be able to yield +a broadsword; but let me tell you, my brave boy, that a stick with a +sword hurts worse than a prick with a needle. It is not only written, +'Shoemaker, stick to your last,' but also, 'Tailor, stick to your +needle.' Are we soldiers, that we must fight? No, we are respectable +citizens, tailors and shoemakers, and the whole concern is no business +of ours. And who is going to pay us for our legs and arms when they +have been cut off?" + +"Nobody, nobody is going to do it!" cried a voice from the crowd. + +"And who is going to take care of our wives and children when we are +crippled, and can't earn bread for them? Perhaps they are going to +put us in the new almshouse, which has just been built outside of the +King's Gate, and which they call the Oxen-head." + +"No, no, we won't go into the Oxen-head!" screamed the people. "We +won't fight! let us go home." + +"Yes, go home, go home!" cried Krause and Kretschmer, delighted, and +Pfannenstiel repeated after them-- + +"Let us go home!" + +And indeed the groups began to separate and thin out; and the two +editors, who had descended from their bench, mixed with the crowd, and +enforced their peaceful arguments with zealous eloquence. + +But it seemed as if Fortune did not favor them, for now down the +neighboring street came Gotzkowsky with his band of armed workmen. He +drew them up in front of the town-hall. The sight of this bold +company of daring men, with determined countenances and flashing +eyes, exercised a magical influence on the people; and when Gotzkowsky +addressed them, and with overpowering eloquence and burning words +implored them to resist, when with noble enthusiasm he summoned them +to do their duty, and to remember their honors as men, the versatile +crowd began again to cry out--"Arms, arms! give us arms!" + +But the humpbacked shoemaker still remained cowed and timid, and the +threatenings of the preachers of peace still sounded in his ears. +He threw up his arms and cried out: "Children, remember what the +gentlemen told us. Have nothing to do with fighting. Be wise and +prudent!" + +"The devil take your prudence!" cried Gotzkowsky. In an hour like this +we have no need of prudence; we want courage! Won't you fight?" + +"No, we won't!" cried the shoemaker, resolutely. "We want to keep our +arms and legs." + +"We don't want to go to the Oxen-head!" exclaimed another. + +Gotzkowsky broke out impetuously: "Are you men, who dare to talk in +this way? You are afraid of losing your limbs, and you are not afraid +of losing, by your cowardice, your most valuable possessions, your +liberty and your honor. Even if you do crawl through our streets as +cripples, your wives and children will point to you with pride, and +men will whisper to each other, 'He too was one of the heroes +who fought for liberty, one of the brave men who, when Berlin was +besieged, met the enemy, and fought bravely for our rights.'" + +"That's fine," cried the tailor, carried away by Gotzkowsky's fiery +words. "Yes, let us be heroes, let us fight!" + +At the windows of the town-hall above, hid behind the curtains, the +wise members of the city Council still stood and listened with anxious +hearts to what was going on below. The countenance of the chief +burgomaster became ashy pale, and drops of cold sweat stood on his +brow. "This Gotzkowsky will ruin us all," sighed he heavily. "He does +not think what he is doing. His foolhardiness will compel us all to +be brave. But we will have to pay for our liberty, not only with our +blood, but with our fortunes. And this man, who calculates so badly, +pretends to be a merchant! But we must yield to this rash mob, for to +oppose an excited people might bring even the honorable Council into +danger. Good Heavens!" cried he, interrupting himself, "what is this +again?" + +To the sound of martial music, there was seen coming down the street a +band of scar-covered veterans, the invalids of the first years of the +war. Some limped, others carried their arms in slings, others again +had their heads bound up; but one could perceive, by their serious, +determined faces, that they were animated by a high and cheerful +courage, which placed them above physical suffering. In their midst, +on a litter, was borne the brave General von Seidlitz, whose wounds, +received in the battle of Kunersdorf, had not yet healed; but the +danger which threatened Berlin had roused him from a bed of suffering, +and, as he could not walk, he had himself carried to the battery at +the Kottbuss Gate, the defence of which he had undertaken. + +As the hero turned to the people with a friendly greeting, and +exhorted them to courage, with short and appropriate words, there +sounded from a thousand voices an enthusiastic "Hurrah!" The people +waved their hats, and cried loudly and tumultuously up at the windows +of the Council, "Give us arms--arms!" + +At the window above stood the chief burgomaster, with trembling limbs +and livid face. "It is decided," said he, softly; "the people of +Berlin are determined to die as heroes, or purchase their liberty with +all the wealth of the town," and, with a weak cry of grief, he sank +fainting into the arms of the head alderman. + +The assistant burgomaster opened the window and cried out: "You shall +have arms. We will defend Berlin with our last breath, and to the last +drop of our blood!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE NIGHT OF HORRORS. + + +Thus, once more, had the impetuous boldness of the patriots carried +the day against braggart cowardice. The Council, yielding to +necessity, had resolved to be brave. The chief burgomaster, who had +revived, donned his robe of office, adorned himself with his golden +chain, and followed by the councillors, proceeded to Commander Rochow, +to ask for arms for the citizens of Berlin. This petition was readily +granted; the armory was thrown open, and there were seen, not only +men and youths, old men and boys, but even women and girls, arming +themselves for the sacred fight for fatherland and freedom. As if on +a pilgrimage, the people proceeded to the armory in a long, solemn +procession, silent and devout, a noble determination, a brave and +cheerful but subdued expression observable in every face. No loud +cries, not a rude word, nor boisterous laughter was heard from this +crowd. Each one spoke in low and earnest tones to his neighbor; every +one was conscious of the deep significance of the hour, and feared to +interrupt the religious service of the country by a word spoken too +loud. In silent devotion they crossed the threshold of the armory, +with light and measured steps the crowd circulated through the rooms, +and with solemn calmness and a silent prayer in their hearts, the +people received from the hands of the veteran soldiers the weapons for +the defence of their country. And the flags which hung around on the +walls as shining mementoes of former victories, seemed to greet the +people as patriots who were arming themselves for the holy fight +against the enemy of their country, the destroyer of liberty. + +For it was no longer a fight for Silesia, a strip of territory, which +was to be fought, but a struggle between intellect and brute power, +between civilization and barbarism, the inevitable companion of the +Russian hordes. Prussia represented Germany, and on her waving banner +she bore the civilization, refinement, science, and poetry of Germany. +Her opponent was no longer the German brother, sprung from the same +stock; it was the Austrian, who had called in the assistance of +foreign barbarians, and who was fighting the Germans, the Prussians, +with the help of the Russians. For that reason, the hatred against +the Austrian was among the Prussian troops much more bitter and bloody +than the hatred and abhorrence of the Russians, the sworn enemy of +the German; and when, therefore, the Berlin citizens learned that +the Austrians, too, were approaching under Count Lacy, this news was +considered by these soldier-citizens as a consecration of their arms. + +"Better be buried under the walls of Berlin than yield to the +Austrian!" was the war-cry of the people, who flocked in constantly +renewed streams to the armory for weapons, the watchword of the brave +militia who hastened to all the gates to defend them against the +enemy. + +But all the streets did not offer so lively or proud an appearance. +Whilst the citizens and the warriors scarcely recovered from their +wounds, whilst the people were arming themselves to defend wife and +child, and the sacred liberty of fatherland; whilst these brave +troops were hurrying toward the Dresden and Kottbuss Gates to meet +the Russians, others were seen hastening down the Linden and Frederick +Streets. But these crowds were unarmed, though not empty-handed; their +faces were pale, and their eyes were gloomy and dull. These were the +faint-hearted and irresolute, who, in fear and trembling, were turning +their backs on a town in which was to be fought the fight for the +noblest possessions of mankind. This was the crowd of boasting, +versatile flatterers and parasites, who worshipped no other God +but fortune, and possessed no other faith than that of property and +personal safety. Berlin might be reduced to ashes, barbarism and +slavery might conquer, a foreign ruler might erect his throne in the +midst of the down-fallen city, what did they care, provided their own +lives and money were safe? + +At this time they were hurrying along, pale with fright, death +and terror in their distracted countenances. Women of the highest +nobility, whose silken-shod feet had never before trod the rough +pavement, fled with hasty steps down the street; shoulders which had +never borne the least burden of life or sorrow, were now laden with +treasures, and gold was the parent whom these modern Aeneases +sought to save from the ruins of the threatened town. All ranks and +conditions were confounded; no longer servant and master, fear had +made brothers of them all. Countesses were seen smiling on their +valets, in order to obtain the assistance of their arm to a more rapid +flight; high-born gentlemen were seen laden down, like the meanest of +their servants, with gold and silver ware, which they were seeking to +save from the beleaguered city. + +What did these people care whether Berlin fell, and was taken or not? +What did they care if the throne of the house of Hohenzollern was +overthrown? They had but one thought, one object--safety in flight. +So they hurried down the street, moaning and wailing, breathless and +trembling in every limb, toward the town gates. They reached the goal; +they stood before the gates beyond which were escape and safety. But +these gates were closed, and the soldiers who guarded them declared +that none should pass them, that the men must stay to defend the town, +the women to nurse the wounded and dying. All begging and pleading +were in vain; in vain did the Jew Ephraim, who had become a +millionnaire by the farming of the mint, offer the sentinel thousands +to open the gates; in vain did the gentlemen, once so proud, entreat; +in vain did the beautiful countesses wring their white hands before +the poor despised workman who now stood as sentinel at the gates. +In this moment this poor man was richer than the Hebrew mint-farmer +Ephriam, for he was rich in courage; mightier than the proudest +countess, for to his hands were intrusted the keys of a town; and +the town gates were not opened to these bands of cowards. They were +condemned to remain, condemned to the torture of trembling fear, +cowardly, inactive supplication. + +Howling and whining, they fled back again into the town, in order at +least to bury their treasures, and hold themselves in readiness to +meet the victor, whoever he might be, with flags of peace and hymns of +welcome. + +But before they had reached their houses, bombs had commenced to fly +into the town, and here and there mortar-shells were heard whizzing +through the air; with the cries of the flying and the wounded, and +the screams of the dying, was now heard the moaning toll of the +alarm-bell, telling that to the terrors of the siege were added those +of the elements. Like gigantic torches of a funeral procession shone +the flames of the burning houses, and covered the heavens with crimson +as deep as the blood of those wounded unto death. At last night set +in, but brought no rest for the sick, no refreshment for the +weary. The fire-balls and bomb-shells still flew into the town, the +alarm-bells still continued their mournful toll, the burning houses +still flamed up to the sky; but yet the courage of the besieged did +not sink. They still held their ground intrepidly, and they still +bade an heroic defiance to the attacks of the enemy. In vain did the +Russians attempt to storm the gates, the brave defenders drove them +back again and again. Suddenly the cannon ceased firing, and the enemy +drew back. + +"What is the meaning of this?" asked the combatants at the gates. + +"The meaning is," said Gotzkowsky, who had just arrived from another +part of the town with a squad of his workmen--"the meaning is that +help is approaching. It means that God is on our side, and succors our +noble and righteous cause. The Prince of Wurtemberg has just arrived +from Pasewalk with his division, and General Huelsen is hastening +hither as rapidly as possible from Koswig." + +The brave warriors received this news with a loud hurrah, and embraced +each other with tears in their eyes and thanksgiving in their hearts. + +"We are saved!" cried they to each other; "Berlin will not be +surrendered, Berlin will be victorious, for help has arrived." And +then they sank down on the pavement, to rest for an hour on this hard +bed, after the fatigue of the fierce combat. + +But Gotzkowsky could not rest. For him there was no leisure, no sleep; +neither was there any fear or danger for him. As he had left his +house, his daughter, and his riches unguarded, with the same unconcern +did he move among the rain of balls and the bursting of shells. He did +not think of death nor of danger! He only thought of his country, and +one great, lofty idea--the idea of liberty--burned in his heart and +animated his whole being. The Council, knowing his influence over +the citizens, had, therefore, as soon as the Prince of Wurtemberg had +arrived with his regiment in Berlin, communicated this intelligence to +the brave patriot, and commissioned him to acquaint his men with the +fact. With glistening eye and beaming countenance did he announce +this significant intelligence to his brave warriors, reviving their +courage, and redoubling their strength as they drove the enemy back +from the gates and silenced his cannon. + +But yet in his soul Gotzkowsky was sad and full of care. He had seen +the regiments of the Prince of Wurtemberg as they marched in, and +he had read in the dull countenances of the soldiers, staggering +and sinking from fatigue, that they were not able, nor even in a +condition, to hold a sword. But yet his heart did not fail him. The +elasticity of his courage seemed only to increase with the danger. +Perhaps a short rest, strengthening food, refreshing wine, might +restore to these men their lost strength. + +And now for the first time since the attack of the enemy did +Gotzkowsky turn toward his home; but not to visit his daughter, not to +inquire after his property, but to open his wine-cellars, and to let +his cashier fill his pockets with gold. + +He then returned rapidly down the street directly to the town-hall, +where the Council were in session, and had invited the most venerable +citizens to consult with them. + +Appearing before this august body, Gotzkowsky painted, with glowing +eloquence and impressive words, the destitute condition of the +regiments which had entered the town. He demanded for them nourishment +and support; he entreated the Council to give these weary troops +shelter and rest. + +"First let them eat and sleep," said he, "and then they will fight +for us and conquer. We cannot expect courage from a tired and starved +man." + +From the Council he hastened to the rich merchants and factory lords. +The rich man went begging for his hungry brethren, and his pride +did not feel itself lowered by the petition. No one could resist his +impetuous eagerness; every one was carried away by his unselfish and +impulsive magnanimity. For the moment, even earthly treasures lost +their value, for more valuable possessions were at stake, namely, +liberty and honor. Every one gave cheerfully and most liberally. + +And now it was a glorious sight to see how, in a few hours, the whole +city changed its appearance. As the night before had been full +of horrors and dread events, the next morning and day were like a +festival, the preparation to a great and solemn feast. Forty of the +largest and fattest oxen were slaughtered, to afford a strengthening +meal to those so much in need of nourishment. About mid-day, a strange +procession moved down the König's Street and across the Palace Square. +And what was the meaning of it? It was not a funeral, for there were +no mourning-wreaths and no hearse; it was not a bridal procession, +for the bridal paraphernalia and joyous music were wanting. Nor did it +wend its way toward the church nor the churchyard, but toward the new +and handsome opera-house, recently erected by the king, whose gates +were opened wide to receive it. It looked like a feast of Bacchus at +one time, from the enormous tuns driven along; at another time like +a festival of Ceres, as in solemn ranks came the bakers bringing +thousands of loaves in large wagons. Then followed the white-capped +cooks, bringing the smoking beef in large caldrons. The rear was +finally brought up by the butlers, with large baskets of wine. + +And the beautiful and resplendent temple of art was thrown open to the +reception of all these things, although they only served for material +nourishment, and in the magnificent hall in which formerly Frederick +the Great, with his generals and chosen friends, listened to the magic +strains of Gluck, there sounded now a wild confusion of discordant +cries. The butlers stood by the wine-casks, filling the bottles which +were carried out by the nimble and active _vivandières_, and on the +same stage on which once Galiari and Barbarini, Ostroa and Sambeni +enchanted the public with their marvellous singing, were seen now +large caldrons of beef; and, instead of the singers, the performance +was conducted by cooks, who drew the meat out of the pots, and +arranged it neatly on enormous dishes. Gotzkowsky had attained his +object, and Berlin fed this day the exhausted and hungry troops of the +Prince of Wurtemberg. The merchant of Berlin had given his choicest +and best wines to the banquet of patriotism. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RUSSIANS AND AUSTRIANS. + + +After so many horrors and so many hours of anxiety, at last, on the +evening of the second day of the siege, a momentary suspension of +hostilities occurred. Berlin rested after the excitement and turmoil, +and even the besiegers seemed to be reposing. Shells and fire-balls no +longer hissed through the groaning air, and the thunder of the cannon +had died away. Peace--the peace arising from disabling exhaustion +on the part of the combatants, reigned for a short while, and the +belligerents rested for a few hours to invigorate themselves for +a renewal of the fight. The streets of Berlin, lit by the dull +lamplight, were forsaken and empty, and only occasionally from the +dark houses was heard wailing and moaning, either the death-struggle +of a wounded man or the lamentations of his mourning friends. This +death-like silence prevailed for several hours, when it was broken +by a peculiar noise, sounding like the dull, muffled beat of +drums, followed by the measured tread of marching troops. The sound +approached nearer and nearer, and by the dim light of the street lamps +one could distinctly recognize a column of men marching in close order +from the opera-house down the Linden Street. + +It consisted of more than six thousand men, moving down the "Linden" +in deep silence, unbroken even by a word of command. To see this dark +and silent column passing along the gloomy and deserted street, was +calculated to produce a feeling of awe in the spectator. Any one +inclined to be superstitious might have imagined this warlike force, +marching through the streets at the hour of midnight, noiseless and +silent as the grave, to be, not living soldiers, but the large and +daily increasing cohort of spirits of those fallen in battle, taking +its way through the dying town, as birds of prey fly with prophetic +wing in circles round the fields of death. + +And now the head of the column reaches the Brandenburg Gate. The +sentinel stands to arms and challenges. The leader steps up to the +officer of the guard and whispers a few words in his ear. This officer +bows deeply and respectfully, and gives his sentinel a short order in +an under-tone. He then steps back to his command and presents arms. +The leaves of the gate then turned creaking on their hinges, and in +solemn silence the column marched out. This long, dark procession, +lasted nearly an hour; the gate then closed, and the same quiet +resumed its sway in the streets. + +Berlin was dreaming or sleeping, praying or weeping, but knew not that +in this hour fresh misfortune had fallen upon it; knew not that the +Prince of Wurtemberg had just left the town, and retired upon Spandau +with his regiments, feeling himself too weak to resist an enemy three +times his number. And furthermore, it was not aware that the Austrian +Count Lacy, who had already occupied Potsdam and Charlottenburg, with +his division of ten thousand men, would in a few hours be at the gates +of Berlin. + +In serious consultation, in anxious and wavering expectation, the city +fathers were assembled in the town-hall, which they had not quitted +for two days. But, at this moment, a pause seemed to have occurred in +their deliberations, for both the chief burgomaster, Von Kircheisen, +and the aldermen were leaning back in their high, carved chairs, +in sleepy repose, contemplating the wax-lights in their silver +candelabras, which shed a dim and uncertain light into the more +distant parts of the hall. One or the other occasionally threw an +inquiring glance toward the door, and leaned forward as if to +listen. After a while, steps were heard in the antechamber, and the +countenances of the honorable members of the Council lighted up. + +"At last he comes," said the chief burgomaster, raising himself with +an effort in his chair, and arranging the chain on his breast, which +had got a little out of order. + +The door now opened, and the merchant Gotzkowsky entered. + +He approached the assembly with a firm and hurried step. The light of +the candles shone upon his countenance, and in his pale, worn features +you could read the traces of the hardships, the efforts and dangers he +had undergone during the last two unfortunate days; only his eye still +shone with its mild and yet fiery glance, and in his breast there beat +still a brave and cheerful heart. + +"Ye have called me, honorable gentlemen, and, as ye see, I have not +delayed in answering your call." + +"Yes, we have summoned you," answered the chief burgomaster. "The +Council desire your advice." + +A slight, mocking smile played about Gotzkowsky's lips. "It is not the +first time," he said, "that the Council have done me this honor." + +Herr von Kircheisen plucked uneasily at his golden chain, and frowned. +Gotzkowsky's answer had wounded his pride. "Yes, you gave us your +advice yesterday, and it was only by your urgent appeal that we were +induced to feed and lodge the Prince of Wurtemberg's troops. We +might have spared ourselves the trouble, and our forty oxen remained +unslaughtered." + +"The Prince of Wurtemberg has left us, I know," said Gotzkowsky, +sorrowfully, "and we are thrown again on our own resources. Oh, I +could weep over it! Two days and nights have the citizens of Berlin +fought with the courage of a lioness defending her young, and all in +vain. So much noble blood shed in vain!" + +"We must surrender, then?" said Kircheisen, turning pale. + +"Unless the honorable Council can sow dragons' teeth and reap armed +men, unless we can mould cannon and create gunners to serve them, we +must, indeed, surrender!" said Gotzkowsky, in a sad tone. "Yes, if +we had a dozen cannon like the two at the Kottbuss Gate served by the +brave artillerist, Fritz, there might be some hope for us. Those were +beautiful shots. Like the sickle of death did they mow down the ranks +of the enemy, and whole rows fell at once. Fritz is a hero, and has +built himself a monument with the dead bodies of the Russians--and all +this for nothing!" + +"For nothing! do you say?" sighed the chief burgomaster. "On the +contrary, I rather think it will cost us a mint of money. The +Austrians have sent Prince Lowenstein in with a flag of truce, to +demand the surrender of the town. The Russians have also sent in a +flag of truce with the same demand. Now comes the important question, +To which of these two powers shall we surrender? Which will give us +the best bargain?" and as the burgomaster stammered out this question, +he seized a large goblet of wine which stood before him and emptied it +at a draught. He then ordered the servant, who stood at the door, to +replenish it with Johannisberger. + +The aldermen and senators looked significantly at each other, and the +second burgomaster ventured timidly to suggest that the heavy wine +might possibly be injurious to the health of his honor the chief +burgomaster. + +"Wine makes a man brave," he drawled out, "and as long as the city +fathers have good wine in their cellars, the citizens of Berlin may +sleep in peace, for so long will the Council have the courage to brave +the enemy! Let me have wine, then, and be brave!" and again he emptied +the replenished goblet. He then stared complacently at the ceiling, +and seemed lost in contemplation of the laurel-wreath painted above. + +The second burgomaster then rose gently from his seat, and taking +Gotzkowsky's arm, led him with the two principal councillors to one of +the more remote window-seats. With a slight motion of the hand and a +compassionate shrug of the shoulders, he pointed across to Herr von +Kircheisen. + +"Our poor oppressed chief wishes to acquire pot-valor," said he, "and +to stimulate himself into a delirium of firmness; but I am afraid +that the _delirium tremens_ of fear is the only kind that he will +experience. The poor man is very much to be pitied. It is just at +such a time, when presence of mind is most requisite, that the good +burgomaster regularly loses his head, and his brain rushes off with +him like a mad horse to death and destruction." + +"And such a man is the chief magistrate of the town of Berlin," said +Gotzkowsky, mournfully. + +"The citizens chose him, and the king confirmed their choice," said +the burgomaster; "so we ought to be satisfied. But now let us come to +the subject which induced us to disturb your slumbers, my friend. +We need your counsel. The Russians and Austrians both summon us to +surrender, and the Council of Berlin wish your advice, Gotzkowsky, as +to which of these two enemies they shall yield." + +"That is, by Heavens! a choice that the devil himself must envy +us," cried Gotzkowsky, with a sad smile. "To which party shall we +surrender? To the Austrian, who wears the imperial German crown, +and yet is the enemy of Germany! or to the Russian, the northern +barbarian, whose delight it is to trample every human right in the +dust! Let me consider a little while, for it is a sad and painful +choice." And Gotzkowsky strode up and down, absorbed in the deepest +reflection. Then turning to the gentlemen, after a long pause, he +asked, "To whom shall we yield? If my brother were among my enemies, +I would fear him above all others; for a brother's hatred is most +unnatural, and, for that very reason, the most violent. The Austrian +is the German brother of the Prussian, and yet they are striving for +the right of the first-born, instead of confederating for the +general good in unity, in equal authority, equal power, and equal +determination. On the contrary, Austria allies herself to Russia, the +sworn enemy of Germany, and with the assistance of this enemy fights +against her German brothers. Therefore, my opinion is that, if we +really must surrender, and if the Prussian really must yield, let it +not be to Austria. Subjection to an equal is doubly humiliating. It +is less painful to suffer death at the hand of a barbarian than to +be butchered by a brother. I would, then, in this instance, give the +preference to Russia." + +"That is also my opinion," said the burgomaster, and the councillors +agreed with him. They returned to the table, at which the chief +burgomaster still sat, gazing stupidly at the wine-cup. + +"Gotzkowsky is of our opinion," said the second burgomaster, turning +toward him; it would be best to yield to the Russian." + +"The Russian is a capital fellow!" stammered the chief burgomaster. +"The Russian has a great deal of money, and spends it freely. I +esteem the Russian astonishingly; and my decided opinion is, that we +surrender to the Russian." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A MAIDEN'S HEART. + + +Elise had passed the last two days and nights in her room; +nevertheless she had felt no fear; the thunder of the cannon and the +wail of the wounded had inspired her with mournful resignation rather +than with fear. As, at one time, she stood at the window, a shell +burst near the house, and shattered the window-panes of the ground +floor. + +"Oh, if this hall had only struck me," cried she, while her cheeks +burned, "then all this suffering would have been at an end, this doubt +would have been cleared up: and if my father ever again gave himself +the trouble to visit his house, and ask after his daughter, my death +would be the proper rebuke to his question." Her father's long absence +and apparent indifference tormented her and converted her grief into +anger. + +During these days of danger and mortal peril he had never once entered +his house to visit his daughter. With the unmitigated egotism of her +sex, she could not comprehend the greatness, the noble self-denial, +the manly firmness which dictated his conduct; she could see in it +nothing but indifference and cold-heartedness. + +"The most insignificant and unpolished workman is dearer to him than +his own child," said she, proudly, drying her tears. "He is now, +perhaps, watching in the cabins of his laborers, and does not care if +his own house is burned to the ground; but even if he were told that +it was so, if he heard that his daughter had perished in the flames, +he would calmly say, 'My country demands this sacrifice of me, and I +submit.' No tear would dim his eye; his country would not leave him +time to mourn for his daughter. Oh, this country! what is it? My +country is where I am happy, and where I am beloved!" She sighed +deeply, and her thoughts wandered to her lover, her Feodor, the enemy +of her country, in whose heart she thought she would find her real +country, her true home. + +The spoiled child of fortune, always accustomed to see every wish +fulfilled, Elise had not learned the power of self-control, nor to +bend her will to any higher power. Fortune seemed anxious to spare yet +awhile this warm, loving heart, and to allow her a little longer the +freedom of happy ignorance, before it initiated her into the painful +and tearful mysteries of actual life. Besides this, Elise had +inherited from her father a strong will and dauntless courage, and +behind her bright, dreamy eyes dwelt a proud and spirited soul. Like +her father, her whole soul yearned for freedom and independence; +but the difference between them was, that while she only understood +freedom as applying to herself personally, Gotzkowsky's more capacious +mind comprehended it in its larger and more general sense. She wished +for freedom only for herself; he desired it for his country, and he +would willingly have allowed his own person to be cast into bonds and +fetters, if he could thereby have secured the liberties of the people. +Out of this similarity, as well as from this difference of character, +arose all the discord which occasionally threatened to disturb the +harmony of these two hearts. + +Gotzkowsky could not understand the heart of the young maiden, nor +Elise that of the noble patriot. To these two strong and independent +natures there had been wanting the gentle, soothing influence of a +mother's love, acting conciliatingly on both. Elise's mother had died +while she was young, and the child was left to the care of strangers. +Her father could seldom find time to be with his daughter; but, +though seldom personally present, yet his whole soul was faithfully, +unalterably devoted to her. Elise did not suspect this, and in +consequence of seldom seeing or meeting him, and the want of mutual +intercourse, the heart of his daughter became estranged from him, and +in the soul of this young girl, just budding into life, brought up +without companions, in the midst of wealth and plenty, arose at first +the doubt, and later the conviction, of the indifference of her father +toward his only child. But proud as she was, and full of a feeling +of independence, she never met him with a reproach or complaint, but +withdrew into herself, and as she believed herself repelled, strove +also, on her part, to emancipate herself. + +"Love cannot be forced, nor can it be had for the asking," said she, +as, yielding sometimes to a natural childish feeling, she felt an +irresistible longing to go to her father, whom she had not seen the +livelong day; to hunt him up in the midst of his work, to lay herself +gently on his breast, and say to him: "Love me, father, for without +love we are both so lonely!" Once she had yielded to the impulse of +her heart, and had gone down to his work-room, to take refuge with all +her love and all her desire in her father's heart. It was on the very +day that Gotzkowsky had returned from a most important journey. He had +been absent for weeks from his daughter, and yet his first visit had +not been to her, but to the work-room, which he had not left since his +arrival. But Elise did not know that he had travelled with relays of +horses, and that, in spite of the intensely bitter weather, he had +driven day and night, allowing himself no rest nor refreshment, in +order to reach home as rapidly as possible, solely from desire to see +his daughter, whose fair and lovely countenance was the star which +lighted his dreary, lonesome hours of toil, and inspired him with +courage and cheerfulness. Nor could she know that he had only +undertaken this journey because, by the failure of one of the largest +mercantile firms in the Netherlands, his own house had been put in +danger, and he had been threatened with the loss of his hard-earned +wealth. + +With palpitating heart, and tears of love in her eyes, she entered his +room. Her whole bearing was sublime, full of tenderness and warmth, +full of the humble love of a child. But Gotzkowsky scarcely raised his +eyes from his books and papers, did not advance to meet her, did not +leave the circle of his officials and servants, did not even break +off the conversation he was engaged in with the directors of his +silk-factory. And yet Elise drew nearer to him, her heart yearned so +to bid him welcome. She laid her hand on his shoulder, and whispered +an affectionate greeting in his ear. Gotzkowsky only looked at her +hastily, and replied almost impatiently, "I pray you, my child, do not +disturb me; we are busy with very important matters." + +It certainly was business of great importance, which monopolized +Gotzkowsky's attention immediately on his return. It was a question of +nearly half a million, which he would probably lose in consequence +of a royal decree just issued. This decree ordained that the new +_Frederick d'ors_ coined by the Jewish farmer of the mint, and which +were much too light, should be received at par all over the whole +kingdom, and even at the treasury offices. It was, therefore, but +natural that all debtors would hasten to pay their creditors in +this coin which had imparted to it so sudden and unexpected a value. +Gotzkowsky had received from his debtors upward of eight hundred +thousand dollars in this light coin, while his foreign creditors +absolutely refused to take them, and demanded the payment of their +debts in good money. Gotzkowsky, who, in consequence of his large and +extensive connections abroad, had about three hundred thousand dollars +in exchange against him, paid his creditors in gold of full weight, +and lost by these transactions three hundred thousand dollars in one +day. + +Just at the moment when this heavy loss befell him, Elise appeared, to +welcome him. His heart sank as he beheld her, for as he looked at her +this loss appeared in its full magnitude; it seemed as if not he, but +his child, had lost a portion of her wealth. + +Elise knew and suspected nothing. She only felt that she had been +repulsed, and she withdrew, deeply wounded and mortified, with the +vow never to run the risk again of such another rebuff, such another +humiliation. + +Gotzkowsky lost in this hour, not only the three hundred thousand +dollars, but, what he valued above all earthly treasures, the +affection of his daughter, and both without any fault of his own. +Elise forced herself to close her heart against her father, or at +least to conquer her grief at the supposed indifference, or quiet, +lukewarm inclination. And yet this ardent heart longed for love, as +the plant longs for the sunshine which is to penetrate it, and ripen +it into wonderful bloom. Had the friend and companion of her youth, +Bertram, been near her, she would have confided all her sorrows to +him, and found consolation on his breast. But he had been absent for +about a year on his long journey; and Elise's heart, which had always +clung to him with a sisterly affection, became more and more alienated +from the friend of her youth. + +But fate or perhaps her evil destiny ordained that, about this time, +she should make the acquaintance of a young man who quickly won the +love of her vacant heart, and filled its void. + +This young man was Colonel Feodor von Brenda, whom the fortune of war +had thrown into Berlin. + +Elise loved him. With joy and delight, with the unbounded confidence +of innocence, she gave her whole heart up to this new sensation. + +And, indeed, this young colonel was a very brilliant and imposing +personage. He was one of those Russian aristocrats who, on the +Continent, in their intercourse with the noblest and most exclusive +society of Germany and France, acquire that external adroitness and +social refinement, that brilliant graceful polish, which so well +conceals the innate barbarism and cunning of the natural character of +the Russian. + +He was a bright companion, sufficiently conversant with arts and +sciences to talk on every subject, without committing himself. He knew +how to converse on all topics fluently enough, without betraying the +superficial character of his knowledge and his studies. Educated at +the court of the Empress Elizabeth, life had appeared to him in all +its voluptuousness and fullness, but at the same time had soon been +stripped of all its fancies and illusions. For him there existed no +ideals and no innocence, no faith, not even a doubt which in itself +implies a glimmer of faith; for him there was nothing but the plain, +naked, undeceivable disenchantment, and pleasure was the only thing in +which he still believed. + +This pleasure he pursued with all the energy of his originally noble +and powerful character; and as all his divinities had been destroyed, +all holy ideals had dissolved into myths and hollow phantoms, he +wished to secure one divinity, at least, to whom he could raise an +altar, whom he could worship: this divinity was Pleasure. + +Pleasure he sought everywhere, in all countries; and the more ardently +and eagerly he sought it, the less was he able to find it. Pleasure +was the first modest, coy woman who cruelly shunned him, and the more +he pursued her, the more coldly did she seem to fly him. + +And now he converted his whole life into an adventure, a kind of +quixotic pursuit of the lost loved one, Pleasure. In the mean time, +his heart was dead to all the better and nobler feelings. But, at one +time, it seemed as if a higher and more serious inclination promised +permanently to enchain this dreaded rival of all husbands and lovers. + +Feodor von Brenda, the most _blasé_, witty, insolent cavalier at the +court of his empress, became suddenly serious and silent. On his proud +countenance was seen, for the first time, the light of a soft and +gentle feeling, and when he approached his beautiful bride, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, there beamed from his dark eyes a glow +holier and purer than the fire of sensuality. Could he have fled with +her into some desert, could he have withdrawn into the stillness of +his mountain castle, he would have been saved; but life held him with +its thousand minute, invisible threads, and the experiences of his +past years appeared to mock him for his credulity and confidence. + +Besides this woman, whom he adored as an angel, arose the demon of +skepticism and mistrust, and regarded him with mocking smiles and +looks of contempt; but still Feodor von Brenda was a name of honor, a +cavalier to whom his pledged word was sacred, and who was ready to pay +the debt of honor which he had incurred toward his betrothed; and this +love for the Countess Lodoiska, although cankered by doubt and gnawed +by the experiences of his own life, still had sufficient power over +him to cause the future to appear not gloomy but full of promise, +and to allow him to hope, if not for happiness, at least for rest and +enjoyment. + +The war-cry roused him from these dreams and doubts of love. Elizabeth +had united with Maria Theresa against Frederick of Prussia, and the +Empress of Russia was about to send an army to the support of her +ally. Feodor awoke from the sweet rest into which his heart had sunk, +and, like Rinaldo, had torn asunder the rosy chains by which his +Armida had sought to fetter him. He followed the Russian colors, and +accompanied General Sievers as his adjutant to Germany. + +As to him all life was only an adventure, he wished also to enjoy the +exciting pastime of war. This, at least, was something new, a species +of pleasure and amusement he had not yet tried, and therefore the +young colonel gave himself up to it with his whole soul, and an ardent +desire to achieve deeds of valor. + +But it was his fate to be carried early from the theatre of war as +a prisoner, and in this character he arrived with General Sievers at +Berlin. But his durance was light, his prison the large and pleasant +city of Berlin, in which he could wander about perfectly free with the +sole restriction of not going beyond the gates. + +General Sievers became accidentally acquainted with Gotzkowsky, and +this acquaintance soon ripened into a more intimate friendship. He +passed the greater part of his days in Gotzkowsky's house. As a lover +of art, he could remain for hours contemplating the splendid pictures +which Gotzkowsky had bought for the king in Italy, and which had not +yet been delivered at Sans Souci; or, by the side of the manufacturer +he traversed the large halls of the factory in which an entirely new +life, a world of which he had no idea, was laid open to him. And then +again Gotzkowsky would impart to him the wide and gigantic plans which +occupied his mind; and this disclosed to him a view into a new era +which arose beyond the present time, an era when industry would +command and raise the now despised workman into the important and +respected citizen. + +While Gotzkowsky and his friend the general were discussing these +extensive plans, and speculating about the future of industry, the +young people, Elise and the adjutant, were dreaming about the future +of their love. + +The colonel had only commenced this love-affair with the daughter +of the rich manufacturer as a new adventure. It was so piquant to go +through all the stages of a romantic, dreamy German love, with a pure, +innocent German girl, and to let himself be led by her through +the sacred mazes of innocent romance, holy transports, and chaste +affection--it was so pleasant a diversion of his captivity, why should +he not enjoy it? + +This attachment to Elise was for him at first only a temporary +amusement, and he toyed with his vows and wooing, until, +imperceptibly, he found his heart entangled in his own net. The ardent +yet innocent love of the young girl touched his feelings. It was +something new to be the object of so chaste and devoted an affection. +He was ashamed of himself in his inmost soul to perceive with what +childish trust, what sacred security and humble resignation this +young, rich, and beautiful maiden gave herself up to him. + +For the first time, he experienced an ardent desire to be worthy of so +noble an affection, and to resemble, at least in some slight degree, +the ideal picture which Elise had formed of him--to be something of +the hero, the knight, the noble being whom Elise worshipped in him. + +At the same time it was so surprising and strange to meet a girl, who, +all submission and devoted love, yet remained firm and immovable in +her purity and chastity, so bright and proud that even he felt respect +for this innocence which surrounded the beloved one like a halo, and +his lips refused to utter words at which her pure soul might tremble. + +With his fiery and mercurial temperament, he had, with a kind of +passionate curiosity, adopted the _rôle_ of a Platonic lover, and +the libertine in his character had been subdued by the love of the +eccentric. He had converted this love into a kind of adoration. He +placed Elise upon the altar, and worshipped her as a saint to whom +he had turned from the turmoil and wild lust of life, and in the +contemplation and worship of whom he could obtain forgiveness of all +his sins and errors. It affected him to think that Elise was praying +for him while he, perhaps, forgot her in the whirlpool of pleasure; +that she believed in him so devotedly and truly, that she looked up to +him so lovingly and humbly--to him who was so far her inferior. And in +the midst of his wild life of pleasure he felt the need of some saint +to intercede for forgiveness for him. All these new and unaccustomed +feelings only enchained him the more closely, and made him consider +the possession of her as the most desirable and only worthy object of +his life. + +She must be his; he was determined to wear this brilliant diamond, +the only one he had ever found genuine and without flaw, as his +most costly possession; to become, in spite of all difficulties and +impossibilities, unmindful of his betrothed bride and his solemn vows, +the husband of this beautiful German maiden, who had given herself to +him heart and soul. + +In proportion to the difficulties that opposed such a union, increased +his fierce determination to overcome them. He was betrothed, and the +Empress Elizabeth herself had blessed the betrothal. He could +not, therefore, retract his vows without exciting the anger of his +mistress, and history had more than one example to show how violent +and annihilating this anger could be. In like wise, Elise dared not +hope ever to obtain the consent of her father to her union with a man +who was the enemy of her country. She was obliged to conceal this love +with anxious care from his eyes, if she did not wish to expose herself +to the danger of being separated from her lover forever. She knew that +her father, in every thing else uniformly kind and yielding toward +her, was on this one subject implacable, and that no tears, no +pleading, were capable of moving the firm and energetic will of the +ardent patriot. + +Both were obliged, therefore, to preserve their love a secret, and in +this concealment lay for Feodor a new charm which bound him to her, +while it estranged Elise's heart still more from her father, and +chained it in unbounded devotion to her lover. + +In the mean while the time arrived for Feodor to leave Berlin with +General Sievers. He swore eternal love and fidelity to Elise, and she +vowed to him cheerfully never to become the wife of another, but in +patience and trust to await his return, and to hope for the end of the +war and the coming of peace, which would solve all difficulties, and +remove the opposition of her father. + +That besides her father there could be any obstacle, she did not +suspect; Feodor had so often sworn that she was his first and only +love, and she, young and inexperienced as she was, believed him. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A FAITHFUL FRIEND. + + +Elise's father had not yet returned. She was still alone, but in her +soul there was neither fear nor trembling, but only a defiant grief at +this apparent indifference to the danger which had threatened her, in +common with the rest of Berlin, for the last two days. + +She had shut herself up in her room, not that she anticipated any +danger, but because she wished to be alone, because she wished to +avoid Bertram, the faithful friend, who had watched over her during +this time with the most attentive devotion. Truthfully had he remained +in the house, deserted by her father, as a careful watchman; had never +left its door; but, armed with dagger and pistol, he had stationed +himself as a sentinel in the antechamber, ready to hasten at the +slightest call of Elise, to defend her with his life against +any attack or any danger, and Elise felt herself bound to him in +gratitude, and yet this duty of gratitude was a burden to her. It was +distressing and painful to her to see Bertram's quiet and mournful +countenance, to read in his dimmed eyes the presence of a grief so +courageously subdued. But yet she had endeavored to overcome this +feeling, and she had often come to him lately to chat with him about +past times and to reward him with her society for his protection and +faithful presence. And yet Bertram's tender conscience was well aware +of the constraint Elise had put herself under, and the harmless and +cheerful chat was to him all the more painful as it reminded him of +past times and blasted hopes. + +He had, therefore, with a melancholy smile of resignation, requested +Elise not to come any more into the hall, as it would be better, by +the anticipated occupation of the enemy, to remain in her room, in the +upper story of the house, and to lock the door in order to secure her +from any possible surprise. + +Elise had completely understood the delicacy and nobleness of this +request, and since then had remained quiet and undisturbed in her +room. + +Thus the second night had commenced. She passed it like the one +preceding, wandering up and down, not needing sleep, but kept awake by +her thoughts and cares. In the middle of the night she was interrupted +in her anxious reveries by Bertram, who came to her door, and in a low +and timid voice requested permission to enter. + +Elise knew very well that she could trust Bertram like a brother, as +an unselfish, disinterested friend. Therefore, fearlessly she opened +the door, and bade him come in. Bertram entered timidly and confused, +almost overpowered by happiness, for this room into which he came was +Elise's bedroom, the sanctuary of maidenhood and beauty, and he felt +disposed to kneel down and pray, so evidently did this room seem to +him a temple of innocence. + +It appeared to him as if his unholy foot was not worthy to tread this +ground, nor to approach the bed which, with its white curtains, seemed +to wave before his dazzled eyes like a white swan. + +In soft and gentle words he brought to Elise greeting from her father. +He related to her how Gotzkowsky had visited his house, not to take +rest, but to see Elise; how, scarcely arrived there, a messenger +from the Council had called him back to the town-hall. There he had +commissioned Bertram to request his daughter to withdraw from the +front rooms of the house, and to retire into those next to the garden, +where she would be safer and have less to fear from the enemy as he +marched in. + +"At last, then, my father has consented to think of me," said Elise, +with a bitter smile. "His patriotism has allowed him leisure to +remember his only daughter, who would have remained solitary and +forsaken in the midst of servants and hirelings if my noble and +faithful brother had not assumed the duties of my father, and watched +over and protected me." She reached out both her hands to Bertram with +a look full of gratitude, but he scarcely touched them; he held them +for a moment lightly and coldly in his, and then let them go. This +slight and transient touch had shot through him like an electric shot, +and reawakened all the sorrows of his soul. + +"You will then leave this room?" asked Bertram, approaching the door. + +"I will go into the hall immediately next to it." + +"All alone?" asked Bertram; and then fearing that she might suspect +him of wishing to force his company upon her, he added, quickly, "You +ought to keep one of your maids near you, Elise." + +Smilingly she shook her head. "For what purpose?" asked she. "Bertram +is my protector, and I am quite safe. I have sent my maids to their +rooms. They were tired from long watching and weeping; let them sleep. +Bertram will watch for all of us. I have no fear, and I would not +even leave this room, if it were not that I wished to comply with the +rarely expressed and somewhat tardy desire of my father." + +Saying which, she took the silver candelabras from the table and +quietly traversed the room in order to proceed to the adjoining +hall. At the door she stopped and turned round. The full light of the +candles shone on her handsome, expressive face, and Bertram gazed on +her with a mixture of delight and anguish. + +"Bertram," said she gently and timidly, "Bertram, my brother, let me +thank you for all your love and constancy. Would that I could reward +you more worthily! In that case all would be different, and we would +not all be so sad and despondent as we now are. But always remember, +my brother, that I will never cease to love you as a sister, and that +if I cannot compel my heart to love you otherwise, yet no other power, +no other feeling can ever lessen or destroy my sisterly affection. +Remember this, Bertram, and be not angry with me." She nodded to him +with a sweet smile, and retreated through the door. + +Bertram stood rooted to the floor like one enchanted, and gazed at the +door through which this vision of light had departed. He then raised +his eyes to heaven, and his countenance shone with excitement. "God +grant that she may be happy!" prayed he, softly. "May she never be +tormented by the agonies of error or repentance; may he whom she loves +prove worthy of her!" + +Overpowered by bitter and painful thoughts, his head sank upon his +breast, and tears coursed down his cheeks. But he did not abandon +himself long to his sad and anxious thoughts, nor did he allow sorrow +long to take possession of his heart. After a short pause he raised +himself and shook his head, as if to roll off the whole burden of care +and grief with all the power of his will. + +"At least I will always be at her side," said he, his countenance +beaming from the noble decision. "I will follow her like a faithful, +watchful dog, and ward off from her every danger and every misfortune +which comes from man and not from God. She has called me her brother! +Well, a brother has both rights and duties, and I will perform them!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +The hall to which Elise had retired, next to her bedroom, was on the +garden side of the house, and its glass doors opened on a porch from +which handsomely ornamented bronze steps led winding down into the +garden. Notwithstanding the advanced season of the year, the night was +mild, and the moon shone brightly. Elise opened the glass doors and +stepped out on the porch to cool her burning forehead in the fresh +night air; and, leaning on the balustrade, she looked up smiling and +dreamily at the moon. Sweet and precious fancies filled the soul of +the young maiden, and brought the color to her cheeks. + +She thought of her lover, who so lately had appeared to her as in a +dream; she repeated to herself each one of his words. With a sweet but +trembling emotion she remembered that he had bidden her to await him; +that he had sworn to her to come, even if his way should be over dead +bodies and through rivers of blood. + +With all the pride of a loving girl she recalled his bold and +passionate words, and she rejoiced in her heart that she could call +herself the bride of a hero. Even if this hero was the enemy of +her country, what did she care? She loved him, and what to her were +nationalities or the quarrels of princes? She was his--his in love and +faith, in purity and innocence; what cared she for aught else? + +Elise started suddenly from her dreams. She had heard a noise down +in the garden, and leaned listening over the balustrade. What was the +meaning of this noise? Was it perhaps some thief, who, under cover +of the general confusion, had stolen into the garden? Elise remained +motionless, and listened. She had not deceived herself, for she +distinctly heard footsteps. A feeling of fear took possession of her, +and yet she did not dare to move from the spot, nor to cry for help. +Might it not be her lover, for whom she had promised to wait? + +With strained attention she gazed down into the garden; her eye seemed +to penetrate the darkness with its sharp, searching look. But she +could distinguish nothing; not an object moved through these silent +paths, where the yellow sand was sufficiently lighted up by the moon +to betray any one sufficiently bold to tread them. Every thing was +again quiet; but Elise shuddered at these long, black shadows cast on +both sides of the alleys; she was afraid to remain any longer on the +porch. She retired into the hall, the door to which she had left open +on purpose to perceive any noise coming from that quarter. + +Now again she became aware of steps approaching nearer and nearer. +She wished to rise, but her feet refused their office. She sank back +powerless into her chair and closed her eyes. She could not determine +whether it was fear or happy expectation which pervaded her whole +being. + +And now the footsteps ascended into the porch, and came quite near to +the window. Would a thief dare to approach these lighted windows? She +raised her eyes. He stood before her!--he, her beloved, the friend +of her heart, her thoughts, her hopes! Feodor von Brenda stood in the +doorway of the hall, and uttered softly her name. She could not rise, +her feet trembled so; and in her heart she experienced an uneasy +sensation of fear and terror. And yet she stretched her arms out to +him, and welcomed him with her looks and her smile. + +And now she lay in his arms, now he pressed her firmly to his heart, +and whispered tender, flattering words in her ear. + +She pushed him gently back, and gazed at him with a smile of delight. +But suddenly her look clouded, and she sighed deeply. Feodor's +brilliant Russian uniform pained her, and reminded her of the +danger he might be incurring. He read her fear and anxiety in her +countenance. + +"Do not be afraid, my sweet one," whispered he gently, drawing her +into his arms. "No danger threatens us. My people are now masters of +the town. Berlin has surrendered to the Russians. _The enemy_ is now +conqueror and master, and no one would dare to touch this uniform. +Even your father must now learn to yield, and to forget his hatred." + +"He will never do it," sighed Elise sadly. "You do not know him, +Feodor. His will never bends, and the most ardent prayers would not +induce him to grant that to his heart which his judgment does not +approve of. He is not accustomed to yield. His riches make him almost +despotic. Every one yields to him." + +"He is the king of merchants," said Feodor, as he passed his fingers +playfully through the dark tresses of the young girl, whose head +rested on his shoulder. "His money makes him as powerful as a prince." + +"That is exactly my misfortune," sighed Elise. + +The colonel laughed, and pressed a kiss upon her forehead. "Dreamer," +said he, "do you call yourself miserable because you are the daughter +of a millionnaire?" + +"Millions alone do not make one happy," said she sadly. "The heart +grows cold over the dead money, and my father's heart is cold toward +his daughter. He has so many thousand other things to do and think of +besides his daughter! The whole world has claims upon him; every one +requires his advice, submits to and obeys him. From all parts of the +world come letters to be answered, and, when at last, late in the +evening, he remembers he is something besides the king on 'Change, the +man of speculation, he is so tired and exhausted, that he has only a +few dull words for his child, who lives solitary in the midst of all +this wealth, and curses the millions which make her poor." + +She had spoken with increasing excitement and bitterness. Even her +love had for a moment been eclipsed by the feeling of an injured +daughter, whose grief she now for the first time disclosed to her +lover. + +As she finished speaking, she laid her arm on Feodor's shoulder, and +clung still more closely to him, as if to find in his heart protection +and shelter against all pain and every grief. Like a poor, broken +flower she laid herself on his breast, and Feodor gazed at her +with pride and pity. At this moment he wished to try her heart, and +discover whether he alone was master of it. For that purpose had he +come; for this had he risked this meeting. In this very hour should +she follow him and yield herself to him in love and submission. His +long separation from her, his wild soldier's life had crushed out +the last blossoms of tender and chaste affection in his heart, and +he ridiculed himself for his pure, adoring, timid love. Distrust had +resumed power over him, and doubt, like a mildew, had spread itself +over his last ideal. Elise was to him only a woman like the rest. She +was his property, and as such he wished to do with her as he chose. + +But yet there was something in her pure, loving being which mastered +him against his will, and, as it were, changed his determination. +In her presence, looking into her clear pure eye, he forgot his dark +designs and his dreary doubts, and Elise became again the angel of +innocence and purity, the saint to whom he prayed, and whose tender +looks shed forgiveness on him. + +This young girl, resting so calmly and confidingly on his breast, and +looking at him so innocently and purely, moved him, and made him blush +for himself and his wild, bold desires. Silent and reflecting he sat +at her side, but she could read in his looks, in his smile, that he +loved her. What further need had she of words? + +She raised her head from his breast, and looked at him for a long +time, and her countenance assumed a bright, happy expression. + +"Oh," said she, "do I call myself poor when I have you? I am no longer +poor since I have known you, but I have been so; and this, my friend, +must be the excuse for my love. I stood in the midst of the cold +glitter of gold as in an enchanted castle, and all around me was +lifeless, stiffened into torpidity by enchantment, and I knew no +talisman to break the charm. You came, and brought with you love. The +talisman was found; a warm life awoke in me, and all the splendor of +gold crumbled into dust. I was rich then, for I loved; now I am rich, +for you love me!" + +"Yes, I love you," cried he; "let your father keep his treasures. You, +and only you, do I desire." + +She sprang up startled from his arms. In the overpowering happiness +of the hour she had entirely forgotten the danger which threatened her +lover. She suddenly remembered, and her cheek paled. + +"My father!" cried she, "if he should come at this moment! His look +alone would be enough to kill me." And anxiously and tremblingly she +clung to Feodor. + +"Fear not, dear one," he whispered, "he is not coming. God protects +and watches over those who love each other. Do not think of danger. +Banish all care, all fear. This hour belongs to us, and as I now fold +you in my arms with delight, so let it be always and forever. For you +know, precious child, that you are mine, that you can never belong to +another; that you have pledged yourself, and at some future time must +follow me as your husband." + +"I know it, I know it," she murmured; and, in blissful +self-forgetfulness, she leaned her head on his shoulder, and listened +with beating heart to the burning, passionate words which he poured +into her ear. + +Of a sudden, with the rapidity of lightning, she sprang up, as if an +electric shock had pervaded her body, and listened eagerly. + +As Feodor was about to speak, to inquire the cause of her sudden +terror, she quickly pressed her hand to his mouth. "Silence," +whispered she softly. "I heard it distinctly. My father is coming +hither through the garden!" + +They both listened in silence. In the quiet of the night Gotzkowsky's +voice was now heard. He ordered his servants to shut the garden gates +carefully, and watch them well, as the Russians entering the town +would pass by this wall. + +"You are right," said Feodor; "it is your father. Truly this is an +unlucky accident." + +"He will kill me if he finds you here," murmured Elise, clinging, half +fainting, to her lover's arm. + +"I will protect you with my life," said he, pressing her more firmly +to him. + +"No, no!" cried she breathlessly; "he must not find you here. No one +must see you. Oh, Feodor, listen to me. He is not alone; Bertram +and his servants are with him. Oh, my God, they will kill you! Save +yourself; leave me, Feodor, and conceal yourself!" And drawing him +with irresistible strength to the door, she whispered, "In there, in +my bedroom conceal yourself." + +"Never," said he firmly and decidedly. "Never will I hide myself, or +sneak away like a coward!" + +"You must do it," entreated she; and as she saw that he hesitated and +drew back unwillingly, she continued: "Not for your sake--for the sake +of my honor, Feodor. Remember it is night, and I am alone with you." + +"Yes, you are right," said Feodor sadly. "Hide me; no spot must +tarnish your honor." + +With convulsive haste, Elise drew him to the door of her chamber. +Gotzkowsky's voice was heard just outside the window. + +"Quick! hasten, they are coming!" said she, pulling the door open, and +pushing him hurriedly on. + +"He is saved," cried her heart joyfully, as she closed the door after +him, and, sinking down, half fainting in a chair, her lips murmured, +"Have mercy, gracious God; have mercy on him and me!" + +At this moment her father, accompanied by Bertram and the factory +workman, Balthazar, entered the room through the door of the balcony. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE FUGITIVE. + + +Gotzkowsky at length returned to his home. Sad and sorrowful was his +soul, and his brow, at other times so smooth and clear, was now dark +and clouded. He mourned for his country, for the fruitless battles, +the blood shed in vain, and, in the bitter grief of his heart, he +asked himself what crime he had committed, that to him should be +assigned the painful duty of deciding to which of the enemies they +should surrender. And yet the decision was imperative, and Berlin had +to be surrendered to the Russians. + +In gloomy sadness, hardly casting a passing glance at his daughter, +whose anxiety and death-like paleness he did not even perceive, +Gotzkowsky entered the hall, Bertram carefully bolting the doors +behind him, and then in an undertone gave Balthazar and the servants +directions for the protection of the house. + +"What a dreadful night!" said Gotzkowsky, sinking down on a sofa +exhausted; "my heart aches as much as my limbs." + +For a moment he closed his eyes, and lay silent and motionless. Elise +was still leaning trembling and breathless on the chair near the door. +Gotzkowsky raised his head, and his eyes sought his daughter. As he +perceived her, a gentle and pleased expression passed over his face, +and his brow grew clearer. He hastened to her and raised her in his +arms. + +"Bless you, Elise, my child! for two days have I been nothing but +citizen and soldier; now at last I am permitted to remember that I +am a father. I had almost forgotten it during these wild sad days. +Good-evening, my darling child!" + +Elise kissed his hand respectfully, and muttered a low welcome. + +Gotzkowsky said in a gentle tone, "This is a comfort which makes me +forget all my sufferings. Come, my children, let us for one bright +hour put aside all care and trouble, and be happy and cheerful +together. Let us have breakfast. This poor, weak body needs +refreshment, for it reminds me that, for two days, I have been +living on prison fare, bread and water. Come, then, let us breakfast. +Bertram, sit by my side, and our sweet little housekeeper will help us +to coffee." + +Elise rose with difficulty and gave the necessary orders to the +servants; and while the latter were hurrying to and fro, serving +up breakfast, Gotzkowsky reclined on the sofa, half asleep from +exhaustion; and Bertram and Elise sat opposite to each other in +silence. Suddenly there were heard in the distance wild yells, and +loud noises and cries. Then hasty steps flew up the staircase; the +hall door was pulled open, and a soldier rushed in. With breathless +haste he bolted the door behind him, threw off the white cloak which +concealed his figure, and the broad-brimmed hat which covered his +head, and sank with a loud sigh into a chair. Gotzkowsky hurried up to +him and looked at him attentively. Elise, with an instinctive feeling +of the danger which threatened Feodor, turned to the door behind which +he was hidden. + +"The artilleryman, Fritz!" cried Gotzkowsky, with visible +astonishment. + +"Yes, it is me," groaned the soldier. "Save me, Gotzkowsky; do not +deliver me up to these barbarians!" + +Gotzkowsky laid his hand on his shoulder with a friendly smile. "I +would not betray the enemy himself, if he sought refuge in my house; +and you ask me not to betray the most valiant and renowned defender of +Berlin. Bertram, this man here, this simple cannoneer, has performed +miracles of valor, and earned for himself an enviable name in these +last unfortunate days. It was he who had charge of the only two cannon +Berlin possessed, and who, never tiring, without rest or relaxation, +gent death into the ranks of the enemy. Be assured, my son, you have +fought these two days like a hero, and it cannot be God's wish that, +as a reward for your bravery, you should fall into the hands of the +enemy." + +"They pursue me everywhere," said the artilleryman. "Hunted by De +Lacy's chasseurs like a wild beast, I fled down the street hither. You +told me yesterday that if ever I wanted a friend in need, you would +be one to me. Therefore have I come to you. The Austrians have +sworn vengeance on the cannoneer, whose balls swept their ranks so +murderously, and have set a large price on my head." + +"Ah!" cried Gotzkowsky, laughing, "the Austrians advertise rewards +before they have got the money to pay them. Let them set a thousand +ducats on your head, my son. They will have to do without the ducats, +and your head too, for Berlin will give them neither. If we must pay +the money, the Russian shall have it; and as for your head, well, I +will pay for that with my life. You have fought like a lion, and like +lions we will defend you." + +"What have I gained by fighting?" said Fritz, with a mournful shrug of +the shoulders. "The enemy have succeeded in getting into the town, and +their rage is tearful. They have sworn to kill me. But you will not +give me up! and should they come here and find me, then have pity on +me and kill me, but do not give me up to the enemy!" + +"To kill you, they must kill both of us first!" cried Bertram, taking +the brave cannoneer by the hand. "We will hide him in your house; +won't we, Father Gotzkowsky?" + +"Yes, and so safely that no one will be able to find him!" cried +Gotzkowsky, cheerfully, raising the soldier up by the hand. "Follow +me, my son. In my daughter's chamber is a safe hiding-place. The +mirror on the wall covers a secret door, behind which is a space just +large enough to conceal a person. Come." + +He led the artilleryman toward the door of Elise's room. But before +this door Elise had stationed herself, her cheeks burning and her eyes +flashing. The danger of her lover lent her courage and determination, +and enabled her to meet the anger of her father unflinchingly. + +"Not in there, father!" said she, in a tone almost commanding; "not +into my room!" + +Gotzkowsky stepped back in astonishment, and gazed at his daughter. +"How," asked he, "do you forbid me the entrance?" + +"Behind the picture of the Virgin in the large hall is a similar +hiding-place," said Elise, hurriedly; "carry him thither." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately. He only gazed firmly and +inquiringly into Elise's countenance. Dark and dismal misgivings, +which he had often with much difficulty suppressed, now arose again, +and filled his soul with angry, desperate thoughts. Like Virginius of +old, he would have preferred to kill his daughter to delivering her +into the hands of the enemy. + +"And why should he go there, and not remain here?" asked he at last +with an effort. + +"Remember, father," stammered she, blushing, "I--" + +She stopped as she met the look of her father, which rested on her +with penetrating power--as she read the rising anger of his soul in +the tense swollen veins of his brow, and his pale, trembling lips. + +Bertram had witnessed this short but impressive scene with increasing +terror. Elise's anxiety, her paleness and trembling, the watch which +she kept over that door, had not escaped him, even on his entrance, +and filled him with painful uneasiness. But as he now recognized in +Gotzkowsky's features the signs of an anger which was the more violent +for the very reason that he so seldom gave way to it, he felt the +necessity of coming to the assistance of his distressed sister. He +approached her father, and laid his hand lightly on his shoulder. + +"Elise is right," said he, entreatingly. "Respect her maiden +hesitation." + +Gotzkowsky turned round upon him with an impatient toss of the head, +and stared him full in the face. He then broke into a fit of wild, +derisive laughter. + +"Yes," said he, "we will respect her maiden hesitation. You have +spoken wisely, Bertram. Listen: you know the partition behind the +picture of the Madonna in the picture-gallery. Carry our brave friend +thither, and take heed that the spring is carefully closed." + +Bertram looked at him sadly and anxiously. He had never before seen +this man, usually so calm, so passionately excited. + +"You will not go with us, father?" asked he. + +"No," said Gotzkowsky, harshly; "I remain here to await the enemy." + +He cast on Elise, still leaning against the door, a threatening look, +which made her heart tremble. Bertram sighed, and had not the courage +to go and forsake Elise in this anxious and critical moment. + +"Hasten, friend," said Gotzkowsky, sternly. "The life of a brave man +is at stake. Hasten!" + +The young man dared not gainsay him, but he approached Gotzkowsky, +and whispered softly: "Be lenient, father. See how she trembles! Poor +sister!" + +And with a painful glance at Elise, he took the hand of the +artilleryman, and led him out of the room. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE EAVESDROPPER. + + +Elise was now alone with her father. She had sunk down near the fatal +door, and her colorless lips murmured faint prayers. + +Gotzkowsky stood there, still relentless; but his agitated +countenance, his lowering brow, his flashing eyes, betrayed the deep +and passionate emotion of his soul. Struck and wounded fatally in his +most sacred feelings, he felt no pity, no compassion for this poor +trembling girl, who followed his every motion with a timid, anxious +eye. His whole being was filled with burning rage against his +daughter, who, his misgiving heart told him, had trampled his honor in +the dust. + +A long and dreadful pause occurred. Nothing was heard but Gotzkowsky's +loud, heavy breathing, and Elise's low-muttered prayers. Suddenly +Gotzkowsky drew himself up, and threw his head proudly back. He then +walked to the door leading into the balcony, and to the opposite one, +and ascertained that they were both closed. No one could intrude, no +one interrupt this fearful dialogue. + +Elise was terribly conscious of this, and could only whisper, "Pity, +pity, merciful God! I shall die with terror!" + +Gotzkowsky approached her, and, seizing her hand, raised her rapidly +from the floor. "We are alone now," said he with a hoarse, harsh +voice. "Answer me, now. Who is concealed there in your room?" + +"No one, my father." + +"No one!" repeated he, sternly. "Why, then, do you tremble?" + +"I tremble because you look at me so angrily," said she, terrified. + +Her father cast her hand passionately from him. "Liar!" cried he. "Do +you wish me to kill him?" + +He took his sword from the table, and approached the door. + +"What are you going to do, my father?" cried she, throwing herself in +his way. + +"I am going to kill the thief who stole my daughter's honor," cried +Gotzkowsky, his eyes flashing with rage. + +"Father, father, by the God in heaven I am innocent!" cried she, +convulsively, striving to hold him back. + +"Then let me have the proof of this innocence," said he, pushing her +back. + +But she sprang forward with the agility of a gazelle, rushed again to +the door, and clung with both hands to the lock. + +"No, no, father, I remain here. You shall not insult yourself and me +so much as to believe what is dishonorable and unworthy of me, and to +require a proof of my innocence." + +This bold opposition of Elise only excited Gotzkowsky's anger the +more, and was to him a fresh proof of her guilt. His rage overpowered +him; with raised arm and flashing eye he strode up to Elise, and cried +out: "Away from the door, or by Heaven I will forget that I am your +father!" + +"Oh," cried she breathlessly, "you have often forgotten that, but +think now; remember that I am the daughter of the wife whom you loved! +Trust me, father. By the memory of my mother, I swear to you that +my honor is pure from any spot; and, however much appearances may be +against me, I am nevertheless innocent. I have never done any thing of +which my father would have to be ashamed. Believe me, father; give me +your hand and say to me--'I believe your innocence; I trust you even +without proof!'" + +She sank down on her knees, raising her arms imploringly to him, while +burning tears streamed down her cheeks. Gotzkowsky gazed at her long +and silently, and his child's tears touched the father's heart. + +"Perhaps I do her injustice," said he to himself, looking thoughtfully +into her weeping face. "She may be really innocent. Let us try," said +he, after a pause, pressing his hands to his burning temples. As he +let them drop, his countenance was again calm and clear, and there was +no longer visible any trace of his former anger. "I will believe you," +said he. "Here, Elise, is my hand." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, sprang up from her knees, rushed toward +her father, and pressed her burning lips on his extended hand. "My +father, I thank you. I will ever be grateful to you," cried she, +fondly. + +Gotzkowsky held her hand firmly in his own, and while speaking to her +approached, apparently by accident, the door so bravely defended by +Elise. "You are right, my child; I was a fool to doubt you, but I am +jealous of my honor, the most precious property of an honest man. Much +can be bought with gold, but not honor. True honor is bright and clear +as a mirror, and the slightest breath dims it. Oh, how would this +envious, grudging, malignant world rejoice if it could only find a +spot on my honor! But woe to him who dims it, even if it were my own +child!" + +Elise turned pale and cast down her eyes. Gotzkowsky perceived it. He +still held her hand in his, and approached the door with her, but he +compelled his voice to be gentle and mild. + +"I repeat," said he, "I wronged you, but it was a terrible suspicion +which tortured me, and I will confess it to you, my child. The Russian +flag of truce which came into town to negotiate with the authorities +was accompanied by ten soldiers and two officers. While the +commissioner was transacting business in the Council-chamber above, +they remained below in the lower story of the building. I accompanied +the commissioner, as he left the Council, down-stairs, and we found +his military escort in a state of anxiety and excitement, for one of +the officers had left them two hours before, and had not yet returned, +and they had called and hunted for him everywhere. The Russians were +furious, and cried out that we had murdered one of their officers. +I succeeded in quieting them, but my own heart I could not quiet; +it felt convulsively cramped when I heard the name of this missing +officer. Need I name him?" + +Elise did not answer. She looked at her father, with tears in her +eyes, and shook her head languidly. + +Gotzkowsky continued: "It is the name of a man to whom I formerly +showed much friendship; toward whom I exercised hospitality, and whom +I made free of my house, and who now shows his gratitude by stealing +the heart of my daughter, like a pitiful thief. Oh, do not attempt to +deny this. I know it, Elise; and if I have hitherto avoided speaking +to you about this matter, it was because I had confidence in your +sound sense, and in the purity of heart of a German girl to sustain +you in resisting a feeling which would lead you astray from the path +of duty and honor. I do not say that you loved him, but that he wished +to seduce you into loving him clandestinely, behind your father's +back. That is his gratitude for my hospitality." + +Speaking thus, Gotzkowsky pressed his daughter's hand more firmly in +his own, and continued approaching more closely to the door. "Only +think," continued he, "the mad thought crossed my mind--'How if this +man should be rash and foolhardy enough to have gone to my daughter?' +But I forgot to tell you his name. Feodor von Brenda was the name of +the treacherous guest, and Feodor von Brenda was also the name of +the officer who left the commissioner, perhaps in search of some love +adventure. But why do you tremble?" asked he in a loud tone, as her +hand quivered in his. + +"I do not tremble, father," replied she, striving for composure. + +Gotzkowsky raised his voice still higher till it sounded again. +"Forgive me this suspicion, my daughter. I should have known that, +even if this insolent Russian dared to renew a former acquaintance, my +daughter would never be so mean, never stoop so low as to welcome him, +for a German girl would never throw away her honor on a Russian boor." + +"Father," cried Elise, terrified and forgetting all her prudence, "oh, +father! do not speak so loud." + +"Not so loud? Why, then, some one can hear us?" asked Gotzkowsky, +pressing the arm of his daughter. "I will speak loud, I will declare +it aloud. He is a scoundrel who conceals himself in a dastardly and +dishonorable manner, instead of defending himself! a coward who would +put the honor of a maiden in the scale against his own miserable life. +No German would do that. Only a Russian would be base enough to hide +himself, instead of defending his life like a man!" + +At this moment the door of the bedroom was violently torn open, and +the Russian colonel appeared on the threshold, his cheeks burning and +his eyes flashing with anger. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE TWO CANNONEERS. + + +Elise uttered a cry of terror, and stared at her lover with +wide-opened eyes. But Gotzkowsky's countenance was illuminated with a +dark and savage joy. "Ah, at last, then!" said he, letting go the arm +of his daughter, and grasping his sword. + +But the colonel advanced proudly and collectedly toward him. "Here am +I, sir," said he; "here am I, to defend myself and avenge an insult." + +"I have driven you out of your hiding-place, as the fox draws the +badger out of his kennel," cried Gotzkowsky, with derisive laughter, +purposely calculated to irritate the anger of the young officer to the +highest pitch. + +The two men stood opposite to each other, and gazed at one another +with faces full of hatred and rage. Elise threw herself between them, +and falling on her knees before her father, exclaimed, "Kill me, +father; save your honor--kill me!" + +But Gotzkowsky slung her pitilessly aside. "Away!" cried he, roughly. +"What do you here? Make room for us! Here is a man with whom I can +fight for my honor." + +Feodor stepped quickly toward Elise, who was still kneeling on the +floor, wringing her hands, and sobbing from intense pain. He raised +her up, and whispering a few words in her ear, led her to the sofa. +He then turned to Gotzkowsky, and said, "Your honor is pure and +unspotted, sir! Whatever you may think of me, you must respect the +virtue of your daughter. She is innocent." + +"Innocent," cried Gotzkowsky derisively, "innocent! why, your very +presence has polluted the innocence of my daughter." + +"Father, kill me, but do not insult me!" cried she, a dark glow +suffusing her cheeks. + +"Pour out your anger on me," said Feodor ardently. "It is a piece of +barbarism to attack a defenceless girl." + +Gotzkowsky laughed out loud and scornfully: "You speak of barbarism, +and you a Russian!" + +An exclamation of rage escaped the colonel; he seized his sword and +drawing it quickly advanced toward Gotzkowsky. + +"At last!" cried Gotzkowsky, triumphantly, raising his blade. But +Elise, beside herself, and heedless of the flashing steel, threw +herself between them. With burning words she entreated Feodor to spare +her father, and not to raise his sword against him. But Gotzkowsky's +voice overpowered hers. Such wild words of contempt and insulting rage +issued from his lips, that the young officer, hurt in his military +honor, did not dare to listen to the voice of his beloved. It was +he now who pressed Elise back, and with raised arm placed himself +opposite to her father. + +"You must kill me, sir, or wash out this insult with your blood," +cried he, preparing himself for the combat. + +Both were then silent. It was a terrible, unearthly silence, only +broken by the clash of their swords or the occasional outcries of +anger or savage joy, as one or the other received or gave a blow. +Elise raised her head to heaven and prayed; every thing became +confused before her eyes, her head swam, and she felt as if she would +go crazy. She prayed God that He would release her by madness or death +from the suffering of this hour, or that He would point out to her +some way of deliverance or escape. But in the violence of their +dispute and combat, the two men had not heard that there arose +suddenly in the house a loud tumult and uproar; they had not perceived +that a guard of soldiers was drawn up in the street, and that the +commanding officer with a loud voice was demanding the delivery of the +cannoneer who had taken refuge in this house. + +As no attention was paid to the demand, the officer had ordered his +soldiers to break open the doors of the house and enter by force. But +Bertram had anticipated this proceeding by having the door opened, and +requesting the Austrian officer to search the house with his men, +and convince himself that no one was concealed in it. With most +industrious energy, and mindful of the price which had been set on the +head of the cannoneer, the soldiers searched every room in the house, +and had finally arrived at the closed door of the hall. + +Just as the combat between the two had reached its greatest violence, +it was interrupted by fierce blows at the door from butts of muskets, +and they were compelled to refrain from their imbittered struggle. +They stopped and listened, but Elise sprang from her knees, rushed +with a cry of delight to the door and threw it open. An officer of De +Lacy's chasseurs entered with some of his soldiers, while the rest of +the men filled the entrance hall and passages of the house with noise +and confusion. + +With a commanding tone the Austrian officer demanded the delivery of +the cannoneer, who, he asserted, had been seen by all to take refuge +in this house, whence it was impossible that he could have escaped, +as it had been immediately surrounded. And as no one answered his +threats, but only a sullen silence was opposed to his violently +repeated demand, he swore that he would burn down the house and let no +one escape if the refugee was not given up at once. + +Gotzkowsky had at first stood like one stunned, and scarcely heard +what the officer demanded of him. Gradually he began to recover from +his stupefaction and regain strength to turn his attention to things +around him. He raised his head from his breast, and, as if awaking +from a dream, he looked around with bewildered amazement. The Austrian +officer repeated his demand still more haughtily and threateningly. +Gotzkowsky had now recovered presence of mind and composure, and +declared with a determined voice, that no one was concealed in his +house. + +"He is here!" cried the Austrian. "Our men have followed his track +thus far, and marked this house well. Deliver him up to us, to avoid +bloodshed," and, turning to his soldiers, he continued, "Search all +the rooms-search carefully. The man is hidden here, and we--" + +Suddenly he interrupted his order, and gazed earnestly at the door +through which his soldiers were pressing in. + +"Had not this cannoneer, as he fled thither, a white cloak around him, +and did he not wear a broad-brimmed hat?" asked he. + +As the soldiers answered affirmatively, the officer stepped toward the +door, and drew from under the feet of his men the cloak and hat of the +cannoneer. A wild yell of joy broke from the soldiers. + +"Do you still persist in denying that this man is concealed here?" +asked the officer, raising the cloak. + +Gotzkowsky did not answer, but gazed on the ground absorbed in deep +thought. + +As the soldiers thronged into the room, the young Russian colonel had +withdrawn himself to a remote part of the room, and taken the most +lively interest in the scene acted before him. A word from him would +have brought the whole affair to an end, for, as an involuntary +listener, he had heard all that had transpired concerning the +cannoneer. Consequently he knew exactly the hiding-place in which the +latter had been concealed. But it had never come into his mind to +play the informer and traitor. He was only intensely interested in the +issue of the scene, and firmly determined, if the danger should grow +more urgent, to hasten with his weapon to Gotzkowsky's assistance, and +to defend him against the fury of the Austrians. + +Gotzkowsky still stood silent. He was trying to devise some plan by +which he might save the brave defender of Berlin, whose presence, +after such positive proof, he could no longer deny. + +As suddenly as lightning an idea seemed to penetrate his mind, his +countenance cleared, and he turned with a singular expression in his +eye to Colonel von Brenda. + +"Well!" asked the officer, "do you still deny it? + +"No, I cannot deny it any longer," said he, in a determined tone. "You +are right, sir; the cannoneer who shattered your ranks is here in my +house!" + +The soldiers broke out again in a triumphant roar. But Elise looked at +her father with anxious terror, and sought, trembling, to read in his +countenance the meaning of these words. "Can he possibly be capable of +betraying this man whom he has sworn to protect?" thought Feodor, and +yielding to his curiosity he approached the group in the middle of the +hall. Suddenly he felt Gotzkowsky's hand laid on his shoulder, and met +his dark eye, full of hatred. + +"Well," said Gotzkowsky, with a loud, defiant voice, "you are looking +for the artilleryman, Fritz. Here he is!" + +A scream and a burst of laughter were heard. It was Elise who uttered +the scream, and the colonel who greeted this unexpected turn with a +merry laugh. But Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be confused by +one or the other. + +He laid his arm on Feodor's neck, and forced his countenance to assume +a friendly expression. "Dear friend," said he, "you see it is vain any +longer to deny it. Our stratagem has unfortunately failed." + +"What stratagem?" asked the Austrian and Feodor, simultaneously. + +Gotzkowsky replied in a sorrowful tone to Feodor: "Do not disguise +yourself any longer, my son! you see it is useless." Then turning +to the officer, he continued: "We had hoped that he might escape +detection in this Russian uniform, left here by the adjutant of +General Sievers, who was formerly a prisoner of war in my house, but +unfortunately the hat and cloak have betrayed him." + +Feodor von Brenda looked at Gotzkowsky with admiring wonder, and this +rapidly invented _ruse de guerre_ pleased him astonishingly. + +It was a piquant adventure offered him by Gotzkowsky's hate and +cunning, and he did not feel inclined to throw away such an original +and interesting chance of excitement. He, the Russian colonel, and +Count von Brenda, the favorite of the empress, degraded to a Prussian +cannoneer, whose life was in danger! His wilful and foolhardy +imagination was pleased with the idea of playing the part of a +criminal condemned to death. + +"Well," asked the Austrian officer, "do you acknowledge the truth of +this statement, or do you deny being the cannoneer, Fritz?" + +"Why should I deny it?" answered Feodor, shrugging his shoulders. +"This gentleman, who ought to have saved me, has already betrayed me. +I am the man whom you seek!" + +With a scream of surprise, Elise threw herself toward her lover. + +"No!" cried she, loudly, "no, he is--" + +Her father's hand pressed heavily on her lips. "Another word, and you +are a murderess!" whispered he. + +The officer looked suspiciously at them. "You do not deny," asked he +of Feodor, "that you are he who directed such a murderous fire on our +lines? You do not deny that you are the artilleryman, Fritz, and that +this cloak and hat belong to you?" + +"I deny nothing!" replied Feodor, defiantly. + +The officer called to some of his men and ordered them to shoulder +arms, and take the prisoner in their midst; enjoining them to keep a +sharp watch on him, and at the first attempt to escape, to shoot +him down. But when he demanded his sword of the colonel, the latter +recoiled, shocked, and resisted. + +He now became aware of his foolhardiness and rashness, and that he +had not considered or foreseen the dangerous and perhaps dishonorable +consequences. However, as he had gone so far, he considered that it +would be disgraceful and cowardly to retreat now. He was also desirous +of pursuing to the end this adventure which he had begun with so much +boldness and daring. He drew his sword, and with considerable strength +breaking it in pieces, he threw them at the feet of the Austrian +officer. + +That officer shrugged his shoulders. "Your insolence will only make +your situation worse. Remember, you are our prisoner." + +"He must and shall die!" shouted the soldiers, thronging around +Feodor, angrily. + +The officer ordered silence. "He must die," said he, "that is true; +but we must first carry him to the general, to obtain the price +offered for him." + +The soldiers surrounded him and shoved him toward the door. But Elise +broke through the crowd. With flashing eyes, and cheeks burning with +a feverish excitement, she rushed toward Feodor. "No!" cried she, with +all the ardor of love, "no, I will not leave you. You are going to +your death!" + +Feodor kissed her lightly on the forehead, and replied with a smile, +"I fear nothing. Fortune does not forsake a brave soldier." + +He then took her by the hand and led her to her father. Gazing on him +with a long and speaking look, he continued: "Here, Father Gotzkowsky, +I bring your daughter to you: be a better father to her than you have +been a friend to me. These are my farewell words." + +He leaned forward as if to give Gotzkowsky a parting embrace, and +whispered to him: "I hope we are now quit! I have atoned for my fault. +You will no longer wish to punish your daughter for my transgression." + +He then threw the white cloak around him, and bidding Elise, who +leaned half fainting against her father, a tender farewell, he stepped +back into the ranks of the guard. + +"Attention! shoulder arms!" commanded the officer; and the Austrians +left the hall with closed ranks, the prisoner in their midst. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +FATHER GOTZKOWSKY. + + +The door had closed behind the soldiers and their prisoner. Gotzkowsky +and Elise remained behind, silent and immersed in the deep sorrows of +their souls. Neither spoke a word; both stood motionless and listened. + +They heard the soldiers hurry down the steps; they heard the house +door violently thrown open, and the officer announce in a loud voice +to those of his soldiers who were waiting in the street, the lucky +capture of the artilleryman. + +A cry of triumph from the Austrians was the answer; then was heard +the loud word of command from the officer, and the roll of the drum +gradually receding in the distance until it was no longer audible. +Every thing was silent. + +"Have mercy, Father in heaven have mercy! They are leading him to +death!" cried Elise in a heart-rending tone, and she sank on her knees +in prayer. + +"The brave cannoneer is saved!" murmured Gotzkowsky in a low voice +to himself, and he too folded his hands in prayer. Was it a prayer of +gratitude, or did it proceed from the despairing heart of a father? + +His countenance had a bright and elevated expression; but as he turned +his eyes down on his daughter, still on her knees, they darkened, +and his features twitched convulsively and painfully. His anger had +evaporated, and his heart was filled with boundless pity and love. He +felt nothing but painful, sorrowful compassion for this young girl +who lay deathly pale and trembling with suffering on the floor. His +daughter was weeping, and his heart yearned toward her to forgive her +every thing, to raise her up and comfort her. + +Suddenly Elise started up from her knees and strode toward her father. +There was something solemn and imposing in her proud bearing, her +extraordinary composure, which only imperfectly veiled her raging +grief and passionate excitement. + +"Father," said she solemnly, and her voice sounded hoarse and cold, +"may God forgive you for what you have done! At this moment, when +perhaps he is suffering death, I repeat it, I am innocent." + +This proud composure fell freezingly on Gotzkowsky's heart, and drove +back all the milder forgiving impulses. He remembered only the shame +and the injured honor of his daughter. + +"You assert your innocence, and yet you had a man concealed in the +night in your bedchamber!" + +"And yet I am innocent, father!" cried Elise vehemently. "Read it on +my forehead, see it in my eyes, which do not fear to meet yours. I am +innocent!" + +And completely overpowered by the bitter and desperate anguish of +her soul, she continued, still more excited, "But how does all this +concern you? It was not my honor that you were interested in; you did +not seek to avenge that. You only wished to punish me for daring to +assert my freedom and independence, for daring to love without having +asked your leave. The rich man to whom all bend, whom all worship as +the priest of the powerful idol which rules the world, the rich man +sees with dismay that there is one being not dazzled by his treasures +who owns an independent life, a will of her own, and a heart that he +cannot command. And because this being does not of her own accord how +down before him he treads it in the dust, whether it be his own child +or not." + +"Elise," cried Gotzkowsky, shocked, "Elise, are you mad? Do you know +that you are speaking to your father?" + +But her tortured heart did not notice this appeal; and only +remembering that perhaps at this moment her lover was suffering death +through her father's fault, she allowed herself to be carried away by +the overpowering force of her grief. She met the flashing eye of her +father with a smile of contempt, and said, coldly: "Oh yes, you may +look at me. I do not fear your angry glances. I am free; you yourself +have absolved me from any fear of you. You took from me my lover, and +at the same time deprived yourself of your child." + +"O God!" cried Gotzkowsky in an undertone, "have I deserved this, +Father in heaven?" and he regarded his daughter with a touching +expression. + +But she was inexorable; sorrow had unseated her judgment, and "Oh!" +cried she in a tone of triumph, "now I will confess every thing to +you, how I have suffered and what I have undergone." + +"Elise!" cried he painfully, "have I not given you every thing your +heart could desire?" + +"Yes!" cried she, with a cruel laugh, "you fulfilled all my wishes, +and thereby made me poor in wishes, poor in enjoyment. You deprived me +of the power of wishing, for every thing was mine even before I could +desire it. It was only necessary for me to stretch out my hand, and it +belonged to me. Cheerless and solitary I stood amidst your wealth, and +all that I touched was turned into hard gold. The rich man's daughter +envied the beggar woman in the street, for she still had wishes, +hopes, and privations." + +Gotzkowsky listened to her, without interrupting her by a word or even +a sigh. Only now and then he raised his hand to his forehead, or cast +a wandering, doubtful look at his daughter, as if to convince himself +that all that was passing was not a mad, bewildering dream, but +painful, cruel reality. + +But when Elise, breathless and trembling with excitement, stopped for +a moment, and he no longer heard her cutting accents of reproach, he +pressed both hands upon his breast, as if to suppress a wail over the +annihilation of his whole life. "O God!" muttered he in a low voice, +"this is unparalleled agony! This cuts into a father's heart!" + +After a pause, Elise continued: "I too was a beggar, and I hungered +for the bread of your love." + +"Elise, oh, my child, do you not know then that I love you +infinitely?" + +But she did not perceive the loving, almost imploring looks which her +father cast upon her. She could see and think only of herself and her +own tormented heart. + +"Yes," said she, "you love me as one loves a jewel, and has it set +in gold in order to make it more brilliant. You loved me as a costly +ornament of your rooms, as something which gave you an opportunity of +exercising the splendor of your liberality, and to be produced as an +evidence of your renowned wealth. But you did not love me as a father; +you did not perceive that I wept in secret, or if you did see it, you +consoled me with diamonds, with rich dresses, to make me smile. But +you did not give me your father's heart. At last the rich man's child +discovers a happiness not to be bought with gold or treasures, a +happiness that the millions of her father could not purchase for +her. This happiness is--love. The only possession that I have owned, +father, contrary to your will, you have deprived me of, because it was +mine against your will. Now, poor rich man, take all your gold, +and seek and buy yourself a child with it. Me you have lost!" and +staggering back with a sob, she sank fainting on the carpet. + +A dread silence now reigned in the room. Gotzkowsky stood motionless, +with his eyes directed toward heaven. The cruel, mocking words of +his daughter sounded over and over again in his ears, and seemed to +petrify the power of his will and chain him fast, as if rooted to the +floor. Gradually he recovered from this apathy of grief. The stagnant +blood revived in his veins, and shot like burning streams of fire to +his heart. He bent over his daughter, and gazing for a long time at +her, his features assumed a gentler and softer expression. Tenderly +with his hand he smoothed the tresses from her clear, high forehead; +and as he did so, he almost smiled again, so beautiful and charming +did she seem to him in her death-like repose. + +"She has fainted," whispered he, low, as if fearful of awakening +her. "So much the better for her; and when she recovers, may she have +forgotten all the cruel words that she has uttered!" + +He laid his hand on her head as if to bless her, and love and +forgiveness were expressed in his looks. A perfect peace seemed to +pervade his whole frame. In this moment he forgave her all the pain, +all the suffering she had caused him. He pardoned her those unjust +reproaches and accusations, and with lofty emotion, raising his eyes +toward heaven, he exclaimed, "O God! thou seest my heart. Thou knowest +that love alone has possession of its very depths, love to my child! +and my child has no faith in me. I have worked--I am rich--I have +amassed wealth--only for her. I thought of my child as I sat at +my desk during the long, weary nights, busied with difficult +calculations. I remembered my daughter when I was wearied out and +overcome by this laborious work. She should be happy; she should be +rich and great as any princess; for this I worked. I had no time to +toy or laugh with her, for I was working for her like a slave. And +this," continued he with a sad smile, "this is what she reproaches me +with. There is nothing in which I believe, nothing but my child, and +my child does not believe in me! The world bows down before me, and I +am the poorest and most miserable beggar." + +Overpowered by these bitter thoughts, which crowded tumultuously upon +his brain, he leaned his head upon his hand and wept bitterly. Then, +after a long pause, he drew himself up erect, and, with a determined +gesture, shook the tears from his eyes. + +"Enough!" said he, loudly and firmly, "enough; my duty shall cure me +of all this suffering. That I must not neglect." + +He rang the bell, and ordered the servant-maids, who appeared, to +raise up the insensible girl and bear her to her room. + +But when the maidens called the waiting-man to their assistance to +raise their mistress, Gotzkowsky pushed them all aside, and carried +her softly and gently, as carefully and tenderly as a mother, to a +couch, on which he placed her. He then pressed a fervent kiss upon her +brow. Elise began to move, a faint blush overspread her cheeks, she +opened her eyes. Gotzkowsky immediately stepped back, and signed to +her maids to carry her into her room. + +He looked after her until she had disappeared, his eyes dimmed with +tears. "My child," said he, in a low voice, "she is lost to me. Oh, I +am a poor, pitiable father!" With a deep groan he pressed his hands +to his face, and nothing was heard but the painful sobs wrung from the +heart of this father wrestling with his grief. + +Suddenly there arose from without loud lamentations and cries for +help. They came nearer and nearer, and at last reached Gotzkowsky's +house, and filled its halls and passages. It was not the outcry of +a single person. From many voices came the sounds of lamenting and +weeping, screams and shrieks: + +"Help! help! have pity on us, save us! The Austrians are hewing us +down--they are burning our houses--save us!" + +Gotzkowsky dropped his hands from his face and listened. "What was +that? who cries for help?" asked he, dreamingly, still occupied with +his own sorrows, scarcely conscious of the reality. But suddenly he +started, and from his eyes beamed life and courage. "Ah!" cried he +aloud, "mankind is suffering, and I am thinking of my own griefs. I +know these voices. The wives and children of my workmen, the poor +and oppressed of the city are calling me. The people need me. Up, +Gotzkowsky! give them your heart, your life. Endeavor to be a father +to the unfortunate, and you will not be poor in children!" + +Without the wailing and cries for help continued to resound, and the +voices of weeping and trembling women and plaintive children cried +aloud, "Gotzkowsky, help us! have pity on us, Father Gotzkowsky!" + +"Father!" cried he, raising his head, his countenance beaming with +delight. "They call me father, and yet I complain. Up! to my children +who love me, and who need my help!" + + * * * * * + + + + +BOOK II. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TWO EDITORS. + + +On the morning succeeding the night of horrors and confusion in which +Berlin had surrendered to the conqueror, the vanguard of the Russians +marched into the town through the König's Gate. But the commanding +general, Tottleben, wished to make his triumphal entry with his staff +and the main body of his army through the Kottbuss Gate, and had +ordered the magistracy of the town to meet him there, and to +bring with them a deputation of the merchants, to determine what +contribution should be laid upon them. But before the Russian general +could make his entry, the vanguard of De Lacy's army corps had +penetrated into the Frederick Street suburb, and were committing the +most atrocious acts of cruelty in the New Street. With wild yells they +entered the houses to rob and plunder, ill-treating those who refused +to give up their valuables, and by violent threats of incendiarism, +raising forced levies from the frightened inhabitants. + +But it was not alone this lust of plunder in the soldiers which spread +terror and dismay in each house and in every family. Count De Lacy +possessed a list of those persons who, by word, deed, or writing, had +declared against Austria or Russia, and he gave it to his officers, +with the order that they should not hesitate at any measures, any +threats or acts of violence, to obtain possession of these people. +Besides which, he promised a considerable reward for each "traitor" +brought to him; and it was therefore no wonder that these officers, +with brutal and avaricious zeal, had scarcely arrived in the city +before they commenced the pursuit of these outlaws. With fearful yells +they rushed into the houses, shouting out the names of those on the +pursuit of whom they were bent, and whose seizure would secure them a +golden reward. + +Naturally enough, the writers and journalists were the first on whom +the vengeful wrath of the conqueror was poured, for it has ever been +the lot of authors to suffer for the misfortunes of the people, to be +made responsible for the being and thinking, the will and action of +the nation to which they belong. But it is only in days of misfortune +that the responsibility of authors and poets commences. They must +answer for the ill luck, but are never rewarded for the happiness of +the nation. + +Three names, especially, did De Lacy's chasseurs cry out with a raging +howl for vengeance, through the Frederick-Stadt and down the Linden +Street, and they searched for their owners in every house. + +"De Justi! De Justi!"--with this cry one of the Austrian officers +rushed through the street, knocked with his sword violently against +the closed house doors, and demanded with savage threats the delivery +of this criminal for whose arrest a high premium had been offered. + +M. De Justi was indeed a notorious criminal. Not that he had written +much or badly, but principally because he had dared to use his sharp +pen against the Austrian empress, and her allies the Russians and +Saxons. It was especially three pamphlets which excited the wrath of +the victorious enemy. These pamphlets were called: "Proof that the +Empress should be deposed;" "Why and wherefore Certain Nations in +Europe are disposed to become Anthropophagous," and lastly, "Account +of the life of Count Brühl." He had offended not only the Austrians, +but also the Russians and Saxons. It was therefore natural that these +three powers reigning in Berlin should wish to take their revenge on +the writer of these insulting pamphlets. + +But De Justi had been prudent enough to escape from the pursuit of +his revengeful enemies. During the siege he had betaken himself to +the house of a friend in a more secure street, and had hidden in the +cellar, where it was impossible to find him. As they could not get +possession of the writer, they were obliged to cool their wrath on his +treasonable writings. They were dragged in his stead, as prisoners of +state and dangerous criminals, to headquarters at the New Market. + +The two other writers, whom the Austrians pursued with furious zeal, +were the two newspaper editors, Kretschmer and Krause. These two +had no idea of such pursuit; indeed, they did not even know that the +Austrians had penetrated into the city. In the safe hiding-place in +which both of them had passed the night they had only learned that +Berlin had surrendered to the Russians, and that General Tottleben +had ordered the magistrates to receive him the next morning at the +Kottbuss Gate at eight o'clock. + +It was intended that the reception should be a brilliant and solemn +one, and that the general should be mollified and conciliated by +humble subjection; it was also determined to endeavor, by an +offering of money made to him individually, to induce him to make the +contribution laid on the town moderate and light. + +The news was like a thunder-clap to the two editors, for it compelled +them to leave their safe hiding-place, and to venture out into +the dangerous world. For these gentlemen, editors of such renowned +journals, who prided themselves on giving their readers the most +recent and important intelligence, would not dare to be absent at the +reception of the Russian general. For the love of their country they +had to forget their own fears, and, for the honor of their journals, +face danger like true heroes. + +Day had scarcely dawned, and deep silence and death-like stillness +reigned at the Kottbuss Gate. The wings of the gate were closed, and +the watchman had withdrawn into his little box, and was resting from +the events of the past days. Dawn still lay like a veil over poor, +anxious Berlin, and concealed her tears and bloody wounds. + +The silence was suddenly interrupted by the sound of approaching +footsteps, and around the nearest corner glided the cowering figure +of a man. He remained still for a minute and listened; then, convinced +that all around him was quiet and silent, he crept along, keeping +anxiously close to the houses, and reached unperceived the pillar on +the right side of the gate, in the dark shadow of which he concealed +himself. This man was no other than Mr. Kretschmer, the editor of the +_Vossian Gazette,_ who made himself comfortable in his hiding-place. + +"This is quite nice and right," said he, shoving a stone behind the +pillar, in order to raise himself to a higher point of view. "From +here I can hear and observe every thing." + +So, settling himself on the stone, he leaned back in the corner of the +door-pillar, as if it were the leathern arm-chair in his _sanctum_. A +comfortable smile stole over his features. + +"This time," said he, "at least, I have forestalled my rival, good +Mr. Krause. To-morrow the _Vossian Gazette_ will be the only one which +will be able to report, from actual observation, on the formal entry +of the Russian general. Oh, how vexed _Spener's_ will be! There is +seven o'clock striking. In an hour the ceremony will begin. _Spener's +Journal_ still sleeps, while the _Vossian Gazette_ wakes and works, +and is alert to satisfy the curiosity of Berlin." + +Poor, benighted editor of the _Vossian_! You, indeed, could not +see him, but the veil of the dawning day, which spread over Berlin, +concealed your rival, as well as yourself, in its folds. His drawn-up +figure was not visible to your dimmed sight, as he sneaked along the +houses, and hid himself behind the pillar on the left of the gate. +While you were rejoicing over the long sleep of _Spener's Journal_, +its editor, Mr. Krause, was standing opposite to you, behind the +pillar, whither he had come, notwithstanding his sixty-eight years, +like you, to witness the entrance of the Russians. And happy was he +in spirit at this victory obtained over his rival, the editor of the +_Vossian Gazette_, and it made him very proud indeed to think that +this once he had forestalled Mr. Kretschmer, and consequently would +have the monopoly of describing in the morning's paper, to the people +of Berlin, the magnificent and pompous entrance of the Russians! + +The editor of the _Vossian Gazette_ had no idea of the vicinity of his +rival. He continued to congratulate himself on the advantage he had +obtained, and proceeded cheerfully in his soliloquy. "It makes me +laugh to think of _Spener's Journal_. I, myself, advised Mr. Krause +to conceal himself, and the good man faithfully followed my advice. +Perhaps the little old gentleman dreams that I am at this moment +sitting by my fireside, while there is so much matter for my newspaper +here. Good matter, too, that can be moulded into an interesting +article, is not so common that it can be carelessly squandered. Sleep, +therefore, sleep, good _Spener_--the _Vossian_ wakes." + +But _Spener_ did not sleep. He was at the opposite pillar, smirking +and saying to himself, "How lucky it is that I have anticipated the +_Vossian_!" He then was silent, but his thoughts were active, and in +the bottom of his heart he instituted some very serious reflections +upon the superfluousness of a second newspaper, how perfectly +unnecessary it was in fact. + +"This _Vossian Gazette_ is perfectly intolerable," thought he. +"There ought to be a law prohibiting the publishing of more than one +newspaper in each town. Then the public would always get reliable +news, and draw its political opinions from one source, which would be +undoubted, and it would accept as true what we gave forth for truth. +If the government would follow this plan, and allow only one newspaper +to each town, and conciliate this one with money or patronage, mankind +would be much happier and more contented, and less liable to be +distracted by the most opposite political views and information. What +profits the existence of this _Vossian Gazette_? What does it do +but rob me of my subscribers? By Heavens! I wish the Russian would +exterminate it thoroughly." + +While Mr. Krause was thus speaking to himself, Mr. Kretschmer had +followed the same course of thought, and, very naturally, arrived at +a similar conclusion. He, too, had to confess that _Spener's Journal_ +was very inconvenient, and hated its editor from the bottom of his +heart. In the vehemence of his vexation, he overlooked the necessary +precaution, and cried out, "Cursed be this rival, this man who has the +presumption to imagine he can compete with me!" + +Mr. Krause shuddered at the sound of this voice, which seemed to him +as it were the echo of his own unspoken thoughts, but he mastered +his alarm, and cried aloud, "Did any one speak?" "Did any one speak?" +sounded back again, and two heads were seen protruding from the +pillars on each side of the gate, the eyes in them inquiringly peering +at each other. The morning in the mean while had become lighter, and, +with an inward shudder, the two gentlemen recognized each other. + +"It is _Spener's_! May the devil take him!" thought Mr. Kretschmer. + +"It is the _Vossian_! Damn the fellow!" thought Mr. Krause. + +But while they thought this to themselves, they rushed forward and +embraced each other, with greetings and assurances of friendship, to +all appearances warm and sincere. + +"I am not mistaken! It is my dear friend Krause." + +"Oh, what happiness! my dear Kretschmer!" + +And they shook each other's hands and repeated their asseverations of +friendship and esteem, but, at the same time, breathed in their hearts +their curses and execrations. But the two editors were not the only +persons who had sought the Kottbuss Gate at this early hour. An +Austrian officer with a guard of soldiers, in his search after the two +editors, had also reached the spot, and was marching with his men from +the corner near the gate, looking eagerly right and left and up at all +the windows. His eye fell upon these two men who were shrinking +from his sight, uttering pious ejaculations to Heaven. The officer +approached them and demanded their names. Neither answered. The +officer repeated his question, and accompanied it with such threats as +convinced Mr. Krause of the imperative necessity of answering it. He +bowed, therefore, respectfully to the officer, and pointing to his +friend, said, "This is Mr. Kretschmer, the editor of the _Vossian +Gazette_." + +Kretschmer cast upon him a look full of hatred and revenge. "And +this," said he, with a wicked smile, "is Mr. Krause, editor of +_Spener's Journal_." + +An expression of joyous triumph shone in the countenance of the +officer: "You are my prisoners, gentlemen," said he, as he beckoned to +his soldiers to arrest them. + +Pale did Mr. Krause grow as he drew back a step. "Sir, this must be a +mistake. We are quiet, peaceable citizens, who have nothing to do with +the war, but only busy ourselves with our pens." + +"Our arrest is contrary to all national law," cried Mr. Kretschmer, +at the same time endeavoring to defend himself from the weapons which +were pointed at him. + +The officer laughed. "In war we know no national law. You are my +prisoners." And disregarding their struggles and cries for help, they +dragged the two editors as prisoners to the guard-house at the New +Market. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE OF BERLIN. + + +After a short interval of quiet and lonesomeness at the Kottbuss Gate, +there appeared, first far down the street, then approaching nearer and +nearer, a solemn procession. Foremost staggered the chief burgomaster, +Von Kircheisen, in full uniform, adorned with his golden chain, which +rustled as it rose and sank with his hurried, feverish respiration. +He was followed by the second burgomaster, with the Town Council, and +deputation of merchants, headed by Gotzkowsky. With solemn, serious +air, these gentlemen took up their position at the gate. + +The chief burgomaster then beckoned Gotzkowsky to his side. "Stand +by me, my friend," said he, with a groan, and offering his hand to +Gotzkowsky with a dismal air. "I am suffering terribly, and even the +two bottles of Johannisberger are not sufficient to inspire me with +courage. Is it not terrible that the honorable Council should be +obliged to attend in person? It is an unheard-of indignity!" + +"Not only for you, but for the Berlin citizen is the insult equally +great," said Gotzkowsky. + +Herr von Kircheisen shook his head in a most melancholy manner. "Yes," +said he, "but the Berlin citizen does not feel it so deeply. It does +not affect his honor as it does that of the magistracy." + +Gotzkowsky smiled scornfully. "Do you think," asked he, "that the +magistrates possess a different kind of honor from that of any citizen +of the town? The sense of honor is keener among the people than it is +among the noblest lords." + +The chief burgomaster frowned. "These are very proud words," replied +he, with a shrug of his shoulders. + +"Pride belongs to the citizen!" cried Gotzkowsky. "But believe me, +noble sir, my heart to-day is not as proud as my words. It is sore +with pain and grief over our deep, unmerited degradation." + +"Silence, silence!" whispered the chief magistrate, leaning +tremblingly on Gotzkowsky's arm. He heard a noise behind the closed +gates, and his mind misgave him that the dreaded enemy was at hand. + +Suddenly there sounded on the other side of the walls the loud notes +of a trumpet, and the warder hastened to throw open the gate. A rare +and motley mixture of Russian uniforms now came in sight. There were +seen Cossacks, with their small horses and sharp lances; body-guards, +with their gold-adorned uniforms; hussars, in their jackets trimmed +with costly furs, all crowding in in confused tumult and with +deafening screams and yells, that contrasted strangely with the +silence inside the gates, with the noiseless, deserted streets, +the closed windows of the houses, whose inhabitants scorned to be +witnesses to the triumphal entry of the enemy. Only the ever-curious, +ever-sight-loving, always-thoughtless populace, to whom the honor has +at times been accorded of being called "the sovereign people," only +this populace had hurried hither from all the streets of Berlin to see +the entry of the Russians, and to hurrah to the conqueror, provided +he paraded right handsomely and slowly in. And now a deep silence took +place in the ranks of the enemy; the crowd opened and formed a lane, +through which rode the Russian General Bachmann and his staff. As he +reached the gate he drew in his horse and asked, in a loud, sonorous +voice, in French, whether the magistrates and deputation of merchants +were present. + +The chief magistrate felt unable to answer; his knees tottered and his +teeth chattered convulsively. He could only wag his head in silence +and point with trembling hand to his companions. + +"Is the merchant, John Gotzkowsky, one of your deputation?" asked the +general. + +Gotzkowsky stepped out of the crowd and approached the general with a +proud step. "I am he, sir." + +"I am glad to meet you," said the general, with a gracious smile. "I +bring you greetings from General Sievers. He commissioned and ordered +me to show you all possible favor. If I can be of service to you in +any possible way, pray command me. I am General von Bachmann, and +during our presence here have been appointed to the command of +Berlin." + +"Are you a friend of the noble Sievers?" cried Gotzkowsky, his +countenance beaming with pleasure. "Oh, then, I need fear nothing +for this unfortunate town, for only a noble, high-minded man can be a +friend of Sievers. You will have pity on our distress!" + +"Tell me wherein I can serve you, and how I can oblige you; my word +has much influence on our general-in-chief, Count Tottleben." + +Gotzkowsky was silent. + +"Beg him to make the contribution as small as possible," whispered +Kircheisen in Gotzkowsky's ear. + +But Gotzkowsky took no notice of him. He fixed his dark eyes on the +general, as if he wished to read his soul. + +"Speak out," said the general. "If it is possible, your wish shall be +granted." + +"Well then, general," cried Gotzkowsky, "this is my request: Spare the +poor and needy of this town. Order your soldiers to be humane, and do +not forget mercy. Let your warriors neither murder nor plunder; let +them not deride the defenceless and conquered. Give to the world the +example of a generous and noble conqueror." + +The general looked into Gotzkowsky's noble countenance with increasing +astonishment, and his features assumed a more benevolent expression. +"I give you my word that your petition shall be granted," said he; "I +will give my soldiers strict orders, and woe be to him who does not +obey them! But you have spoken for others, and I would like to oblige +you personally. Have you no request to make for yourself?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed!" cried Gotzkowsky, "I beg you to allow me to hasten +to the Council-hall to report to the elders of the citizens your kind +promise." + +General Bachmann nodded affably to him. "Hasten then, and return +soon." + +But as Gotzkowsky turned to hasten away, Herr von Kircheisen seized +him with a convulsive grasp and drew him back. "My God! you are not +going to leave me?" he whined out. "Only think--" + +"That the brave and noble citizens may lay the general's words as +a balm to their wounds--that is what I am thinking of," cried +Gotzkowsky, tearing himself loose and hurrying away with rapid +strides. + +"And now for you, most worthy burgomaster," said General Bachmann, +sternly, "your name, if you please?" + +Von Kircheisen looked at him gloomily, but made no answer. + +The general repeated his question in a louder and sterner voice, but +the burgomaster still maintained the same obstinate silence. + +"Have you, by some unlucky chance, forgotten your name, sir?" asked +the general with a lowering brow. + +The angry, piercing look he fastened on him, seemed to awaken the +burgomaster from his lethargy. + +"My name is Kircheisen, Von Kircheisen," stammered he, with a heavy +tongue. + +"We came as conquerors, sir," said General Bachmann; "and it is usual +for conquerors to dictate their terms before they enter a captured +city. In the name of our general, Count Tottleben, I have to +communicate to you what sum we demand from you as a war contribution. +This demand amounts to four millions of dollars in good money." + +The burgomaster stared at the general with glazed eyes, broke out +into a loud laugh, and staggered back on the wall of the gate-warder's +house. + +"I implore you, collect yourself," whispered the second burgomaster, +as he endeavored to support the reeling, staggering chief. "Remember +our weal or woe depends upon you!" + +Von Kircheisen grinned an idiotic laugh. "Four millions of dollars!" +screamed he aloud. "Four millions of dollars! Hurrah! hurrah for the +Russians!" + +The countenance of the general became still more threatening, and an +angry light flashed from his eye. "Do you dare to mock me?" asked +he, in a harsh tone. "Beware, sir; and remember that you are the +conquered, and in our power. I demand from you a decided answer. You +understand my demand, do you not?" + +But still he answered not. He stared at General Bachmann with a vacant +smile, and his head wagged from side to side like the pendulum of a +clock. + +"This is disgraceful conduct," cried the general, "conduct which does +little honor to the chief magistrate of Berlin. But I warn you, sir, +to beware! I have promised the poor and suffering my protection, but I +well know how to punish those who abuse our magnanimity. If you do not +answer me this time, sir, by Heaven I will have you carried off under +arrest and let a court-martial pronounce judgment on you!" + +The chief magistrate continued dumb. The pale and terror-stricken +countenances of those present were turned toward him. The members +of the Council implored and besought him to put aside this unnatural +stubbornness. + +Von Kircheisen answered their pleadings with a loud-sounding laugh. +He then stared at the general, his features worked and struggled, +writhed, and finally he opened his mouth. + +"Ah! God be praised, he is going to speak," cried the second +burgomaster. + +But no, he did not speak; he only distorted his face. A cry of dismay +sounded from the lips of the deputation, a cry of anger from the +Russian general, who, turning to his adjutant, ordered him immediately +to arrest the burgomaster and carry him off. And now there arose an +indescribable scene of confusion and terror. Pale with fright, the +Council and deputation of merchants had flocked around Von Kircheisen +to protect him from the advancing soldiers who sought to arrest him, +while he, in the midst of all the horror and tumult, continued to +giggle and make grimaces. The enraged soldiery had already commenced +to push aside Kircheisen's defenders with blows from the butts of +their muskets, when a man made his way through the crowd. It was +Gotzkowsky, who, with a loud and full voice, demanded the cause of +this singular uproar. A hundred voices were ready to answer him, and +explain the scene in confused, unintelligible jargon. + +But General Bachmann beckoned him to his side. "Tell me, sir, is this +chief burgomaster a fool or a drunkard, or is he, indeed, so demented +as to intend to mock us?" + +As Gotzkowsky looked at the deathly pale, convulsed countenance of the +magistrate, who renewed his shrill, screeching laugh, he comprehended +the racking and terrible torture which the unfortunate man was +suffering. He hastened to him, seized him by the arm, and led the +tottering figure toward the general. + +"This man is neither a fool nor a madman, your excellency; suffering +has robbed him of speech, and he laughs, not in derision, but from the +convulsion of intense sorrow." + +And as the offended and angry general would not believe him, and +commanded his soldiers anew to arrest the burgomaster, and the +soldiers with renewed rage pressed on him, Gotzkowsky placed himself +before him, and protected him with his proud and respect-inspiring +person. + +"General Bachmann," cried he, warmly, "I remind you of your oath. +You vowed to me to protect the suffering. Well, then, this man is +a sufferer, a sick man. I demand, from the noble friend of General +Sievers, that he have compassion on the sick man, and allow him to be +escorted safely and unmolested to his house." + +"Can you give me your word that this man did not act thus out of +arrogance?" asked the general, in a milder tone; "are you convinced +that he is sick?" + +"I swear to you, please your excellency, that the chief magistrate of +Berlin has never been a healthy man; that, for many years, he has been +subject to fits of convulsive laughter." + +General Bachmann smiled. "This is an unfortunate disease for the chief +magistrate of a city," said he, "and it seems to me as if the citizens +of Berlin did wrong in choosing for their burgomaster a man who +laughs and cries indifferently, and to whom the misfortunes of his +fellow-citizens apparently serves only for a joke. But you reminded me +of my promise, and you shall see that I will keep it." + +He beckoned to his soldiers, and ordered them to fetch a litter on +which to carry the sick burgomaster home. He then turned, with a +smile, to Gotzkowsky, and said: "Sir, the Council of Berlin have cause +to be grateful to you; you have saved their chief from death." + +Herr von Kircheisen did not laugh now. His features jerked and +distorted themselves still, but a stream of tears gushed from his +eyes. + +With an unspeakable expression he seized Gotzkowsky's hand, and +pressed it to his lips, then sank unconscious in the arms of his +deliverer. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE RUSSIAN, THE SAXON, AND THE AUSTRIAN, IN BERLIN. + + +Berlin was now given up to the enemy, and through the once cheerful +and pleasant streets could be heard nothing but screams and shrieks +of terror, mingled with the wild curses and boisterous laughter of the +conqueror, who, not satisfied with attacking the trembling inhabitants +to rob them of their possessions and property, ill treated them out of +sheer cruelty, and took delight in hearing their screams and looking +at the contortions caused by pain. + +And who was this enemy, who, in scorn of all humanity and +civilization, tortured the unfortunate and hunted them down? + +They were not Russians, nor wild hordes of Cossacks. They were +Austrians and Saxons, who, robbing and plundering, murdering and +destroying, violating and burning, rushed through Berlin, filling all +the inhabitants with terror and alarm. + +General Bachmann kept faithfully the promise he had made to +Gotzkowsky, and the Russian army at first not only preserved the +strictest discipline, but even protected the inhabitants against the +violence of the Austrians and Saxons. + +The terrified citizens had one powerful and beneficent friend--this +was John Gotzkowsky. Yielding to his urgent entreaty, General von +Bachmann's adjutant, Von Brinck, had taken up his quarters in his +house, and by his assistance and his own influence with the general, +Gotzkowsky was enabled to afford material aid to all Berlin. For +those citizens who were able to pay the soldiers he procured a Russian +safeguard, and more than once this latter protected the inhabitants of +the houses against the vandalism of the Austrians and Saxons. + +Contrary to the wish of the Russians, the Austrians had forced +themselves into the city, and, in spite of the terms of the +capitulation agreed upon with the Russians, had quartered themselves +upon the citizens, from whom, with the most savage cruelty and threats +of ingenious torture, they extorted all the gold and jewels they +possessed. + +Berlin was now the open camping-ground of Croats and Austrian hussars, +and Russian Cossacks, and all minds were filled with dread and +anxiety. + +It is true that even the Cossacks forgot the strict discipline +which had been commanded them, and entered the houses, robbing and +compelling the inhabitants, by blows of the knout, to give them +all they wanted. But yet they were less cruel than the Saxons, +less barbarous than the Austrians, who, with scoffing and derision, +committed the greatest atrocities. Indeed, it was only necessary +to complain to the Russian general in order to obtain justice +immediately, and have the Cossacks punished. Eight of them were +strung up in one day at the guard-house on the New Market square, as +a warning and example to the others, and expiated their robberies by +a summary death. But with the Austrians and Saxons it was the officers +themselves who instigated the soldiers to acts of revolting barbarity, +and who, forgetful of all humanity, by their laughter and applause +excited their subordinates to fresh ill-treatment of the inhabitants. +Disregarding the capitulation, and listening to their national enmity, +and their love of plunder, they pressed forward with wild screams into +the royal stables, driving away the safeguard of four-and-twenty men, +which General von Tottleben had placed there for their protection, and +with shameless insolence defiling the Prussian coat-of-arms pictured +on the royal carriages. They then drew them out into the open street, +and, after they had stripped them of their ornaments and decorations, +piled them up in a great heap and set them on fire, in order to add +to the fright and terror of the bewildered citizens by the threatening +danger of conflagration. + +High blazed the flames, consuming greedily these carriages which had +once borne kings and princes. The screams and fright of the inmates +of the nearest houses, and the crackling of the window-glass broken by +the heat were drowned by the joyous shouts of the Austrians who danced +round the fire with wild delight, and accompanied the roaring of the +flames with insulting and licentious songs. And the fire seemed only +to awaken their inventive powers, and excite them to fresh deeds of +vandalism. After the fire had burnt out, and only a heap of ashes told +of what were once magnificent royal vehicles, the Austrians rushed +back again into the building with terrific outcry, to the apartments +of the royal master of the horse, Schwerin, in order to build a new +bonfire with his furniture, and fill their pockets with his gold and +silver ware. + +In the royal stalls a great uproar arose, as they fought with each +other for the horses that were there. The strongest leaped on them and +rode off furiously, to carry into other neighborhoods the terror and +dismay which marked the track of the Austrians through Berlin. Even +the hospitals were not safe from their brutal rage. They tore the sick +from their beds, drove them with scoffs and insults into the streets, +cut up their beds, and covered them over with the feathers. And all +this was committed not by wild barbarians, but by the regular troops +of a civilized state, by Austrians, who were spurred on, by their +hatred of the Prussians, to deeds of rude cruelty and beastly +barbarity. And this unlucky national hatred, which possessed the +Austrian and made him forgetful of all humanity, was communicated, +like an infectious plague, to the Saxons, and transformed these +warriors, who were celebrated for being, next to the Prussians, +the most orderly and best disciplined, into rude Jack Ketches and +iconoclastic Vandals. + +In the royal pleasure-palace at Charlottenburg, where Brühl's (Saxon) +dragoons had taken up their quarters by force, they set up a new +species of dragoonade, which was directed not so much against the +living as against marble statues and the sacred treasures of art. All +the articles of splendor, brilliancy, and luxury which had been +heaped up here, every thing which the royal love of the fine arts +had collected of what was beautiful and rare, was sacrificed to their +raging love of destruction. Gilded furniture, Venetian mirrors, large +porcelain vases from Japan, were smashed to pieces. The silk tapestry +was torn from the walls in shreds, the doors inlaid with beautiful +wood-mosaic were broken up with clubs, the most masterly and costly +paintings were cut in ribbons with knives. To be sure, it sometimes +happened that the officers rescued from the soldiers some costly vase, +some rare treasure or painting, and saved it from destruction, +but this was not to save the King of Prussia's property, but to +appropriate it to themselves, and carry it home with them. + +Even the art-collection of Count Polignac, embracing the most splendid +and rare treasures of art in the palace of Charlottenburg, did not +escape this mania of destruction. This collection, containing among +other things the most beautiful Greek statues, had been purchased in +Rome by Gotzkowsky, and had afforded the king peculiar gratification, +and was a source of much enjoyment to him. In the eyes of some Saxon +officers, to whom this fact was known, it was sufficient reason for +its condemnation. They themselves led the most violent and destructive +of their soldiers into the halls where these magnificent treasures +were exposed, even helped them to break the marble statues, to dash +them down from their pedestals, to hew off their heads, arms, and +legs, and even carried their systematic malice so far as to order +the soldiers to grind into powder the fragments, so as to prevent any +restoration of the statues at a subsequent period. + +The unfortunate inhabitants of Charlottenburg witnessed all this +abomination that was perpetrated in the royal palace with fear and +trembling, and in order to save their own persons and property from +similar outrage, they offered the enemy a contribution of fifteen +thousand dollars. The Saxons accepted the money, but, regardless of +every obligation usually considered sacredly binding, they only became +more savage and ferocious. With yells of rage they rushed into the +houses, and, when the money they demanded was refused them, they +stripped the men of their clothes, lashed them until the blood flowed, +or cruelly wounded or maimed them with sabre-cuts; and when the women +fled from them, they followed them up, and forced them by brutal +ill-treatment to yield themselves. No house in Charlottenburg escaped +being plundered; and so cruel were the tortures which the inhabitants +suffered, that four of the unfortunate men died a miserable death at +the hands of the Saxon soldiers. + +They were Germans who waged against their brother Germans, against +their own countrymen, a brutality and barbarous love of destruction +almost unequalled in the annals of modern history. Consequently +it seemed but natural that the Russians should be excited by such +examples of barbarity, so unstintedly set them by the Austrians and +Saxons. No wonder that they, too, at last began to rob and plunder, to +break into houses at night, and carry off women and maidens by force, +in order to have them released next day by heavy ransom; and that even +the severe punishments, inflicted on those whom the people had the +courage to complain of to the generals lost their terror, and were +no restraint on these sons of the steppes and ice-fields, led away as +they were by the other ruffians. + +Two hundred and eighty-two houses were destroyed and thoroughly +plundered in Berlin by the Austrians; the Saxons had devastated the +royal palace in Charlottenburg, and the whole town. Should not the +Russians also leave a memorial of their vandalism? They did so in +Schönhausen, the pleasure-palace of the consort of Frederick the +Great, who had left it a few days previous, by express command of the +king, to take up her residence in Magdeburg. Eight Russian hussars +forced themselves into the palace, and, with terrible threats, +demanded the king's plate. Only the castellan and his wife, and a few +of the royal servants, had been left behind to protect the place, and +the only answer they could make to the furious soldiers was, that the +booty which they were in search of had been carried with the royal +party to Magdeburg. This information excited their fury to the highest +pitch. Like the Saxon dragoons of Charlottenburg, they devastated the +Schönhausen palace, stripped the castellan and his wife, and, with +shouts of wild laughter, whipped them and pinched their flesh with +red-hot tongs. And, as if the sight of these bloody and torn human +bodies had only increased their desire for blood and torture, they +then attacked the two servants, stripped them of their clothes, cut +one to pieces like a beast, and threw the other on the red-hot coals, +roasting him alive, as formerly the warriors of her Most Christian +Majesty of Spain did those whom, in the pride of their civilization, +they denominated "the wild heathen."[1] + + +[Footnote 1: The account of all these cruelties and this vandalism is +verified in the original, by reference to Von Archenholz: "History of +the Seven Years' War," pp.194-198.--TRANSLATOR.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CADETS. + + +The day following the occupation of Berlin, a strange and singular +procession moved down the Linden Street through the Brandenburg Gate, +and took the road to Charlottenburg. Brühl's dragoons and De Lacy's +chasseurs rode on each side of the line, which would have excited +laughter, if pity and sorrow had not overcome the comical element. +It was a procession of children decked in uniform, and having +nothing military about them but their apparel, nothing manly but the +dress-sword at their side. + +This singular little regiment was the "Corps of Cadets," which had +been made prisoners of war by the Austrians and Saxons. + +The commandant, Von Rochow, did not imagine that the enemy would carry +his hard-heartedness to such an extent as to consider these lads of +tender age as part of the garrison, and make them prisoners of war in +consequence. None of these boys exceeded the age of twelve years (the +larger and older ones having been drafted into the army to supply the +want of officers), and he presumed that their very helplessness and +weakness would be their security, and therefore had omitted to mention +them specially in the surrender. But the conqueror had no compassion +on these little children in uniform, and pronounced them prisoners of +war. Even Liliputian warriors might be dangerous! Remember the pangs +suffered by Gulliver, as, lying quietly on the ground, he was suddenly +awakened by a violent discharge poured into him from behind the high +grass by the Liliputians. To be sure their weapons were only armed +with needles--whence we may infer that the Liliputians are the +original inventors of the modern Prussian needle-percussion +rifles--but, one can be killed by needle-pricks. Count De Lacy feared, +perhaps, the needle weapons of the little Liliputian cadets, and +treated the poor, delicate, tender children as if they were tough old +veterans, accustomed to all the hardships and privations of war. With +coarse abuse and blows from the butt of the musket, they were driven +out into the highway, and compelled to travel on the soft, muddy roads +without cloaks, notwithstanding the severe weather, and only the short +jackets of their uniforms. Heart-rending was the wail of the poor +little ones from whom the war had taken their fathers, and poverty +their mothers--torn from their home, the refuge of their orphaned +childhood, to be driven like a flock of bleating lambs out into the +desert wilderness of life. + +And when their feet grew weary, when their little bodies, unaccustomed +to fatigue, gave way, they were driven on with blows from sabres and +the butts of muskets. When they begged for a piece of bread, or a drop +of water for their parched lips, they were laughed at, and, instead of +water, were told to drink their own tears, which ran in streams down +their childish cheeks. They had already marched the whole day without +food or refreshment of any kind, and they could hardly drag their +bleeding feet along. With eyes bright with fever, and parched tongues, +they still wandered on, looking in the distance for some friendly +shelter, some refreshing spring. + +At nightfall the little cadets were camped in an open field, on the +wet ground. At first, they begged for a little food, a crust of bread; +but when they saw that their sufferings gave pleasure to the dragoons, +and that their groans were to them like a pleasant song, they were +silent, and the spirit of their fathers reigned uppermost in the +breasts of these little, forsaken, trembling lads. They dried their +eyes, and kept their complaints in their little trembling hearts. + +"We will not cry any more," said little Ramin, who though only twelve +years of age, was yet the oldest of the captives, and recognized as +their captain and leader. "We will not cry any more, for our tears +give pleasure to our enemies. Let us be cheerful, and that perhaps +will vex them. To spite them, and show how little we think of our +hunger, let us sing a jolly song." + +"Come on, let us do it!" cried the boys. "What song shall we sing?" + +"_Prince Eugene_," cried young Ramin; and immediately with his +childish treble struck up "Prince Eugene, the noble knight." + +And all the lads joined in with a sort of desperate enthusiasm, and +the song of the noble knight rose from their young lips like a peal of +rejoicing. + +But gradually one little trembling voice after another fell, by +degrees the song grew lower and shriller, and became lost in a +trembling whisper; then it would rise into an unnatural and terrified +scream, or sink into a whining sob or trembling wail. + +Suddenly little Ramin stopped, and a cry of pain, like the sound of +a snapped string, burst from his breast. "I cannot sing any more," +sighed he. "Hunger is killing me." And he sank down on his knees, and +raised his little arms beseechingly to one of the Austrian soldiers, +who was marching beside him, comfortably consuming a roast chicken. + +"Oh! give me a bit of bread, only a mouthful, to keep me from starving +to death." + +"Have pity on us, do not let us starve!" + +With similar piteous lamentations, the whole corps of trembling, +weeping, starving little cadets threw themselves on their knees, and +filled the air with their cries and prayers. + +"Well, if you positively insist upon eating, you shall have something +to appease your hunger," said the officer who commanded the chasseurs, +and he whispered a few words to his corporal, who received them with a +loud laugh, and then rode off. + +"Now, be quiet, and wait," commanded the Austrian officer. "I have +sent the corporal and some soldiers into the village to get food for +you. Only wait now, and be satisfied." And the children dried their +eyes, and comforted each other with encouraging words. + +With what impatience, what painful longing, did they look forward +to the promised food! How they thanked God, in the gladness of their +hearts, that He had had pity on them, and had not allowed them to die +of hunger! + +They all seemed revived, and strained their hopeful eyes toward the +quarter whence the corporal was to return. And now, with one voice, +they broke out into a cry of joy; they had espied him returning, +accompanied by soldiers who seemed to be bringing a heavy load. + +They approached nearer and nearer. "Form a ring," commanded the +officer, and they obeyed in expectant gladness; and around the thickly +crowded ring the Austrian officers and the troop of soldiers took +their stand. In silent waiting stood the cadets, and their hearts +leaped for joy. + + +"Attention! your dinner is coming," cried the officer. + +The ring opened. Ah! now the corporal and the soldiers are going to +bring in the dinner. + +But no! The dinner came walking along by itself. With a dignified +step it marched in and gave utterance to an expressive bleat. It was +a _live_ sheep, which was to be given to the poor lads who were faint +from hunger. An outburst of boisterous laughter from the Austrians +greeted the dignified wether, and drowned the cries of the bitterly +disappointed cadets. + +"A sheep!" they cried, "and what are we to do with it?"--and they +began to weep afresh. + +"Kill him and roast him!" jeered the officer. "You are brave soldiers. +Well, you will only have to do what we often do in camp. Be your own +cook and butler; none of us will help you. We want to see what sort of +practical soldiers you will make, and whether you are as good hands at +cooking as at crying and blubbering." + +And the Austrians folded their arms, and looked on idly and with +derisive satisfaction at these poor children who stood there with +their heads bowed down with helplessness and grief. + +At length little Ramin arose. His eyes glistened with fierce defiance, +and an expression of noble courage illuminated his pale countenance. + +"If the sheep belongs to us," said he, "we will eat him." + +"But he's alive," cried the boys. + +"We will kill him," answered the little fellow. + +"We? we ourselves? We are no butchers. We have never done such a +thing!" + +"Have we ever killed a man?" asked Ramin, rolling his large bright +eyes around the circle of his comrades. "Have we ever deprived a man +of his life?" + +"No!" + +"Well, then, we will have it yet to do! We hope to be able to kill +many an enemy, and to do that we will have to begin with some one. Let +us make believe, then, that this wether is the enemy, and that we have +to attack him. Now, then, down upon him!" + +"Ramin is right," cried the boys; "let us attack the enemy." + +"Attention!" commanded Ramin. + +The boys drew themselves up in military order right opposite the +bleating sheep. + +"Draw swords!" + +In the twinkling of an eye they had drawn their little rapiers, which +looked more like penknives than swords, and which the Austrians had +left to their little prisoners of war. + +"One, two, three!" commanded the little Ramin. "Attention! Forward!" + +Down they charged upon the enemy, who was standing motionless, with +staring eyes, bleating loudly. The Austrian soldiers roared and +screamed with delight, and confessed, with tears in their eyes, that +it was the best joke in the world, and no end of fun to see these poor +boys made desperate by hunger. + +The first feat of arms of the little cadets was completed, the wether +was slain. But now came the question how to dress him, how to convert +the dead beast into nice warm roast meat. + +They were well aware that none of the laughing, mocking soldiers +would help them, and therefore they disdained to ask for help. Wood, a +roasting-pit, and a kettle were given them--means enough to prepare a +good soup and roast. But how to begin and set about it they themselves +hardly knew. But gnawing hunger made them inventive. Had they not +often at home skinned many a cunningly caught mole--had they not often +killed and drawn a rabbit? The only difference was that the sheep was +somewhat larger than a mole or a rabbit. + +Finally, after much toil and trouble, and under the approving laughter +of the spectators, they accomplished it. The meat simmered in the +kettle, watched by two cadets, two others turning the spit. The work +was done; the sheep was converted into soup and roast. + +And because they showed themselves so industrious and cheerful, one +and another of the soldiers softened their hearts and threw them a +piece of bread or a canteen; and the poor boys accepted these alms +thrown at them with humble gratitude, and no feeling of resentment +or defiance remained in their hearts, for hunger was appeased; but +appeased only for the moment--only to encounter new sufferings, +renewed hunger, fresh mockeries. For onward, farther onward must they +wander. Every now and then one of them sank down, begging for pity and +compassion. But what cared the soldiers, who only saw in the children +the impersonation of the hated enemy, to be tortured and worried to +death as a sport? + +More than twenty of these little cadets succumbed to the sufferings +of this journey, and died miserably, forsaken and alone, on the high +road; and no mother was there to close their eyes, no father to +lean over them and bless them with a tear. But over these poor +martyr-children watched the love of God, and lulled them to sleep +with happy dreams and gentle fancies about their distant homes, their +little sister there, or the beautiful garden in which they had so +often chased butterflies together. And amidst such fancies and smiling +memories they dreamed away their childish souls, beyond the grave, to +a holy and happy reawakening. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE EXPLOSION. + + +General von Tottleben was alone in his chamber--at least he had no +visible company; but two invisible companions were there--Care and +Sorrow. They whispered to him uncomfortable and melancholy thoughts, +making his countenance serious and sad, and drawing deep and dark +lines across his brow. He was a German, and was fighting in the ranks +of the enemy against his German fatherland. Therein lay the secret +of his care-worn features, the reading of the suppressed sighs; the +broken, sorrowful words which he uttered, as with folded arms and +bowed head he paced up and down his room. He was a German, and +loved his country, which had repaid his love with that apathy and +non-appreciation that have destroyed and killed some of the greatest +and noblest men of Germany; while others have taken refuge in foreign +countries, to find there that recognition which was denied them at +home. General von Tottleben was only a German--why, then, should +Germany take notice of him? Because he possessed information, talent, +genius. Germany would have appreciated these if Von Tottleben had been +a foreigner; but, as unfortunately he was only a German, Germany took +no notice of him, and compelled him to seek in a foreign country the +road to fame and distinction. He had gone to Russia. There his talents +had been prized and employed. He was now a general in the Russian +army, and the alliance between Russia and Austria compelled him to +fight against his own country. + +But the Russian general still preserved his German heart, this heart +so strong in suffering, so unfaltering in its faith, so faithful in +its love, so great in hope, humble in its obedience, modest in its +desires; this German heart of his was the cause of much suffering to +him, for it could not adapt itself to his Russian instructions, +and despite his efforts to render it callous, would insist upon +overflowing with pity and sympathy. He loved Berlin, for in this city +he had passed the best years of his youth. And now he was called on to +act as a cruel tyrant, an unfeeling barbarian, to sow broadcast death +and destruction in this city, from which he yearned so to win a little +love, a little sympathy for her rejected son. + +But now his German heart was forced into silence by the exigencies +of Russian discipline, and the general had to obey the orders of his +superior officer, General von Fermore. His chief had ordered him to +exercise the utmost severity and harshness, and imposed upon him the +task of scourging Berlin like a demon of vengeance. And yet Berlin had +committed no other crime than that of remaining faithful to her king, +and of not wishing to surrender to the enemy. + +A fresh dispatch had just arrived from General von Fermore, and its +contents had darkened the brow of Tottleben with anxious care. He +had received orders to blow up the arsenal in Berlin. This noble and +handsome building, which rose in proud splendor in the midst of a +populous town, was to be destroyed without reference to the fact that +the blowing up of this colossal edifice would scatter death and ruin +throughout unfortunate Berlin. + +"I will not do it," said he, pacing up and down the room, and crushing +the accursed paper which brought the cruel order in his clinched hand. +"I cannot be such a barbarian. Fermore may command me to do barbarous +actions, but I will not accept such commands! I will not obey! No +one but myself knows of this order. I will ignore it. The Empress +Elizabeth has always been very gracious toward me, and will forgive +me for not executing an order which certainly never proceeded from +her own kind heart." At this moment the door opened, and the adjutant +entering, announced Count de Lacy. + +Tottleben's countenance assumed a gloomy expression, and, as with +hasty step he advanced toward the Austrian general, he muttered to +himself, "I perceive the bloodhounds have got the scent, and are +eager for blood." In the mean time Count de Lacy approached him with +a friendly and gracious smile. He seemed not to be at all aware that +Tottleben did not accept the hand which the Austrian general held out +to him with a hearty greeting. + +"I come to chat for a short quarter of an hour with your excellency," +said Count de Lacy, in very fluent German, but with the hard foreign +accent of a Hungarian. "After a battle won, I know nothing pleasanter +than to recall with a comrade the past danger, and to revel again in +memory the excitement of the fight." + +"May I request your excellency to remember that the Austrians cannot +count the conquest of Berlin in the list of their victories," cried +Count Tottleben, with a sarcastic smile. "It was the Russian army +which besieged Berlin, and Berlin surrendered _to us_." + +"You are very kind to remind me of it," said Count de Lacy, with his +unchangeable, pleasant smile. "In the mean time may I request a more +particular explanation than this polite reminder?" + +"You shall have it, sir," cried Tottleben, passionately. "I mean +to say that Berlin is not Charlottenburg, and to request that the +vandalism which the Austrian troops practised there, may not be +transferred to Berlin. Be satisfied with the booty which your soldiers +stowed away in their knapsacks at that place, and have the kindness to +order the Austrian army to learn a little discipline and humanity from +the Russians." + +"From the Russians?" asked Count de Lacy, with ironical astonishment. +"Truly one is not accustomed to learn humanity from that quarter. +Does your excellency mean to say that the Austrians are to learn good +manners from the Russians?" + +"Yes, from the Russians," replied Tottleben--"from my soldiers, who +neither plunder nor rob, but bear in mind that they are soldiers, and +not thieves!" + +"Sir," cried De Lacy, "what do these words mean?" + +"They mean that I have promised my protection to the people of Berlin, +and that I am prepared to afford it to them, even against our own +allies. They mean that I have made myself sufficiently strong to +bid you defiance, sir, and to defend Berlin against the cruelty and +inhumanity of the Austrian army. The Russian army will compel it to be +humane, and to pause in the cruel rage with which they have desolated +unhappy Germany." + +Count de Lacy shrugged his shoulders. "What is Germany to you, and why +do you feel for her?" asked he jeeringly. "I beg you, count, let us +not speak of Germany. What to us is this lachrymose, fantastic female +Germania, which has been betrothed to so many lords and wooers, that +she can remain faithful and true to none? Germania will then only be +happy when one of her lovers has the boldness to kill off and tread +under foot all his rivals and so build himself up an undisputed +throne. That is Austria's mission, and our duty is to fulfil it. We +are the heralds who go before Germania's Austrian bridegroom, and +everywhere illuminate the heavens with the torches of our triumphs. If +the torches now and then come too near some piece of humanity and set +it on fire, what is that to us? Germany is our enemy, and if we have +a puling compassion on our enemy, we become traitors to our own +cause. That's all. But what is the use of this strife and these +recriminations?" asked he, suddenly breaking into a smile. "I have +only come to ask your excellency when you intend to light these new +wedding-torches which are to redden the sky of Berlin?" + +"What wedding-torches?" inquired Tottleben, turning pale. + +"Well, those which are to burst out from the mint and factory +buildings," said De Lacy, with a smile of indifference. "I anticipate +with extraordinary pleasure this exhibition of fireworks which the +town of Berlin is going to give in honor of our presence." + +"You mean to say in disgrace of our presence," exclaimed Tottleben, +ardently. + +Count de Lacy looked at him with a compassionate shrug of the +shoulders. "My dear count," said he, with cutting coldness, "when a +man becomes a Russian general, he must have a Russian heart, and not +allow himself to be influenced by any German softness or sympathy. +Otherwise it might happen that they might make a mistake, and not +being able to deprive you of your German heart, might take your German +head instead." + +General Tottleben drew back with astonishment, and stared at him. + +Count de Lacy continued, smiling, and in a quiet tone: "I warn you to +guard against your own mildness and your German heart. General Fermore +is my friend, and often consults me about the meaning of German words. +How would you like it if I should explain the word _treason_ in a +manner dangerous to yourself, and if this explanation should result in +translating your excellency into Siberia?" + +"General Fermore is neither my commander nor my master," cried +Tottleben, proudly. + +"But the lord and master of your lady and mistress, the high and +mighty Empress Elizabeth--remember that. Will your excellency now +condescend to inform me at what time the Berlin armory shall rise +fluttering in the air like a bird?" + +"And do you know that, too?" asked Tottleben, with painful +astonishment. + +"I have already told you that the Russians and Austrians are faithful +allies, and have no secrets from each other, as far as their designs +upon Germany are concerned. Oh, it will be a splendid _feu de joie_ +for the house of Austria, when the Prussian armory is blown into the +air! When are we to enjoy this spectacle, general?" + +General von Tottleben sank his head in silence on his breast. Count de +Lacy regarded him with a cold and piercing glance. Tottleben felt +this look, and understood its important significance. He knew that +his whole future, his freedom, perhaps even his life, hung upon this +moment. + +"In three hours from now the spectacle will take place," said he, with +a forced laugh. "In three hours the wedding-torches shall be lighted, +and in order to make it the pleasanter, we will have the wails of the +people of Berlin as a musical accompaniment." + +"In three hours, then," said Count de Lacy, bowing low; "I hasten to +announce it to my officers. I am burning with impatience to witness +this rare spectacle." + +Count de Lacy departed, and General Tottleben was again alone. + +For a long time did he pace his room in abstract meditation, anger and +pity, fear and terror struggling in his soul. He was perfectly aware +of the danger which threatened him. He knew that Count Fermore hated +him as a dangerous rival for the smiles of the empress, and only +waited for a favorable opportunity to overthrow him. He was therefore +obliged to yield to this cruel necessity; the Berlin armory must be +sacrificed. + +Suddenly his countenance lighted up, and his features assumed an +expression of joy. He hastened rapidly to the door and summoned his +body servant and slave, Ivan Petrowitsch. "Ivan," said he, with the +stern and cold composure of a Russian--"Ivan, I have a commission for +you, and if you are successful in its execution, I will not have your +son Feodor hung, although I know that yesterday, contrary to my order, +he was present at the plundering of a house." + +"Speak, master, what am I to do? I will save my son, even if it cost +my own life." + +"It will cost your life, Ivan." + +"I am your property, master, and my life belongs to you," said the +serf, sadly. "You can have me whipped to death any time it pleases +you. Say, then, what I must do to save my son." + +"Fifty Cossacks are to ride immediately to the powder-mills to bring +powder. You will accompany them." + +Ivan looked at him with astonishment. "Is that all I have to do?" +asked he. + +Tottleben was not yet sufficiently Russian. His German heart would +assert its rights. As he met the inquiring look of Ivan, he turned his +eye away. He forgot that it was only a serf he was speaking to, and +not a human being. + +But he soon recalled it. "You will accompany these Cossacks to the +powder-mills, I say, and as you do so you will smoke your pipe, and +see that the tobacco burns well, and that you are burning tinder on +top of it." + +An expression of comprehension shone in Ivan's eyes. "I will smoke, +master," said he, sadly. + +"When you are in the powder-mills, and the Cossacks are loading the +powder, you will help them, and in doing so you will let the pipe fall +out of your mouth," said Tottleben, in an undertone, and his voice +trembled ever so little. There was a pause--Ivan leaned, pale and +trembling, against the wall. General Tottleben had turned away, as if +afraid to encounter the pallid, terrified countenance of his slave. + +"If you do not execute my command," said he, finally, "I will have +your only son hung, as he deserves to be. If you betray to any one +soever a word of my order, I will have your wife whipped to death. Now +think of it." + +Ivan shook as if in an ague. His teeth chattered together. "I will +smoke, master," said he, at last, with an effort, "and I will drop my +pipe in the powder-mills. Have pity on my son, master, and spare my +wife!" + +"I will do so, Ivan," said Tottleben. "I will give them both their +freedom, and a pension." + +Ivan dropped his head, and a convulsive groan burst from his breast. + +"Time passes; make haste!" cried the general, with assumed harshness. + +"I go, master," sighed Ivan. "You will not, then, string up my poor +Feodor, nor have my wife whipped?" + +"If you execute my order strictly and punctually, I will care for +them." + +Two tears coursed slowly down Ivan's brown cheek. "I will carry out +your orders, master; I will smoke, and I will drop my pipe. Farewell, +master!" + +He approached his master with slavish humility, and kissed the seam of +his garment. "Farewell, master. I thank you, for you have always been +a kind master to me," said he, and his tears moistened the general's +coat. + +General Tottleben was as yet unable completely to convert his German +heart into a Russian one. He felt himself touched by this humble and +heroic submission of his slave. He felt as if he must give him some +comfort on his fatal road. + +"Ivan," said he, softly, "your death will save, perhaps, not only the +property, but also the lives of many hundred other men." + +Ivan kissed passionately his proffered hand. "I thank you, master. +Farewell, and think sometimes of your poor Ivan." + +A quarter of an hour afterward was seen a troop of fifty Cossacks, on +their swift-footed little horses, racing down Frederick Street. +Each man had a powder-sack with him, and seeing them ride by, people +whispered to each other, "They are riding to the powder-mills. They +have shot away all their own powder, and now, in true Cossack style, +they are going to take our Prussian powder." At that time Frederick +Street did not reach beyond the river Spree. On the other bank began +the faubourgs and the gardens. Even Monbijou was then only a royal +country seat, situated in the Oranienburg suburb. The powder-mills, +which lay beyond the gardens, with a large sandy plain intervening, +were sufficiently remote from the town to prevent all danger from +their possible explosion. + +Ivan, the serf of Count von Tottleben, rode by the side of the officer +of the Cossacks. He pranced his pony about, and was cheerful and jolly +like his comrades, the merry sons of the steppe. As they reached the +gate they halted their horses, and gazed with evident pleasure on the +desert, wild, sandy plain, which stretched out before them. + +"How beautiful that is!" exclaimed Petrowitsch, the hetman of the +Cossacks. "Just look--what a handsome steppe!" + +"Just such a fine sand steppe as at home in our own country!" sighed +one of the Cossacks, beginning to hum a song of his home. + +"This is the finest scenery I have seen in Germany," cried another. +"What a pleasure it would be to race over this steppe!" + +"Come on, then, let us get up a race over this splendid steppe," said +a fourth, "and let us sing one of the songs we are used to at home." + +"Yes, agreed! let us!" cried all, ranging quickly their horses in +line. + +"Wait a moment," cried Ivan; "I can't sing, you all know, and I've +only one sweetheart, and that's my pipe. Let me then light my pipe +so that I can smoke." He struck fire with his steel, and lighting +the tinder, placed it in the bowl of his pipe. No one saw the +sad, shuddering look which he cast at the glowing tinder and his +spark-scattering pipe. "Now forward, boys, and sing us a lively song +from home," said Ivan. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" + +They charge over the beautiful plain, and sing in a pealing chorus, +the favorite song of the Cossack, at once so soft and sad: + + "Lovely Minka! must I leave thee?" + +Big tears ran down poor Ivan's cheek. No one saw them, no one observed +him. He charged with the others over the Berlin steppe, and blew the +smoke out of his pipe. No one heard the sad sighs which he uttered as +he drew nearer and nearer to the powder-mills. No one heard the sad +words of parting which he muttered to himself as his comrades sang: + + "Lovely Minka! must I leave thee, + Leave my happy, heather plains? + Ah! this parting does not grieve thee, + Though still true my heart remains. + Far from thee I roam, + Sadly see the sunbeams shining, + Lonely all the night I'm pining + Far from thee alone." + +They reach the powder-mills; the Cossacks halt their horses and spring +from their saddles. + +Slowly and hesitatingly does Ivan proceed; he passes about his pipe; +he puffs at the tobacco to make it burn, and smoke more freely. + +And now all's right. The pipe is alight. Like brilliant eyes of fire +the burning tobacco shines out of the bowl. Ivan puts it back in his +mouth and blows great clouds of smoke, as he and the Cossacks approach +the gates of the powder-mills. + +The Russian sentinels let them pass, and, joking and laughing merrily, +the Cossacks carry their bags into the building to fill them with +powder for the blowing up of the arsenal. How joyous and careless they +are, these sons of the steppe! How calmly does Ivan continue to smoke +his pipe, although they are now in the large hall, where casks of +powder are ranged in endless rows! + +And now a cask is opened, and merrily and jestingly the Cossacks begin +to load the powder into their sacks. + +What art thou staring at so wildly, Ivan Petrowitsch? Why do the big +drops of sweat run down thy forehead? Why do thy limbs tremble, and +why dost thou look so sadly and mournfully at thy comrades? + +They sing so merrily, they chatter so gayly, all the while pouring the +powder into their sacks nimbly and actively! + +Ivan keeps on blowing furious clouds of smoke out of his pipe. + +Suddenly he utters a cry, a heart-rending, pitiful cry. The burning +pipe drops from his mouth! + +Then rises a wild yell--an awful, horrible report! + +The earth quakes and trembles, as if about to open, to vomit forth the +burning stream of a thundering crater. The sky seems blackened by the +fearful smoke which fills the air far and wide. Everywhere may be seen +human bodies, single shattered limbs, ruins of the exploded building, +flying through the air, and covering the groaning, trembling earth. +But no syllable or sound of complaint, no death-rattle is now heard. +All is over. + +The powder-mills have flown into the air, and, though far distant +from Berlin, yet this terrible explosion was felt in every part of +the city.[1] In the Frederick Street the houses shook as if from an +earthquake, and countless panes of glass were shattered. + +With darkened brow and a burst of anger did General von Tottleben +receive the news that the powder-mills had blown up, and fifty +Cossacks had lost their lives thereby. He mourned for the unfortunate +Cossacks and his poor serf, Ivan Petrowitsch. Still more did he lament +that it was now impossible to blow up the arsenal in Berlin. But +it was not his fault that the commands of his empress could not be +executed. The Russians had shot away all their powder, and the stock +in the powder-mills having been destroyed, there was none left to +carry into execution this grand undertaking. + + +[Footnote 1: Archenholz: "History of the Seven Years' War," p. 194.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +JOHN GOTZKOWSKY. + + +A sad and anxious period had the unfortunate city of Berlin yet to +pass through. With fear and trembling did the inhabitants await the +approach of each morning, and in spiritless despondency they seemed to +have lost all capacity for helping themselves. + +There was but one man who, unterrified and unwavering, with the +cheerful courage of a noble soul, exposed himself to danger, to +suffering and grief, who proposed to himself but one object--to help +others as far as lay in his power, and to avert fresh misfortune, +additional care and anxiety from the too heavily laden inhabitants of +Berlin. + +This one man was John Gotzkowsky, the Merchant of Berlin. In this +day of their trouble the inhabitants looked up to him as to a helping +angel; the poor prayed to him, the rich fled to him with their +treasures; with him the persecuted found refuge, the hungry shelter +and food. + +For Gotzkowsky there was no rest or leisure, nor did he feel care or +sorrow. The tears he had shed about Elise he had buried in his heart, +overcoming a father's grief by the power of his will. At this time he +only remembered that he was called to the sacred duty of succoring +his fellow-men, his suffering brothers--to be a father to the needy, a +deliverer to the oppressed. + +The doors of his house were open to all who sought refuge with him. +The wives and children and aged parents of his workmen rushed there +with screams and loud lamentations, and he received them all, and +gave them beds in his splendid halls, and his gilt and silken ottomans +served for refreshing places to hungry and freezing poverty. + +But not the poor alone, the wealthy also found refuge in his house. +They knew that Gotzkowsky's word had much influence, not only with +General Bachmann, but also with General von Tottleben, and that this +latter had ordered that Gotzkowsky should always have free admission +to him. In their anxiety and need they put aside the proud bearing +of their rank and dignity, and hastened to him to plead for help and +rest, to hide their treasures and place their lives and fortunes under +his guardianship. + +But while hundreds sought refuge and safety there, Gotzkowsky himself +was like a stranger in his own house. Day and night was he seen on +the streets; where-ever danger and alarm prevailed, he appeared like a +rescuing angel; he brought help when all else despaired, and the +power of his eloquence and his pleading words silenced even the rough +insolence of the enemy's soldiers. A hundred times did he expose his +own life to save some unfortunate. In the New Frederick Street he +rushed through the flames into a burning house to save a child which +had been forgotten. + +Elsewhere he fought singly against twenty Austrian soldiers, who were +about to carry off two young girls in spite of their heart-rending +shrieks and entreaties. The rescued maidens sank at his feet, and +bathed his hand with their tears. + +Gotzkowsky raised them to his heart, and said, with an indescribable +expression: "Should I not have compassion on you? Am not I a father? +Thank my daughter, for it was she who saved you." + +But now, at last, exhausted Nature demanded her rights. After two days +and nights without rest, Gotzkowsky tottered toward his own house. As +he crossed the threshold he asked himself with an anxious heart--"Will +Elise come to meet me? Has she cared for me?" And trembling with care +and love, he went in. + +Elise did not come to meet him. No one bade him welcome but his +servant Peter. Gently at last, indeed almost timidly, he ventured to +inquire after his daughter. + +"She is in the large hall, busy nursing the wounded who have been +carried there." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance expressed great delight and relief at this +report. Elise had not, then, buried herself in the solitude of her +room in idle complaint, but had sought, like himself, comfort for her +suffering in helping and sympathizing with others. In this moment he +appreciated the infinity of his love. He yearned to take her to his +heart, and pour out to her all his unappreciated, doubted love, and +convince her that she, his daughter, the only child of his wife, was +the true end and object of his life. But unhappy, oppressed Berlin +left him no time to attend to the soft and gentle dictates of +his father's heart. He had scarcely got into his house, when two +messengers arrived from the town Council, bringing him six thousand +dollars in cash, with the urgent request that he would take charge of +this sum, which would be safe only with him. The town messengers had +scarcely left him, when there arrived the rich manufacturers, Wegeli +and Wuerst, with a wagon-load of gold and silver bars which Gotzkowsky +had promised to keep in his fire-proof cellars. + +His house had become the treasury of the whole of Berlin; and if +it had been destroyed, with all these gold and silver ingots, these +diamonds and silver ware, money and papers, all the Exchanges of +Europe would have felt the disastrous consequences. + +At last, all these treasures were stowed away, and Gotzkowsky +addressed himself to rest, when the door of his room was suddenly +opened, and General von Bachmann entered hastily. + +"Gotzkowsky," said he, "I have come with important intelligence, and +to redeem the promise I made to my friend Sievers." Approaching more +closely to Gotzkowsky, he said to him in an undertone: "General von +Tottleben has just received orders to destroy and burn all royal +factories and mills." + +Gotzkowsky turned pale, and inquired with horror, "Why this barbarous +proceeding?" + +General Bachmann shrugged his shoulders. "It is the order of the +commander-in-chief, Count von Fermore," said he; "and Tottleben will +have to be all the more particular from the fact that, instead of the +arsenal, fifty of our soldiers were blown into the air. Here, in the +mean while, take this paper, and see whether, among the factories to +be destroyed, one of yours has been included by mistake." + +Gotzkowsky looked over the list with dismay. "Did not your excellency +say that only royal factories were to be destroyed?" + +"Yes, so runs the order." + +"But the factories that stand on this list are not royal institutions. +The brass-works in Eberwalde, the gold and silver factories, and the +warehouse in Berlin, do not belong to the king, and are they going to +be so barbarous as to destroy them? That cannot be. I will hasten to +General Tottleben, and entreat him to revoke this cruel order." + +General Bachmann shook his head sadly. "I am afraid it will be in +vain," said he. "Besides, you incur great risk in your undertaking. +The general is in a very angry, excited mood, and your intercession +will only increase his bitterness and anger." + +"I fear not his anger," cried Gotzkowsky boldly. "If no one else dares +to tell him the truth, I will do it; and with argument and entreaty +compel him to be humane, and to respect the property of others. Come, +sir, let us go to General Tottleben!" + +"No, sir. I am not going with you," said Bachmann, laughing. "I am +not a man to tremble on the eve of battle, and yet I fear to meet +Tottleben's angry looks. In his wrath he is like a Jupiter Tonans, +ready to launch his thunderbolts, and dash to pieces all who approach +him." + +"I am not afraid of his thunder!" cried Gotzkowsky, fervently. +"The property and welfare of Berlin are in danger. I must go to the +general!" + +"Then go along," said Bachmann, "and may God give power to your words! +I have warned you, and that is all I can do." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer him. Trembling with eagerness and +impatience, he dressed himself, and throwing his cloak around him, he +once more left his house, with the alacrity of a young man. + +General Bachmann looked after him, smiling thoughtfully. "He is a +noble fellow," said he, "and Berlin has good reason to be grateful to +him, and to love him. But who knows? perhaps, for that very reason, +she will one day hate him. Noble-mindedness is so soon forgotten! It +is the solid weight that sinks to the bottom, while light deeds float +on top. Mankind is not fond of being grateful. I would like to know +whether Berlin will ever show a due appreciation of this noble man?" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE HORRORS OF WAR. + + +The Russians had at last allowed themselves to be carried away by the +example set them by the Austrians and Saxons. Like them, they roamed +through Berlin, robbing and plundering, unmindful of discipline, and +forgetting the severe punishments which Tottleben inflicted on those +whose misdeeds reached his ear. + +Like the Austrians, the Cossacks entered houses with wanton arrogance, +and, under the pretext of being Russian safeguards, they stole, and +robbed, and ill-treated in the rudest manner those who opposed their +demands. They had even managed to reduce their robbery and extortion +to a kind of system, and to value the human person after a new +fashion. It was a sort of mercantile transaction, and the Cossacks +were the brokers in this new-fashioned business. Stealthily and +unheard, they slipped into houses, fell upon the unsuspecting women +and children, and dragged them out, not to capture them as the Romans +did the Sabine women, but to hold them as so much merchandise, to be +redeemed by their friends and relatives at high and often enormous +ransoms. + +But the Cossacks drew but small profit from this hunt after noble +human game. They were only servants, acting under orders from their +officers. These latter divided the booty, throwing to the Cossacks a +small reward for their skill in robbing. + +Thus, for some days, Berlin was not only subjugated by the enemy, but +a prey to robbers and slave-dealers, and moans and lamentations were +heard in every house. All the more merrily did the enemy's soldiers +carouse and enjoy themselves, laugh and joke. For them Berlin was +nothing more than an orange to be squeezed dry, whose life-blood was +to be drawn out to add new zest to their own draught of life. + +The young Russian officers were sitting together in the large room +of their barracks. They were drinking and making merry, and striking +their glasses noisily together; draining them to the health of the +popular, handsome, and brilliant comrade who had just entered their +circle, and who was no other than he whom Gotzkowsky's daughter, in +the sorrow of her heart, was mourning as dead!--no one else than the +Russian colonel, Count Feodor von Brenda. + +He had been right, therefore, in trusting to Fortune. Fortune had +favored him, as she always does those who boldly venture all to +win all, and who sport with danger as with a toy. Indeed, it was +an original and piquant adventure which the Russian colonel had +experienced, the more piquant because it had threatened him with +death, and at one moment his life had been in extreme danger. It had +delighted him for once to experience all the horrors of death, the +palpitation, the despair of a condemned culprit; to acquire in his own +person a knowledge of the great and overpowering feelings, which he +had read so much about in books, and which he had not felt in reality +even in the midst of battle. But yet this bold playing with death had, +toward the last, lost a little of its charm, and a moment arrived when +his courage failed him, and his daring spirit was overpowered by +his awed physical nature. There was not, as there is in battle, the +excitement which conquers the fear of death, and drunk with victory, +mocks one to his face; there was not the wild delight which possesses +the soldier in the midst of a shower of balls, and makes him, as it +were, rush toward eternity with a shout. No, indeed! It was something +quite different which Colonel von Brenda, otherwise so brave and +valiant, now felt. + +When the Austrian soldiers had pronounced his sentence of death, when +they formed a ring around him at the Gens-d'Armes Market, and loaded +their pieces for his execution, then the haughty Russian colonel felt +a sudden change take place; his blood curdled in his veins, and +he felt as if thousands of small worms were creeping through them, +gliding slowly, horribly to his heart. At length, in the very despair +which oppressed him, he found strength to cast his incubus from his +breast, and with a voice loud and powerful as thunder to cry out for +help and succor. His voice was heard; it reached the ear of General +Bachmann, who came in person to set free the wild young officer, the +favorite of his empress, from the hands of the Austrians. + +This adventure, which had terminated so famously, Count Brenda now +related to his friends and comrades. To be sure, the general had +punished the mad freak with an arrest of four-and-twenty hours. But +after undergoing this punishment, he was more than ever the hero of +the day, the idol of his comrades, who now celebrated his release +from arrest with loud rejoicing and the cracking of champagne bottles. +After they had laughed and joked to their satisfaction, they resorted +to the dice. + +"And what stake shall we play for?" asked Feodor, as he cast a look +of ill-concealed contempt on his young companions, who so little +understood the art of drinking the cup of pleasure with decency, and +rolled about on their seats with lolling tongues and leering eyes. + +Feodor alone had preserved the power of his mind; his brain alone +was unclouded by the fumes of champagne, and that which had made the +others mad had only served to make him sad and gloomy. The drunkenness +of his comrades had sobered him, and, feeling satiated with all the +so-called joys and delights of life, he asked himself, with a smile of +contempt, whether the stammering, staggering fellows, who sat next to +him, were fit and suitable companions and associates of a man who had +made pleasure a study, and who considered enjoyment as a philosophical +problem, difficult of solution. + +"And for what stake shall we play?" he asked again, as with a powerful +grip he woke his neighbor, Lieutenant von Matusch, out of the half +sleep which had crept over him. + +"For our share of the booty!" stammered the lieutenant. + +Feodor looked at him with surprise. "What booty? Have we, then, become +robbers and plunderers, that you speak of booty?" + +His comrades burst into a wild laugh. + +"Just listen to the sentimental dreamer, the cosmopolite," cried Major +von Fritsch. "He looks upon it as dishonorable to take booty. I for +my part maintain that there is no greater pleasure, and certainly none +which is more profitable. Fill your glasses, friends, and let us drink +to our hunting. 'Hurrah! hurrah for human game!'" + +They struck their glasses together, and emptied them amidst an uproar +of laughter. + +"Colonel, you shall have your share of the booty!" said Lieutenant von +Matusch, laying his heavy, shaky hand on Feodor's shoulder. "We never +intended to cheat you out of your portion, but you were not here, and +therefore up to this time you could have no share in it." + +As Feodor pressed him with questions, he related how they had formed +a compact, and pledged themselves to have their booty and captives in +common. + +"We have caught more than a dozen head, and they have ransomed +themselves handsomely," cried Major von Fritsch. "We have just sent +out ten of our men again on the chase." + +"Oh! I hope they will bring in just such another handsome young girl +as they did yesterday," cried Matusch, rubbing his hands with delight. +"Ah, that was a pleasant evening! She offered us treasures, diamonds, +and money; she promised us thousands if we would only release her at +once! She wept like a Madonna, and wrung her snow-white hands, and all +that only made her prettier still." + +Colonel Feodor looked at him in anger. In contact with such coarse and +debauched companions his more refined self rose powerful within him, +and his originally noble nature turned with loathing from this barren +waste of vulgarity and infamy. + +"I hope," said he, warmly, "that you have behaved as becomes noble +gentlemen." + +Matusch shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "I do not know what you +call so, colonel. She was very pretty, and she pleased me. I promised +to set her free to-day, for the ransom agreed on, and I have kept my +word." + +As he spoke thus, he burst into a loud laugh, in which his friends +joined with glee. + +But Feodor von Brenda did not laugh. An inexplicable, prophetic dread +overpowered him. What if this young girl, described to him with so +much gusto, and who had been so shamefully ill-treated, should prove +to be his Elise, his beloved! + +At this thought, anger and distress took possession of him, and he +never loved Elise more ardently and truly than he did at this moment +when he trembled for her. "And was there no one," cried he, with +flashing eyes, "no one knightly and manly enough to take her part? +How! even you, Major von Fritsch, allowed this thing to happen?" + +"I was obliged to do so," replied the major. "We have made a law among +ourselves, which we have all sworn to obey. It is established that the +dice shall determine to which of the officers the booty shall belong; +and he who throws the highest number becomes the owner of the person. +He has to negotiate about the ransom. This, however, of course is +divided among his comrades." + +"But if the person is poor?" asked Feodor, indignantly, "if she cannot +pay?" + +"Then she belongs to him who has won her; he must decide on her fate. +He is--" + +The major stopped suddenly. The other officers raised themselves in +their seats, and listened with breathless attention. + +"I think I hear the signal," whispered the major. He had not deceived +himself. A shrill, piercing whistle sounded a second time. The +officers sprang from their seats, and broke into a loud cry of +triumph: + +"Our Cossacks are coming. They have caught something! Come, come, let +us throw the dice." + +With fierce eagerness, they all rushed to the table, and stretched +out their hands for the bones. Immediately a deep, expectant silence +ensued. Nothing was heard but the rattling of the dice, and the +monotonous calling of the numbers thrown. Feodor alone remained at his +place, lost in deep thought, and his tortured heart kept asking itself +the question, "Could it be her whom the barbarians had captured and +ill-used?" This question burnt in his brain like a red-hot dagger, +upsetting his reason, and driving him almost mad with anger and grief. +Still the rattling of the noisy dice went on--the calling of the +numbers. No one took notice of the young man, who, in desperate +distress, his clinched fist pressed against his breast, paced up and +down the farther end of the room, uttering broken words of anger and +grief. No one, as has been said, noticed him, nor did any one remark +that at this moment the door in the background of the hall was opened, +and six Cossacks entered, bearing a litter on their shoulders. + +Feodor von Brenda saw them, and, with deep compassion, he regarded the +veiled, inanimate figure lying on the litter, which was set down by +the Cossacks. + +"Colonel von Brenda," cried Major von Fritsch at this moment, "it is +your turn." + +"Oh, he is too sentimental!" laughed out Matusch. "Is not that the +fact, colonel?" + +Feodor remained musing and pensive. "It is a woman," said he to +himself--"perhaps a young and handsome woman like Elise. How if I +should try to save her? I have luck at the dice. Well, I will try." +And with a firm step he approached the table. "Give me the bones," +cried he. "I will throw with you for my share of the booty." + +The dice rattled and tumbled merrily on the table. + +"Eighteen spots!" + +"The highest throw!" + +"Colonel von Brenda has won!" + +"The woman is mine!" cried Feodor, his countenance beaming with joy. + +His comrades looked at him with astonishment. "A woman! How do you +know beforehand that it is a woman?" + +Feodor pointed silently to the back part of the room. There stood the +Cossacks, next to the litter, waiting in solemn silence to be noticed. + +"A woman! Yes, by Heavens! it is a woman," cried the officers. And, +with boisterous laughter, they rushed toward the Cossacks. + +"And where did you pick her up?" asked Major von Fritsch. + +"Don't know," answered one of the Cossacks. "We crept along a wall, +and when we had climbed to the top, we saw a garden. We got down +slowly and carefully, and waited behind the trees, to see if any one +would come down the long avenue. We did not have long to wait before +this lady came by herself. We rushed on her, and all her struggles, of +course, went for nothing. Luckily for her and us, she fainted, for +if she had cried out, some one, perhaps, might have come, and then we +would have been obliged to gag her." + +The officers laughed. "Well," said the major, "Colonel Feodor can +stop her mouth now with kisses." In the mean while, Lieutenant Matusch +threw the Cossacks a few copper coins, and drove them out of the room, +with scornful words of abuse. + +"And now let us see what we have won," cried the officers, rushing to +the litter. They were in the act of raising the cloth which concealed +the figure, but Feodor stepped forward with determined countenance and +flashing eyes. + +"Let no one dare to raise this veil," said he haughtily. His comrades +rushed, with easily aroused anger, on him, and attempted again to +approach the veiled woman. "Be on your guard!" cried Feodor, and, +drawing his sword from its scabbard, he placed himself before the +litter, ready for the combat. The officers drew back. The determined, +defiant countenance of the young warrior, his raised and ready sword, +made them hesitate and yield. + +"Feodor is right," said the major, after a pause; "he has fairly won +the woman, and it is his business now to settle about the ransom." + +The others cast their eyes down, perhaps ashamed of their own +rudeness. "He is right, she belongs to him," murmured they, as they +drew back and approached the door. + +"Go, my friends, go," said Feodor. "I promise you that I will settle +with her about her ransom, and give up beforehand all claim to my +share!" + +The countenances of the Russian officers brightened up. They nodded +and smiled toward him as they left the room. Count Feodor von Brenda +was now alone with the veiled and insensible woman. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BY CHANCE. + + +As soon as the officers had left the room, Feodor hastened to close +the door after them carefully, to prevent any importunate intrusion. +He then searched thoroughly all the corners of the room, and behind +the window-curtains, to make sure that no one was concealed there. He +wished to be entirely undisturbed with the poor woman whose face he +had not yet beheld, but toward whom he felt himself attracted by a +singular, inexplicable sensation. As soon as he was convinced that +he was quite alone, he went to her with flushed cheeks and a beating +heart, and unveiled her. + +But scarcely had he cast his eyes on her, when he uttered a cry, +and staggered back with horror. This woman who lay there before him, +lifeless and motionless, pale and beautiful as a broken flower, was +none other than Elise Gotzkowsky, his beloved! He stood and stared at +her; he pressed his hands to his forehead as if to rouse himself from +this spell which had hold of him, as if to open his eyes to truth and +reality. But it was no dream, no illusion. It was herself, his own +Elise. He approached her, seized her hand, passed his hands over her +glossy hair, and looked at her long and anxiously. His blood rushed +like a stream of fire to his heart, it seethed and burned in his head, +in his veins; and, quite overcome, he sank down before her. + +"It is she," murmured he softly, "it is Elise. Now she is mine, and no +one can take her from me. She belongs to me, my wife, my beloved. +Fate itself bears her to my arms, and I were a fool to let her escape +again." + +With passionate impetuosity he pressed her to his heart, and covered +her lips and face with his kisses. But the violence of his affection +aroused Elise. Slowly and stunned she raised herself in his arms, and +looked around, as if awakened from a dream. "Where am I?" asked she, +languidly. + +Feodor, still kneeling before her, drew her more closely to his heart. +"You are with me," said he, passionately, and as he felt her trembling +in his arms, he continued still more warmly: "Fear nothing; my Elise, +look not so timidly and anxiously about you. Look upon me, me, who am +lying at your feet, and who ask nothing more from Fortune than that +this moment should last an eternity." + +Elise scarcely understood him. She was still stunned--still confused +by the dreams of her swoon. She passed her hand over her forehead, and +let it drop again list-less and powerless. "My senses are confused," +whispered she in a low voice, "I do not hear; what has happened to +me?" + +"Do not ask, do not inquire," cried Feodor, ardently. "Think only that +love has sent an angel to you, on whose wings you have reposed on +your passage hither to me. Why will you ask after the nature of +the miracle, when the miracle itself brings delight to our eyes and +hearts? Therefore, fear nothing, gentle, pure being. Like an angel do +you come to me through the deluge of sin. You bear the olive-branch of +peace, and love and happiness are before us." + +But as he was about to press her still more closely to his heart, a +shudder pervaded her whole frame. "Oh, now, I recollect," she cried, +vehemently; "now I know all! I was alone in the garden. There came +those terrible men. They seized me with their rude hands. They wounded +my heart with their horrible looks, which made me shudder. Whither +have they brought me? where am I?" + +"You are with me," said Feodor, carrying her hand to his lips. + +For the first time, then, she looked at him--for the first time, +she recognized him. A deep blush of joy suffused her cheeks, and an +angelic smile beamed on her lips. She felt, she knew nothing further +than that her lover was at her side, that he was not dead--that he was +not lost to her. With an outcry of delight she threw herself into his +arms, and greeted the lost, the found one, with warm and happy words +of love. She raised her eyes and hands to heaven. "Oh, my God, he +lives!" cried she, exultingly. "I thank Thee, God, I thank Thee. Thou +hadst pity on my sufferings." + +"Love protected me," said Feodor, gazing at her passionately. "Love +saved me by a miracle. Still more miraculously, it brings you to my +arms. Fear not, Elise. No other eye than mine has seen you. No +one knows your name. That sweet secret, is only known to Love and +ourselves." + +Elise trembled. This imprudent speech woke her out of the stupor which +had so long had possession of her; it recalled her to the world, and +dispelled the charm which his presence, his looks, and his words had +thrown around her. She was now aroused, and hurried from a state of +dreamy delight to one of cruel and dread reality. The ray of joy faded +from her cheek, the smile died on her lips, and, extricating herself +forcibly from his arms, she stood before him in her pride and anger. +"Feodor," said she, terrified, "you sent those fearful men! You caused +me to be kidnapped!" With an angry, penetrating glance, she looked at +Feodor, who sank his eyes in confusion to the ground. + +As she saw this, she smiled contemptuously, and her injured maiden +honor overcame her love and tenderness. "Ah! now I understand!" said +she, with cutting scorn. "I have been told of the hunt after human +beings which is carried on in the town. Colonel Feodor von Brenda +plays a worthy part in this game!" + +Feodor wished to approach her and take her hand, but she repulsed him +sternly. "Do not touch me," cried she, haughtily; "do not seek to take +my hand. You are no longer he whom I love. You are a kidnapper. But +let me tell you, though you have compelled my body to suffer this +dishonorable deed, yet my soul remains free, and that despises you!" + +It was a splendid sight to see her in her noble wrath, which seemed to +elevate her whole frame, and drive a deep glow to her cheeks. + +Feodor looked at her with ardent gaze. Never had he seen her so +fascinating, so charmingly beautiful. Even her wrath delighted him, +for it was a token of her purity and innocence. + +He wanted again to draw near to her, to take her to his heart, but she +drew back in pride and anger. "Go," said she, "I have nothing to do +with a man who violates the most sacred laws of human honor, and like +a vile thief sneaks in to destroy innocence." Her voice failed her, +her eyes filled with tears, but she shook them from her. "I weep," +said she, "but not for grief, nor yet for love; anger it is alone +which extorts tears from me, and they are bitter--far more bitter than +death." And as she thus spoke, she pressed her hands to her face, and +wept bitterly. + +Feodor passed his arm gently around her trembling form. In the excess +of her grief she did not feel it. "No, Elise," said he, "you weep +because you love me. You weep because you think me unworthy of your +love. But before you condemn me, listen to me. I swear to you by the +memory of my mother, the only woman in whom, besides yourself, I +ever believed, that I had no part in this treachery which has been +committed toward you. You must believe me, Elise! Look at me, beloved +one--I can bear your looks. I dare raise my eyes to you. I am not +guilty of this crime." + +Her hands glided slowly from her face, and she looked at him. Their +looks met, and rested for a long time on each other. She read in his +eyes that he was innocent, for love is confiding, and she loved him. +With a charming smile she extended both hands toward him, and he read +in her looks the words of love and tenderness which her timid lips did +not dare give expression to. + +Feodor drew her warmly to his heart. "You believe me," cried he, +passionately; and as he raised her with irresistible strength in his +arms, he murmured low, "Now let us enjoy the sacred hour of happiness +without inquiring what divinity we have to thank for it." + +But the instinct of modesty prevailed over love. "No," cried she, as +she struggled out of his arms, trembling with excitement--"no, Feodor, +it is no hour of happiness in which my honor and good name are to be +buried--no hour of happiness when scandal can tell from mouth to mouth +how a German maiden let herself be carried into the Russian camp, and +shamelessly rushed into the arms of dishonor; for so will they tell +it, Feodor. No one will believe that you had no hand in this outrage. +The world never believes in innocence. Whoever is accused is already +condemned, even if the judge's sentence should a thousand times +pronounce him innocent, No, they will point at me with the finger of +scorn, and with an exultant laugh will say to each other, 'Behold the +barefaced woman who deserted to the Russians, and revelled with her +lover, while her native town was groaning amidst blood and tears. Look +at the rich man's child, who is so poor in honor!'" + +Deeply moved by her own words, she drew herself up still more in the +power of her dignity and innocence, and gazed at Feodor with flashing +eyes. "Count Feodor von Brenda," cried she, firmly, "will you allow +your bride to be suspected and defamed? that a stain should be allowed +to rest upon the name of her who is to become your wife?" + +In her proud excitement she did not perceive the rapid motion of his +lips, nor the blush of shame which suffused his cheeks; she remarked +not that he cast down his eyes and spoke to her with broken and +trembling voice. + +"Elise," said he, "you are beside yourself. Your excited fancy paints +every thing to you in sombre colors. Who will dare to defame you? Who +knows that you are here?" + +"But the whole world will know it. Scandal has a thousand tongues to +spread evil reports. Feodor, let me go. You say that no one knows that +I am here; then no one will know that I go. Be merciful with me, let +me go!" + +"No," cried he, almost rudely. "I will not let you. You ask what is +impossible. I were a fool if I were thus madly to cast the happiness +away which I would fain purchase with my heart's blood. Twice have +I risked my life to see you, to be able to kneel for one happy, +undisturbed hour at your feet, and gaze on you, and intoxicate myself +with that gaze. And now you ask that I shall voluntarily give up my +happiness and you!" + +"My happiness! my happiness! yes, even my life I ask you to preserve +by letting me go hence, and return to my father's house," cried Elise, +eagerly. + +As she perceived that he shook his head in refusal, and met his wild, +passionate looks, reading in them that she might expect no mercy +from him, her anger flashed forth. Imploringly she raised her arms to +heaven, and her voice sounded full and powerful: "Feodor, I swear to +you by God in heaven, and the memory of my mother, that I will only +become the wife of that man whom I follow of my free will out of the +house of my father. I am capable of leaving my father's house; but it +must be my own free choice, my free determination." + +"No," said Feodor, wildly; "I will not let you go. You are mine, and +you shall remain." + +Elise drew nearer to him with bashful tenderness. "You must let me go +now, in order one of these days to demand your pure wife from out +her father's house," said she. There was something so touching, so +confiding in her manner that Feodor, against his will, felt himself +overcome by it; but even while submitting to this fascination he was +almost ashamed of himself, and deep sadness filled his soul. + +Silently they stood opposite to each other, Elise looking at him with +tenderness, yet with fear--he his head bowed, wrestling with his own +heart. Suddenly this silence was interrupted by a loud and violent +knocking at the door. The voices of his wild companions and mad +comrades were calling out loudly Feodor's name, and demanding, with +vehement impetuosity, the opening of the closed door. Feodor turned +pale. The thought that his Elise, this young, innocent, and +modest girl, should be exposed to the insolent gaze of his riotous +companions, irritated him. + +Casting his angry glances around the room to seek for a hiding-place +in which to conceal Elise, he perceived that this was in vain, that +no escape was possible. Sadly he sank his head upon his breast, and +sighed. Elise understood him; she comprehended her disconsolate and +Desperate position. + +"There is then no place where I can hide myself?" said she in despair. +"Shame awaits me. The whole world will know that I am here!" + +Outside the officers raged still louder, and demanded with more +violent cries the opening of the door. Feodor still looked around him +for a secret place. Nowhere was there a possibility of hiding her, or +letting her escape unnoticed. His infuriated companions threatened to +break the door in. + +Feodor now with determination seized the large shawl which had +previously enveloped Elise's form, and threw it over her face. "Well +then," said he, "let them come; but woe to him who touches this +cloth!" + +He pressed the veiled maiden down in a chair, and, hastening to the +door, drew back the bolt. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MISTRESS OR MAID. + + +As Feodor opened the door, his comrades rushed screaming and laughing +uproariously into the room, spying round eagerly for the poor woman, +the noble game which they had hunted down. + +When they perceived Elise seated in a chair, veiled and motionless +just as they had left her, they gave vent to a cry of delight, and +began to explain to the colonel in a most confused jumble, often +interrupted by bursts of laughter and merry ejaculations, the cause +of their stormy interruption. A young man, they said, had just come +inquiring after a young lady who had been carried off by the Cossacks. +He had insisted upon seeing Colonel Feodor von Brenda, in order to +offer a ransom for the captive lady. + +"We have come to inform you of this," said Lieutenant von Matusch, +"so that you may not let her go too cheap. This is the richest haul we +have made yet." + +"The daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky!" cried another officer. + +"She'll have to pay a tremendous ransom," shouted Major von Fritsch. + +Feodor exclaimed, with assumed astonishment, "That woman there the +daughter of Gotzkowsky! Why, don't you know, my friends, that I lived +for a long time in Berlin, and am intimately acquainted with the +beautiful and brilliant daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky? I can assure +you that they do not resemble each other in a single feature." + +The officers looked at one another with amazement and incredulity. +"She is not Gotzkowsky's daughter? But the young man told us that he +came from Mr. Gotzkowsky." + +"And from that you draw the conclusion that this is his daughter whom +you have caught," cried Feodor, laughing. "Where is this man?" + +Lieutenant von Matusch opened the door, and on the threshold appeared +the serious figure of Bertram. He had fulfilled the vow which he had +made to himself, and carefully and attentively watched and guarded +every step of Elise; and while Gotzkowsky was absent from home night +and day faithfully serving his country, Bertram had been a vigilant +sentinel over his daughter. Indeed, Gotzkowsky's house had been, to +all appearance, perfectly safe; it was the sanctuary and refuge of all +the unfortunate, the only secure place where they could bestow their +valuables. Russian sentinels stood before the house, and Tottleben's +adjutant had his residence in it. But this security only applied to +the _house_. As long as Elise kept herself within-doors, Bertram had +no fear. But there was the large garden in which she loved to roam for +hours together, and especially her favorite resort at the extreme end +of the same, not far from the wall, which was so easy to climb. + +Bertram had not ventured to restrain Elise from visiting this solitary +and secluded spot, but he had followed her on her visits to it. There, +hidden behind some tree he had, with the patience and perseverance of +which love alone is capable, watched the young girl, who was neither +desirous of nor grateful for guardianship. This very day he had +followed her softly and unperceived into the garden. Then, when he had +ascertained whither she directed her steps, he had returned into the +house to complete some important business of Gotzkowsky. But impelled +by anxious and unaccountable restlessness, he had hastened back into +the garden; at a distance he heard Elise's cry for help, and, rushing +forward, had come up just in time to see her raised over the wall by +the Cossacks. + +Stunned by horror at this sight, Bertram stood for a moment +motionless. He then felt but one desire, one resolve, and that was--to +rescue her. He hurried to the house for the purpose of proceeding +to General Tottleben and invoking his assistance and support. But a +sudden and painful thought arrested his steps. + +Suppose that Elise had not gone against her will? Suppose that this +had been a preconcerted abduction to which the semblance of violence +had only been given in order, in case of failure, to maintain Elise's +reputation free from stain? + +With a sigh of anguish he recalled to mind when Elise had hidden +her lover in her bedchamber that night when Gotzkowsky had delivered +Feodor over to the Austrians. Since then father and daughter had not +met, and no word of reproach had passed Elise's lips. But Bertram +understood that Gotzkowsky's cruel and relentless sacrifice of her +lover had forever estranged the heart of his daughter from him; that +this hard though just deed had torn asunder the last link which bound +her to him. + +Elise could have learned just as well as Bertram had that Feodor had +been accidentally saved. Her lover himself could have sent her this +information, and she, who in the bitterness of her grief had torn +herself loose from her father, might not have had the strength to +withstand his ardent prayers. Perhaps in her sense of bereavement, +trusting to her love, she might have found the sad courage to brave +not only her father, but the judgment and scorn of the world, in order +to be united to her lover. + +Such thoughts as these arrested Bertram's steps, and compelled him +to reflection. Only one thing was positive--he must save her at every +hazard, even against her will, even if he should reap, as the sole +reward of his devoted love, her aversion; he must save her from +her own passionate, foolish heart, or from the wild lust of the +unprincipled man to whom she trusted her innocence, her youth, and +beauty. + +But this duty he had to perform alone; he dared not trust any one with +his secret, for fear of thereby defeating the object he had in view, +and, instead of saving, bringing disgrace upon her. His resolve was +formed. He must seek her out. He must penetrate to where she was, even +if hid behind a wall of Russian soldiers. Faithful and unselfish as +ever, she should find him at her side, ready to protect her against +every attack, every danger, even from her own inexperience or the +reckless passion of her lover. Especially above all things, her +abduction must remain a secret. To her maidens, therefore, Bertram +said, that their young mistress had withdrawn into her room, and +shut herself in, in order, after so many sleepless nights, to enjoy a +little rest. The same information he left behind for Gotzkowsky, and, +providing himself with weapons, he betook himself to the search for +Elise. In the first place, he naturally directed his steps to the +dwelling of Colonel von Brenda. Here he learned that the latter was +not at home, but had gone to an entertainment at the mess-room of +his regiment. Thither he hastened, firmly resolved to overcome all +obstacles, and in spite of every refusal to see the colonel, and +read in his countenance whether he were an accomplice of the crime +committed, or whether Elise had followed him of her own free will. + +At first, he had been obstinately refused admittance; then in his +despair and anguish he had made use of Gotzkowsky's name, a golden +key to open the doors, as he well knew. In fact, scarcely had the +gold-greedy Russian officers ascertained that the young stranger came +as a messenger from Gotzkowsky and wished to inquire of Count von +Brenda, after a young lady who had been carried off by the Cossacks, +than with a yell of delight they rushed toward the door of the room in +which were Feodor and the captured maiden. Bertram had, therefore, to +thank the avarice of the Russian officers that the door was opened and +he was allowed to enter. + +As Bertram appeared on the threshold of the room a scream escaped +the lips of the female, and he was enabled, notwithstanding the +concealment, to recognize her whom he sought. His heart was convulsed +with pain, and his impulse for a moment was, to rush upon this +audacious, dissolute young man who stood next to Elise, to murder him, +and revenge in his blood the disgrace he had brought upon her. But +remembering the sacred duty he had undertaken of protecting Elise and +concealing her flight as far as possible, he controlled his anger and +grief, and forced himself to appear calm and collected. + +Elise, in the mean while, with joyful emotion recognized Bertram. His +unexpected and unlooked-for appearance did not surprise her, it seemed +so natural to her that whenever danger threatened he should appear +as her protector and savior. She had such confidence in Bertram's +appearance whenever she stood in need of him, that when she saw him, +she looked upon herself as saved, and protected from every danger +which threatened her. She motioned Feodor to her side, and with a +touch of triumphant pride, said to him, "It is Bertram, the friend +of my youth. He has risked his life to save me from dishonor." Feodor +felt the reproof which lay in the intonation of these words, and his +brow grew dark. But he overcame this momentary irritation, and turning +to Bertram, who was approaching him with a firm and determined step, +asked him, "Well, sir, whom do you seek?" + +"A young girl who has been carried off by force," replied Bertram, and +he regarded the young man with angry looks. But Feodor met his glance +with firmness and composure. "It is true," said he, "such an outrage +has been committed; some Cossacks kidnapped a young girl in a garden +and brought her here. I myself will inform the general of this +dishonorable deed, for you understand, sir, that this outrage is an +insult to us as well as to yourself. I have promised my protection to +this young person, and I am ready to defend her against any one who +dares to touch her honor or to doubt her virtue. Come, now, sir, and +see whether this he the same young girl whom you seek." + +He stepped toward Bertram, and as he led him to Elise, he whispered +rapidly in a low tone. "Be silent, and do not betray her name, for +Elise's honor is at stake." + +He raised the veil, and, pointing to Elise's abashed and blushing +countenance, he asked, with a derisive laugh, "Well, now, do you +recognize her? Will you swear that this is Gotzkowsky's daughter?" + +Bertram looked at him with assumed surprise. "Gotzkowsky's daughter?" +asked he, shrugging his shoulders. "Why, it is the young lady herself +who sent me, and no one is looking for her." + +Colonel Feodor turned with a laugh of triumph toward his comrades. +"Did I not tell you so?" cried he. "You credulous fools were hoping to +get half a million ransom, and I have been bargaining with her for the +last hour for a hundred dollars. She swears, with tears in her eyes, +that she is not worth a hundred pence. Gotzkowsky's daughter, indeed! +Do you imagine that she goes about in a plain white dress, without any +ornament or any thing elegant about her? She is just as fond of dress +as our own princesses and pretty women, and, like them, the daughter +of the rich Gotzkowsky is never visible except in silk and +velvet, with pearls diamonds. Oh! I would like myself to catch the +millionnaire's daughter, for then we might bargain for a decent +ransom." + +"But who, then, is this woman?" roared the disappointed officers. "Why +does the rich Gotzkowsky send after her, if she is not his daughter?" + +"Who is she?" cried Feodor, laughing. "Well, I will tell you, as you +attack so much importance to it. You have been served like the seekers +after hidden treasure. You have been seeking for gold, and, instead, +you have only found coals to burn your fingers. You sought after the +millionnaire, the rich heiress, and, instead of her, you have only +caught her--chambermaid." + +"A chambermaid!" growled out his comrades, and turning their dark, +lowering looks on Bertram, they inquired of him whether this woman +were only a chambermaid in Gotzkowsky's house, and assailed him with +reproaches and curses because he had deluded them into the belief that +Gotzkowsky's daughter had been captured. + +"If we had not thought so, we would not have let you in," cried +Lieutenant von Matusch. "It was not worth while making so much fuss +about a little chambermaid." + +"It was just for that very reason," replied Bertram, "and because I +knew that you would not otherwise help me, that I let you believe it +was Gotzkowsky's daughter whom you had captured; otherwise you would +never have let me come near Colonel von Brenda. And Mademoiselle +Gotzkowsky had expressly directed me to apply to that gentleman, and +I did so. You can understand my doing so, when I inform you that this +young girl is my sister!" + +Feodor turned himself to Elise with an expression of anger on his +countenance. "Is this true?" + +"It is true!" cried she, reaching her hand out to Bertram, with a look +of heartfelt gratitude. "He is my brother, my faithful brother!" + +But, as she read in Feeder's darkened countenance the marks of +ill-concealed anger and jealousy, she turned toward her lover with a +rare, sweet smile. "Oh," said she, "there is nothing nobler, nothing +more sacred and unselfish, than the love of a brother." + +Feodor's searching look seemed to penetrate into the inmost recesses +of her heart. Perhaps he read all the love, innocence, and strength +that lay therein, for his brow cleared up, and his looks resumed +their open cheerfulness. Quickly he took Bertram's hand and laid it +in Elise's. "Well, then," said he, "you happy pair, take each other's +hands, and thank God that the danger is over. We have nothing to do +with young and pretty girls--we only want rich ones. Go!" + +"No, no," cried the officers, "not at all, not without ransom!" Saying +which, they pressed noisily and angrily nearer, raising their clinched +fists. "She must pay, or we will keep her!" + +"Dare one of you touch her?" cried Feodor, drawing his sword, and +placing himself in front of Elise. + +"I have come to fetch my sister," said Bertram, turning to the +officers, "but I knew very well that you would not let her go unless +her ransom were paid. I therefore brought all my little portion with +me. Take this purse full of ducats, and let it pay for her." + +A cry of triumph was the answer from the soldiers as they drew Bertram +toward the table that he might count out the money. While they were +dividing it among themselves, talking loudly and laughing merrily, +Feodor remained standing at Elise's side, neither daring to break the +impressive silence. Their souls communed with each other, and they +needed not words nor outward signs. At last, after a long pause, +Feodor asked-- + +"Are you satisfied now, Elise?" + +She answered him with a sweet smile, "I am thine forever!" + +"And will you never forget this hour?" + +"I will not forget it. I will remember that I have sworn to follow +you voluntarily from my father's house, even against his will." And +letting her blushing face droop upon her breast, she whispered, in a +voice scarcely audible--"I await you!" + +But these words, low as they had been spoken, reached the ears of two +men at the same time. Not only Colonel Feodor, but also Bertram, who +had drawn close up to Elise again, had overheard them. The first +they filled with emotions of delight, the other with painful anguish. +Bertram, however, was accustomed to wrestle with his love, and smother +the expression of his pain, under the appearance of quiet composure. +He approached Elise, and offered her his hand, said, "Come sister, let +us go." + +"Yes, go," said the colonel, with the proud superiority of a preferred +rival. He extended his hand to Bertram, and continued, "Be a good +brother to her, and conduct her safely home." + +Bertram's countenance, usually so quiet and calm, assumed for an +instant an offended and almost contemptuous air, and bitter words were +on his tongue; but his angry eye accidentally met Elise's, anxiously +and imploringly directed toward him. He could not master himself +sufficiently to accept Feodor's hand, but at least he could control +his anger. "Come, sister," said he, gently leading Elise toward the +door which the colonel indicated to him by a silent nod. + +Elise had not the courage to leave her lover without a word of +farewell; or rather, she was cruel enough to inflict this torture on +Bertram. Stretching both hands toward him, she said softly, "I thank +you, Feodor; God and love will reward you for having greatly and nobly +conquered yourself." + +Feodor whispered to her, "And will you remember your vow?" + +"Ever and always!" + +In bending over to kiss her hand, he murmured, "Expect me, then, +to-morrow." + +"I will expect you," said she, as she passed him on her way to the +door. + +No word of their whispered conversation escaped the attentive ear of +Bertram; and he understood it, for he loved her, and knew how to read +her thoughts in her looks and her eyes. As he followed her through the +long corridor, and her light, graceful figure floated before him like +a vision, a deep, despairing melancholy settled on his heart, and he +murmured to himself, "To-morrow she expects him!" But with desperate +determination he continued to himself, "Well, then, woe to him if I +find him going astray!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN UNEXPECTED ALLY. + + +Thanks to Bertram's forethought and caution, he had succeeded in +restoring Elise to her father's house, without her absence having been +remarked, or having occasioned any surmise. In the close carriage in +which they performed the journey home, they had not exchanged a word; +but leaning hack on the cushions, each had rest and repose after the +stormy and exciting scenes they had just passed through. Elise's hand +still rested on Bertram's, perhaps unconsciously, perhaps because she +had not the courage to withdraw it from him to whom she owed so much +gratitude. + +Bertram felt the feverish warmth of this trembling hand, and as he +looked at her and remarked the paleness of her cheeks, the painful +twitching of her lips, he was overcome by a feeling of deep +wretchedness, of pitying sadness, and was obliged to turn his head +away to conceal his tears from her. + +When the carriage stopped, and he accompanied her into the house, +Elise pressed his hand more firmly, and turned her gaze upon him +with a look of deep gratitude, which made his heart palpitate with a +mixture of delight and anguish. He wished to withdraw, he wished to +let her hand go, but she held his still more firmly clasped, and drew +him gently up the steps. Powerless with emotion, he followed her. + +As they entered the hall which led to her room, she cast a searching +look around to see if any one were present, and perceiving that +they two were alone, she turned toward Bertram with an indescribable +expression. She tried to speak, but the words died on her lips, a deep +glow suffused her cheeks, and completely overpowered, and giddy +from the tumult of her feelings, she leaned her head on her friend's +shoulder. + +Gently he passed his arm around her delicate, trembling figure, and +his eyes beamed with a pure emotion. In the depth of his heart he +renewed to God and himself his vow of fidelity and self-sacrificing +love to this poor girl who lay on his bosom like a drooping flower. + +Suddenly she raised her head, her face wet with tears and convulsed +with deep feeling. "Bertram," she said, "I know that I am not worthy +of your noble, generous love, but yet, in my crushed heart, I thank +God that I possess it. A time may come when all the thoughts and +feelings which now fill my soul will appear as vain dreams and +illusions. It may be that some day I will look upon life as a grand +delusion, a fruitless striving after happiness and repose. But never, +my brother, never will that time come when I can doubt your faithful, +pure affection. No power, no other feeling, will ever succeed in +supplanting the deep and boundless gratitude which pervades my whole +soul and binds me to you forever." + +And then it seemed to him as if he felt the breath of an angel wave +over his face; as if the dream and desire of his whole life had closed +his lips in unexpected bliss; as if the wishes and hopes of his +ardent but resigned heart had been fulfilled, and become a delightful +reality. + +When he recovered from this sweet dream, which for a moment robbed him +of his consciousness, Elise had disappeared. But her kiss still glowed +on his lips, and seemed to bless and sanctify his whole life. + +This stream of happiness lasted but for a short time, and Bertram soon +awoke, with a sad sigh, from his delightful fancies, to recall the +painful hours he had just gone through, and to say to himself that +Elise was lost to him forever, that he never could hope to rescue that +heart from the lover to whom she had yielded it with all the devotion +of her ardent nature. With a sorrowing heart did he remember the +last words of the lovers. She had appointed a meeting for him on the +morrow, she expected him, and, braving the anger of her father, had +giving him a rendezvous in his house. + +As Bertram thought over this, he paced the room up and down, panting +with excitement, and wringing his hands. "If Gotzkowsky knew this, he +would kill her, or die himself of grief. Die of grief!" continued he, +after a pause, completely buried in his sad and bitter thoughts--"it +is not so easy to die of grief. The sad heart is tenacious of life, +and sorrow is but a slow grave-digger. I have heard that one could die +of joy, and it seemed to me just now, when Elise rewarded me with a +kiss, that I could understand this. If she only loved me, it were a +blessing of God to die, conscious of her love." + +Completely overcome by his painful thoughts, he remained for a while +motionless and sad. But he soon recovered himself, and shook off the +dark cloud which overshadowed his soul. "I am not born to die such +a death. It is my destiny not to be happy myself, but to save others +from unhappiness. I feel and know that Elise cannot be happy in this +love. A loving heart is gifted with prophetic second sight to read the +future. Elise can never be happy without her father's blessing, and +Gotzkowsky will never give his sanction to this love. How can I lead +her past this abyss which threatens to engulf her? May God, who sees +my heart, help me! He knows how hopeless and disinterested it is. Help +me, Father in heaven! show me some way of saving her noble father from +the grief which lies before him." + +It seemed as if God had heard his prayer, and taken compassion on his +pure, unselfish spirit, and sent him assistance. A loud knocking +at the door aroused him suddenly from his gloomy thoughts, and he +hastened to open it. + +A veiled lady stood there, wrapped in furs, and attended by a servant +in rich livery. In fluent French, which it could be perceived, +however, was not her native tongue, she inquired whether, as she had +been told, Herr von Brink, Tottleben's adjutant, resided there. As +Bertram answered this question in the affirmative, but added, that +Herr von Brink was in the habit of not returning from the general's +quarters before evening, she added, in a decided tone, "Well, then, I +will wait for him." + +Without deeming Bertram's consent necessary, she entered the hall and +motioned to her servant to remain at the door. + +After a pause, there ensued between the two one of those superficial, +ceremonious conversations, the usual refuge of those who have nothing +to say to each other; but the evident uneasiness and confusion of the +young lady prevented her from joining freely in it. Her large, bright +eyes strayed restlessly around the room. A hectic flush alternated +on her cheeks with deathly pallor, and the smile, which occasionally +played around her lips, seemed but a painful expression of mental +suffering. Suddenly she raised her head, as if determined no longer to +bear this constraint, or submit to the fetters of conventionality. + +"Sir," said she, in a tone vibrating with excitement and anxiety, "you +will excuse my asking you a question, on the answer to which depends +my future happiness, my life, indeed--to obtain which I have travelled +from St. Petersburg here. I have just left my carriage in which I +performed the journey from that city. You can therefore judge +how important the cause of this undertaking is to me, and what an +influence it may have on my whole existence. Its object lies in the +question I am about to put to you." + +Bertram took pity on her painful agitation. "Ask" he said, "and, on +the honor of a gentleman, I assure you that your question shall be +answered truly, and that I am ready to serve you as far as it lies in +my power." + +"Are you acquainted with General Bachmann's adjutant?" asked she, +shortly and hurriedly. + +"I am," replied Bertram. + +She trembled as in an ague. "I am come to inquire after a man of whom +I have not heard for six months. I wish to know whether he is alive, +or only dead to me." + +"His name?" asked Bertram, with painful misgiving. + +Her voice was scarcely audible as she replied: "Colonel Count Feodor +von Brenda, of the regiment Bachmann." + +Bertram was quite taken aback by this unexpected turn of the +conversation, and she continued with great excitement, "You do not +answer! oh, have compassion on me, and speak! Is he alive?" + +"He is alive, and is here," answered Bertram sadly. + +A cry of delight escaped the lips of the lady. "He lives," she +exclaimed loudly. "God has then heard my prayer, and preserved him to +me." + +But suddenly the cheerful smile on her lips died away, and, dropping +her head on her breast, she cried, "He is alive, and only dead to me. +He is alive, and did not write me!" For a moment she stood in this +position, silent and depressed; then drawing herself up erect, her +eyes sparkling with passionate warmth, she said: "Sir, I crave your +pardon for a poor stranger, who hardly knows what she is doing or +saying. I am not acquainted with you, or even your name, but there is +something in your noble, calm countenance which inspires confidence." + +Bertram smiled sadly. "Fellow-sufferers always feel attracted to each +other by a community of feeling. I, too am a sufferer, and it is God's +will that our sorrows should spring from a common source. The name you +have uttered is but too well known to me." + +"You know Colonel Brenda?" she asked. + +"I do know him," answered Bertram. + +"The count was at one time a prisoner of war," continued the lady. "He +visited this house frequently, for I have been told that it belongs to +Mr. Gotzkowsky, of whom the colonel wrote me, in the commencement of +his captivity, that he received him most hospitably." + +"Did he write you any word of Gotzkowsky's handsome daughter?" asked +Bertram, looking inquiringly into the countenance of the stranger. + +She shuddered, and turned pale. "O Heaven!" she murmured low, "I have +betrayed myself!" + +Bertram seized her hand, his features evincing deep emotion. "Will +you answer me one question?" he asked, and as she bowed her head in +silence, he proceeded--"is the Count von Brenda your brother?" + +"Oh, sir," she said, with a faint smile, "one does not suffer for a +brother as I have suffered for Feodor. I am the Countess Sandomir, +and Count Feodor is my betrothed. The good empress herself joined our +hands, and blessed our union. A short time after our marriage the war +broke out, and deprived me of my lover and husband. For six months I +have had no tidings of him, and, tortured by anxiety and apprehension, +I resolved to come myself to Germany to seek my betrothed, either to +bury or nurse him, for I believed he must be sick or dead, as he did +not return to me." + +Bertram offered in his heart a prayer of gratitude to God. With +feelings of sympathy, he then turned his eyes on the quivering +features of the stranger. "Listen to me," said he, gently. "As you +entered, I had just prayed to God, in the suffering and sadness of my +heart, to show me some way and means of escape from the labyrinth +in which Count Brenda has placed us. It would seem as if He has +had compassion on us all, for at the very moment he sends you, the +affianced bride of the count, and through you alone can we be saved. +We must be open and candid toward each other. Therefore, listen to me. +I love Gotzkowsky's daughter--I love her without hope, for she loves +another." + +"And this other?" asked she breathlessly. + +"She loves Count Feodor von Brenda, and is about to escape with him." + +"Escape!" cried the lady, and her voice sounded threatening and angry, +and her eyes flashed. "Oh!" said she, gnashing her teeth, "I will +prevent this, even if I kill this girl!" + +Bertram shook his head sadly. "Let us rather try to kill this love in +her heart. Let us contrive some means of bringing your lover back to +you." + +"Are there any such means?" asked she, anxiously. + +Bertram did not answer immediately. His brow was clouded with deep +thought, and a heavy sigh escaped him. He then asked quickly, "Will +you follow me and enter into my plot?" + +"I will," she said firmly. + +"Above all things, then, let us be cautious. Count Feodor must have no +suspicion that you are here, for your presence would drive him to some +desperate resolve, and I fear Elise loves him sufficiently not to draw +back from any thing." + +"You are very cruel," murmured the lady. "You know not what torture +you are preparing for me." + +"If I did not know it, I would not undertake the enterprise that is to +serve us both. I have told you that I love Elise, but I have not told +you how deep and sacred this love is. I would cheerfully venture my +life for her, but now I dare to interfere with her love, and earn her +hatred." + +"You have, then, already made your plan?" + +"I have made my plan, and if you will allow me to escort you to +your hotel, I will disclose it to you, so that we may arrange the +particulars together." + +"Come, then," said she, grasping his hand warmly, "and may God assist +us, and restore to you your bride, and to me my lover!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE JEW EPHRAIM. + + +Much sorrow and tribulation were suffered during this time by the +inhabitants of Berlin. But the saddest lot of all fell to the Jews, +who were threatened with the greatest danger. In Berlin, as everywhere +else, they only led a tolerated, reviled, and derided existence. +They possessed no rights, only duties; no honor, only insults; no +dignities, but humiliation and disgrace. Now they were called on to +give up the last and only thing which shed some gleam of brightness on +their poor, down-trodden existence--their gold and their treasures. + +The Russian commander had imposed upon the Jewish community in Berlin +a special tax; and as they hesitated about paying it, and declared +themselves incapable of raising such a large sum, General von +Tottleben had the three elders of the Jews arrested and strictly +guarded in the Vincenti House in Brueder Street. + +But who could despise or blame the poor Jews for not wishing to +give up their gold? Gold was to them a condition of existence, their +future, their happiness, their family. Gold enabled some of them to +raise themselves from the dust and degradation to which the cruel +severity of _Christian charity_ had condemned them, and to indulge +in human aspirations, human happiness, and human feelings. Only those +among them who possessed wealth were tolerated, and dared hope by +strenuous industry, ceaseless activity, and fortunate speculation, +to amass sufficient fortune to found a family or beget children. The +happiness of domestic life was only allowed to them on condition of +their being rich. + +Frederick the Great had learned with indignation that the Jewish +families in Berlin far exceeded the number of one hundred and +fifty-two allowed by law, and that there were fifty-one too many. +Consequently a stringent decree was issued that they should no longer +be counted by families, but by heads, and that when the poll exceeded +the permitted number, the poorest and lowest of them should be +shipped off.[1] Gold was therefore to the rich Jew a certificate of +naturalization, while the poorer ones had no certainty of a home. They +could at any moment be turned off, driven out of Berlin, if a richer +one should by his wealth and trading acquire the right to take to +himself a wife, and by her have a child. But even he, the rich one, +could only have one child; only one child was allowed to him by law. +For one child only could he obtain legal protection, and only in +exceptional cases, as when their factories and firms succeeded +remarkably well, did the king, in the fulness of his grace, allow a +second child to inherit its guardianship.[2] + +Of what avail, then, was it to the poor Jews to have toiled and +worked so hard, driven by the necessity of paying the hateful +_Jewish poll-tax,_ and thereby procuring for themselves a temporary +toleration? At any moment they could be driven off in case the rich +Ephraim or the rich David Itzig, in the arrogance of their wealth, +should venture to give to the world more than one child, and +purchase for the sum of three thousand dollars another certificate of +protection for the second! Of what avail was their wealth even to the +rich Jews Ephraim and Itzig? They were nevertheless under the ban of +their proscribed race. No privileges, no offices existed for them. +They could only build factories or carry on commerce. All other paths +of life, even agriculture and horticulture, were forbidden to them. +And now they were called on to give up to the Russians their very +life, the nerve of their existence, the heart which carried blood and +warmth to their entire organization--their money. + +Ephraim and Itzig were rich and powerful in Berlin; they could build +houses, found factories, and even determine the value of money, for +the mint was in their hands. They had farmed it from the king, and +paid him an enormous rent for the same, which had increased each year, +and in 1760 amounted to seven millions. But, thanks to this farming, +the value of money had increased exorbitantly. Twenty dollars were +paid for a Frederick d'or, and five-and-thirty for the mark of fine +silver. Owing to the labors of these Jewish lessees, there were many +millions of light money, many millions of bad eight-groschen pieces, +which, to this day, are known by the name of _Ephraimites_, and whose +repudiation at a later period ruined many thousands of honest, +worthy tradesmen, while Ephraim and Itzig became wealthy and powerful +thereby. Yet it was now this same money which brought misfortune to +them, and was the cause of their suffering and mortal anxiety; for +General Tottleben had threatened that if the Jews could not pay +the tax imposed on them, he would take the mint farmers with him as +hostages, and destroy their factories. Besides this, he had, as we +said before, arrested their elders and sworn to send them to Siberia, +if the Jews did not pay. + +The payment was to be made in three days. But the three days had +elapsed, and they had not been able to raise the money which was +demanded of them. In this dire extremity, the two mint-contractors +remembered the man whom they had hitherto most cordially hated, and +whose ruin was the cherished wish of their life. They now recollected +that John Gotzkowsky was the only man who, in the generosity and +kindness of his heart, was capable of forgetting their former insults +and injuries, and of remembering only their need and misery. They +determined, therefore, to apply to him, and request his intercession +and assistance, but they did this with a bitter sigh, for they felt +the hatred and grudge which they nursed in their hearts toward him +become only more intense and stronger. + +"Who would have thought it?" said Ephraim, as, by the side of Itzig, +and accompanied by some of the most wealthy Jewish merchants, he took +the road to Gotzkowsky's dwelling--"who would have thought it? The +powerful Russian General von Tottleben is the friend of Gotzkowsky, +and the greatest men among our people are now obliged to go to +Gotzkowsky's house to implore his influence and protection." + +"Yes," sighed the rich merchant David, "we are obliged to apply to +him to befriend us, and yet what is he compared to you? You are much +richer than he is." + +"Silence, unfortunate man!" cried Ephraim with a shudder, as he looked +shyly around. "I am poor, and for that reason can pay nothing. I am +poor, as all of us wretched Jews are. Have we not to contribute the +greater portion of the war-tax? Are not all our means exhausted? Is +that not enough?" + +"Too much!" groaned Itzig, who till now had walked in melancholy +contemplation at Ephraim's other side. "It is too much. Are we then +treated like human beings? Have we any rights? Only when we have +to pay, do they remember that we have the right of giving up our +hard-earned property. If the Jew has no money, is he not at least a +man, say I?" + +"Pshaw! a man!" cried Ephraim. "Whoever is without money is no man, be +he Jew or Christian. If Gotzkowsky had no money, he would be no better +than we are. Why does the Russian general have any thing to do with +him? Because he is rich. Why do the counts and lords pay court to him? +For the same reason. Why do they call his daughter an angel, and +swear she is the handsomest woman in Berlin? Because her father is +the richest Christian merchant in the town. The whole world knows and +admires him. And why? Because he is rich." + +"No one is rich," said Itzig, shaking his head. "He who has not every +thing is not rich. There is no such thing as riches, for he who has +much has to give much." + +"God knows we will have to give much!" whimpered Ephraim, and all his +companions joined in with groans and sighs as a chorus to his speech. +"They mean to take every thing from us that we own, and Itzig is +right; if the Jew has not money, he is nobody. Have we not suffered as +much as others? Have we not protected our people, and fed and housed +our poor? No one talks about these things, but the whole town talks +about Gotzkowsky. They praise him, they exalt him; they cry out his +name everywhere, so that one's heart actually burns for vexation. And +yet at the highest calculation he is not worth more than a million." + +"He is worth more than ourselves; he is worth much more, for he has +the favor of the Russian general. For this reason we must bow down +before him, and flatter him, and assure him of our eternal gratitude, +for it is a question not of life, but what is more precious than +life--money." + +With deep-drawn sighs they whined out, "Yes, we must bow to him, and +flatter him, and yet we are richer than he is." + +As long as they were on the street they maintained an air of pride and +vexation; but as soon as they entered Gotzkowsky's house and stood in +his presence, they were all gentleness, humility, and friendliness. +With tears they implored Gotzkowsky to have pity, and to beg General +Tottleben to have compassion on them. They vowed eternal gratitude to +him, and swore with solemn oaths that if he succeeded in relieving +the Jews from the special impost, they would love him forever, and be +everlastingly thankful to him. + +Gotzkowsky smiled in pity. "That means that you would feel yourselves +under obligations to me, and, if ever you got me in your power, you +would take the opportunity to ruin me. But that is of no consequence +to me. This impost is a crying injustice, and therefore will I plead +for you, for it never shall be said that Gotzkowsky suffered an +injustice to be done when he could prevent it. Go home in peace, for, +if I can, I will help you." + +"How arrogant this man is!" said Itzig, when they had left the house. +"One would suppose that he had all virtue and honor on lease, just as +we have the mint." + +"And if he has," said Ephraim with a laugh, "if he has the monopoly +of virtue and honor, it is only to trade on. No doubt his speculation +will turn out just as profitably as ours with the mint. No doubt he +will coin it into light eight-groschen pieces, cheat the people with +them, and make more than his expenses, as we have done." + +"But woe be unto him," growled Itzig, "if any light coin of his virtue +come into my hands! I will throw them back into his face till blood +flows, and I will never forgive him that this day we have had to stand +before him begging and pleading. If he ever comes to grief, I will +remember it. If the Jew has no money, he is nobody. Well, we will see +what Gotzkowsky is worth without money. Let me tell you we will all of +us live to see that day. He has too much stupid generosity, which some +day or other will run away with his purse, and then there will be a +grand blow-up, honor and virtue and all, sky high. Then there will be +no more talk about the great Gotzkowsky and his virtue and all that. +Oh! I do so rejoice over that time a-coming. But in the mean time I am +so very glad that Gotzkowsky can be of some service to us!" + + +[Footnote 1: Büsching's Travels, 1780.] + +[Footnote 2: "Annals of the Jews in the Prussian States," +Berlin.--UNGER.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE RUSSIAN GENERAL AND THE GERMAN MAN. + + +Scarcely had the Jewish deputation left Gotzkowsky's house, before +he betook himself, full of the important information received from +General Bachmann, to General Tottleben's residence, fully determined +to venture every thing to prevent the execution of the cruel order +which threatened the factories and other branches of industry. But +this was not the sole object which led him there. He went there as +a representative of the whole town. Every one who needed assistance +applied to him, and to each one he had promised to intercede for +him. Laden with petitions and commissions from the magistracy, +the merchants, and the citizens of Berlin, he entered the Russian +general's quarters. Deeply inspired with the importance of his +commission, he traversed the halls which led to the general's private +apartments, saying to himself, "This is the most important mission I +have ever undertaken, for the welfare of the whole town depends upon +it--a million dollars depend upon every word I may utter. Many a +struggle have I had in these days, but this is the hardest of them +all, and victory hangs on my tongue." + +With beaming countenance and sparkling eyes, with his whole being +animated with the sacredness of his office, he entered the cabinet +of the Russian general. Tottleben did not offer him, as heretofore, a +friendly welcome. He did not even raise his eyes from the dispatches +which he was in the act of reading, and his contracted brows and the +whole expression of his countenance was such as to discourage any +petition or pleading. At this moment General von Tottleben was a true +Russian, and, thanks to General Fermore's dispatches, he had succeeded +in suppressing his German sympathy. At least he flattered himself that +he had, and for that reason he avoided meeting Gotzkowsky's clear, +bright eye. + +Without taking any notice, he finished reading the papers, and then +rose and walked about the room. After a while he seemed as if by +accident to perceive Gotzkowsky's presence, and stopped short. "Have +you come back already?" he asked in a sullen, grumbling tone. "I +know very well that you have returned to beg for all sorts of useless +trash; I can't bear such eternal begging and whining--a pitiful rabble +that is all the time creeping to our feet." + +"Yes, your excellency, it is nothing but a poor, pitiful rabble," said +Gotzkowsky with a smile; "and for this very reason the Russians are +despised all over Europe. Toward the high and mighty they behave +like fawning hounds, and toward the low and humble they are rude and +arrogant." + +"I am not speaking of the Russians," cried the general, as he turned +his lowering countenance toward Gotzkowsky, "I am speaking of _you_. +All day long you have done nothing but beg and demand." + +But Gotzkowsky met him with quiet and smiling composure. "Pardon, your +excellency, it is you who demand; and because you are all the time +demanding, I must all the time be begging. And, in fact, I am only +begging for yourself." + +Tottleben looked at him in inquiring astonishment, but in silence. "I +am not begging for favor," continued Gotzkowsky, "but for justice; and +if you grant this, why, it is so much gained for you. Then, indeed, +the world will esteem you as not only brave, but just; and then +only will history honor you as truly great--the equitable and humane +conqueror. The Vandals, too conquered by the sword; and if it only +depended on mere brute strength, wild bulls would be the greatest +generals." + +Tottleben cast a fierce, angry look toward him "For that reason," +cried he, threateningly, "he is a fool who irritates a wild bull." + +Gotzkowsky bowed and smiled. "It is true one should never show him +a red cloak. A firm, unterrified countenance is the only way to tame +him. The bull is powerless against the mind which beams out of the +human eye." + +It was very probably the very boldness of this answer which pleased +the general, accustomed as he was to Russian servility. His features +assumed a softer expression, and he said, in a milder tone: "You are +an extraordinary man, and there is no use in contending with you. +One is obliged to do whatever you wish. Well, now--quick, out with +it--what do you want of me?" + +"Justice," said Gotzkowsky. "You gave me your word that your soldiers +should not rob nor plunder, and, notwithstanding, they do it." + +"That is not true!" thundered the general. + +"It is true," replied Gotzkowsky, calmly. + +"Who dares to contradict me?" cried Tottleben, trembling with rage, +and striding toward Gotzkowsky. + +"I dare," answered the latter, "if you call that 'to dare' which is +only convincing you of your error. I, myself, have seen your soldiers +striking down the flying women with the butts of their muskets, +robbing and plundering the houses. Your orders have been but poorly +obeyed; and your soldiers _almost_ equal the Austrians in rudeness and +violence." + +A light smile played over Tottleben's countenance. Gotzkowsky had +understood how to soften his anger. "_Almost_--only," said he, "woe +be to my soldiers if they equal the Austrians in rudeness!" With +hasty steps he traversed the apartment, and called his adjutant. "Send +patrols through the whole town," was his order to the officer as +he entered, "and give orders to all the soldiers to maintain strict +discipline. Whoever dares to plunder, is guilty of disobedience to +military orders, and shall be tried by military law. The gallows +for thieves and marauders--say so to my men; they know that General +Tottleben keeps his word. Are you satisfied now?" he asked Gotzkowsky, +as the adjutant left the room. + +"I thank your excellency," said Gotzkowsky, hesitating. + +"Thank God that at last you are satisfied, and have nothing more to +ask!" cried Tottleben, almost cheerfully. + +"But indeed I have a great deal yet to ask, and if you allow me I will +ask your excellency a question. You have just issued an order. How +high up does this order reach?" + +"How high up?" asked the general, surprised. + +"I mean does this order which forbids the soldiers from robbing and +plundering under pain of death, affect only the common private, or +must the higher officers also obey it?" + +"I would advise every one to do so," cried Tottleben, with a harsh +laugh. "The order is for all." + +"Even the highest officers?" + +"Not even the generals are excepted." "Then, sir," said Gotzkowsky, +drawing himself up and advancing a step toward the general, "I accuse +before you an officer who has had the presumption to disobey +your general order. You forbid, under severe penalty, robbery and +plundering, and yet he is intent on them. You have strictly ordered +the army to preserve discipline, and not to ill-treat nor abuse the +defenceless, and yet a general is about to do it." + +"Who dares that? Give me the name of this general!" + +"It is General von Tottleben," answered Gotzkowsky, quietly. + +Count Tottleben stepped back and gazed at him in amazement. + +Gotzkowsky did not lower his eyes, but met his flashing glance firmly. +"Are you beside yourself?" asked the general, after a long pause. "Is +your life such a burden to you that you are determined to lose it?" + +"If my head were to fall, it would only be a confirmation of what I +have asserted--that General von Tottleben issues an order, and does +not respect it himself; that while he forbids his soldiers to rob and +steal, under penalty of death, even _he_ commits those very offences." + +The excess of this boldness had the effect upon the general on which +Gotzkowsky had calculated. He had speculated somewhat on the leonine +nature of Tottleben's character. + +The general, instead of annihilating his foolhardy antagonist, found +pleasure in his presumption, and it flattered him that he was esteemed +too magnanimous to revenge himself for a few words of insult. + +"Look here, my friend, you are so outrageously bold that you make me +laugh. For the sake of its rarity, I will hear you out, and try to +remain cool. Speak on, then. Accuse me--but woe to you if I justify +myself! Fail not to prove what you say." + +"The proverb says, 'Small thieves are hung, while great ones go +free,'" replied Gotzkowsky, shrugging his shoulders. "You wish to +prove the truth of this proverb. The soldier who enters the house +for theft and plunder, you condemn; but you acquit the general who +devastates a whole town, and in the arrogance of his victory wishes to +make himself, like Erostratos, immortal by incendiarism and arson." + +"Do not presume too much on my forbearance," interrupted Tottleben, +stretching his arm out threateningly toward the bold speaker. +"Erostratos was a violator of temples." + +"You are not less one!" cried Gotzkowsky; "you mean, with impious +hand, to cast a firebrand into the holy temple of labor. Erostratos +only destroyed the temple of an imaginary deity; but you, sir, are +worse--you wish to destroy factories!" + +"Do you know what that means?" + +"It means to deprive the poor man of the morsel of bread which, by the +sweat of his brow, he has earned for his wife and children! It means +to rob him who possesses nothing but the craft of his hands and his +body, of his only right--the right to work. You are going to destroy +the gold and silver manufactories, to burn the warehouse, to tear down +the brass works in the New Town Eberswald! And why all this? Why +do you intend to leave behind you this memorial of your vandalism? +Because your empress is angry with our king!" + +"Because enemies wish to revenge themselves on enemies," interrupted +the general. + +"Do that!" cried Gotzkowsky, warmly. "Revenge yourself on your enemy, +if you consider the destruction of his property a noble revenge. +Destroy the king's palaces; rob him, if you choose, of his most +ennobling enjoyment! Rob him of his pictures; do like the Saxons, who +yesterday destroyed Charlottenburg. Send your soldiers to my house; +there hang splendid paintings bought by me in Italy by the king's +order. I know that our noble king anticipates much pleasure in +carrying them some day to Sans Souci. But revenge yourself, take these +pictures, set fire to these noble works of art, but spare what belongs +to the poor man!" + +He spoke with noble warmth, with glowing eloquence, and against his +will Tottleben's German heart was touched, and moved him to clemency +and compassion. But he would not listen to it. General Fermore's +dispatches lay before him, and compelled him to be harsh. + +"You think you speak wisely, and yet you talk nothing but impudent +nonsense," said he, with assumed severity. "Who thinks of destroying +the poor man's property? The royal property shall be destroyed, and +nothing else." + +"But the gold and silver manufactories and the warehouse are not the +property of the king," said Gotzkowsky quickly. "Not a penny goes +thence into the king's treasury." + +The general's countenance brightened up considerably. "Not into the +king's treasury?" said he; "where, then, does it go?" + +"The money, your excellency, which is earned at the gold and silver +factories and at the warehouse is devoted to a praiseworthy and +touching purpose. Perhaps you are a father--have children; and when +you go into battle you think of them, and utter a silent prayer, +intrusting them to God's care, and praying that they may not be left +orphans." + +Count Tottleben muttered some untelligible words, and stretched +out his hand deprecatingly. His lips trembled, and to conceal his +agitation he turned away. + +Gotzkowsky cried out joyously: "Oh, I see in your eyes that you are +vainly trying to compel yourself to look at me in anger. Yes, you are +a father. Well, then, father, spare the orphans! From the proceeds +of the gold and silver factories, and the warehouse, the new, large +orphan-house in Potsdam is supported. Oh, you cannot be so cruel as +to deprive the poor children, whom the pitiless war has rendered +fatherless, of their last support, of their last refuge!" + +The general stepped up to him, and grasped his hand. "God be my +witness that I will not! But is this so certainly? Do you speak the +truth?" + +"Yes, it is the truth!" + +"Can you swear to it?" + +"Yes, with the most sacred oath." + +The general paced the room in silence several times, and then, pausing +before Gotzkowsky, laid his hand on his shoulder. "Listen," said he. +"I have often been reproached at home for being too soft and pitiful. +But never mind! I will once more follow my own inclination, and act in +spite of the orders which I have received. You must help me. Put +all that you have just stated down on paper. Write down that these +buildings are not the property of the king, but of the orphan-house. +Swear to it with a sacred oath, and affix your signature and seal. +Will you do this?" + +"Gladly will I do it," cried Gotzkowsky, his face radiant. "Never have +I signed my name with a happier heart than I will have when I sign +it to this affidavit, which will procure for us both the heart-felt +blessings of so many children." + +He stepped to the general's writing-table, and, following his +direction, seated himself and wrote. + +Tottleben in the mean while walked up and down pensively, his arms +folded. His features wore a thoughtful and mild expression. No trace +of the late angry storm was visible. Once he stopped, and murmured +in a low voice: "Orphans one dare not plunder. Elizabeth has a tender +heart, and if she learns the reason of my disobedience, she will be +content. Yes, my course is the right one." + +"I have finished, sir," said Gotzkowsky, standing up and handing him +the paper on which he had written. + +Tottleben read it over carefully, and laid it alongside of the +dispatches to his empress. He then called to his adjutant and ordered +him immediately to place strong safeguards over the gold and silver +manufactories and the warehouse, and to protect these against any +attack. + +Gotzkowsky clasped his hands, and directed his eyes to heaven with +joyful gratitude, and in the deep emotion of his heart he did not +perceive that the general again stood before him, and was looking at +him with inquiring sympathy. His voice first awakened him from his +reverie. "Are you contented now?" asked Tottleben, in a friendly tone. + +"Content, general," said Gotzkowsky, shaking his head, "only belongs +to him who lies in his coffin." + +Again the general's brow grew dark. "What is troubling you now? Don't +hesitate--" + +"To speak on, your excellency?" inquired Gotzkowsky, with a gentle +smile. + +"No--to put yourself in your coffin," answered the other, rudely. + +"I have not time for that, as yet," replied Gotzkowsky, sadly. "Both +of us, general, have still too much to do. You have to add fresh +laurels to your old ones--I have to clear thistles and thorns from the +path of my fellow-men." + +"Ah! there are more thorns, then?" asked Tottleben, as he sank down +into a chair, and regarded Gotzkowsky with evident benevolence. + +"A great many yet, sir," answered Gotzkowsky, sighing. "Our whole body +is bloody from them." + +"Then call on the regimental surgeon to cure you," said Tottleben, +with a coarse laugh. + +"You only can cure us," said Gotzkowsky, seriously, "for only you are +able to inflict such severe wounds. You are not satisfied with having +conquered and humiliated us, but you wish to tread us in the dust, and +make our cheeks, which were pale with sadness, now redden with shame. +You have ordered that the citizens of Berlin should be disarmed. You +are a brave soldier, sir, and honor courage above all things. Now, +let me ask you, how could you bear to exhibit the certificate of your +cowardice? Could you survive it? You look at me in anger--the very +question makes you indignant; and if that is your feeling, why would +you subject the citizens of Berlin to such disgrace? With our weapons +we have fought for our just rights and our liberty. God has willed +it that we should be subdued nevertheless, and that you should be the +conquerors. But methinks it would redound more to your honor to be +the conquerors of honorable men than of cowardly slaves! And when you +require of us, the conquered, that we shall give up our manly +honor, our weapons, you convert us into abject cowards, and deprive +yourselves of all honor in having conquered us. Let us then, sir, keep +our weapons; leave us this one consolation, that on our tombstones +can be inscribed: 'Freedom died, but with arms in her hand!'" and +Gotzkowsky, quite overcome by his painful emotions, leaned back +against the wall, breathless, his imploring looks fixed upon the +general. + +But the latter avoided meeting his eyes, and directed his own darkly +toward the ground. + +Gotzkowsky perceived the indecision, the wavering of the general, and +he felt that he must now risk every thing to overcome his resistance. +"Leave us our weapons. Oh, you are a German! spare your German +brethren." + +Tottleben sprang from his seat as if a venomous snake had stung +him. Dark and terrible were his features, his eyes flashed fire, and +raising his right hand threateningly, he cried out: "You remind me +in an evil hour that I am a German. Germany drove me out to find in a +foreign land the appreciation which my own country refused me! Had I +been a foreigner, Germany would long ago have proclaimed my fame; +but, being the son of the family, the mother drives me out among +strangers--and that they call German good-nature!" and he broke out +into a bitter, scornful laugh. + +"It is but too true," said Gotzkowsky, sadly. "Our mother Germany is +fond of sending her greatest sons out from home on their pilgrimage to +fame. For her great men she has but the cradle and the grave. But show +your unfeeling mother that you are better than she is; prove to her +how unjust she has been. Be magnanimous, and leave us our weapons!" + +"I cannot, by Heaven! I cannot do it," said Tottleben, sadly, in a low +tone. "I must obey the higher authorities above me--the empress and +the commander-in-chief, General Fermore. My orders are very strict, +and I have already yielded too much. It is written in these dispatches +that the arms must be given up." + +"The arms?" said Gotzkowsky, hastily. "Yes, but not _all_ arms. Take +some of them--we have three hundred inferior rifles--take them, sir, +and fulfil the letter of your orders, and save our honor." + +General von Tottleben did not answer immediately. Again he paced the +room, from time to time casting sharp, piercing glances at Gotzkowsky, +whose firmness and animation seemed to please him. He stopped +suddenly, and asked in a voice so low that Gotzkowsky was scarcely +able to distinguish the words--"Do you think the Germans will praise +me, if I do this thing?" + +"All Germany will say, 'He was great in victory, still greater in his +clemency toward the conquered,'" cried Gotzkowsky, warmly. + +The general dropped his head upon his breast in deep meditation. When +he raised it again, there was a pleasant smile upon his face. "Well, +then, I will do it. I will once more remember that I am a German. +Where are the three hundred rifles?" + +"In the armory, sir." + +The general made no reply, but stepped toward his writing-table +hastily. He wrote off a few lines, and then with a loud voice called +his adjutant again to him. As the latter entered, he handed him the +writing. "Let the disarming take place. There are not more than three +hundred muskets. Let the citizens bring them to the Palace Square. +There they will be broken up, and thrown into the river." + +"O general!" cried Gotzkowsky, his countenance radiant with delight, +when the adjutant had left the room, "how I do wish at this moment +that you were a woman!" + +"I a woman!" cried Count Tottleben, laughing, "why should I be a +woman?" + +"That I might kiss your hand. Believe me, I never thanked any man so +truly and sincerely as I now do you! I am so proud to be able to say, +'Berlin is conquered, but not dishonored!'" + +Tottleben bowed amicably toward him. "Now, after this proof of my +generosity, the town will hasten to pay its war-tax, will it not?" +Then seeing the dark cloud which gathered on Gotzkowsky's brow, he +continued with more vehemence, "You are very dilatory in paying. Be +careful how you exhaust my patience." + +"Pray let me know, sir, when it is exhausted," said Gotzkowsky. "It +is cruel to drive an exhausted animal beyond his strength. Do you not +think so?" + +The general nodded his assent in silence. + +"You are of my opinion," cried Gotzkowsky. "Well, then, you will be +just, and not exact of this exhausted city, wearied unto death, more +than she can perform." + +With glowing words and persuasive eloquence he explained to the +general how impossible it was for the city to pay the demanded war +contribution of four millions. + +Tottleben let himself again be persuaded. In the presence of this +ardent, eloquent German patriot, his German heart resumed its power, +and compelled him to mercy and charitableness. He consented to reduce +the tax to two millions of dollars, if Gotzkowsky would guarantee the +punctual payment of the bonds given by the body of merchants, and +give two hundred thousand of it in cash down, as hush-money to the +Austrians. + +The latter declared himself gladly willing to accept the orders, and +to stand security with his whole fortune for their payment. Both then +remained silent, as if fatigued by the long and severe war of words, +from which Gotzkowsky had always come out victorious. + +The general stood at the window, looking into the street. Perhaps +he was waiting for Gotzkowsky to give vent to his warm and delighted +gratitude before he took leave. But Gotzkowsky did neither the one +nor the other. He remained with folded arms, his countenance full of +earnest courage and bold determination. + +"I will finish what I have commenced," said he to himself. "I will +keep my word, and not move from the spot before I have pleaded for all +those to whom I promised my assistance. The general is at liberty to +curse my importunity, if I only do my duty toward my fellow-citizens." +As he still remained silent, Tottleben turned toward him laughingly. + +"What," said he, "are you dumb? Is your eloquence exhausted? Indeed, +when I think of all that you have got out of me to-day, it almost +makes me smile." And he broke out into a merry, good-natured laugh. + +"Well, laugh, sir," said Gotzkowsky, "I know you are fond of a laugh. +For example, you have just played a little joke on the Jews, and made +them believe that they have to pay an imposition--" + +"Made believe?" interrupted Tottleben, hastily. "Man! be satisfied +that I have remitted two millions to the citizens. Don't speak up now +for the Jews." + +"But the Jews are a part of the citizens." + +"Are you crazy, man?" cried Tottleben, violently. "Is the Jew a +citizen with you?" + +"Yes," answered Gotzkowsky, "as far as paying goes. The Jew is obliged +honestly to contribute his proportion of the war-tax. How can you, +with any semblance of justice, require of him another further tax, +when he has already, in common with us, given up all he possesses?" + +"Sir," cried Tottleben, with suppressed vexation "this is enough, and +more than enough!" + +"No," said Gotzkowsky, smiling. "It is too much. The Jews are not able +to pay it--" + +"I will remit their contribution," cried the general, stamping +violently on the floor, "to please you--just to get rid of you--but +now--" + +"But now," interrupted Gotzkowsky, insinuatingly, "one more favor." + +The general stepped back astounded, and looked at Gotzkowsky with a +species of comical terror. "Do you know that I am almost afraid of +you, and will thank God when you are gone?" + +"Then you think of me as the whole town of Berlin thinks of you," said +Gotzkowsky. + +The general laughed. "Your impudence is astonishing. Well, quick, what +is your last request?" + +"They are preparing at the New Market a rare and unheard-of +spectacle--a spectacle, general, as yet unknown in Germany. You have +brought it with you from Russia. You are going to make two men run the +gantlet of rods--not two soldiers convicted of crime, but two writers, +who have only sinned in spirit against you, who have only exercised +the free and highest right of man--_the right to say what they think_. +You are going to have two newspaper writers scourged, because they +drew their quills against you. Is not that taking a barbarous revenge +for a small offence?" + +"A small offence," cried the general, whose countenance had resumed +its dark, fierce expression. "Come, that's enough. Stop, if you do not +wish me to take back all that I have granted you. Do you call that a +small offence? Why, sir, the editor of _Spener's Journal_ called me +an adventurer, a renegade. Ah! he at least shall feel that I have the +power of punishing." + +"Why," said Gotzkowsky calmly, "that would only prove to him that he +had hit you on a tender spot." + +"And the scribbler of the _Vossian Gazette_, did he not venture even +to attack my gracious empress?" continued Tottleben, perfectly carried +away by his indignation. "He wrote a conversation between peasants, +and in it he made fun of the empress. He even went so far as to make +his own king join in the dirty talk, in the character of a peasant. +Sir, I am very much surprised that you should defend a man who carries +his impudence so far as to canvass and scandalize the conduct of his +own king in such a disrespectful and audacious manner." + +"The king is great enough to be able to bear this calumny of little +minds. Whosoever is truly great, is not afraid of free speaking nor of +calumny. Have you never heard the story of how the king was riding by, +where the people were collected at the corner of a street, stretching +out their necks to read a pasquinade which had been hung on the wall, +and was directed against the king himself? The king reigned in his +horse, and read the hand-bill. The people stood in silent terror, for +the paper contained a sharp abuse of the king, and a libel on him in +verse. What does your excellency think the king did when he had read +this most treasonable placard?" + +"He had the mob cut it down, as it deserved to be, and the author +strung up on the gallows," cried Tottleben. + +"Not at all, sir," replied Gotzkowsky. "He said, 'Let the paper be +hung lower; the people can't see to read it up so high.' He then +saluted the crowd, and rode off, laughing." + +"Did the _great Fritz_ do that?" said Tottleben, unconsciously using +the epithet which the Prussian people had applied to their king. + +"He did it _because_ he is great," replied Gotzkowsky. + +"Strange, hard to believe," muttered the general, folding his arms, +and striding up and down. After a pause, Gotzkowsky inquired, "Would +you not like to emulate the great king, general?" + +Count Tottleben awoke from his reverie. Approaching Gotzkowsky, he +laid his hand upon his shoulder; his expression was indescribably mild +and gentle, and a melancholy smile played around his lips. "Hark'ee, I +believe it would do me good if we could be always together. Come with +me. Settle in Russia. The empress has heard of you, and I know that +she would be rejoiced if you came to Petersburg. Do it. You can make +a large fortune there. The empress's favor will elevate you, and she +will not let you want for orders or a title." + +Gotzkowsky could hardly suppress a smile of contempt. "Orders for me! +A title! What would I do with them? Sir, I am more powerful than all +your counts, for the greatness of the nobility lies in the past, in +mouldering ancestors; but the greatness of the manufacturer lies in +the future, and the future belongs to industry. I founded the first +large factories here in Berlin, and the manufacturers who come after +me can call me their ancestor. No other nobility do I desire, count." + +"You would then be capable of refusing a count's title?" asked +Tottleben, in astonishment. + +Gotzkowsky shrugged his shoulders. "If I had wished for nobility I +could long ago have bought a countship of the holy German empire, for +such things are for sale, and thirty thousand ducats is the +highest price for a count's title; and as for the orders, my own +ribbon-factory turns out the ribbons for them." + +General Tottleben looked at him for a long time in mild astonishment. +"You are a wonderful man, and I wish I were like you. If I had thought +as you do, my life would have been a less stormy one, and less tossed +by care and restlessness. I would have--" + +The general was interrupted by the hasty entrance of the adjutant. +He was the bearer of dispatches brought by a courier who had just +arrived. The courier, he said, had ridden so hard, that his horse had +fallen dead on his arrival. + +Tottleben tore open the dispatches and read them rapidly. His +countenance immediately lost its former expression of mildness and +gentleness. His German heart was silenced by the will of the Russian +general. + +He seemed to forget Gotzkowsky's presence, and turning to his +adjutant, with proud military bearing, he said: "These dispatches +contain important and surprising information. They announce that the +Prussian army is drawing on in forced marches, with the king at +its head. We cannot give him battle here, and must, in consequence, +arrange for a rapid retreat from Berlin. Call all the generals and +staff-officers together. Let the alarm be sounded. In three hours +the whole army must have left the city. And, further, summon the Town +Council to the New Market, that we may take our leave, for we must not +leave Berlin as fugitives, but as conquerors, who are proceeding on +their march." + +"And the poor editors who are to be flogged?" asked Gotzkowsky, when +the adjutant had left. + +The general smiled, as he took Gotzkowsky amicably by the hand. +"We will hang them a little lower," said he, significantly. "Come, +accompany us to the market-place!" + +NOTE.--Count von Tottleben expiated his clemency toward Berlin very +dearly. A few months later he was sent to Petersburg under arrest, +accused principally of having behaved too leniently and too much in +the German interest for a Russian general. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE EXECUTION. + + +The morning was cold and rainy, the wind howled down the empty +streets, rattling the windows, and slamming the open house-doors. +Surely the weather was but little suited for going out, and yet the +Berlin citizens were to be seen flocking toward the New Market in +crowds, regardless of wind and rain. + +The Berliners have, from time immemorial, been an inquisitive race, +and where any thing is to be seen, there they rush. But this day there +was to be a rare spectacle at the New Market. + +The editors of the two newspapers were to run the gantlet; and +besides, General von Tottleben had summoned the Town Council and Jews +thither, to receive his last orders and resolutions before he left +Berlin. People were, therefore, very much excited, and curious to +witness this double show, and in their eagerness they forgave the +hostile general, who had prepared such a delightful entertainment for +them, all the terrors of the last few days. Two gentlemen--two learned +men--were to be flogged. That was, indeed, a precious and delightful +sight for cold, hungry, ragged poverty, which always takes delight in +seeing those whom fortune has favored, suffer and smart. + +How often had these shoemakers and tailors worried and fretted +themselves over their pot of beer, that the newspaper writers should +have had the hardihood and stupidity to write so violently against the +Russians, without taking into account that the Russians would one day +occupy Berlin, and take revenge on its innocent citizens! It served +these newspaper writers quite right that they should be punished for +their arrogance. And, besides, the good people would see the Russian +general and his staff, and the grand Town Council and the chief +magistrate, who, in his golden chain and his robes of office, was to +hand over to the hostile general a present of ten thousand ducats. +The Berliners were, therefore, quite happy, and delighted to hear the +hollow sound of the drum, and the Russian word of command. + +A regiment of Russian soldiers marched past the corner of the Bishop +Street, toward the market-place. They ranged themselves in two long +lines, leaving a lane between them, just wide enough for a man to pass +through. Then came two provost-marshals, and walked slowly down the +lane, delivering to each soldier one of the long slender rods they +carried under their arms. + +The Russian soldiers were now armed, and awaited the victims they were +to chastise. These were dragged out of the guard-house. First came +tottering the gray-headed Mr. Krause, slowly and sadly; then came Mr. +Kretschmer, formerly the brave, undaunted hero of the quill--now a +poor, trembling, crushed piece of humanity. They stood in the middle +of the square, and, bewildered with terror, their help-imploring looks +swept over the gaping, silent multitude, who gazed at them with eager +countenances and malicious joy, and would have been outrageously +mad if they had been denied the enjoyment of seeing two of their +brother-citizens scourged by the enemy's soldiers. + +"I cannot believe it!" whimpered Mr. Krause; "it is impossible that +this is meant in earnest. They cannot intend to execute so cruel a +sentence. What would the world, what would mankind say, if two writers +were scourged for the articles they had written? Will the town of +Berlin suffer it? Will no one take pity on our distress?" + +"No one," said Mr. Kretschmer, mournfully. "Look at the crowd which is +staring at us with pitiless curiosity. They would sooner have pity on +a murderer than on a writer who is going to be flogged. The whole town +has enjoyed and laughed over our articles, and now there is not one +who would dare to beg for us." + +At this moment another solemn procession came down the Bishop Street +toward the square. This was the Town Council of Berlin. Foremost came +the chief burgomaster Von Kircheisen, who had recovered his speech and +his mind, and was memorizing the well-set speech in which he was +to offer to the general the thanks of the town and the ten thousand +ducats, which a page bore alongside of him on a silken pillow. + +Behind the Council tottered trembling and broken-hearted the elders of +the Jews, including those of the mint, in order to receive their final +condemnation or release from General Tottleben. + +The people took no notice of the Council or of the Jews. They were +busy staring with cruel delight at the journalists, who were being +stripped by the provost-marshals of their outer clothing, and prepared +for the bloody exhibition. With a species of barbarous pleasure they +listened to the loud wailing of the trembling, weeping Krause, who was +wringing his hands and imploring the Russian officer who had charge of +the execution, for pity, for mercy. + +The Russian officer was touched by the tears of sorrow of the editor; +he did have pity on the gray hairs and bowed form of the old man, or +perhaps he only acted on instructions received from General Tottleben. +He motioned to the provosts to lead the other editor to the lane +first, and to spare Mr. Krause until Mr. Kretschmer had been +chastised. The provost seized hold of Mr. Kretschmer and dragged him +to the terrible lane; they pushed him in between the rows of soldiers, +who, with rude laughter, were flourishing the rods in their hands. + +Already the first, the second, the third blow has fallen on the back +of the editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, when suddenly there sounds +a powerful "Halt!" and General Count von Tottleben appears, with +Gotzkowsky at his side, and followed by his brilliant staff. + +With a wild scream Kretschmer tears himself loose from the hands of +the provost-marshals, and rushes toward the general, crying out aloud; +Mr. Krause awakens from his heavy, despairing brooding, and both +editors sink down before the Russian general. + +With a mischievous smile, Tottleben looked at Mr. Kretschmer's +bleeding back, and asked, "Who are you?" + +"I am the _Vossian Gazette_" whined out Mr. Kretschmer, "whom you have +accused of such cruel things. Ah! we have suffered great injustice, +and we have been represented as worse than we really are. Oh, believe +me, your excellency, I have been belied. I never hated Russia!" + +"You are both of you accused of libel," said Tottleben, sternly. + +"If we are guilty of libel, it is without our knowledge," said Mr. +Krause. "Besides, we are very willing to recall every thing. I confess +we were in error. We did not know you and your army, and we spoke +ignorantly, as the blind man does about colors. Now we are better able +to judge. You are the noblest among noble men, and finer soldiers than +the Russians, and a chaster woman than the Empress Elizabeth, are not +to be found anywhere. Oh, yes, your excellency, _Spener's Journal_ is +ready to eat its words. Only don't let me be flogged, sir, and I will +sing your praises everlastingly, and proclaim to all the world that +the Prussian has no better friend than the Russian, and that God has +ordained them to be brothers." + +"Only don't let us be flogged," implored Mr. Kretschmer, rubbing his +sore back, "I promise your excellency that the _Vossian Gazette_ +shall be as tame as a new-born infant. It shall never indulge in bold, +outspoken language; never have any decided color. I swear for myself +and my heirs, that we will draw its fangs. Have, therefore, mercy on +us!" + +The general turned away with a smile of contempt. "Enough, gentlemen," +said he, roughly, and laying his hand on Gotzkowsky's shoulder, he +continued: "I pardon you, not in consequence of your idle talk, but +for the sake of this noble gentleman, who has begged for you. You +are free, sirs!" As the two editors were about to break out into +expressions of gratefulness, Tottleben said to them, "It is Gotzkowsky +alone that you have to thank for your liberty." + +They threw themselves into Gotzkowsky's arms; with solemn oaths they +vowed him eternal, inviolable gratitude; they called him their savior, +their liberator from shame and disgrace. + +Gotzkowsky smiled at their glowing protestations of friendship, and +withdrew himself gently from their ardent embraces. "I did not do it +for the sake of your thanks, and personally you owe me therefore no +gratitude." + +"Gotzkowsky, have you entirely forgotten us?" said a plaintive voice +near him. It was Itzig, one of the rich Jews of the mint, to whom +Gotzkowsky had promised assistance. + +"Ask the general," said the latter, smiling. + +"He has spoken for you, and his intercession has freed you from the +special tax," said Count Tottleben. + +"He has saved us, the great Gotzkowsky has had pity on our +wretchedness," cried the Jews, crowding around Gotzkowsky to press his +hand, to embrace him, and with tears of grateful emotion to promise +him their unalterable attachment. + +"You have saved my life," said Itzig, "for I had determined to die +rather than pay any more money. For what is life to me without money? +If the Jew has not money, he is nobody. In saving my money you saved +my life. If ever you should be without money, Gotzkowsky, come to me; +I will lend you some at very low interest." + +"I will lend it to you gratis," said Ephraim, pressing his hand +affectionately in his own. + +Gotzkowsky answered sadly: "If it ever came to pass that I were +obliged to borrow, you would not remember this day, and I would not be +the man to remind you of it." + +"Remind us of it," protested Ephraim, "and you shall see that we +keep our word. Come to us and say, 'Remember the tax that I freed you +from,' and you shall see all that you desire shall be fulfilled." + +"God grant that I may never have need to remind you of it!" said +Gotzkowsky, pressing back the excited Jews, and approaching General +Tottleben. + +"You forget, sir, that you summoned the honorable Council of Berlin +hither, and that these gentlemen are awaiting your orders." + +The general seemed to awaken out of a deep reverie. "Yes," said he, +as if to himself, "the German dream is finished, and now I must be a +Russian again." He then turned quickly to Gotzkowsky and offered him +his hand. "Gotzkowsky," said he, gently and persuasively, "consider it +once more--come with me and be my teacher." + +"What I can teach you is but little. It is an easy lesson for him who +has a heart, an impossible one for him who has none. Learn to love +mankind. That is all my wisdom, and my farewell." + +The general sighed. "You will not go with me? Well, then, farewell!" +And as if to disperse the painful and bitter feelings which assailed +his German heart, he turned away and called, in Russian, to his +adjutant: "Let us break up, gentlemen. To horse, to horse!" + +But in the midst of the confusion of the soldiers, and the tramping +of horses, the chief burgomaster made a way for himself. He had to +sustain the honor of the Council, and pronounce the beautifully worded +oration which had cost him two sleepless nights to compose; he had to +place in the hands of the general the offering of Berlin gratitude. + +At last he succeeded in reaching the general, and he began his speech. +Full and powerful did his voice sound through the New Market, and the +delighted people rejoiced over the oratorical talent of their chief +magistrate, and gazed with pride and admiration at his golden chain +of office--that chain which had gone through so much, had endured so +much, without growing pale or dim. + +But General Tottleben did not accept the present which the city of +Berlin offered him. He said: "If the town believed that its fate was +rendered more tolerable by my discipline than it otherwise would have +been, let it thank the express orders of my empress. The honor of +having been commander of Berlin for three days is sufficient reward +for me." + +Three hours later Berlin was freed from Russians and Austrians. +Gotzkowsky, who had finally succeeded in freeing himself from the +tumultuous expressions of gratitude of the Council, the editors, and +the Jews, returned to his home, of which he himself says: "My house +resembled more a cow-house than a dwelling, having been filled for a +while, night and day, with Russians." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BRIDE AND DAUGHTER. + + +At the mere announcement of the approach of the king toward Berlin, +the Russian army had left the city and withdrawn to Frankfort. But no +inconsiderable number of officers had stayed behind; some of them +to organize the withdrawal of the troops, while others, detained by +personal affairs, had merely obtained short leave of absence. To the +latter belonged Colonel Feodor von Brenda. General Bachmann had given +him two days' leave, under the impression that he would avail himself +of the time to enjoy, undisturbed, the society of his bride, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir. + +The general knew nothing of the difference between the colonel and +his betrothed. He did not know that, according to her agreement with +Bertram, Lodoiska had not informed Feodor of her arrival in Berlin. +But, nevertheless, Feeder had heard of it. The countess's own +chambermaid, knowing the liberality of the young count, had gone to +him, and for a golden bribe had betrayed to him her presence, and +communicated all that she knew of her plans and intentions. + +This news detained the colonel in Berlin. The unexpected arrival of +his affianced pressed upon him the necessity of a decision, for he was +aware of the impossibility of tearing asunder the firm and heart-felt +bond which attached him to Elise, to unite himself to a wife to whom +he was only engaged by a given promise, a pledged word. + +Feodor would probably have given up his whole fortune to pay a debt of +honor; would have unhesitatingly thrown his life into the scale if it +had been necessary to redeem his word. But he was not ashamed to break +the vow of fidelity which he had made to a woman, and to desert her to +whom he had promised eternal love. Besides, his pride was wounded by +the advent of the countess, which appeared to him as a restraint on +his liberty and an espionage on his actions. + +She had concealed her arrival from him, and he consequently concluded +that she was acquainted with his faithlessness, and nursed some plan +of removing the obstacles which lay between her and her lover. His +pride was irritated by the thought that he should be compelled to +maintain an engagement which he could no longer fulfil from love, but +only from a sense of duty. Such a restraint on his free will seemed +to him an unparalleled hardship. He felt a burning hatred toward the +woman who thus forcibly insisted on fastening herself upon him, and +an equally ardent love toward the young girl of whom they wished to +deprive him. + +Doubly charming and desirable did this young, innocent, lovely girl +appear to him when he compared her with the mature, self-possessed, +worldly woman of whom he could only hope that he might be her last +love, while he knew that he was Elise's first. + +"If I must positively be chained, and my hands bound," said he to +himself, "let it be at least with this fresh young girl, who can +conceal the thorny crown of wedlock under freshly-blown rosebuds. My +heart has nothing more to do with this old love; it has grown young +again under the influence of new feelings, and I will not let this +youthfulness be destroyed by the icy-cold smiles of duty. Elise has +promised to be mine, and she must redeem her promise." + +Still full of the passionate and defiant thoughts which the vicinity +of his affianced bride had provoked, he had gone out to seek Elise. +But to find her had become not only difficult, but almost impossible. + +Bertram, who had not thought fit to reveal to Gotzkowsky the forcible +abduction of his daughter, had yet quietly arranged his precautions +that a repetition of the attempt from any quarter, or at any time, +should be impossible. + +Under the pretence that the withdrawal of the troops rendered the +city unsafe, and filled it with marauders and plundering stragglers, +Bertram, secure of Gotzkowsky's approval beforehand, had armed a +number of the factory workmen, and placed them as sentinels on the +wall, in the court, and on the ground-floor. These had orders not to +let any one enter who was not able to tell the object and purpose of +his coming. By this precaution Bertram prevented any attempt of Feodor +to climb the wall; and, furthermore he obtained the advantage that +Elise, to whom the presence of the sentinels was unpleasant and +objectionable, not only did not visit the dangerous, solitary parts of +the garden, but withdrew into her own room. In this manner Bertram had +rendered any meeting between Feodor and Elise impossible, but he could +not prevent his servant, Petrowitsch, from meeting his sweetheart, +Elise's chambermaid, on the street. + +By means of these a letter of Feodor reached Elise's hand. In this +Feodor reminded her solemnly and earnestly of her promise; he now +called upon her to fulfil her vow, and to follow him from the house of +her father. He adjured her to unite herself to him at the altar as his +wife, and to give him the right to carry her abroad with him as his +own. + +Elise received this letter of her beloved, and her heart during +its perusal was moved by unfamiliar emotions. She could not herself +determine whether it was joy or dread which caused it to beat so +convulsively, and almost deprived her of consciousness. She could +have screamed aloud with joy, that at last she would be united to her +lover, wholly, sacredly as his own; and yet she was filled with deep +grief that the path to the altar would not be hallowed by her father's +blessing. Even love, which spoke so loudly and powerfully in her +heart, could not silence the warning voice of conscience--that voice +which again and again threatened her with sin and sorrow, disgrace and +shame. Yet Elise, in the warmth and passion of her heart, sought to +excuse herself, and in the pride of her wounded filial love said to +herself: "My father does not regard me; he will not weep for my loss, +for I am superfluous here, and he will hardly perceive that I am gone. +He has his millions and his friends, and the whole multitude of those +to whom he does good. He is so rich--he has much on which his heart +hangs! But I am quite poor; I have nothing but the heart of my +beloved. His love is my only possession. Would it not be wicked in me +to cast this away, and lead here a lonesome, desolate life, without +pity or sympathy? If my father loved me, would he have left me during +these days so full of danger? After the terrible scene in which I, +in the desperation of my heart, offended him, he would at least have +given me some opportunity of asking his pardon, of begging him for +forbearance and pity. But he seems purposely to have secluded himself, +and avoided any meeting with me. He has shut me out from his heart, +and withdrawn his love from me forever. And so I am forced to carry +my heart full of boundless affection over to my lover. He will never +repulse, neglect, or forget me; he will adore me, and I will be his +most cherished possession." + +As these thoughts passed through her mind, she pressed his note to +her lips, each word seeming to greet her, and with Feodor's imploring +looks to entreat her to fulfil the vow she had made him. There was +no longer any hesitation or wavering in her, for she had come to a +determined resolution, and with glowing cheeks and panting breast she +hastened to the writing-table, in order to clothe it in words, and +answer Feodor's note. + +"You remind me of my pledged word," she wrote. "I am ready to redeem +it. Come, then, and lead me from my father's house to the altar, and I +will be your wife; and wherever you go I will be with you. Hence-forth +I will have no other home than your heart. But while I cheerfully +elect this home, at the same time I am shutting myself out from my +father's heart forever. May God forgive the sins that love causes me +to commit!" + +But when this note had been sent, when she knew that her lover had +received it, and that her decision was irrevocable, she was seized +with trembling faintness, with the oppression of conscious guilt; and +it seemed to her as if a new spring of love had suddenly burst forth +in her heart, and as if she had never loved her father so sincerely, +so devotedly, so tenderly, as now that she was on the point of leaving +him. + +But it was too late to draw back; for in the mean, time she had +received a second letter from Feodor, imparting the details of a plan +for their joint flight, and she had approved of this plan. + +Every thing was prepared, and all that she had to do was to remain +in her room, and await the concerted signal with which Feodor was to +summon her. + +As soon as she heard this signal she was to leave the house with her +maid, who had determined to accompany her, come out into the street, +where Feodor would be in waiting with his carriage, and drive in the +first place to the church. There a priest, heavily bribed, would meet +them, and, with the blessing of the Church, justify Feodor in carrying +his young wife out into the world, and Elise in "leaving father and +home, and clinging only unto her husband." + +Some hours were yet wanting to the appointed time. Elise, condemned to +the idleness of waiting, experienced all the anxiety and pains which +the expectation of the decisive moment usually carries with it. + +With painful desire she thought of her father, and, although she +repeated to herself that he would not miss her, that her absence +would not be noticed, yet her excited imagination kept painting to +her melancholy fancy, pictures of his astonishment, his anxiety, his +painful search after her. + +She seemed, for the first time, to remember that she was about to +leave him, without having been reconciled to him; that she was to part +from him forever, without having begged his forgiveness, without even +having felt his fatherly kiss on her brow. At least she would write to +him, at least send him one loving word of farewell. This determination +she now carried out, and poured out all her love, her suffering, her +suppressed tenderness, the reproaches of her conscience, in burning +and eloquent words, on the paper which she offered to her father as +the olive-branch of peace. + +When she had written this letter, she folded it, and hid it carefully +in her bosom, in order to carry it unnoticed to her father's room. He +would not be there--for two days he had not been at home; she could, +therefore, venture to go there without fear of meeting him. She felt +as if she would not be able to bear his gaze--the full, bright look of +his eye. + +Carefully and softly, with the secret fear of meeting Bertram, whose +sad, reproachful looks she dreaded even more, perhaps, than the eye +of her father, she crept along the corridor, and finally reached the +antechamber, breathing more freely, and glad to have met no one. Every +thing here was quiet and silent; her father, therefore, had not yet +returned, and she was quite safe from any surprise by him. + +She now entered his private room, and crossing this, was in the act of +opening the desk of his writing-table in order to deposit the letter +therein, when she heard the door of the antechamber open. It was too +late for flight, and she had only time to conceal the letter in her +bosom, when the door of the room itself was opened. + +It was her father who now entered the apartment. Speechless and +motionless they both stood, confounded at this unexpected meeting, +each waiting for a word of greeting of reconciliation from the other. +But however earnestly their hearts yearned toward each other, their +lips remained silent, and their looks avoided one another. + +"She shuns me. This is my reception after so many toilsome days of +absence," thought Gotzkowsky, and his heart was full of sadness and +sorrow. + +"He will not look at me, his eye avoids me, he has not yet forgiven +me," thought Elise, as she regarded her father's pale, care-worn +countenance. "No, he does not wish to see me. For the last time, +therefore, I will show him obedience, and leave the room." Sadly and +softly, with her looks cast on the ground, she took her way to the +door on the opposite side. + +Gotzkowsky followed her with his eyes. If she had only ventured to +raise her looks once more to him, she would have perceived all his +love, all the forgiving affection of a father, in his face. But she +did not, and Gotzkowsky said to himself, in the bitterness of his +heart, "Why should I speak to her?--she would only misunderstand me. I +will lie down and sleep, to forget my cares and my sorrows. I will not +speak to her, for I am exhausted, and tired to death. I must have rest +and composure, to be able to come to an understanding with her." + +And yet he regarded her with longing looks as she directed her sad +steps toward the door. Now she stands on the threshold; now her +trembling hand clasps the bright handle of the lock, but still she +hesitates to open it; she still hopes for a word, if even an angry +one, from her father. + +And now she hears it. Like an angel's voice does it sound in her +ear. He calls her name, he reaches his hand out to her, and says with +infinite, touching gentleness, "Give me your hand, Elise. Come here to +me, my child--it is so long since I have seen you!" + +She turned to him, and yet she dared not look upon him. Seizing his +offered hand, she pressed it to her lips. "And do you remember that +you have been so long absent? You have not then forgotten me?" + +"Forgot you!" cried her father tenderly; and then immediately, as if +ashamed of this outburst of fatherly love, he added calmly and almost +sternly--"I have much to talk with you, Elise. You have accused me." + +Elise interrupted him with anxious haste: "I was beside myself," said +she, confused and bashfully. "Forgive me, my father; passion made me +unjust." + +"No, it only developed what lay hidden in your heart," said +Gotzkowsky; and the recollection of that unhappy hour roughened his +voice, and filled his heart with sadness. "For the first time, you +were candid with me. I may have been guilty of it all, but still it +hurts!" For a moment he was silent, and sank his head on his breast, +completely overpowered by painful reminiscences. + +Elise answered nothing, but the sight of his pale and visibly +exhausted countenance moved her to tears. + +When Gotzkowsky raised his head again, his face had resumed its usual +determination and energy. "We will talk over these things another +time," said he seriously. "Only this one thing, remember. I will not +restrain you in any way, and I have never done so. You are mistress +of every thing that belongs to me except my honor. This I myself must +keep unsullied. As a German gentleman I cannot bring the dishonor upon +me of seeing my daughter unite herself to the enemy of my country--to +a Russian. Choose some German man: whoever he may he, I will welcome +him whom you love as my son, and renounce the wishes and plans I have +so long entertained. But never will I give my consent to the union of +my only child with a Russian." + +While he spoke the expression of the countenance of both changed +surprisingly. Both evinced determination, defiance, and anger, and the +charm which love had laid for a moment on their antagonistic souls was +destroyed. Gotzkowsky was no longer the tender father, easily appeased +by a word, but the patriot injured in his holiest right, his most +delicate sense of honor. Elise was no longer the humble, penitent +daughter, but a bride threatened with the loss of her lover. + +"You would, then, never give your consent?" asked she, passionately. +"But if this war were ended, if Russia were no longer the enemy of +Germany; if--" + +"Russia remains ever the enemy of Germany, even if she does not appear +against her in the open field. It is the antagonism of despotic power +against culture and civilization. Never can the free German be the +friend of the barbarous Sclavonian. Let us hear nothing more of +this--you know my mind; I cannot change it, even if you should, +for that reason, doubt my love. True love does not consist only in +granting, but still more in denying." + +Elise stood with bowed head, and murmured some low, unintelligible +words. Gotzkowsky felt that it would be better for both to break off +this conversation before it had reached a point of bitterness and +irritation. At the same time he felt that, after so much excitement, +his body needed rest. He, therefore, approached his daughter and +extended his hand toward her for a friendly farewell. Elise seized +it, and pressed it with passionate feeling to her lips. He then turned +round and traversed the room on the way to his bedchamber. + +Elise looked after him with painful longing, which increased with +each step he took. As he was in the act of leaving the room she rushed +after him, and uttered in a tone of gentle pleading, the single word, +"Father!" + +Gotzkowsky felt the innermost chord of his heart touched. He turned +round and opened his arms to her. With a loud cry of joy she threw +herself on his breast, and rested there for a moment in happy, +self-forgetting delight. They looked at one another, and smilingly +bade each other good-by. Again Gotzkowsky turned his steps toward his +bedroom. And now he was gone; she saw him no more. Father and daughter +were separated. + +But Elise felt an unutterable grief in her heart, a boundless terror +seized her. It seemed as if she could not leave her father; as if it +would be a disgrace for her, so secretly, like a criminal, to sneak +out of her father's house, were it even to follow her lover to the +altar. She felt as if she must call her father back, cling to his +knees, and implore him to save her, to save her from her own desires. +Already had she opened her lips, and stretched forth her arms, when +she suddenly let them fall, with a shudder. + +She had heard the loud rolling of a carriage, and she knew what it +meant. This carriage which stopped at her door--could it be the one in +which Feodor had come to take her? "It is too late--I cannot go back," +muttered she low, and with drooping head she slowly left her father's +room in order to repair to her own chamber. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE RIVALS. + + +Elise, immediately on reaching her room, hurried to the window and +looked into the street, already darkened by the shades of evening. She +was not mistaken--a carriage stood at the door; but to her surprise, +she did not perceive the signal agreed on, she did not hear the +post-horn blow the Russian air, "Lovely Minka, I must leave thee." Nor +was it the appointed hour; neither did her chambermaid, who waited in +the lower story, come to seek her. She still stood at the window, +and involuntarily she felt herself worried by this equipage. A sharp +knocking at the door was heard. Before she had time to come to any +determination, it was hastily opened, and Bertram entered with a lady, +deeply veiled, on his arm. + +"Bertram!" cried Elise, drawing back shyly. "What do you wish here?" + +"What do I wish here?" answered Bertram, earnestly. "I come to ask a +favor of my sister. I have promised this lady that she shall see and +speak with you. Will my sister fulfil her brother's promise?" + +"What does the lady wish with me?" asked Elise, casting a timid look +toward the mysterious veiled figure. + +"She will herself tell you. She requested me, with tears, to bring her +to Elise Gotzkowsky, for, she assured me, the happiness of her life +depended on it." + +Elise felt an icy shudder run through her. She laid her hand on her +heart, as if to protect it against the terrible danger which she felt +threatened her, and with trembling lip she repeated, "What does the +lady wish with me?" + +Bertram did not answer her, but letting go the arm of the unknown, +he bowed low. "Countess," said he, "this is Mademoiselle Elise +Gotzkowsky. I have fulfilled my promise: allow me now to leave you, +and may God impart convincing power to your words!" + +He greeted the ladies respectfully, and left the room quickly. The +two ladies were now alone together. A pause ensued. Both trembled, and +neither ventured to break the silence. + +"You desired to speak to me," said Elise, finally, in a low, languid +voice. "May I now beg of you--" + +The lady threw back her veil, and allowed Elise to see a handsome +countenance, moistened with tears. "It is I who have to beg," said +she, with a touching foreign accent, while seizing Elise's hand, she +pressed it warmly to her breast. "Forgive me; since I have seen you, +I have forgotten what I had to say. At sight of you, all my words, and +even my anger have left me. You are very beautiful. Be as noble as +you are beautiful. My fate lies in your hands. You can restore me to +happiness." + +"God alone can do that," said Elise, solemnly. + +"At this moment you are the divinity who has the disposal of my fate. +You alone can restore me to happiness, for you have deprived me of +it--yes, you, so young, so handsome, and apparently so innocent. You +are the murderess of my happiness." Her eyes sparkled, and a bright +blush suffused her hitherto pale cheeks. "Yes," cried she, with a +triumphant laugh, "now I am myself again. My hesitation has vanished, +and anger is again supreme. I am once more the lioness, and ready to +defend the happiness of my life." + +Elise drew herself up, and she, too, felt a change in her heart. With +the instinct of love, she felt that this handsome woman who stood +opposite to her was her rival, her enemy with whom she had to struggle +for her most precious property. Passion filled her whole being, and +she vowed to herself not to yield a single step to this proud beauty. +With an expression of unspeakable disdain, she fixed her eyes upon +the countess. Their flashing looks crossed each other like the bright +blades of two combatants in a duel. + +"I do not understand you," said Elise, with angry coldness. "You must +speak more plainly, if you wish to be understood." + +"You do not wish to understand me," cried the countess. "You wish to +avoid me, but I will not let you. I have suffered so much that I will +not suffer any longer. We stand here opposite each other as two women +engaged in a combat for life and death." + +Elise suppressed the cry of pain which rose in her breast, and +compelled herself to assume a proud and impassible composure. "I still +do not understand you, nor do I desire to contend with an unknown +person. But if you will not leave my room, you will allow me to do +so." + +She turned to go, but the countess seized her hand, and held her back. +"No! you cannot go!" cried she, passionately. "You cannot go, for +I know that you are going to him, to him whom I love, and I come to +demand this man of you." + +These half-threatening, half-commanding words, at last drove Elise +from the assumed tranquillity she had maintained with so much +difficulty. "I know not of whom you speak," cried she, in a loud +voice. + +But the countess was tired of dealing in these half-concealed +meanings, these mysterious allusions. "You know of whom I speak," +cried she, vehemently. "You know that I have come to demand the +restoration of my holiest possession, the heart of my beloved. Oh! +give him back to me, give me back my betrothed, for he belongs to me, +and cannot be another's. Let my tears persuade you. You are young, +rich, handsome; you have every thing that makes life happy. I have +nothing but him. Leave him to me." + +Elise felt furious. Like a tigress, she could have strangled this +woman, who came to destroy her happiness. A wild, angry laugh rang +from her lips: "You say that you love him," exclaimed she. "Well, +then, go to him and ask him for his heart. Why do you demand it of +_me_? Win it from him, if you can." + +"In order to be able to win it, you must first release him from the +fetters with which you have bound him." + +An angry flush overspread Elise's pale face. "You become insulting," +she said. + +The countess paid no attention to these words, but continued still +more vehemently: "Make him free. Loose the bands which fetter him, and +then, I am sure, he will return to me and be mine again." + +Elise stared terrified at the face of the countess, excited and +streaming with tears. She had heard but one little word, but this word +had pierced her heart like a dagger. + +"_Return_ to you?" asked she, breathlessly. "Be yours _again_? He was +then _once_ yours?" + +"I yielded to him what is most sacred in life, and yet you ask if he +was mine!" said the countess, smiling sadly. + +Elise uttered a loud, piercing shriek, and covered her face with her +hands. Her emotion was so expressive and painful that it touched the +heart even of her rival. Almost lovingly she passed her arm around +Elise's waist and drew her down gently to her on the sofa. "Come," +said she, "let us sit by each other like two sisters. Come, and listen +to me. I will disclose a picture which will make your soul shudder!" + +Elise yielded to her mechanically. She let herself involuntarily glide +down on the sofa, and suffered the countess to take her hand. "Feodor +once belonged to her," she murmured. "His heart was once given to +another." + +"Will you listen to me?" asked the countess; and, seeing Elise still +lost in silent reverie, she continued: "I will relate to you the +history of Feodor von Brenda, and his unhappy, forsaken bride." Elise +shuddered, and cast a wandering, despairing look around. + +"Will you listen to me?" repeated the countess. + +"Speak--I am listening," whispered Elise, languidly. And then, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, often interrupted by Elise's plaintive +sighs, her outbursts of heartfelt sympathy, related to the young girl +the sad and painful story of her love and her betrayal. + +She was a young girl, scarcely sixteen, the daughter of a prince, +impoverished by his own fault and prodigality, when she became the +victim of her father's avarice. Without compassion for her tears, her +timid youth, he had sold her for a million. With the cruel selfishness +of a spendthrift miser, he had sold his young, fresh, beautiful +daughter for dead, shining metal, to a man of sixty years, fit to be +her grandfather, and who persecuted the innocent girl with the ardent +passion of a stripling. She had been dragged to the altar, and the +priest had been deaf to the "No!" she had uttered, when falling +unconscious at his feet. Thus she had become the wife of the rich +Count Sandomir--a miserable woman who stood, amidst the splendor of +life, without hope, without joy, as in a desert. + +But one day this desert had changed, and spring bloomed in her soul, +for love had come to warm her chilled heart with the sunbeam of +happiness. She did not reproach herself, nor did she feel any scruples +of conscience, that it was not her husband whom she loved. What +respect could she have for marriage, when for her it had been only a +matter of sale and purchase? She had been traded off like a slave, and +with happy exultation she said to herself, "Love has come to make me +free, and, as a free and happy woman, I will tear this contract +by which I have been sold." And she had torn it. She had had no +compassion on the gray hairs and devoted heart of her noble husband. +She had been sacrificed, and now pitilessly did she sacrifice her +husband to her lover. She saw but one duty before her--to reward the +love of the man she adored with boundless devotion. No concealment, no +disguise would she allow. Any attempt at equivocation she regarded as +an act of treason to the great and holy feeling which possessed her +whole soul. + +Usually all the world is acquainted with the treachery and infidelity +of a woman, while it is yet a secret to her husband. But the countess +took care that her husband should be the first to learn of his injured +honor, her broken faith. She had hoped that he would turn from her in +anger, and break the marriage-bond which united her to him. But her +husband did not liberate her. He challenged the betrayer of his +honor, whose treachery was the blacker, because the count himself had +introduced him into his house, as the son of the friend of his youth. +They fought. It was a deadly combat, and the old man of sixty, already +bowed down by rage and grief, could not stand against the strength of +his young and practised adversary. He was overcome. The dying husband +had been brought to Countess Lodoiska, his head supported by his +murderer, her lover. Even in this terrible moment she felt no anger +against him, and as the eyes of her husband grew dull in death, she +could only remember that she was now free to become his wife. She had +thrown herself at the feet of the empress to implore her consent to +this marriage, on which depended the hope and happiness, the honor and +atonement of her life. The empress had not refused her consent, had +herself appointed the wedding day which should unite her favorite with +the young countess. + +But a short time before the arrival of this day, so ardently longed +for, looked forward to with so many prayers, such secret anxiety and +gnawing self-reproaches, the war broke out, and Lodoiska did not +dare to keep back her lover, as with glowing zeal he hastened to his +colors. He had sworn to her never to forget her; to return faithful to +her, and she had believed him. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE PUNISHMENT. + + +Elise had followed the countess in her narration with intense +attention and warm sympathy. Her face had become pale as marble, +her countenance sad, and her eyes filled with tears. A fearful +anticipation dawned in her heart, but she turned away from it. She +would not listen to this secret voice which whispered to her that this +sad tale of the countess had reference to her own fate. + +"Your lover did not deceive your trust?" asked she. "With such a +bloody seal upon your love he dare not break his faith." + +"He did break it," answered the countess, painfully. "I was nothing +more to him than a guilty woman, and he went forth to seek an angel. +He forgot his vows, his obligations, and cast me away, for I was a +burden to him." + +Both were silent in the bitterness of their sorrow. The countess +fastened her large, bright eyes upon the young girl, who stared before +her, pale, motionless, absorbed in her own grief. + +This anxious silence was finally broken by the countess. "I have not +yet told you the name of my lover. Shall I name him to you?" + +Elise awoke as if from a heavy dream. "No," cried she, eagerly, "no, +do not name him. What have I to do with him? I do not know him. What +do I care to hear the name of a man who has committed so great a +crime?" + +"You must hear it," said the countess, solemnly. "You must learn the +name of the man who chained me to him by a bloody, guilt-stained past, +and then deserted me. It is Colonel Count Feodor von Brenda!" + +Elise uttered a cry, and sank, half fainting, back on the cushions of +the sofa. But this dejection did not last long. Her heart, which for a +moment seemed to stop, resumed again its tumultuous beating; her blood +coursed wildly through her veins, and her soul, unused to the despair +of sorrow, resolved to make one last effort to free itself from the +fetters with which her evil fate wished to encompass her. She drew +herself up with glowing cheeks and flashing eyes. "This is false," she +cried; "a miserable invention, concocted to separate me from Feodor. +Oh! I see through it all. I understand now my father's solemn +asseverations, and why Bertram brought you to me. But you are all +mistaken in me. Go, countess, and tell your friends, 'Elise offers up +every thing and gives every thing to him whom she loves, in whom she +believes, even if the whole world testifies against him.'" And with a +triumphant smile, throwing back her head, she stood up and was about +to leave the room. + +The countess shrugged her shoulders as if in pity. "You do not believe +me, then?" said she; "but you will believe this witness?" and she drew +a letter from her bosom and handed it to Elise. + +"It is his handwriting," cried the young girl, terrified, as she took +the letter. + +"Ah! you know his handwriting, then? He has written to you, too?" +sighed the countess. "Well, then, read it. It is a letter he wrote me +from Berlin at the commencement of his captivity. Read it!" + +"Yes, I will read it," murmured Elise. "These written words pierce my +eyes like daggers, but I will not mind the pain. I will read it." + +She read the letter, which annihilated her whole happiness, slowly and +with terrible composure. Drop by drop did she let the poison of these +words of love, directed to another, fall into her soul. When she had +finished reading it, she repeated to herself the last cruel words, +the warm protestations, with which Feodor assured his bride of his +unalterable love and fidelity, with which he swore to her that he +looked upon his love to her not only as a happiness, but as a sacred +obligation; that he owed her not only his heart but his honor. Then +long and carefully she considered the signature of his name, and +folding up the paper, she handed it back, with a slight inclination to +the countess. + +"Oh, my God! I have loved him beyond bounds," muttered she, low; and +then, unable to restrain her tears, she put her hands to her face and +wept aloud. + +"Poor, unhappy girl!" exclaimed the countess, laying her arm tenderly +around her neck. + +Elise drew back violently and regarded her almost in anger. "Do not +commiserate me. I will not be pitied by you! I--" + +She suddenly stopped, and an electric shock passed through her whole +frame. She heard the concerted signal; and the tones of the post-horn, +which slowly and heavily sounded the notes of the sad Russian melody, +grated on her ear like a terrible message of misfortune. + +The two women stood for a moment silent and motionless. They both +listened to the dirge of their love and their happiness, and this +simple, hearty song sounded to them horrible and awful in the +boundless desolation of their hearts. At last the song ceased, and a +voice, too well known and loved, cried, "Elise! Elise!" + +The maiden started up, shuddering and terrified. "His voice frightens +me." + +But still she seemed not to be able to withstand the call; for she +approached the window, and looked down hesitatingly. + +The countess observed her jealously, and a fearful thought suddenly +entered her mind. How, if this young girl loved him as much as she +did? If she were ready to forgive him every thing, to blot out the +whole past with the hand of love and commence a new existence with +him? If she felt no compassion for Feodor's forsaken bride, and were +willing to trample triumphantly on her broken heart at the call of her +lover, and follow him to the altar? Her whole soul writhed in pain, +"Follow his call," cried she, with a derisive smile. "Leave your +father, whom you have betrayed, for the sake of a traitor! You have +vowed to love him. Go and keep your vow." + +Outside Feodor's voice called Elise's name louder and more pressingly. +A moment she listened, then rushed to the window, threw it open, and +called out, "I come, I come!" + +Lodoiska flew to her; drew back the young girl violently from the +window, and throwing both arms firmly around her, said, almost +breathlessly, "Traitress! You shall not cross this threshold! I will +call your father. I will call the whole household together! I will--" + +"You will call no one," interrupted Elise, and her proud, cold +composure awed even the countess. "You will call no one, for I stay, +and you--you go in my stead." + +"What say you?" asked Lodoiska. + +Elise raised her arm and pointed solemnly to the window. "I say," +cried she, "that your bridegroom is waiting down there for you. Go, +then." + +With an exclamation of joy the countess pressed her in her arms. "You +renounce him, then?" + +"I have no part in him," said Elise coldly. "He belongs to you; he +is bound to you by your disgrace and his crime. Go to him," cried she +more violently, as she saw that the countess looked at her doubtingly. +"Hasten, for he is waiting for you." + +"But he will recognize me; he will drive me from him." + +Elise pointed to her clothes, which were placed ready for her +departure. "There lie my hat and cloak," said she haughtily. "Take +them; drop the veil. He knows this dress, and he will think it is me." + +At this moment the door was torn open, and Bertram burst in. "Make +haste," he cried, "or all is lost. Count Feodor is becoming impatient, +and may himself venture to come for Elise. Gotzkowsky, too, has been +awakened by the unaccustomed sound of the post-horn." + +"Help the countess to prepare for the journey," cried Elise, standing +still, motionless, and as if paralyzed. + +Bertram looked at her, astonished and inquiringly; but in a few +rapid words the countess explained to him Elise's intention and +determination, to allow her to take the journey in her stead, and with +her clothes. + +Bertram cast on Elise a look which mirrored forth the admiration he +felt for this young girl, who had so heroically gained the victory +over herself. His reliance on her maiden pride, her sense of right and +honor, had not been deceived. + +The countess had now finished her toilet, and donned Elise's hat and +cloak. + +Bertram called on her to hasten, and she approached Elise to bid her +farewell, and express her gratitude for the sacrifice she had made +for her. But Elise waved her back proudly and coldly, and seemed to +shudder at her touch. + +"Go to your husband, countess," cried she, and her voice was hoarse +and cold. + +Lodoiska's eyes filled with tears. Once more she attempted to take +Elise's hand, but the latter firmly crossed her arms and looked at her +almost threateningly. "Go!" said she, in a loud, commanding voice. + +Bertram took the arm of the countess and drew her to the door. +"Hasten!" said he; "there is no time to lose." + +The door closed behind them. Elise was alone. She stood and listened +to their departing steps; she heard the house door open; she heard the +post-horn once more sound out merrily, and then cease. "I am alone!" +she screamed, with a heart-rending cry. "They are gone; I am alone!" +And stretching her arms despairingly to heaven, and almost beside +herself, she cried out, "O God! will no one have compassion on me? +will no one pity me?" + +"Elise," said her father, opening the room door. + +She sprang toward him with a loud exclamation, she rushed into his +arms, embraced him, and, nestling in his bosom, she exclaimed faintly, +"Have pity on me, my father; do not drive me from you! You are my only +refuge in this world." + +Gotzkowsky pressed her firmly to his breast and looked gratefully +to heaven. "Oh! I well knew my daughter's heart would return to her +father." + +He kissed ardently her beautiful, glossy hair, and her head that was +resting on his breast. "Do not weep, my child, do not weep," whispered +he, tenderly. + +"Let me weep," she answered, languidly; "you do no know how much +sorrow and grief pass off with these tears." + +The sound of the post-horn was now heard from the street below and +then the rapid rolling of a carriage. + +Elise clung still more closely to her father. "Save me," she cried. +"Press me firmly to your heart. I am quite forsaken in this world." + +The door was thrown open and Bertram rushed in, out of breath, +exclaiming: "She is gone! he did not recognize her, and took her for +you. The countess--" + +He stopped suddenly and looked at Gotzkowsky, of whose presence he had +just become aware. + +Gotzkowsky inquired in astonishment, "Who is gone? What does all this +mean?" + +Elise raised herself from his arms and gazed at him with flashing +eyes. "It means," she answered, "that the happiness of my life is +broken, that all is deception and falsehood where I looked for love, +and faith, and happiness!" With a touching cry of suffering, she fell +fainting in her father's arms. + +"Do not rouse her, father," said Bertram, bending over her; "grant her +this short respite, for she has a great sorrow to overcome. When she +comes to herself again, she will love none but you, her father." + +Gotzkowsky pressed his lips on her brow, and blessed her in his +thoughts. "She will find in me a father," said he, with deep emotion, +"who, if necessary, can weep with her. My eyes are unused to tears, +but a father may be allowed to weep with his daughter when she is +suffering." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE BANQUET OF GRATITUDE. + + +Berlin had recovered from the terrors it had undergone. It was eight +days since the enemy had left, and every thing was quiet and calm. But +on this day the quiet was to be interrupted by a public merry-making. +Berlin, which had suffered so much, was to rejoice again. + +The festival which was to be celebrated, was intended for none else +than John Gotzkowsky, the Merchant of Berlin, the man whom all looked +upon as their guardian angel and savior. He had cheerfully borne +hardship and toil, danger and injustice, for the good of his +fellow-men; he had always been found helping and ready to serve, +unselfish and considerate. The whole town was under obligation to him; +he had served all classes of society, and they all wished to evince +their gratitude to him. + +Gotzkowsky had been requested to remain at home on the morning of +the festal day, but to hold himself in readiness to receive several +deputations. They were to be succeeded by a grand dinner, given by the +citizens of Berlin in his honor. They were to eat and drink, be merry, +and enjoy themselves to his glorification; they were to drink his +health in foaming glasses of champagne, and Gotzkowsky was to look +upon it all as a grand festival with which the good citizens of Berlin +were glorifying him, while they themselves were enjoying the luscious +viands and fragrant wines. + +In vain did Gotzkowsky refuse to accept the proffered festival. +At first he tried to excuse himself on the plea of his daughter's +illness, alleging that he could not leave her bedside. But information +had been obtained from her physician, who reported her out of danger, +and that Gotzkowsky might leave her for several hours without risk. +Gotzkowsky being able to find no other excuse, was obliged to accept. +Elise was indeed sick. The grief and despair of her betrayed and +deceived heart had prostrated her; and her wild, fever-dreams, her +desponding complaints, the reproachful conversations she carried on +with her lover--unseen but nevertheless present in her delirium--had +betrayed her secret to her father. Full of emotion, he thanked God for +her happy escape, and felt no resentment against this poor, misguided +child, who had taken refuge from the loneliness of her heart, in his +love, as in a haven of shelter. He only reproached his own want of +discernment, as he said to himself: "Elise had cause to be angry +with me and to doubt my affection. I bore solitude and the constant +separation from my daughter because I thought I was working for her, +but I forgot that at the same time she was solitary and alone, that +she missed a father's tenderness as I did my child's love. I wished to +make her rich, and I have only made her poor and wretched." + +He kissed her burning, feverish forehead, he bedewed it with tears, +and forgave her, from the bottom of his heart, her misplaced love, her +errors and transgressions. She was with him; she had returned to his +heart. In her despair she had fled to the bosom of her father, and +sought support and assistance from him. + +The dark clouds had all rolled over, and the heavens were again bright +and clear. Berlin was freed from the enemy. Elise was convalescent, +and the town of Berlin, was preparing for her noblest citizen a +banquet of gratitude. + +The appointed hour had arrived for Gotzkowsky to receive the +deputations, and he betook himself to the hall next the garden. A +thundering hurrah received him. It proceeded from his workmen, who had +come in procession through the garden, and were waving their hats and +caps. They were followed by a multitude of women in black. This day +they had laid aside the tears and griefs for their husbands and sons +fallen in battle, in order to thank Gotzkowsky with a smile for the +magnanimous kindness with which he had taken their part and secured +their future. + +Following these women came the poor orphans, with mourning-crape on +their arms. They rushed forward joyously toward Gotzkowsky, stretching +out their little hands to him, and, at a word from the head operative, +Balthazar, they stretched open their small mouths, and gave out such a +shrill and crashing hurrah that the windows rattled, and many a stout +workman stopped his ears and felt a ringing in his head. + +"One more hurrah!" cried the enthusiastic Balthazar; and "hurrah!" +screamed and squeaked the children. + +"And now for a third--" + +But Gotzkowsky seized hold of Balthazar's arm which he was about to +move again, and with a look of comical terror, exclaimed: "But, man, +don't you know that I have further use for my ears to-day? You deafen +me with your screaming. That's enough." + +Balthazar struggled himself free from the strong grasp of his master, +and placed himself in a theatrical position opposite to him. He was +able this day to indulge in his passion for eloquence, for the workmen +had chosen him for their orator, and he had a right to speak. As +he spoke, it could be seen by his sparkling eyes, and by his fiery +enthusiasm, that his words had not been learned by rote, but proceeded +from his heart. + +"Sir, allow me to speak and express my joy, for it is a joy to have a +noble master. Look at these children, dear master. Three days ago they +had fathers who could work and care for them. But the cannon-balls +deprived them of their fathers, and God sent them a father, and you +are he. You adopted these children when they were forsaken by all +else. You said: 'God forbid that the children of these brave men, who +had fallen in defence of the liberty of Berlin, should be orphans! I +will be their father.' Yes, sir, that is what you said, and all the +weeping mothers and all your workmen heard it and wrote it down in +their hearts. Ask these widows for whom they pray to God. Ask the poor +who were without bread and whom you fed. Ask the whole town who it is +whom they bless and praise. They will all name the name of Gotzkowsky; +with one voice they will all cry out: "Long live our friend and +father! Long live Gotzkowsky!" + +Unanimously did all join in this cry, shouting out, "Long live +Gotzkowsky!" + +Deeply moved, Gotzkowsky stretched out his hands to the workmen, +and accepted, with cordial gratification, the flowers offered by +the children. "Thank you, thank you," cried he, in a voice of deep +emotion. "You have richly recompensed me, for I perceive that you love +me, and nothing can be more beautiful than love." + +"Diamonds!" cried out Ephraim, as he made his way through the crowd +with Itzig and a deputation of the Jews, toward the hero of the +day--"diamonds are more valuable than love, Gotzkowsky. Look at this +brilliant, which sparkles and shines more brightly than ever did a +look of love from any human eye." + +He presented to Gotzkowsky a costly _solitaire_ diamond, and +continued: "Be so kind and grant us the favor of accepting this +present. It is a diamond of the first water." + +"It is a petrified tear of joy," interrupted Itzig, "shed by us on our +delivery by you from taxation. You are our greatest benefactor, our +best friend. You have proved yourself the savior of the Jews, for you +freed us from the tax, and saved us what is more precious than honor, +and rank, and happiness--our money; for, without money, the Jew is +nobody. Accept, therefore, the ring, and wear it for our sakes." + +"Accept it, we pray you," cried Ephraim, and the Jews took up the cry. + +Gotzkowsky took the ring, and placed it on his finger, thanking the +givers for the costly present, and assuring them he would wear it with +pleasure in honor of them. + +Itzig's brow was clouded with a slight frown, and stepping back to +Ephraim and his friends, he muttered, "He accepts it. I was in hopes +he would refuse it, for it cost much money, and we could have made +very good use of it." + +The solemn advance of the honorable gentlemen of the Berlin Town +Council interrupted Itzig's private soliloquy, and drew his attention +toward the chief burgomaster, Herr von Kircheisen, who, in all +the splendor and dignity of his golden chain and of his office, +accompanied by the senators and town officers, strode pompously +through the crowd, and presented his hand to Gotzkowsky, who was +respectfully advancing to meet him. + +"The Council of Berlin has come to thank you. For it is an +unparalleled example for a man to undertake and go through what you +have done for us, without any interest, without any ulterior object." + +"You make me out better than I am," replied Gotzkowsky, smiling at +Herr von Kircheisen's pompous words. "I had an ulterior object. I +wished to gain the love of my fellow-citizens. If I have succeeded, I +am more than rewarded, and I pray you say no more on the subject." + +The chief burgomaster shook his head majestically. "You have exercised +toward us the virtue of philanthropy. Allow us to exercise toward +you in return the virtue of gratitude." He took from the hands of the +assistant burgomaster a dark-red _étui_, from which he a wreath of +oak-leaves, worked in silver, which he presented to Gotzkowsky. "John +Gotzkowsky," said he, solemnly, "the Council and citizens of Berlin +request you, through me, to accept this memorial of their love and +gratitude. It is the civic crown of your magnanimity. Receive it from +our hands, and accept also our vow that we will never forget what you +have done for the town of Berlin." + +Tears of delight, of heart-felt joy stood in Gotzkowsky's eyes as he +took the oaken crown from his hands, and glowing words of gratitude +poured from his lips. + +Not far off, in a niche of a window of the hall, stood Messrs. Krause +and Kretschmer, with sullen looks, witnessing the homage paid to +Gotzkowsky, their souls filled with envy and rage. They, too, had come +to thank him, but with unwilling hearts, because they could not be +well absent from the festivities which the whole town offered him. But +they were vexed to see this man, whom they hated from the bottom of +their hearts, because of their obligations to him, so universally +honored and beloved. It annoyed them to see the pleasant and affable +smile with which the otherwise proud burgomaster conversed with +him; to see with what cordial friendship the senators and councilmen +surrounded him. + +"I came hither," said Mr. Krause, softly, "to thank Gotzkowsky for +saving us, but I must confess it worries me to see him so glorified." + +Mr. Kretschmer shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. "Let them praise +him," said he; "the _Vossian Gazette_ will not notice it, and I will +not write the smallest article on this occasion. As for the service +he rendered us--well, certainly, it would have been unpleasant to +have been flogged, but then we would have been martyrs to our liberal +opinions; the whole world would have admired and pitied us, and the +king would not have refused us a pension." + +"Certainly," whispered Mr. Krause, "he would have granted us a +pension, and the whipping would have made us famous. It has never been +forgotten of the English poet, Payne, that King Charles the First had +his ears cut off, because he wrote against him. He is not celebrated +for his writings, but for his chopped ears. We, too, might have +become famous if this Gotzkowsky had not, in the most uncalled-for +manner, interfered, and--but look!" cried he, interrupting himself, +"the interview with the Council is finished, and it is now our turn to +thank him." + +The two editors hastened toward him in order, in well-arranged speech, +and with assurances of eternal gratitude, to offer their thanks. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A ROYAL LETTER. + + +Mr. Krause had not yet finished the declamation of the poem which his +inspiration had produced in honor of Gotzkowsky, when a loud noise was +heard at the door of the hall, and Gotzkowsky's body-servant rushed +in. A messenger of the Council was without, he announced; a letter +had just arrived from the king, and, as he was to deliver it to the +burgomaster in person, the messenger had brought him here. He handed +Herr von Kircheisen a letter, and the latter broke the seal with +majestic composure. + +A pause of anxious expectation ensued. Each one inquired of himself +with trembling heart what could be the meaning of this royal letter. + +The countenance of the chief magistrate grew more and more cheerful, +and suddenly he called aloud: "This is indeed a message of gladness +for our poor town. The king, our gracious lord, releases us from our +obligation to pay the promised war-tax of a million and a half. He +wishes to retaliate for the Wurzburg and Bamberg bonds captured from +the Aulic Council. For which reason his majesty's order is that we do +not pay." + +A single cry of joy sounded from the lips of all present. Gotzkowsky +alone was silent, with downcast eyes, and his earnest, pensive +expression contrasted strongly with the bright, joyous countenances +which were illuminated by the order of the king to keep their money. + +Among the happiest and most radiant, however, were the rich mint +farmers Ephraim and Itzig, and the chief burgomaster. + +"The royal decree relieves our town of a horrible burden," said Herr +von Kircheisen, with a happy smile. + +"The whole mercantile community must be grateful to the king," cried +Ephraim. "Berlin saves a million and a half, and the Russian is sold." + +Suddenly Gotzkowsky drew himself up erect, and his eagle eye ran over +the whole assembly with a bold, beaming glance. "The Russian is not +sold," cried he, "for Berlin will pay him the balance of a million and +a half. Berlin has pledged her word, and she will redeem it." + +The countenances of those around grew dark again, and here and there +were heard words of anger and wild resentment. + +"How!" cried Itzig, "do you require of the merchants to pay what they +can keep for themselves? The king has said, 'You shall not pay!'" + +"And I say, we will pay," cried Gotzkowsky. "What is written is +written, and what is promised must be performed, for this our honor +requires. The king possesses not the power of annulling a promise or +revoking an oath! He who does not fulfil his word of honor is not a +man of honor, were he even a king." + +"But," said Herr von Kircheisen, pathetically, "there are nevertheless +circumstances which render impossible the fulfilment of an +obligation." + +Gotzkowsky answered ardently: "If such do occur, the man of honor dies +when he cannot fulfil his word. But you--you do not wish to die. Oh +no! You wish to break your word in order to live pleasantly. You wish +to profit by your breach of promise. You wish to declare yourselves +insolvent and cheat your creditors of their money, and thereby amass +wealth." + +A general storm of indignation interrupted Gotzkowsky, and the very +men who had come for the purpose of making a formal demonstration of +their gratitude now approached him with angry gestures and threatening +words. + +"A million and a half is no child's play," screamed Ephraim. "Money is +more precious than honor." + +"I say money is honor," cried Itzig. "As long as we keep our millions, +we keep our honor." + +"You are very generous," sneered Kretschmer. "Like a gentleman, you +pay your debts out of other people's pockets, and the citizens will +have to pay millions to enable you to keep your word." + +Gotzkowsky cast one look of contemptuous pity on him, and replied: +"You forget, sir, that I did not act in my own name, but in that of +the magistracy and merchants of Berlin. Not I alone would be faithless +to my word, but the whole town of Berlin." + +"But I repeat," said the chief burgomaster, "that the king has +released us from the obligation of keeping our word." + +"No king can do that," interrupted Gotzkowsky. "A man of honor must +keep his word, and no one, not even a king, can absolve him from it." + +"Let us not quarrel about matters of opinion," said Kircheisen, +shrugging his shoulders. "My opinion is, that we do not pay this sum." + +"No, we will not pay it!" cried all in tumultuous excitement, as they +surrounded the burgomaster, discussing in cheerful conversation the +advantages of non-payment. + +Gotzkowsky stood listening to them alone, unobserved, and forgotten. +His heart was heavy with sadness, and painfully did he reflect: "This +is the unholy influence of money, hardening the heart and silencing +the voice of honor. For a few millions of dollars do they sell their +good name. One final attempt let me make. I will see what their +cowardice will do." + +Again did he enter their midst, and with convincing words and ardent +eloquence portray the danger which would ensue from the non-payment of +the bonds. + +The Russian was not very far from Berlin: if he had retired in forced +marches he could return thither with equal rapidity in order, in the +wantonness of his wrath, to take vengeance on the faithless town. + +"In an unlucky moment," said he, "the Russians might gain a victory +over our king. He would then return and rend us like a tiger. I +would then no longer have the power of protecting you, for General +Tottleben's anger would be turned principally against me, who +guaranteed the payment of the contribution. God himself does not +protect him who breaks his word. He is an outlaw." + +A deep silence followed Gotzkowsky's speech. All the faces were again +overcast, and in the contracted brow and anxious countenances could be +read the fact that his words had painfully convinced them that it was +necessary to pay. + +Even Herr von Kircheisen in his fear of the return of the Russians, +forgot the enormous amount of the sums to be paid, and said, with a +melancholy sigh: "Gotzkowsky is, I am afraid, right. It is very hard +to pay the money, but it is very dangerous not to do it." + +"It might cost us our heads," confirmed the first councilman. + +Ephraim stood with his head cast down, and muttered to himself, "Money +is very dear, but life is still dearer." + +Itzig cried out in despair: "Let us keep our money. Without money the +Jew is nobody." + +But the chief burgomaster, who had consulted the councilmen, now +approached Gotzkowsky, and, with a smile, offered him his hand. "We +thank you," said he, "for you have spoken wisely, and your advice +shall be followed. We will pay, for we cannot help ourselves. But we +must beg you to do us another important service. Go to the king and +beg him not to be angry with us if we do not obey his order." + +"Yes, do so, do so, Gotzkowsky!" cried all the others. "Go to the +king, he is friendly toward you--beg for us." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance beamed with generous satisfaction. "Very +well," said he; "I will go to the king and beg him to allow the town +of Berlin to preserve its honor immaculate, and pay the promised sum." + +"Use all your eloquence, that the king may remain favorably inclined +toward us, and not become angry with us for acting this once against +his orders," admonished the chief burgomaster. + +"The king is a high-minded and noble man," said Gotzkowsky, +enthusiastically. "He looks upon a man's word as sacred, and will +understand us and honor us for not wishing to break ours." + +An hour later the chief citizens and merchants of Berlin repaired to +the spacious town-hall, where an elegant banquet had been prepared, +and merriment prevailed, and glasses sounded; and Berlin, rescued, +celebrated the first day of joy and happiness. + +But John Gotzkowsky, to whom this feast was given, whom Berlin called +her deliverer and benefactor, was not present at this banquet. Deeply +buried in furs he had just entered his carriage, and braving danger +and toil, in the cold and darkness he drove away toward Meissen, where +the king had established his headquarters. + + * * * * * + + + + +BOOK III. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FREDERICK THE GREAT AT MEISSEN. + + +The great battle of Torgau had been fought, and the Prussian army, +after so many combats and such a bloody victory, was contemplating +with lively satisfaction the going into winter quarters, which, it +hoped, this time would be in Saxony. The Prussian headquarters were, +for the time being, in Meissen, and in the palace there, for a short +resting-spell, dwelt the king, who for many years had only experienced +the troubles and dangers of his position; the king who had often +struggled with hunger and care, daily privation and mortal danger, +and who one day, wearied out by sleeping night after night on the cold +ground, commissioned his adjutant to provide a bundle of straw for +the comfort of his royal person. The king had for a long time spared +Saxony. He was sorry for this beautiful, afflicted land. But Saxony +was finally to be treated as an enemy's country, as she would not +appreciate Frederick's noble forbearance and clemency, and had allied +herself to his enemies with fanatical zeal. And now her devastated +fields, her paralyzed factories, her impoverished towns and deserted +villages, testified to her distress and the calamities of war. But at +this time quiet and tranquillity reigned in the hostile camps. On both +sides they were too tired to be able to carry on a fresh conflict, +and the strength of both parties being exhausted, they were obliged to +allow each other time for rest. Besides, the winter had set in early +with unusual severity, and, to all appearances, put an end to the +campaign of 1760. + +The only contest now was for winter quarters; and it had been, +therefore, after the victory of Torgau, the king's first endeavor to +cut off the retreat of the Austrians to Dresden, or at least to drive +them out of this town. But, as the king wrote to Countess Camas, "They +laughed at us from the top of the hills--I withdrew immediately, and, +like a little boy, have stuck myself down in pure disgust in one of +the accursed Saxon villages. I assure you I lead a perfect dog's life, +such as no one else, except Don Quixote, has ever led." + +In the mean while Frederick had left this "accursed Saxon village" +(Neustadt) and had gone to Meissen, and his "dog's life" had given +place to ease and comfort. He had, therefore, for some quiet weeks +laid aside the sword, and the gentleman had become again the royal +poet and _savant_, who divided his time between music and poetry, +between serious studies and writing to his friends, to whom he sent +letters, in which his great and elevated manner of thinking, his soul +above prejudice, were displayed in all their beauty and power. + +The king was alone in his study. He had just finished a letter to the +Marquis d'Argens, calling upon him to give some news of his gallery at +Sans-Souci, and to inform him of its progress. The king laid down his +pen, and leaned back in his chair for a moment. His usually sharp, +bright eye had now a soft, gentle expression, and a light smile played +around his thin, nobly-formed lips. He has forgotten for the time the +care and bustle of war, and fancied himself in his beloved paradise, +his Sans-Souci, where it was allowed the hero to be a poet, and where +he could for some genial hours put aside his dignity, and, instead +of the enthroned ruler, be the cheerful sage, the smiling son of the +Muses. + +The king, pleased by these memories of happy days, rose and seized his +flute, which, by his express orders, always lay on his writing-table. +He put it to his lips, and began an _adagio_, in the execution of +which he was acknowledged to be one of the first _virtuosos_ of his +day, and the sounds, as they poured forth, rose plaintively, and +floated around him in bewitching melody. No one could listen to +this beautifully-executed, deeply-felt music of the royal performer, +without being impressed in his inmost soul, and feeling his heart +swell with powerful emotions. Outside, in the antechamber, were +standing the stern generals, the heroic warriors, Zeithen, and the +brave Schwerin, and General von Saldern, and their scarred, austere +features assumed a soft, touching expression, as they leaned against +the wall and listened in breathless silence to the performance of the +king. But suddenly the playing ceased. + +To these brave warriors, unaccustomed to music, the execution had +seemed superb; but the king was not satisfied with it. He, who had +in his memory the royal _artiste_ of Sans-Souci, exacted of the king, +driven about by the hardships and necessities of war, that he should +have lost nothing of the fulness of tone or the power and energy of +execution. It worried him that the notes no longer flowed so clearly; +it vexed him to hear a sharp, whistling sound, that seemed to +accompany the melody as with a painful sigh. He threw the flute +aside, and stepped to a looking-glass, which he took up with evident +unwillingness. + +It was very seldom that the king held it worth his while to consult +the mirror about his personal appearance, and when he did so, it +was usually to inquire for some failing or evidence of frailty which +restricted him in the freedom of his being. And while he thus looked +at himself, his features assumed a sad expression, and his eyebrows +became contracted. + +What was it, which thus put out of humor the brave hero, the +victory-crowned king? + +He became aware that his second front tooth had broken off. The gap +thus caused was the natural explanation of the want of clearness in +his playing. He threw the mirror angrily aside, and with a frown on +his brow paced rapidly up and down the room two or three times. + +But gradually another expression succeeded, and a sarcastic smile +played around his mouth. Again he stepped to the writing-table, on +which lay several unfinished letters. Looking for the one he had +commenced to the Countess Camas, he said to himself: "The good +countess inquires after my personal appearance. Well, now that I am in +the humor, I will draw my portrait for her." + +Again he took up the hand-glass and regarded himself long and +attentively; but this time not with vexation or ill-humor, but with +the cheerful smile and dignified calm of a philosopher. He then +applied himself to his writing: "You ask how I look, dear mother. The +disorder of war has made me so old, that you would hardly recognize +me. My hair is quite gray on the right side of my head; my teeth break +off and fall out; my face is as full of wrinkles as the furbelow of a +woman's frock; my back as bent as that of a monk of La Trappe. Only +my heart is unchanged; and, as long as I have breath, will preserve +feelings of esteem and the most tender friendship toward you, good +mamma."[1] + +As the king read over this description of his appearance once more, he +broke into a loud, merry laugh. He then pushed the letter aside, and +took up another piece of paper, and a drawing-pencil. + +Silence prevailed now in the cabinet of the king. Outside was heard +the monotonous tread of the sentinel, sometimes the sound of a +trumpet, the neighing of a horse, or the order of some officer. The +king paid no attention to all this. His ear was so accustomed to these +noises, that it seemed like perfect silence to him. He was so buried +in his work, that even the unwonted tumult which now arose was +unperceived by him; nor did he notice that a carriage drove into the +palace-yard, its post-horn sounding loud and merrily. The generals +and courtiers, who were in the antechamber, noticed it all the +more, because any thing was welcome to them which broke in upon the +prevailing quiet; for so accustomed were they to the varied business +of war, that any thing which departed from it was insupportably +tedious. They drew to the window and looked with pleasure on the +dusty, dirty travelling carriage, which, with its four panting +post-horses, had drawn up at the entrance to the palace, and out of +which descended a tall, manly figure, who went in at the palace door. + +The gentlemen in the antechamber amused themselves guessing who the +stranger who had just arrived could be; and they had all arrived at +the unanimous conclusion that it must be the Marquis d'Argens, as the +door opened, and the stranger entered. He asked for the adjutant on +duty, and, as the latter was pointed out to him, he stepped toward him +with an air of quiet dignity. + +"I pray you announce me immediately to his majesty. Have the kindness +to say to him, that I have not come hither on my private affairs, +but as a delegate from the city of Berlin, with full powers from the +Council and citizens, to request the honor of an audience with the +king, and that I am obliged to return as speedily as possible to the +capital." + +"Your name, sir?" + +"I am the merchant, John Gotzkowsky." + +The serious and proud features of the aristocratic adjutant +immediately relaxed, and assumed a more polite and obliging +expression. + +"Ah! Gotzkowsky, the rich and magnanimous merchant of Berlin--the +special _protégé_ of the king. I will announce you immediately to his +majesty." And the adjutant hurried through the halls and entered the +boudoir of the king. + +In the mean while, the generals drew near Gotzkowsky, who related +to them all about the siege of Berlin, and the cruel and relentless +conduct of the enemy; pressing him with questions, whether on his +journey thither he had encountered or come into the vicinity of any +portion of the enemy. + +"You will find the king very much out of humor," said General von +Saldern; "he has not left his study to-day, and doubtless he is +occupied with very serious plans." + +"Perhaps even with the plan of a battle," said another of the +gentlemen, "for it is said that Lacy has advanced his army, and even +that Landon has left Dresden. A battle is therefore imminent, and the +king is evidently drawing up his plan." + +At this moment the door of the study was opened, and the adjutant +motioned to Gotzkowsky to enter. As the latter was traversing the +hall, the generals cast an eager glance through the open door, anxious +to see the countenance of the king, and find out from its expression +whether this intolerable armistice was to be interrupted by the +violent clash of arms. + +In the mean time, Gotzkowsky entered the chamber of the king, and +the door closed after him. He was now alone in the presence of the +monarch, who was still sitting at his writing-table, making rapid +strokes with his drawing-pencil on the paper before him. + +"He is writing," said Gotzkowsky to himself, "and is perhaps in the +act of drawing out the plan of the battle which the generals out there +are awaiting with such joyous impatience. Yes, he is writing, and +perhaps each stroke of the pen may cost the lives of hundreds of human +beings." And he did not venture by a single word or a loud breath to +draw attention to his presence. On his entrance, the king had cast +on him one of his sharp, penetrating glances, before whose commanding +power many a general and many a brave man had quailed, and had then +bent his head again over the paper. + +Absolute silence prevailed for a while. Suddenly the king interrupted +it, and motioned to Gotzkowsky with his hand to draw near. "Just look +and see whether that pleases you," said he, in a friendly tone. "You +are known as a connoisseur in art, and you have proved to me that you +understand painting. Look at that, and tell me whether you like it." + +What was it that the king had drawn on the paper? Was it really, as +his brave generals wished, the plan of a battle soon to be fought, +was it a philosophical treatise, or one of those witty and piquant +epistles to which the king treated his friends? None of all these. + +"A nosegay!" cried Gotzkowsky, as with unconcealed astonishment he +looked now on the paper, now on the king. "Your majesty is drawing a +bouquet of flowers, and out there the gentlemen have just told me in +confidence that you were busied with a plan of battle, and that the +Austrians were approaching." + +"Nonsense!" said the king, shrugging his shoulders, "that rough set +out there are always anxious for war, and to be cutting and slashing +at each other. Don't you listen to them, but rather tell me how you +like this drawing. Don't you think these roses mixed with lilies look +well? But I see you wish to know what it is intended for. Well, it is +for a set of porcelain which I wish to have painted for the Marquis +d'Argens." And, as he met Gotzkowsky's looks, he continued with a +friendly smile: "Yes, you see, you are rich; you can make others +presents. But the king of Prussia is a poor man; he has only his coat, +his sword, and his porcelain. And this last even," continued he, with +a slight frown, "I am obliged to get from Meissen." + +"That your majesty need not do in future. Please God, your majesty +shall make your porcelain in your own dominions!" + +"Will you guarantee that? Will you undertake it?" asked the king, +kindly. + +"I will." + +"And look ye, you are just the man to carry out what you wish. I am +well satisfied with you. You have justified the confidence I placed +in you when I was crown prince. You have redeemed the vow you made me +then." + +"I swore to your majesty that I would be faithful to the fatherland +with life and property," cried Gotzkowsky, with noble ardor. + +"And you have kept your word. It is not difficult in easy and +prosperous times to find people to serve the state. Those are good +citizens who serve her when she is in difficulty and danger.[2] You +are a good citizen." And handing Gotzkowsky an open letter which lay +on the writing-table, he said: "Read, it is a letter from the Marquis +d'Argens. Read it aloud, I would like to hear it again." + +And Gotzkowsky read with a trembling voice, and cheeks reddened with +noble modesty, the following passage from a letter of the marquis, +which the king pointed out to him with his finger: "Gotzkowsky is, +indeed, an excellent man and a worthy citizen. I wish you had many +such as he. The greatest gift which fortune can make a state is a +citizen full of zeal for the welfare of his country and his prince. +And in this respect I must say, to the credit of Berlin, that in these +trying times I have met many of her citizens, Gotzkowsky the foremost +among them, whose virtues, the old historians of Rome, had they lived +at the present day, would have immortalized!"[3] + +"Are you satisfied?" asked the king, as Gotzkowsky, having finished, +handed him the paper. "Oh, I see you are a modest man, and blush like +a young girl. But tell me, now, what brings you here? What does the +city of Berlin wish?" + +"Her rights, your majesty," said Gotzkowsky, seriously. + +"And who is troubling her rights?" + +"Your majesty." + +The king frowned, and cast an angry glance on the bold jester. + +Gotzkowsky continued, calmly: "Your majesty is depriving us of our +good rights, in so far as you wish to prevent us from being honest +people, and keeping our word sacred." + +"Oh, now I understand you," said the king, laughing. "You are speaking +of the Russian war-tax. Berlin shall not pay it." + +"Berlin will pay it, in order that your majesty may retain her in +your gracious favor; in order that the great Frederick may not have +to blush for his faithless and dishonest town, which would not then +deserve to be the residence of a king. How! would your majesty trust +the men who refused to redeem their openly-pledged word? who look upon +sworn contracts as a mouse-trap, to be escaped from as soon as the +opportunity offers, and when the dangerous cat is no longer sitting +at the door? Berlin will pay--that our sons may not have to blush +for their fathers; that posterity may not say that Berlin had stamped +herself with the brand of dishonor. We have pledged our word, and we +must keep it." + +"You must not, for I do not wish you to do so," cried Frederick, with +anger-flashing eyes. "I will institute reprisals. The imperial court +has refused the payment of the Bamberg and Wurzburg bonds." + +"And your majesty considers that proceeding highly dishonest and +unjust," interrupted Gotzkowsky; "and while you wish to punish the +empire for its breach of faith, you punish doubly the town of Berlin +by depriving her of the last thing that remained to her in her day +of need and misfortune--her honorable name. You cannot be in earnest, +sire? Punish, if you choose, the imperial judge, but do not make +Berlin the dishonored Jack Ketch to carry out your sentence." + +"But are you so anxious to get rid of your money? What is the amount +that you still owe?" + +"A million and a half, sire." + +The king stepped back and looked at Gotzkowsky with astonishment. "And +the people of Berlin insist upon paying it?" + +"Yes, because their word is pledged." + +The king shook his head thoughtfully. "Hark ye," said he, "you seem to +me to be a dangerous agitator, who wishes to turn my peaceful citizens +of Berlin into true children of Haman. Some weeks ago, after the +unfortunate fight of Kunnersdorf, when I sent an express courier to +Berlin and ordered the Town Council to advise the rich and +well-to-do to retire from the city with their portable property, my +recommendation was not followed: you yourself excited the Council +to disobedience. In your self-willed obstinacy you had the impudent +assurance to make your way through a country infested by the enemy; +and if my colonel, Von Prittwitz, had not found you in those woods, +and brought you to me in the village, your obstinate head would have +adorned the lance of some Cossack or other. And what did you come for +but to assure me that the well-to-do citizens of Berlin would prefer +staying at home, and did not wish to run away? Yes, truly you are a +queer diplomatist, and rush headlong into danger and trouble only to +assure your king that his citizens will not obey him!" + +The king had spoken with apparent displeasure, but around his lips +there played a slight smile, and his large blue eyes were directed +toward Gotzkowsky with an expression of indescribable kindness. + +"In this case they do not wish to obey your majesty, because they wish +to remain worthy of the name of your majesty's citizens and subjects." + +The king paced up and down several times, with folded arms, and then +stopped before Gotzkowsky, looking steadily in his eyes. "Now tell me, +how did you manage to make the Berliners so obstinate and so lavish of +their means?" + +Gotzkowsky smiled. "Please your majesty, the Berliners prize their +honor above their life." + +The king shook his head impatiently. "You may tell that to some one +else. Tell _me_, how did you bring my Berliners up to that? But the +truth--mind, you tell me the truth." + +"Well, then, your majesty shall know the truth," said Gotzkowsky, +after a pause. + +"Yes, yes, the truth," cried the king, nodding his head violently. "I +wish to know how you inspired the citizens of Berlin with such bold +assurance." + +"The truth is, sire, that this was only the courage of cowardice, and +that the prudent magistracy and merchants were perfectly delighted +with your majesty's orders not to pay these bonds, and that I gave +myself an immense amount of trouble in vain to remind them of their +pledged word and their compromised honor." + +"Oh! I know it," said the king. "My good Berliners love money as well +as any other of the good-for-nothing children of men. Proceed!" + +"Well, when I found them deaf to the voice of honor, I let them hear +the words of cowardly prudence. I painted to them the horrors awaiting +them if the enemy perchance should return as conquerors, and what a +fearful revenge they would take on the perjured city. I reminded them +that the enemy would immediately attack all our property in Courland, +Dantzic, and Livonia, and that at the Russian headquarters they had +threatened me that they would publish, us in all the open commercial +marts as issuers of false bonds." + +"You were then in the Russian camp?" + +"A fortnight ago, sire. The Council of Berlin requested me to +undertake this journey to complete the transactions left unfinished by +the rapid retreat of General von Tottleben." + +"And did you finish them?" + +"I was obliged to give General Tottleben a written agreement that +I would return in four weeks to the Russian camp to carry out the +transactions in the name of these merchants." + +"I have been told that the Russian general would not accept the bonds +for the war-tax unless you indorsed them. Is that true, too?" + +"It is true." + +"And what did you do?" + +"I indorsed them." + +The king's eye lighted up with friendship and kindness. "D'Argens is +right," said he. "Cornelius Nepos and Livy would have mentioned you in +their writings." And he paced up and down the room in deep thought. + +A long pause ensued. Finally, Gotzkowsky was bold enough to break it. +"And the tax, your majesty, may we pay it?" + +The king stopped in front of him. "The tax shall be paid," said he +curtly; but, as Gotzkowsky was about to break out in loud expressions +of gratitude, the king waved him off with his hand. "That is," said +he, "I myself will pay it, if it cannot be otherwise. Go back into the +Russian camp, as you have promised. Endeavor to get some abatement of +the amount, or some other profitable terms; but if you do not succeed, +well, I will have to pay this million and a half for Berlin. But in +return you must grant me a favor." + +"What, sire? Whatever it may be," cried Gotzkowsky, ardently, "I am +ready to perform any service for your majesty, even to the sacrifice +of my life." + +The king smiled. "Oh, no! not quite so bad as that, although the +service I ask of you is more difficult to most men than dying--I +mean _keeping silence_." And as he laid his hand affectionately on +Gotzkowsky's shoulder, he continued: "Betray to no one what I have +said to you, and only at the very last moment, if it is absolutely +necessary, take the Council into your confidence." + +"How, sire?" said Gotzkowsky, painfully. "You wish to deprive your +Berlin citizens of the gratification of expressing to you their +gratitude, their infinite affection. Berlin may not even know how +kind, how gracious your majesty has been to her!" + +"I don't like the jingling of words, nor the throwing of wreaths. The +very people who throw laurel-wreaths would be only too glad if the +laurels were hard enough to break our heads. You pay the contribution, +that is to say, you advance it, and I'll return it to you.[4] That's +all, and now don't say another word about it." At the same time, as +if fearful that Gotzkowsky might yet venture to act contrary to his +wishes, he continued more rapidly: "Now tell me a little about Berlin, +and above all things about our gallery at Sans-Souci. How does it +fare?" + +"It is finished, sire, and the people flock to see it." + +"I only, like a fugitive or a Don Quixote, am driven about," said the +king to himself, "and cannot even enter my own house, and they call +that royal happiness!" Turning to Gotzkowsky, he remarked aloud: "Have +you seen the gallery since the enemy took up his quarters in it?" + +"Yes, sire! Prince Esterhazy was this noble enemy. He protected +Sans-Souci like something sacred. When he left he only took one single +small picture with him, as a souvenir." + +The king gave a friendly nod. "I know it," said he, "and that is the +only pleasure I have had for a long time. Once more I will see my +Titians and Correggios, my Rubenses and Vandycks, which you bought for +me. Now tell me about Charlottenburg. But mind, give me the truth. I +have noticed that no one will speak out about it, nobody will tell the +truth. They are afraid of my anger. But you are a brave man, you are +not even afraid of the Cossacks. You will have the courage to let your +king know the facts. How is it with Charlottenburg? The Saxons have +quartered there--what did they do?" + +And now Gotzkowsky, often interrupted by the violent and angry +exclamations of the king, told of the barbarous and cruel vandalism +committed by the Saxons at Charlottenburg, their unbridled +destructiveness and unsparing barbarity. + +"And the Polignac collection?" asked the king, breathlessly. + +"Almost entirely destroyed." + +The king started up from his easy-chair, his eyes flashing with rage. +He was no longer the philosopher of Sans-Souci, no longer the poet; he +was now the warrior panting for battle and bloody vengeance. "Tell me, +tell me! I wish to know all," said the king, laboring out each word, +and taking long strides up and down. + +But as Gotzkowsky gave him a more detailed account, and related +the sacrilegious barbarity which did not spare even the sacred +art-treasures, the king's brow became more darkened, and for a moment +a burning flush of anger shot across his pale cheek. At one time +he raised his arm threateningly, as if he would bring down the +thunderbolts of heaven upon such wickedness and ruthlessness. + +As Gotzkowsky finished, the king said, curtly and vehemently, "Good, +very good!" and traversing the room with hasty steps, he threw open +the door which led into the antechamber, and called out, "Saldern!" + +Immediately General von Saldern appeared at the open door. The king +commanded him to enter and shut the door; then, addressing him in a +short, decisive tone: "Go to-morrow, quietly, with a detachment of +infantry and cavalry, to Hubertsburg, take possession of the castle, +and have all the valuable furniture carefully inventoried and packed +up. I will have none of it. The money obtained from its ransom will be +turned over to the Lazaretto, and I will not forget you." + +There was a pause. General von Saldern remained at the door +motionless, in stiff military attitude. + +The king looked at him with astonishment. "Well! did you hear?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I heard. But, may it please your majesty, this is +against my honor and my oath." + +The king compelled himself to be composed, for he loved General +Saldern as a brave and noble officer. "You would be right," said he, +"if I did not use this desperate means to a good object. But let me +tell you, the head of the great lord does not feel it if you tear out +the hair of his subjects. You must hit, then, where it hurts him; and +that I intend to do. The Elector of Saxony shall find out how it feels +when one's most cherished possession is destroyed. We will teach him +to be humane, and behave himself. Go, therefore, to Hubertsburg, and +do as I told you." + +General von Saldern turned pale, and his countenance was expressive of +deep suffering, as he answered gravely and firmly: "Your majesty may +send me right off to attack the enemy and his batteries, and I will +obey with my whole heart; but against my honor, my oath, and my duty, +I cannot, dare not act." + +The king stamped with his foot, and his eye flashed with threatening +anger. + +"You must obey, as is your duty; you are bound to obey no other voice +than that of your king who commands you," said he with a voice of +thunder. + +General Saldern answered, calmly: "But, sire, I must obey the voice +of my honor! Your majesty can easily transfer this commission to +another." + +The king turned from him with an involuntary frown, and, walking up +and down hastily, he stopped near Saldern, and laid his hand gently on +his shoulder. "Look ye, Saldern, obey--go to Hubertsburg." + +"I cannot, sire!" + +"You do not desire to enrich yourself?" said the king, as he turned +away. "Do you wish your discharge? I have no use for soldiers who do +not consider obedience their first duty." + +"I herewith ask for my discharge, sire!" + +"You have it--go!"[5] + +Without saying a word, General von Saldern made a military obeisance, +and left the room. + +"You go too!" said the king to Gotzkowsky, who had been a silent, +involuntary spectator of this scene--"go and tell my adjutant to send +Quintus Icilius to me." + +In a few minutes Major Quintus Icilius entered. "Go to Hubertsburg +with a detachment of infantry and cavalry, and clear out the castle." + +Major Quintus Icilius took good heed not to contradict the king. He +had already, in the antechamber, heard of General von Saldern's fate, +and he was not indisposed to execute the king's commission. + +"Only a hundred thousand dollars you hand over to the Lazaretto, the +rest you can keep for yourself." + +"As you command, sire! Shall I proceed at once?" + +The king cast a look of disgust on him. "Are you in such a hurry to +be rich?" said he. "Go--I will appoint the time and the hour more +particularly."[6] + +When the king was alone again, he paced up and down the room in deep +thought. At one time he stopped at the window, and his bright blue +eyes were turned mournfully toward heaven. "Poor fools that we are!" +said he, with a sigh. "We have only a moment to live, and we make +this moment as bitter as possible to each other. We take pleasure in +destroying the master-pieces of industry and art, at the same time +we are erecting an accursed monument to our own devastation and our +cruelty."[7] + + +[Footnote 1: "Lettres inédites, ou Correspondance de Frédéric II.," +&c., p. 120.] + +[Footnote 2: The king's own words.] + +[Footnote 3: "Correspondance entre Fred. et M. d'Argens," vi., p. +228.] + +[Footnote 4: "Life of a Patriotic Merchant," pp. 85-254. "The king +paid the contribution in fact so quietly, one hardly knew when, where, +or how."--_Preuss's History of Frederick_.] + +[Footnote 5: This interview is historical and literal. General von +Saldern left the army, but after the peace entered it again, with high +honor and distinction.--KUSTRE, "Traits of Saldern," p. 39.] + +[Footnote 6: Not till May, 1761, was the king's order carried into +execution by Major Q. Icilius, in a most barbarous manner. The king +was apparently satisfied; but when Q. Icilius in 1764 applied for +repayment of moneys spent in executing the royal command, the king +indorsed on the application--"My officers steal like crows. They get +nothing."] + +[Footnote 7: His own words.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WINTER-QUARTERS IN LEIPSIC. + + +The king of Prussia had left Meissen, and taken up his winter-quarters +in Leipsic. The choice of this town arose from a particular need of +the king. He wished to pass the winter in a university town, and, +instead of the rough companions of war, to surround himself with +learned men and artists, poets and musicians. He had his band brought +from Berlin, and invited the professors of the Leipsic University to +his table. Thus Leipsic, the rich and luxurious commercial town, found +itself, for a few months, converted into a royal residence. But not +willingly did she undergo this transformation; and it was against her +wish that she received the Prussian king, in lieu of the troops of the +allies, within her walls. Frederick knew this, and therefore exercised +no mercy on this city, so rich in money and professions, whose +unwelcome guest he was. + +Had Leipsic welcomed the Prussian army in a ready and friendly manner, +she would certainly have met with indulgence; but her defiant and +sullen behavior, her warm partisanship of Austria, whose ally Saxony +was, naturally only tended to increase the animosity of the king, +and aggravate his ill-humor. If Leipsic insisted upon regarding the +Prussians as enemies, his duty was to consider her as an enemy, and +treat her as such. + +Enormous contributions were laid upon the town, and in spite of the +previous written promise of the king that her assessment should not, +at the utmost, exceed five hundred thousand dollars, new demands were +now constantly being made, and new contributions levied. In vain +did the Council beg and plead for mercy and justice; in vain did the +merchants protest that their means were exhausted, and that they were +not able to meet any further payments. The enormous demands determined +on were firmly and with iron obstinacy insisted upon; and as the +refractory town did not cease to oppose them, recourse was had to +threats to intimidate her. Tarred rings were hung against the +houses, and it was sworn to lay the town in ashes if Leipsic did not +immediately pay the million of dollars demanded. But the unfortunate +inhabitants had already reached that pitch of desperation at which +people are prepared for any thing, and fear nothing further because +there is nothing more to lose. They declared that they could pay no +more, and offered to seal their word with their death. + +The tarred rings were indeed taken down from the houses, but the +richest and most respectable inhabitants were seized and incarcerated. +Even the authorities were not spared, and the officers of the Council +were thrown into the prisons of the towns. In the most degrading +manner, like a flock of sheep, they were shut up in spaces hardly able +to contain them; damp straw was their bed, bread and water their only +nourishment, and this was brought to them with words of cruel insult +by their Prussian jailers. But to these latter the burden soon became +too heavy; they were weary of their cruel service, and sought to +lighten it. + +At first they had one hundred and twenty prisoners, but, after a +fortnight of useless torment, the greater number had been set free, +and only seventeen retained. To be sure, these consisted of +the richest and most respectable citizens of Leipsic. And these +unfortunate hostages, these spoilt sons of wealth and luxury, were now +forced to bear the whole weight of misfortune, the entire anger of the +victorious enemy. They, whose whole life had been one of indulgence +and effeminacy, had now to undergo the greatest privations, the +hardest sufferings. The cold earth was their bed, a piece of bread +thrown to them their nourishment; and it was a feast to them when one +of the gentlewomen of Leipsic succeeded in obtaining permission to +visit a brother or husband, and was able to smuggle in under her silk +dress a piece of meat or a little bowl of soup for the martyrs. These +cruelties would doubtless have been lessened or abolished if the king +had had positive knowledge of them, or if he had believed that the +city's inability to pay was real, and not a mere pretext. But the +king, vexed by the continually repeated complaints, out of humor at +the obstinate conduct of Leipsic, and mindful of the vandal conduct of +the Saxons at Charlottenburg, had issued strict orders not to trouble +him with this business, and not to report to him about them until they +could at the same time show that the sum demanded had been paid. And +therewith sentence had been passed upon the unfortunate citizens of +Leipsic. No one dared to mention to the king the torments and tortures +to which the hostages of the pitiable town were subjected. No one +had the courage to beg for mercy for those whose only crime was, that +their riches were exhausted, their coffers empty, and that they did +not possess the means to pay the inordinate sums demanded of them. + +But while the population of Leipsic was undergoing this grief, +this hard time of trial, an uninterrupted quiet and precious peace +prevailed in the house inhabited by the King of Prussia. Music was +performed, readings were held, and in the midst of these gentle +diversions and this pleasant rest Frederick drew up the plans of +fresh, battles and new and great undertakings. Fasch and Quanz had +been brought from Berlin to play music for him, the Marquis d'Argens +to philosophize for him, his dogs to amuse him. The king, who knew +enough of men to despise the wavering, erring, sinful creatures, was +also a sufficient connoisseur of dogs to love the faithful, obedient, +submissive animals with his whole heart, and devoted a great part of +his time to them. He who was deaf to the wailing and lamentations of +a whole city, had his ears open to the least whine of Biche, or his +favorite Psyche, and never would have forgiven him who had dared +to treat one of his dogs as so many of the noble and distinguished +citizens of Leipsic were being treated in his name. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FRIEND IN NEED. + + +No one would have dared to speak a word for the refractory +citizens and authorities of Leipsic to the king, nor act in direct +contravention to his express orders. Even the Marquis d'Argens, his +intimate friend and confidant, had refused to be the advocate of the +unfortunate town. It seemed to be lost, without hope of redemption, +and already it had been threatened with the extreme of severity. It +had been announced to the chief men, the fathers and heads of families +who were pining in the prisons, that they would be transported on foot +to Magdeburg as recruits, with knapsacks on their backs. But at +this moment the rescuer in need, of the afflicted city, made his +appearance. + +A tall, proud, manly form crossed the antechamber of the king. Power +and energy were visible in his countenance, and his eyes sparkled +with noble excitement. He was going to perform that duty from which +courtiers and flatterers shrank with trembling; and what the bravest +generals did not dare, he was going to undertake. John Gotzkowsky was +going to tell the king the truth. John Gotzkowsky was not afraid to +rouse the anger of a king, when it came to helping the unfortunate or +protecting the oppressed. He had a more noble mission to perform than +to sue for the smiles of a king, or the favor of the great. It was +the higher mission of humanity which impelled him, and, as usual, his +resolution was firm and unwavering. With bold decision he reached +the door which led into the king's chamber. He had the privilege of +entering unannounced, for the king expected him. + +He had summoned Gotzkowsky from Berlin, to obtain information as to +the progress of the Berlin industrial works, and the faithful patriot +had, in obedience to the call of his king, come to Leipsic. He had +seen the misery and suffering on this poor, down-trodden town, and, +as he traversed the antechamber, he said to himself, with an +imperceptible smile, "I brought the Russian general to clemency, and +the king will not be harder than he was." + +But before he threw off his cloak, he drew out of it a small package, +which he examined carefully. Being satisfied with its appearance, he +took it with him to the cabinet of the king. Frederick did not look at +him at first. He was reclining on the floor, and around him, on silken +cushions, lay his dogs, their bright eyes fixed on a dish which +was placed in the midst of them. The king, with an ivory stick, was +carefully dividing the portion for each dog, ordering the growling, +discontented ones to be quiet, and comforting the patiently waiting +ones with a light jest concerning the next piece. Suddenly he raised +his eyes, and his quick glance rested on Gotzkowsky's smiling, placid +face. "Ah, you laugh," said he, "and in your human conceit you find it +quite beneath one's dignity to occupy one's self with dogs, when there +are so many human beings. Let me tell you, you don't understand any +thing about it! You don't know dogs at all, and perhaps you don't know +men.--Quiet, Biche! leave that piece for Apollo. I gave it to him, and +therefore it belongs to him. One would suppose you had been learning +from men, and in the true spirit of Christian and brotherly love, +grudged each other a piece of bread. Quiet, Biche, and don't be vexed +that I compared you to human beings. I did not mean you were quite as +bad as that." + +And gently stroking and caressing the offended Biche, he rose and +seated himself in his velvet-covered _fauteuil_. His bright eye turned +toward Gotzkowsky, and rested on the package the latter had in his +hand. "What have you there?" + +"A plate and a cup," said Gotzkowsky, seriously--"the first two pieces +from my porcelain factory in Berlin." + +The king now rose from his seat and strode hastily toward Gotzkowsky. +"Give them here. I want to see what sort of potters'-ware you are +going to impose upon me for porcelain." With impatient hands he tore +off the paper coverings, and so eagerly was he engaged with them, that +he did not perceive that Biche and Apollo were already fighting for a +scrap of paper which he had thrown directly on Biche's nose, and which +she consequently mistook for a delicate morsel, a prize worth a fight +with Apollo. "Forsooth, it is porcelain!" cried the king, as he drew +out the gold-rimmed plate and the beautifully painted cup from their +wrappings, and looked at them attentively; and as his eye rested +on the painting of the cup, his features assumed a soft and +sad expression. "My house in Rheinsberg," muttered he softly to +himself--"a greeting from my happy days." + +"In the castle Rheinsberg, I first enjoyed the favor of being +presented to your majesty," said Gotzkowsky. "Castle Rheinsberg is, +therefore, to me a happy recollection, and it was for that reason +selected to adorn the proof pieces of my porcelain factory." + +The king fastened a penetrating look upon him. "You are playing me +a trick--I don't like tricks, you must know. Therefore tell me the +truth. Where did you get this porcelain? It is not from Meissen. The +mark is wanting, and it is whiter and stronger. Where did you get it?" + +"From Berlin, sire. I promised you, when you were in Meissen, that in +future you should procure your porcelain from your own dominions, and +I dare not forfeit my word." + +"And so you imitated the Almighty, and created a porcelain factory +with the breath of your mouth?" + +"Not with the breath of my mouth, but the breath of my money." + +"Tell me about it, and all the particulars," said the king, still +holding the cup in his hand, and looking at it attentively. + +And Gotzkowsky related how, on his return from Meissen, he had +accidentally made the acquaintance of a young man, who was passing +through Berlin on his way to Gotha, the duke having offered to +advance him the capital necessary to found a factory for the making of +porcelain according to a process of his own invention. The specimens +exhibited convinced Gotzkowsky that this young man was fully +acquainted with the secret of porcelain-making, and he had therefore +immediately determined to forestall the Duke of Gotha. + +Money had in this instance, as usual, exercised its charm, and nothing +more was necessary than to outbid the terms agreed on with the duke. +A few thousand dollars more offered, and double purchase-money, had +secured the secret of porcelain-making to Gotzkowsky, and bound the +inventor down in Berlin for life.[1] + +The arrangements necessary for the first attempts were made in one of +the out-buildings of his house, and the articles offered to the king +were the first-fruits of his factory. The king listened to him with +intense interest, and when Gotzkowsky had finished, he nodded to him +with a smile. + +"The Marquis d'Argens is right. I wish myself I had many such citizens +as you are. It would be a fine thing to be a king if all one's +subjects were true men, and made it worth one's while to be to them a +kind father and lord. You have fulfilled a favorite wish of mine; and +let me tell you, I do not think you will call the porcelain factory +yours long. I think it will soon be a royal factory." + +"I founded it for your majesty." + +"Good, good! you have given me a pleasure, I will give you one in +return. Ask some favor for yourself. You are silent. Do you know of +nothing to ask for?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed," said Gotzkowsky, ardently, "I have a great favor to +ask--have pity on the poor inhabitants of this town!" + +The king frowned and pressed his lips angrily together. "Do you know +that I have generally forbidden any one to trouble me with these +Leipsic jeremiades?" + +"I know it, sire." + +The king looked at him with astonishment. "And yet you do it?" + +"Yes, sire, I do it because I relied on the kind, noble heart of my +king, and because humanity bade me not to fear your majesty's anger, +when it became a question of mercy to the oppressed." + +"And for this reason you wanted to bribe me with your bits of +porcelain. Oh, you are a reckoner, but this time you have reckoned +without your host. No pity for these obstinate Leipsigers. They must +pay the eleven hundred thousand dollars, or--" + +"Or what?" asked Gotzkowsky, as he hesitated. + +The king looked angrily at him. "You are very bold," said he, "to +interrupt me. The Leipsigers must pay, for I need the money for my +soldiers, and they are rich; they are able to pay!" + +"They are not able to pay, sire! They are as little able to pay as +Berlin is if Russia insists upon her demands, and her magnanimous king +does not come to her assistance. But your majesty certainly does not +wish that the world and history shall say that Russia acted with +more forbearance and clemency toward Berlin than Prussia did toward +Leipsic? To be sure, the Russians carried off the Jewish elders into +captivity because they could not pay, but then they treated these poor +victims of their avarice like human beings. They did not make them +sleep on rotten straw; they did not let them starve, and die of misery +and filth; they did not have them scourged and tortured until they wet +with their tears the bit of bread thrown to them." + +"Who does that?" cried the king, with thundering voice and flashing +eye. + +Gotzkowsky bowed low. "Your majesty, the King of Prussia does that!" + +Frederick uttered a cry of anger, and advanced with his arm raised on +Gotzkowsky, who looked at him quietly and firmly. "You lie! retract!" +thundered the king. + +"I have, as long as I have lived, spoken the truth, sire--the truth, +without fear or dread of man. Your majesty is the first man who has +accused me of a lie. I have seen with my own eyes your majesty's +officials treating the poor captive Leipsic merchants like dogs. What +do I say--like dogs? Oh, how would the poor down-trodden men envy +those dogs the delicacies contained in that dish! It may be right to +compel and humble the refractory, but it is not right to tread out the +human soul, and even in the conquered you should honor God's image." + +The king looked at him with ludicrous surprise. "Do you wish to give +me a lesson? Well, I will forgive you this time, and, as you express +it, honor God's image in the owner of the Berlin porcelain factory. +But hush about these hard-headed Leipsigers. They must pay. My +soldiers cannot live on air, and my coffers are empty." + +"The Leipsigers are very willing to contribute, but the demand must +not exceed their powers." + +"How do you know that?" + +"The magistracy and merchant guild of Leipsic sent a deputation to me, +and entreated my mediation." + +"You have then already the reputation of one who knows how to use his +tongue well, and goes about tattling with it." + +"Sire," said Gotzkowsky, smiling, "we only follow the example of our +hero-king. We all are anxious to fight, and those who have no swords +must fight with the tongue. I have latterly been compelled to fight a +great deal with it, and the Leipsic merchants may have heard something +about that. They knew that I had some exercise with my tongue, and +gained a little victory with it over the Russians in Berlin." + +"How much do you think the city of Leipsic can pay?" asked the king +after a pause. + +"If your majesty will remit them a few hundred thousand dollars, and +allow the merchants time, they are willing to bind themselves in joint +bonds." + +"_Parbleu_! are they willing to do that?" asked the king, derisively. +"The bonds of the Leipsic merchants would be no security to me." +And turning quickly on Gotzkowsky, he asked him, "Are you willing to +guarantee the payment?" + +"If your majesty orders it, the bonds shall be drawn out with my +guaranty." + +"I look to you, then, for their payment." + +"At your orders, sire." + +"Well, then, for your sake I will remit the Leipsigers three hundred +thousand dollars; but for the rest of the million you are answerable." + +"I will be answerable for it." + +"I will let these gentlemen of Leipsic know that it is to your +intercession and your guaranty that they are indebted for the +mitigation of their contributions; and then you can, if it gives you +pleasure, bargain with the rich town for some reward for your services +rendered." + +"That would give me no pleasure, sire!" cried Gotzkowsky, with noble +indignation. "Your majesty must not think so meanly of me as to +suppose that I would make a profit out of the misfortunes of others, +and that I have interceded for the poor Leipsigers in order to make a +trade out of them!" + +"I think that you are a hard-headed, obstinate fellow, who must be +allowed to have his own way," said the king, with an affable smile. +"But I must bear you witness that, in your own way, you have rendered +me many a good service. For that reason, you will always find me well +affected toward you, and in the Sans-Souci gallery you have created a +beautiful memorial to yourself." + +"If your majesty would come there now, you would find the Correggio +about which you wrote to the Marquis d'Argens." + +The king's eyes sparkled. "The Correggio is mine!" said he, walking up +and down slowly, with his hands behind his back. "Ah," added he, after +a long pause, in a low tone, as if speaking to himself, "when will +this nomadic life cease, and the world be at peace, to allow this +poor, badgered king a few hours of leisure and recreation, to enjoy +the contemplation of his house and his pictures? The wandering Jew, if +he ever existed, did not lead such a rambling life as I do. We get at +last to be like the roving play-actors, who have neither hearth +nor home, and thus we pass through the world, playing our bloody +tragedies, with the wailings of our subjects for chorus.[2] When will +it end?" + +"When your majesty has subdued all your enemies." + +The king looked around with surprise--he had quite forgotten +Gotzkowsky. "Ah! are you still there? and you prophesy me victory? +Well, that will be as good to me as the Leipsic money. Go back home, +and tell the Leipsigers to hurry with the money. And hark ye! when you +get to Potsdam, greet the Correggio, and tell him I yearn for him as a +lover does for his mistress Adieu!" + + +[Footnote 1: Porcelain-making was then a great secret in Germany, only +known in Meissen; the process being conducted with closed doors, and +the foreman bound by oath. Gotzkowsky paid ten thousand dollars +down, a life income of a thousand dollars, and house and firewood +free.--"Life of a Patriotic Merchant," p. 87.] + +[Footnote 2: "Correspondance de Frédéric II. avec le Comte +Algarottis."] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GRATITUDE AND RECOMPENSE. + + +Thus did Gotzkowsky save unfortunate Leipsic from the heavy burden +which weighed her down. The prisoners were released, and the merchants +gave a bond, for whose punctual and prompt payment Gotzkowsky +guaranteed with his signature. + +He did not do this from a selfish or vain ambition to have the praise +of his name sounded, nor to increase the number of his addresses of +gratitude, or written asseverations of affection. He did it from love +of mankind; because he desired to fulfil the vow he had made to God +and himself on the highway as a shivering, starving lad: that if he +should ever become rich, he would be to every unfortunate and needy +one the hand which had appeared out of the dust-cloud to his relief. +He did it because, as he tells us naively and simply in his Life, "I +knew from my own experience how difficult it was for a community +to collect such a sum, and because the idea of profiting by such +misfortune was abhorrent to me." + +And now there was a brilliant banquet, and no end to the words of +gratitude and tears of emotion. This banquet was given by the Leipsic +merchants in honor of him who had so magnanimously taken their part, +saved them three hundred thousand dollars, and guaranteed their bonds. +And they devoured the delicate viands and emptied the beakers to his +honor, and praised him in high-sounding speeches. + +When Gotzkowsky, wearied and bored by this festival, returned home, he +found on his table three letters. The one which bore on its seal the +arms of Prussia he opened first. It was a cabinet order from the +king to his private secretary, Leinning, to pay to the merchant, John +Gotzkowsky, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. "Ah," said he, +smiling, "payment on account; I bought a hundred thousand ducats' +worth of paintings for the king, and he does not wish to remain always +in my debt." With a slight shrug of the shoulders he opened +the second letter. Suddenly he burst into a loud laugh, and his +countenance assumed an expression of derisive mirth. "The Elector of +Saxony, in consideration of services rendered to the town of Leipsic, +appoints me his commercial privy councillor!" cried he, waving the +paper in the air; "that is a good joke! The little elector, who has +been my debtor for many long years, is gracious enough to throw me a +bit of rank--a title! Much obliged! My name sounds well enough. It is +not necessary to have a title to be a man of honor. Throw titles to +numskulls, not to me--away with it!" + +He then threw the paper aside with scorn, and took up the third +letter. As he read it his noble countenance brightened up with proud +pleasure, and his eyes sparkled. It was a document from the town of +Leipsic, an address of thanks from the magistracy, the concluding +words of which ran thus: + +"In our extreme need we had recourse to Herr Gotzkowsky, the respected +merchant and banker of Berlin, imploring the same to intercede for +this town and its merchants with the king of Prussia; affording +them his credit and valuable assistance, to accord to said town +some reasonable respite for payment, with security. To this earnest +pleading Herr Gotzkowsky yielded, and, as a true philanthropist, +without any ulterior views of profit to himself, did in the most +praiseworthy manner assist us, and averted this misfortune from the +town. These services we are compelled to acknowledge. We therefore +offer our services in return on all possible occasions, not doubting +that the mercantile community of this place entertain the same +sentiments, and feel themselves equally bound to all imaginable +reciprocity. + +[SIGNED] "The Council of Leipsic. + +"Leipsic, _February_ 26, 1761." + +"This paper I will carry to my daughter, as a souvenir," said +Gotzkowsky, folding it up carefully, and then added thoughtfully: "Who +knows but what the time may come when it will be necessary to remind +the merchants of Leipsic of this document? The opinions and destinies +of men are very variable." + +But Gotzkowsky himself was to have occasion to remind unthankful +Leipsic of her professions of gratitude--not to call on her to +perform reciprocal favors, but to protect himself against calumny +and unfriendly suspicions. For a day came, when Leipsic forgot the +affliction and grief she had suffered, and only remembered that John +Gotzkowsky was her creditor, and that she owed him large sums of +money. So, when at last, weary of long waiting, he pressed for +payment, they accused him of self-interest, and said that he had +unnecessarily mixed himself up in their affairs, and that it would +have been better if he had left them to their captivity; for although +they might have had much to suffer, they would have had but little to +pay. + +Gotzkowsky answered these accusations in a manner characteristic of +his noble, proud self--he was silent about them. But hard times and +oppression came again upon the rich town of Leipsic. + +The Prussian king exacted fresh contributions--and now they recalled +to mind the services of Gotzkowsky; again they sent him humble +letters, begging him to have pity on them; and now the cunning, +calculating magistracy of Leipsic saw fit to take notice of these +calumnies, which they had shortly before so industriously circulated +through the public newspapers, and solemnly to declare in all the +journals: "We hereby certify, in compliance with truth, through these +writings, that the worshipful Herr Gotzkowsky, as well in past years, +as at the late Leipsic fair, out of unchanged and innate love and +friendly kindness to us, this town, and its inhabitants, has given +just cause for gratitude." + +Gotzkowsky forgot the insults, and was again of assistance to them. A +second time he persuaded the king to mitigate their contribution, and +guaranteed the new bonds issued by them. A second time the magistrates +and merchants thanked him in the most touching words for his noble +and disinterested assistance, and a second time were they destined to +forget their vows of gratitude. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FOUR YEARS' LABOR. + + +Four years of work, of industry, of productive activity, had passed +away since the stormy year of 1760. They had produced but little +alteration in the life of Gotzkowsky and his daughter. + +Gotzkowsky toiled and worked as he always had done; his factories +were enlarged, his wealth increased and his fame as a merchant sounded +through the whole world. + +But all this would he have given, if he could have seen the light on +the lips, the rosy glow on the cheek of his daughter, as in bygone +days. But the beautiful and impassioned young girl had altered into +the pale, serious, silent young woman, who had learned to throw +the veil of quiet resignation over the secret of her heart, and to +suppress any manifestation of pain. + +Elise had grown old _internally_--old, despite her two-and-twenty +years; she looked upon the life before her as a joyless, desert waste, +which she had to traverse with bleeding feet and broken heart; and in +the desolation of her soul, she sometimes shuddered at the death-like +apathy and quiet of her feelings, broken by no sound, no note, not +even the wail of woe. + +She was without a wish, without a hope. Grief had spent itself on her. +She wept no more--she wrestled no longer with her love, for she +had conquered it. But she could not rise again to any new joys of +life--she could only be resigned. She had accepted life, and she bore +it as does the bird shut up in a gilded cage, robbed of freedom and +fresh air, and given in return a brilliant prison. She, too, was an +imprisoned bird; and her wounded heart lay in the cage of her breast, +sorrowful and infinitely wretched. She prayed to God for peace, +for resignation, no longer for happiness, for she did not believe +happiness any more possible. She had sunk into that apathy which +desires nothing more than a quiet, dreamy fading away. Her grief was +deficient in the animating consolation of the thought that "it came +from God." Real and sacred suffering, which does come from God, and +is imposed upon us by fate, always carries with it the divine power +of healing; and at the same time that it casts us down and humbles us, +raises us again, steels our courage, and makes us strong and proud +to suffer and to bear. Quite different is that misfortune which comes +from man--which is laid upon us by the envy, hatred, and malice of +mankind. This carries with it no consolation, no comfort--a misfortune +full of bitterness and murmuring--a misfortune which abases us without +elevating us again, which casts us down in the mire, from the soil of +which not all the hot streams of our tears can purify and cleanse us. +Had she lost her lover, had he been snatched away from her by death, +Elise, while she gave him back to God, would have regarded this heavy +and sacred affliction as her great and holy happiness; she would have +accepted it as a precious promise which elevated her, and inspired her +with a blissful hope. + +But she had lost him by his own treachery, by worldly sin, and she +had given him up, not to God, but to his own unrighteousness and +disloyalty. She had therefore lost him irretrievably, and for +always--not for a short space of time, but for all eternity; and she +dared not even weep for him, for her misfortune was at the same time +her disgrace, and even her tears filled her with humiliation and +shame. For that reason she never spoke, either with her father or +with Bertram, about the sad and painful past, about the errors and +disappointments of her youth; and neither of them in their pure and +indulgent love ever trespassed on the silence which Elise had spread +over her sorrow. Toward her father she was a careful, attentive, and +submissive daughter; toward Bertram a confiding and loving sister; but +to both she felt as if she were only giving what was saved from the +shipwreck of her affections. They both knew that Elise could no longer +offer them an entire, unbroken heart. But they were both content to +rest on the embers of this ruined edifice, to gather the leaves of +this rose, broken by the tempest, and to remember how beautiful it was +in its bloom. + +Gotzkowsky only asked of his daughter that she should live, that she +should become again healthy and strong for new happiness. + +Bertram, in the strength and fidelity of his affections, had no other +wish than that he should some day see her cheerful and content again, +and once more brightened by the beams which only love and +happiness can spread over a human countenance; and in his great and +self-sacrificing love he said to himself: "If I only knew that her +happiness lay in the remotest corner of the world, thither would I go +to fetch it for her, even if she thereby were lost to me forever!" + +And thus did four years pass away--externally, bright and clear, +surrounded by all the brilliancy of wealth and happiness--inwardly, +silent and desolate, full of privation and deep-rooted sorrow. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +DAYS OF MISFORTUNE. + + +Gotzkowsky was alone in his room. It was an elegant, brilliantly +ornamented apartment, which the greatest prince might have envied. +The most select pictures by celebrated old masters hung around on the +walls; the most costly Chinese vases stood on gilt tables; and between +the windows, instead of mirrors, were placed the most exquisite Greek +marble statues. The furniture of the room was simple. Gotzkowsky had +but one passion, on which he spent yearly many thousands, and that +was for art-treasures, paintings, and antiques. His house resembled +a temple of art; it contained the rarest and choicest treasures; and +when Gotzkowsky passed through the rooms on the arm of his daughter, +and contemplated the pictures, or dwelt with her on one of the sublime +statues of the gods, his eye beamed with blissful satisfaction, and +his whole being breathed cheerfulness and calm. But at this moment +his countenance was care-worn and anxious, and however pleasantly and +cheerfully the pictures looked down upon him from the walls, his +eye remained sad and clouded, and deep grief was expressed in his +features. + +He sat at his writing-table, and turned over the papers which lay +piled up high before him. At times he looked deeply shocked and +anxious, and his whole frame trembled, as with hasty hand he +transcribed some notes from another sheet. Suddenly he let the pen +drop, and sank his head on his breast. + +"It is in vain," he muttered in a low voice--"yes, it is in vain. If +I were to exert all my power, if I were to collect all my means +together, they would not be sufficient to pay these enormous sums." + +Again he turned over the papers, and pointing with his finger to +one of them, he continued: "Yes, there it stands. I am a rich man +on paper. Leipsic owes me more than a million. If she pays, and De +Neufville comes, I am saved. But if not--if Leipsic once more, as she +has already done three times, protests her inability to pay--if De +Neufville does not come, what shall I do? How can I save myself from +ruin and shame?" + +Deeper and deeper did he bury himself silently in the papers. A +terrible anxiety oppressed him, and sent his blood rushing to his +heart and head. He arose and paced up and down the room, muttering +occasionally a few words, betraying the anguish and terror which +possessed him. Then standing still, he pressed his hands to his +temples, as if to crowd back the pain which throbbed and ached there. + +"Oh, it is terrible!" he uttered in a subdued voice; "with my eyes +open I stand on the brink of a precipice. I see it, and cannot draw +back. If no helping hand is stretched out to save me, I must fall in, +and my good name must perish with me. And to be obliged to confess +that not my own want of judgment, no rashness nor presumption on my +part, but only love of mankind, love of my brethren, has brought me +to this! To each one who held out his hand to me, I gave the hand of a +friend, every one in need I helped. And for that reason, for the good +I have done, I stand on the verge of an abyss." + +He cast his looks toward heaven, and tears shone in his eyes. "Was it, +then, wrong? O my God! was it, then, culpable to trust men, and must I +atone with my honor for what I did from love?" + +But this compunction, this depression, did not last long. Gotzkowsky +soon arose above his grief, and bearing his head aloft as if to shake +off the cares which lowered around it, he said in a determined tone: +"I must not lose my courage. This day requires all my presence +of mind, and the decisive moment shall not find me cowed and +pusillanimous." + +He was about to set himself to work again, when a repeated knocking +at the door interrupted him. At his reluctant bidding it opened, +and Bertram appeared on the threshold. "Pardon me," he said, almost +timidly; "I knew that you wished to be alone, but I could not bear +it any longer. I must see you. Only think, Father Gotzkowsky, it is a +fortnight since I arrived, and I have scarcely seen you in this time; +therefore do not be angry with me if I disobey your orders, and come +to you, although I know that you are busy." + +Gotzkowsky nodded to him with a sad smile. "I thank you for it," said +he. "I had ordered Peter not to admit any one. You are an exception, +as you know, my son." + +A pause ensued, during which Bertram examined Gotzkowsky with +a searching look. The latter had seated himself again at his +writing-table, and with troubled looks was examining his papers. + +Bertram had been absent for nearly a year. The silent grief which day +and night gnawed at his heart had undermined his health and exhausted +his physical strength. The physicians had deemed a prolonged residence +in Nice necessary. If Bertram yielded to their judgment and repaired +to Nice, it was because he thought, "Perhaps Elise will think of me +when I am no longer near her. Perchance absence may warm her heart, +and she may forget the brother, some day to welcome the husband." + +Returning after a year's absence, strengthened and restored to health, +he found Elise as he had left her. She received him with the same +quiet, calm look with which she had bid him farewell. She placed +her hand as coolly and as friendly in his, and although she inquired +cordially and sympathizingly after his welfare, Bertram still felt +that her heart and her inmost soul had not part in her questioning. + +Elise had not altered--but how little was Gotzkowsky like himself! +Where was the ardent man, powerful of will, whom Bertram had embraced +at his departure? where was his clear, ringing voice, his proud +bearing, his energy, his burning eloquence--what had become of all +these? What diabolical, dismal influence had succeeded in breaking +this iron will, in subduing this vital power? + +Bertram felt that a deep grief was corroding Gotzkowsky's life--a +grief whose destructive influence was greater because he avoided +the expression of it, and sought no relief nor consolation by +communicating it to others. "He shall, at least, speak to me," said +Bertram. "I will compel him to make me the confidant of his grief, and +to lighten his heart by imparting a portion of his burden to mine." +With this determination he had entered Gotzkowsky's room; he now +stood opposite to him, and with gentle sympathy looked into his pale, +sorrow-worn countenance. + +But Gotzkowsky avoided his eye. He seemed entirely occupied with his +papers, and turned them over again and again. Bertram could bear it +no longer; he hastened to him, and taking his hand pressed it +affectionately to his lips. "My father," said he, "forgive me; but +when I look at you, I am possessed by a vague fear which I cannot +explain to myself. You know that I love you as my father, and for that +reason can read your thoughts. Gotzkowsky, since my return I have read +much care and sorrow in your face." + +"Have you?" said Gotzkowsky, painfully; "yes, yes, sorrow does not +write in hieroglyphics. It is a writing which he who runs can read." + +"You confess, then, that you have sorrow, and yet you hide it from +me. You do not let me share your cares. Have I deserved that of you, +father?" + +Gotzkowsky arose and paced the room, thoughtful and excited. For +the first time he felt that the sympathy of a loving heart did good. +Involuntarily the crust which surrounded his heart gave way, and he +became gentle and eager for sympathy. He held out his hand to Bertram +and nodded to him. "You are right, my son," said he, gently, "I +should not have kept my sorrows from you. It is a comfort, perhaps, to +unbosom one's self. Listen, then--but no! first tell me what is said +of me in the city, and, above all, what is said of me at the Bourse? +Ah? you cast your eyes down--Bertram, I must and will know all. Speak +out freely. I have courage to hear the utmost." But yet his voice +trembled as he spoke, and his lips twitched convulsively. + +Bertram answered sadly: "What do you care about the street gossip of +envious people? You know that you have enemies, because you are rich +and high-minded. You have long been envied because your house is the +most extensive and solid in all Europe, and because your drafts stand +at par in all the markets. They are jealous of the fame of your firm, +and for that very reason they whisper all sorts of things that they do +not dare to say aloud. But why should you let such miserable scandal +worry you?" + +Bertram tried to smile, but it was a sorrowful, anxious one, which +did not escape Gotzkowsky. "Ah!" said he, "these light whisperings of +calumny are like the single snow-flakes which finally collect together +and roll on and on, and at last become an avalanche which buries up +our honor and our good name. Tell me, then, Bertram, what do they +whisper?" + +Bertram answered in a low, timid voice: "They pretend to know that +your house has suffered immense losses; that you were not able to +meet your drafts; that all your wealth is unfounded; and that--but why +should I repeat all the old women's and newspaper stories?" + +"Even the newspapers talk about it, then?" muttered Gotzkowsky to +himself. + +"Yes, the _Vossian Gazette_," continued Bertram, "has an article +in which it speaks mysteriously and sympathizingly of the impending +failure of one of our most eminent houses. This is said to aim at you, +father." + +"And the other paper, _Spener's Journal_?" + +"Is sorry to join in the statement, and confirms it to-day." + +Gotzkowsky broke out into a mocking laugh, his countenance brightened +with indignation, and his features expressed their former energy and +decision. "O world! O men!" he exclaimed, "how pitiful, how mean you +are! You know, Bertram, how much good I have done these men. I have +protected them as a friend in the time of their need and affliction. I +saved them from punishment and shame. In return they trumpet forth my +misfortunes, and that which might have been altered by the considerate +silence of my friends, they cry aloud to all the world, and thereby +precipitate my fall." + +"It is, then, really true?" asked Bertram, turning pale. "You are in +danger?" + +"To-day is the last term for the payment of the five hundred thousand +dollars, which I have to pay our king, for the town of Leipsic. Our +largest banking-houses have bought up these claims of the king against +me." + +"But that is not your own debt. You only stood good for Leipsic." + +"That I did; and as Leipsic cannot pay, I must." + +"But Leipsic can assume a portion of the debt least." + +"Perhaps so," said Gotzkowsky. "I have sent a courier to Leipsic, +and look for his return every hour. But it is not that alone which +troubles me," continued he, after a pause. "It would be easy to +collect the five hundred thousand dollars. The new and unexpected +ordinance from the mint, which renders uncurrent the light money, +deprives me of another half million. When I foresaw Leipsic's +insolvency, I had negotiated alone with Hamburg for half a million of +light money. But the spies of the Jews of the mint discovered this, +and when my money was in the course of transmission from Hamburg they +managed to obtain a decree from the king forbidding immediately the +circulation of this coin. In this way my five hundred thousand dollars +became good for nothing." + +"Horrible!" cried Bertram; "have you, then, not endeavored to save a +portion of this money?" + +"Yes, indeed," cried Gotzkowsky, with a bitter laugh, "I have tried. +I wished to send fifty thousand dollars of my money to the army of the +allies, to see if it would be current there; but Ephraim had foreseen +this, too, and obtained a decree forbidding even the transit of this +money through the Prussian dominions. This new and arbitrary law was +only published after my money had left Hamburg, and I had grounds +to hope that I would not be prevented from bringing it through the +Prussian dominions, for it was concealed in the double bottom of a +wagon. But avarice has sharp eyes, and the spies who were set upon all +my actions succeeded in discovering this too. The wagon was stopped at +the gates of Berlin, and the money was discovered where they knew it +was beforehand, under this false bottom. But who do you think it +was, Bertram, who denounced me in this affair? You would never guess +it--the chief burgomaster, President von Kircheisen! He stood himself +at the gate, watched for the wagon, and searched until he found the +money." + +"Kircheisen! The same, father, whom you saved from death when the +Russians were here?" + +"The same, my son; you shake your head incredulously. Read for +yourself." He took from his writing-table a large paper provided with +the official seal, and handed it to Bertram. "Read for yourself, my +son. It is an order from the minister Von Finkenstein." + +It was written thus: "The half of the sum is awarded by the king to +President von Kircheisen, as detective and informer." + +"A worthy title, 'detective and informer,'" continued Gotzkowsky. "By +Heaven, I do not envy him it! But now you shall know all. It does me +good to confide to you my sorrows--it lightens my poor heart. And now +I have another fear. You have heard of my speculation in the Russian +magazines?" + +"Of the magazines which you, with De Neufville and the bankers Moses +and Samuel, bought?" asked Bertram. + +"Yes, that is it. But Russia would not enter into the bargain unless I +made myself responsible for the whole sum." + +"And you did so?" asked Bertram, trembling. + +"I did. The purchase-money has been due for four months. My +fellow-contractors have not paid. If Russia insists upon the payment +of this debt, I am ruined." + +"And why do not Samuel and Moses pay their part?" + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately, but when he did, his features +expressed scorn and contempt: "Moses and Samuel are no longer obliged +to pay, because yesterday they declared themselves insolvent." + +Bertram suppressed with effort a cry of anger, and covered his face +with his hands. "He is lost," he muttered to himself, "lost beyond +redemption, for he founds his hopes on De Neufville, and he knows +nothing of his unfortunate fate." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CONFESSIONS. + + +Bertram raised his head again, Gotzkowsky was standing near him, +looking brightly and lovingly into his sorrowful, twitching face. It +was now Gotzkowsky who had to console Bertram, and, smiling quietly +and gently, he told him of the hopes which still remained to him. + +"De Neufville may return," he said. "He has only gone to the opening +of the bank at Amsterdam, and if he succeeds in collecting the +necessary sum there, and returns with it as rapidly as possible to +Berlin, I am saved." + +"But if he does not come?" asked Bertram with a trembling voice, +fixing his sad looks penetratingly on Gotzkowsky. + +"Then I am irretrievably lost," answered Gotzkowsky, in a loud, firm +voice. + +Bertram stepped quickly up to him, and threw himself in his arms, +folding him to his breast as if to protect him against all the danger +which threatened him. "You must be saved!" cried he, eagerly; "it +is not possible that you should fall. You have never deserved such a +misfortune." + +"For that very reason I fear that I must suffer it. If I deserved this +disgrace, perhaps it never would have happened to me. The world is so +fashioned, that what we deserve of good or evil never happens to us." + +"But you have friends; thousands are indebted to your generosity, +and to your ever-ready, helping hand. There is scarcely a merchant in +Berlin to whom, some time or other, you have not been of assistance in +his need!" + +Gotzkowsky laid his hand on his shoulder, and replied with a proud +air: "My friend, it is precisely those who owe me gratitude, who are +now trying to ruin me. The very fact of having obliged them, makes +them my bitter enemies. Gratitude is so disagreeable a virtue, that +men become implacably hostile to those who impose it on them." + +"When you speak thus, my father," said Bertram, glowing with noble +indignation, "you condemn me, too. You have bound me to everlasting +gratitude, and yet I love you inexpressibly for it." + +"You are a rare exception, my son," replied Gotzkowsky, sadly, "and I +thank God, who has taught me to know you." + +"You believe, then, in me?" asked Bertram, looking earnestly in his +eyes. + +"I believe in you," said Gotzkowsky, solemnly, offering him his hand. + +"Well, then, my father," cried Bertram, quickly and gladly, "in this +important moment let me make an urgent request of you. You call me +your son; give me, then, the rights of a son. Allow me the happiness +of offering you the little that I can call mine. My fortune is not, to +be sure, sufficient to save you, but it can at least be of service to +you. Father, I owe you every thing. It is yours--take it back." + +"Never!" interrupted Gotzkowsky. + +But Bertram continued more urgently: "At least consider of it. When +you founded the porcelain factory, you made me a partner in this +business, and I accepted it, although I had nothing but what belonged +to you. When the king, a year ago, bought the factory from you, you +paid me a fourth of the purchase-money, and gave me thirty thousand +dollars. I accepted it, although I had not contributed any part of the +capital." + +"You are mistaken, my son. You forget that you contributed the capital +of your knowledge and genius." + +"One cannot live on genius," cried Bertram, impatiently; "and with +all my knowledge I might have starved, if you had not taken me by the +hand." + +Gotzkowsky would have denied this, but Bertram continued still more +pressingly: "Father, if I were, indeed, your son, could you then deny +me the right of falling and being ruined with you? Can you deny your +son the right of dividing with you what is his?" + +"No!" cried Gotzkowsky, "from my son I could demand the sacrifice, but +it is not only a question of earthly possessions, it is a question +of my most sacred spiritual good, it is the honor of my name. Had I a +son, I would exact of him that he should follow me unto death, so that +the honor of my name might be saved." + +"Well, then, let me be, indeed, your son. Give me your daughter!" + +Gotzkowsky stepped back in astonishment and gazed at Bertram's noble, +excited countenance. "Ah!" cried he, "I thank you, Bertram; you are a +noble man! I understand you. You have found out the sorrow which +gnaws most painfully at my heart; that Elise, by my failure, becomes a +beggar. You wish most nobly to assist her and protect her from want." + +"No, father, I desire her for her own sake--because I love her! I +would wish to be your son, in order to have the right to give up all +for you, and to work for you. During your whole life you have done +so much for others; now grant me the privilege of doing something for +you. Give me your daughter; let me be your son." + +Gotzkowsky was silent for some minutes, then looked at Bertram sadly +and sorrowfully. "You know that this has always been the wish of my +heart. But what I have longed for, for so many years, that I must now +refuse. I dare not drag you down in my misfortune, and even if I were +weak enough to yield to your request, I cannot sacrifice the happiness +of my daughter to my welfare. Do you believe, Bertram, that Elise +loves you?" + +"She is kind to me, and is anxious for my welfare--that is enough," +said Bertram, sadly. "I have learned for many a long year to renounce +all claim to her love." + +"But if she loves another? I fear her heart is but too true, and has +not forgotten the trifler who destroyed her happiness. Ah! when I +think of this man, my heart trembles with anger and grief. In the hour +of death I could forgive all my enemies, but the hatred toward this +man, who has so wantonly trifled with the faith and love of my child, +that hatred I will take with me into the grave--and yet, I fear, Elise +has not forgotten him." + +"This dead love does not give me any uneasiness," said Bertram. "Four +years have passed since that unlucky day." + +"And for four years have I been faithful in my hatred to him. May not +Elise have been as constant in her love?" + +Bertram sighed and drooped his head. "It is too true, love does not +die so easily." Then after a pause he added in a determined voice: "I +repeat my request--give me your daughter!" + +"You know that she does not love you, and yet you still desire her +hand?" + +"I do. I have confidence enough in her and in myself to believe Elise +will not refuse it to me, but will freely make this sacrifice, when +she learns that you will only allow me, as your son, the privilege of +sharing my little fortune with you. For her love to you, she will give +me her hand, and invest me with the rights of a son toward you." + +"Never!" cried Gotzkowsky, vehemently. "She must never be informed +of that of which we have been speaking. She does not forebode the +misfortune which threatens her. I have not the courage to tell her, +and why should I? When the terrible event happens, she will learn it +soon enough, and if it can be averted, why then I can spare her this +unhappiness. For my child I wish a clear, unclouded sky; let _me_ bear +the clouds and storms. That has always been the object of my life, and +I will remain faithful to it to the last." + +"You refuse me, then?" asked Bertram, pained. + +"No, my son. I accept you, and that which you have given me in this +hour, the treasure of your love; that I can never lose. That remains +mine, even if they deprive me of all else." + +He opened his arms, and Bertram threw himself weeping on his breast. +Long did they thus remain, heart to heart, in silence; but soul spoke +to soul without words and without expressions of love. + +When Gotzkowsky raised himself from Bertram's embrace, his countenance +was calm, and almost cheerful. "I thank you, my son; you have given me +new courage and strength. Now I will preserve all my composure. I +will humble my pride, and apply to those who in former times professed +gratitude toward me. The Council of Berlin have owed me twenty +thousand ducats since the time that the Russians were here, and I had +to travel twice in the service of the town to Petersburg and Warsaw. +These accounts have never been asked for. I will make it my business +to remind the Council of them, as in the days of their need they +swore eternal gratitude to me. Come, Bertram, let us see whether these +worshipful magistrates are any better than other men, and whether they +have any recollection of those sacred promises which they made me in +the days when they needed help, and when misfortune threatened them." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE RUSSIAN PRINCE. + + +Before the door of the first hotel in Berlin stood a +travelling-carriage covered with dust. The team of six post-horses, +and the two servants on the coach-box, showed that it was a personage +of quality who now honored the hotel with a visit; and it was +therefore very natural that the host should hurry out and open the +carriage door with a most respectful bow. + +A very tall, thin man descended from the carriage with slow and solemn +dignity, and as he entered the house gravely and in silence, his +French valet asked the host whether he had rooms elegant enough to +suit the Prince Stratimojeff. + +The countenance of the host expanded into a glowing smile; he snatched +the candlestick hastily from the hands of the head butler, and flew up +the steps himself to prepare the room of state for the prince. + +The French valet examined the rooms with a critical eye, and declared +that, though they were not worthy of his highness, yet he would +condescend to occupy them. + +The prince still remained silent, his travelling-cap drawn deep down +over his face, and his whole figure concealed in the ample robe of +sable fur, which reached to his feet. He motioned to the host with +his hand to leave the room; then, in a few short words, he ordered his +valet to see to supper, and to have it served up in an adjoining +room, and as at that moment a carriage drove up to the house, he +commissioned him to see whether it was his suite. The valet stated +that it was his highness's private secretary, his man of business, and +his chaplain. + +"I will not see them to-day--they may seek their own pleasure," said +the prince, authoritatively. "Tell them that our business begins +to-morrow. But for you, Guillaume, I have an important commission. Go +to the host and inquire for the rich banker, John Gotzkowsky; and when +you have found where he lives, enter into further conversation, and +get some information about the circumstances of this gentleman. I wish +to learn, too, about his family; ask about his daughter--if she be +still unmarried, and whether she is now in Berlin. In short, find out +all you can." + +The courteous and obedient valet had left the room some time, but +Prince Stratimojeff still stood motionless, his eyes cast on the +ground, and muttering some unintelligible words. Suddenly, with an +impatient movement, he threw his furred robe from his shoulders, and +cast his head-gear far into the room. + +"Air! air! I suffocate!" cried he. "I feel as if this town lay on my +chest like a hundred-pound weight, and that I have to conceal myself +like a criminal from the eyes of men." + +He threw his cloak open, and took a long and deep breath. + +What was it, then, that so strangely excited Prince Stratimojeff, +and shook his very bones as with an ague? It was the memory of +former days; it was the painful and damning voice of Conscience which +tormented him. What reason had he to inquire after Gotzkowsky the +banker, and his daughter? How! Had the heart of Count Feodor von +Brenda become so hardened, that when he returned to Berlin he should +not long to hear of her whom he had once so shamefully betrayed? + +It was indeed himself. Colonel Count Feodor von Brenda had become +transformed into the Prince Stratimojeff. Four short years had passed, +but what desolation had they not caused in his inner life!--four years +of dissolute pleasure, of mad, enervating enjoyment; four bacchanalian +years of sensual dissipation and extravagance; four years passed at +the court of two Russian empresses! In these four years Elizabeth +had died; and for a few days the unfortunate Peter III. had worn the +imperial crown. But it had proved too heavy for him; and his great +consort, Catharine, full of compassion and Russian humanity for him, +had sought to lighten his load! Only, in her too great zeal, she had +taken not only his crown, but his head, and changed his prison for a +grave. + +The Guards shouted for the new empress as they had done for the old. +In the presence of their beautiful young sovereign they remembered +with delight the graciousness of her predecessor, who, in the fulness +of her kindness and power, had made princes of the subalterns, and +great lords of the privates. + +Why should not Catharine resemble Elizabeth in that respect, and show +favor to the splendid soldiers of the Guards? She was merciful. She +was a gracious mistress to all her subjects, but especially so to +the handsome men of her empire. And the Count von Brenda was a very +handsome man. He had been the favorite of Elizabeth, why should he +not also be the favorite of Catharine? The former had treated him with +motherly kindness, for she was old; but Catharine was young, and +in her proud breast there beat an ardent heart--a heart that was so +powerful and large, that it had room for more than one lover. + +The young count had been for some short months the declared darling of +the empress, and the whole world did homage to him, and looked upon +it as a matter of course that Catharine should make him Prince +Stratimojeff, and bestow on him not only orders and titles, but lands +and thousands of slaves. + +What a mad, intoxicating, joyous life was his! How all the world +envied the handsome, rich prince, surrounded by the halo of imperial +favor! But nevertheless a cloud lay always on his brow, and he plunged +into the sea of pleasure like one ill of fever, who seeks something to +cool the heat which is consuming him. He threw himself into the arms +of dissipation, as the criminal condemned to execution, who in the +intoxication of champagne revels away the last hours of life in order +to banish the thought that Death stands behind him, reaching forth his +hand to seize him. + +Thus did the prince strive in the wild excitement of pleasure to kill +thought and deaden his heart. But there would come quiet hours to +remind him of the past, and, at times, in the middle of the night, he +would start up from his couch, as if he had heard a scream, a single +heart-piercing cry, which rang through his very soul. + +But this scream existed only in his dreams, those dreams in which +Elise's pale, sad face appeared, and made him tremble before her +indignant and despairing grief. Near this light figure of his beloved +appeared another pallid woman, whose sorrowful looks tortured him, +and struck his soul with anguish. He thought he saw his wife, the late +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, who, with weeping eyes, demanded of +him her murdered happiness, her youth, her life. + +She was dead; she had died of grief, for she had felt that the man +for whom she had sacrificed every thing--her youth, her honor, and her +duty--despised her, and could never forgive her for having cheated him +into taking her for his wife. She died the victim of his contempt and +hatred. Not suddenly, not as with a lightning-stroke, did his contempt +kill, but slowly and steadily did it pierce her heart. She bore +the torture for one desolate, disconsolate year, and then she died +solitary and forsaken. No loving hand dried the death-sweat on her +cold forehead; no pitying lips whispered words of love and hope +to her; yet on her death-bed, her heart was still warm toward her +husband, and even then she blessed him. + +A letter written by her trembling hand in her last hours, full of +humble, earnest love, of forgiving gentleness, which her husband the +prince found on his writing-table, as well as another, directed to +Elise Gotzkowsky, and enclosed in the first, bore witness to this +fact. + +Lodoiska had loved her husband sufficiently to be aware of the cause +of his wild and extravagant life, to know that in the bottom of his +heart he was suffering from the only true love of his life--his love +for Elise; and that all the rest was only a mad and desperate effort +to deaden his feelings and smother his desire. + +Elise's image followed him everywhere; and his love for her, which +might have been the blessing of a good man's life, had been a cruel +curse to that of a guilty one. In the midst of the wild routs, the +private orgies of the imperial court, her image rose before him from +these waves of maddening pleasure as a guardian angel, hushing him +often into silence, and stopping the wanton jest on his quivering +lips. + +At times during these feasts and dances, he was seized with +a boundless, unspeakable dread, a torturing anxiety. He felt +inexpressibly desolate, and the consciousness of his lost, his wasted +existence haunted him, while it seemed as if an inner voice was +whispering--"Go, flee to her! with Elise is peace and innocence. If +you are to be saved, Elise will save you." + +But he had not the strength to obey the warning voice of his heart; he +was bound in gilded fetters, and, even if love were absent, pride and +vanity prevented him from breaking these bonds. He was the favorite of +the young empress, and the great of the empire bowed down before him, +and felt themselves happy in his smile, and honored by the pressure of +his hand. But every thing is changeable. Even the heart of the Empress +Catharine was fickle. + +One day the Prince Stratimojeff received a note from his imperial +mistress, in which she intrusted him with a diplomatic mission to +Germany, and requested him, on account of the urgency of the occasion, +to start immediately. + +Feodor understood the hidden meaning of this apparently gracious and +loving letter; he understood that he had fallen into disgrace--not +that he had committed any error or crime. It was only that Count +Orloff was handsomer and more amiable than himself, or at least +that he seemed so to the empress. Therefore Feodor's presence was +inconvenient to her; for at that time in the commencement of her +reign, Catharine had still some modesty left, and the place of +favorite had not yet become an official position at court, but only a +public secret. As yet, she avoided bringing the discharged favorite in +contact with the newly appointed one, and therefore Feodor had to be +removed before Count Alexis Orloff could enter on his duties. + +Prince Feodor Stratimojeff crushed the perfumed imperial note in his +hand, and muttered through his set teeth: "She has sacrificed me to +an Orloff! She wishes to send me away, that she may more securely play +this new farce of love. Very well; I will go, but not to return to be +deceived anew by her vows of love and glances of favor. No! let this +breach be eternal. Catharine shall feel that, although an empress, she +is a woman whom I despise. Therefore let there be no word of farewell, +not even the smallest request. She bids me go, and I go. And would it +not seem as if Fate pointed out to me the way I am to go? Is it not +a strange chance that Catharine should choose me for this mission to +Germany?" + +It was indeed a singular accident that the empress unintentionally +should have sent back her discharged favorite to the only woman whom +he had ever loved. He was sent as ambassador extraordinary to Berlin, +to press more urgently her claims on a Prussian banker, to bring up +before the Prussian department for foreign affairs the merchant John +Gotzkowsky with regard to her demand for two millions of dollars; +and, in case he refused to pay it, to try in a diplomatic way whether +Prussia could not he induced to support this demand of the empress, +and procure immediate payment. + +This was the mission which Catharine had confided to Prince +Stratimojeff, who, when he determined to undertake it, said to +himself: "I will take vengeance on this proud woman who thinks to +cast me off like a toy of which she has tired; I will show her that +my heart is unmoved by her infidelity; I will present to her my young +wife, whose beauty, youth, and innocence will cause her to blush for +shame." + +Never had he been so fascinating and lively, so brilliant and +sparkling with wit, as on the evening preceding his departure. His +jests were the boldest and freest; they made even the empress blush, +and sent her blood hot and bounding through her veins. The court, +that would have been delighted to have seen the long-envied and hated +favorite now abashed and humbled before his newly-declared successor, +remarked with astonishment and bitter mortification that the +humiliation was changed into a triumph; for the empress, charmed by +his amiability and wit, seemed to turn her heart again toward him, and +to entreat him with the tenderest looks to forgive her faithlessness. +She had already forgotten the unfortunate embassy which was to remove +Feodor from her court, when he himself came to remind her of it. + +While all countenances were still beaming with delight over a precious +_bon mot_ which Feodor had just perpetrated, and at which the empress +herself had laughed aloud, he stepped up to her and requested her +blessing on his voyage to Germany, which he was going to commence that +night. + +Catharine felt almost inclined to withdraw her orders and request +him to remain, but she was woman enough to be able to read pride and +defiance in his face. She therefore contented herself with wishing him +a speedy return to his duty. Publicly, in the presence of the whole +court and her new favorite, she afforded Prince Stratimojeff a fresh +triumph: she bade him kneel, and taking a golden chain to which her +portrait was attached, she threw the links around his neck. Kissing +him gently on the forehead, with a gracious smile full of promise, she +said to him only, "_Au revoir_!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OLD LOVE--NEW SORROW. + + +Elise was in her room. Her face expressed a quiet, silent resignation, +and her large dark eyes had a dreamy but bright look. She sat in an +easy-chair, reading, and whoever had seen her with her high, open +forehead and calm looks, would have thought her one of those happy +and fortunate beings whom Heaven had blessed with eternal rest and +cheerful composure, who was unacquainted with the corroding poison of +passionate grief. No trace of the storm which had raged through her +life could be seen on her countenance. Her grief had eaten inwardly, +and only her heart and the spirit of her youth had died; her face had +remained young and handsome. The vigor of her youth had overcome +the grief of her spirit, and her cheeks, although colorless and +transparent in their paleness, were still free from that sallow, +sickly pallor, which is the herald of approaching dissolution. She was +apparently healthy and young, and only sick and cold at heart. Perhaps +she only needed some sunbeams to warm up again her chilled heart, only +some gleam of hope to make her soul young again, and strong and ready +once more to love and to suffer. She had never forgotten, never ceased +to think of the past, nor of him whom she had loved so unspeakably, +whom her soul could not let go. + +The memories of the past were the life of the present to her. The tree +in the garden which he had admired, the flowers he had loved and which +since then had four times renewed their bloom, the rustling of the +fir-trees which sounded from the wall, all spoke of him, and caused +her heart to beat, she knew not whether with anger or with pain. Even +now, as she sat in her room, her thoughts and fancies were busy with +him. She had been reading, but the book dropped from her hand. From +the love-scenes which were described in it her thoughts roamed far and +wide, and awakened the dreams and hopes of the past. + +But Elise did not like to give herself up to these reveries, and at +times had a silent horror even of her own thoughts. She did not like +to confess to herself that she still hoped in the man who had betrayed +her. She had, as it were, a sympathizing pity with herself; she threw +a veil over her heart, to hide from herself that it still quivered +with pain and love. Only at times, in the quiet and solitude of her +chamber, she ventured to draw aside the veil, to look down into the +depths of her soul, and, in agonizing delight, in one dream blend +together the present and the past. She leaned back in her chair, +her large dark eyes fixed on vacancy. Some passage in the book had +reminded her of her own sad love, had struck on her heart like the +hammer of a bell, and in response it had returned but one single note, +the word "Feodor." + +"Ah, Feodor!" she whispered to herself, but with a shudder at the +name, and a blush suffused her otherwise pale cheeks for a moment. +"It is the first time my lips have spoken his name, but my heart is +constantly repeating it in hopeless grief, and in my dreams he still +lives. I have accepted my fate; to the world I have separated from +him; to myself, never! Oh, how mysterious is the heart! I hate and yet +I love him." She covered her face with her hands, and sat long silent +and motionless. A noise at the door aroused her. It was only Marianne, +her maid, who came to announce that a strange gentleman was outside, +who earnestly requested to speak to her. Elise trembled, she knew +not why. A prophetic dread seized her soul, and in a voice scarcely +audible she asked the name of her visitor. + +"He will not give his name," answered the maid. "He says the name +is of no consequence. He had a letter to deliver from the Countess +Lodoiska, of St. Petersburg." + +Elise uttered a cry, and sprang from her seat--she knew all. Her heart +told her that he was near. It must be himself. She felt as if she must +hasten to her father for protection and safety; but her feet refused +to carry her. She trembled so, that she was obliged to hold on to the +arm of a chair to keep herself from falling. She motioned with her +hand to deny him admittance, but Marianne did not understand her; for, +opening the door, she invited the stranger in, and then left him. + +And now they stood in presence of each other, silent and +breathless--Elise trembling with excitement and bitter feeling, +wrestling with her own emotion, and deeply abashed by the meeting. +Both uttered an inward prayer--but how different were their two +aspirations! + +"Now, God or devil!" thought Feodor, "give my words power, lend +enchantment to my tongue, that I may win Elise!" + +Elise prayed to herself: "Have mercy on me, O God! Take this love from +me, or let me die." + +In sad silence these two, so long separated, stood opposite to each +other--both hesitating, he knowing that he was guilty, she ashamed of +the consciousness of her love. But finally he succeeded in breaking +the silence. He whispered her name, and as she, alarmed and +shuddering, looked up at him, he stretched out his arms imploringly +toward her. And then she felt, thought, knew nothing but him. She +uttered a cry, and rushed forward to throw herself in his arms. But +suddenly she stopped. Her dream was at an end, and now awaking from +the first ecstasy of seeing him again, she collected herself, and +stood before him in the whole pride and dignity of her offended +honor. She found courage to sacrifice her own heart, and, with cold, +constrained manner, bowing to him, she asked, "Colonel von Brenda, +whom do you wish to see?" + +The prince sighed deeply, and let his arms drop. "It is over," said +he; "she no longer loves me!" + +Low as these words had been spoken, Elise had seized their purport, +and they touched her to the quick. "What do you wish?" she continued. + +"Nothing!" said he, despondently. "I have made a mistake. I expected +to find a faithful heart, a woman like an angel, ready in the hour of +meeting to forget all else, and take refuge in this heart; to forgive, +and, with her blessing, to wipe out the curse of my existence. This is +what I sought. But God is just, and I did not deserve such happiness. +I submit." + +"Oh, my God!" said Elise to herself, "it is the same voice which once +charmed me." She no longer found strength in herself to bid him go. +She would have given her life blood to be able always to be thus near +him. + +"This time, young lady," said Feodor, "I come only as a messenger, the +executor of the will of one who is dead." He took a letter from his +bosom and handed it to Elise. "I bring you," he said solemnly, "the +last will of my wife, Countess Lodoiska." + +"She is no longer alive?" cried Elise, and involuntarily an almost +joyful tone pervaded her voice. + +This did not escape the prince. "I will win her," said he to himself. +His eyes shone brighter, his countenance looked prouder, and his heart +beat higher with triumphant joy. Elise had taken the letter, and still +held it in her hand. "Will you not read it?" asked he, gently, and +her heart trembled at the pleading tone of his voice. + +"Yes, I will read it," she answered, as if awaking from a dream, and +breaking the seal hastily. + +The prince fixed his sharp, piercing eyes on her, and seemed to wish +to read in her looks her inmost thoughts, and feeling them favorable +to him, he approached still closer to her. + +The letter was short and hastily written, but every word entered her +soul and brought tears to her eyes. It ran thus: + +"My dear Elise, when you receive this letter I shall be no more, and +the heart which has suffered so much will be at rest. But when I have +found repose in the grave, do you fulfil my trust. I leave you the +dearest legacy that I possess. I give you back your property, the +heart and love of Feodor, which never ceased to belong to you. I never +have been able to win this love to myself. He gave me his hand, his +heart remains yours, and that is killing me. Take it then, it is my +legacy to you; and if you accept it my purified spirit will bless your +reunion. + +LODOISKA." + + +The letter dropped from her hand; completely overpowered by deep and +solemn emotions, she sank in her chair, and hid her tears with her +hands. Feodor felt that she was again his, that he had regained +his sway over her. He rushed toward her, falling at her feet, and +passionately snatching her hands from her face, he exclaimed, "Elise! +in this moment her spirit is hovering over us. She blesses this love +which she has already forgiven. Oh, if you only knew what I have +suffered for you, you would, at least, not be angry with me. You would +pardon me for the sake of what I have undergone." + +"Have I then not suffered also?" she asked, turning her face, covered +with tears, toward him. + +"Oh! leave me here at your feet," he continued. "Look upon me as +a poor pilgrim who has wandered to the holy Sepulchre in order to +cleanse his heart of its sins at the sanctuary by sincere repentance +and prayers for forgiveness. You are my sanctuary, to you my heart +bends; the poor pilgrim has come to you to confess and be shrived +before he dies. Will you, my Madonna, hear him? May I tell you what I +have endured, how much I have suffered?" + +"Speak," she said, half conscious, but eagerly listening to the music +of his voice. "Tell me what you have suffered, that I may forget my +own sufferings when I gave you up." + +"Oh!" he continued, with a shudder, "I shall never forget that fearful +moment when I became aware of the deception, and discovered that it +was not you, but Lodoiska, whom I held in my arms. A raving madness +seized me, which threatened my own life. Lodoiska turned aside the +dagger, and pronounced your name. That name recalled me to life, to +the knowledge of my crime. I submitted to the punishment which I had +merited, and which you had imposed upon me. I led Lodoiska to the +altar, at which I had hoped to see you. I made her my wife, and my +heart pronounced _your_ name, while my lips bound me to _her_. It was +a terrible hour, a fearful agony raged within me, and it has never +left me since. It was there, when Lodoiska pressed me to her heart. It +was present in the tumult of battle. Then, however, when death raged +around me, when destruction thundered from the enemy's cannon, then +I became cheerful, and the pang left me as I rushed amid the enemy's +ranks. But even death itself retreated before me--I found on the +battle-field only honor and fame, but not the object for which I +fought, not death. I lived to suffer and to expiate my crime toward +you, Elise. But one hope sustained me, the hope one day to fall at +your feet, to clasp your knees, and to sue for forgiveness." + +Completely overcome by his own passionate description, he bowed his +head on her knees, and wept aloud. He had succeeded in rousing his own +sympathy; he believed in his own grief. He had so feelingly played +the part of a repentant sinner, an ardent lover, that for a moment +probability and reality had become blended in one, and he felt himself +thoroughly possessed by crushing repentance. + +But Elise believed in him. His voice sounded like music in her ear, +and every fibre of her heart thrilled and quivered. The past with its +griefs and sorrows was gone forever, he was once more there, with no +stranger to come between them, and she only felt that she loved him +without bounds. + +He embraced her knees, looking pleadingly up in her face. "Elise, +forgive me," cried he; "say but one word, 'Pardon,' and I will go away +in silence, and never again dare to approach you." + +Elise had no longer power to withstand him. She opened her arms, and +threw them with passionate tenderness around his neck. "Feodor, love +does not forgive, it loves," she cried with unspeakable rapture, and +tears of delight burst from her eyes. + +Feodor uttered a cry of joy, and sprang up to draw her to his breast, +to cover her face with kisses, to whisper words of delight, of +tenderness, of passionate love, in her listening ear. "Oh! now all is +right again--now you are again mine. These four years are as if they +had not been. It was all a mournful dream--and we are now awake. +Now we know that we love each other, that we belong to each other, +forever. Come, Elise, it is the same hour which then called us to the +altar. Come, the priest waits. For four long years have I hoped for +this hour. Come, my beloved." + +He threw his strong arm around her and raised her to his breast +to draw her forth with him. As Elise drew herself gently back, he +continued still more passionately: "I will not let you go, for you are +mine. You have betrothed yourself to me for life or death. Come, +the priest is waiting, and to-day shall you be my wife. This time no +unfriendly hand shall impose itself between us, and Lodoiska no longer +lives." + +"But my father lives," said Elise, as earnestly and proudly she freed +herself from Feodor's arms. "Without his consent I do not leave this +threshold. It was for that the Lord punished us. My father's blessing +was not upon our love, and I had sinned grievously against him. Now, +it is expiated, and Fate is appeased. Let us go hand in hand to my +father, and ask his blessing on our love, that love which has remained +undiminished through so many years of grief." + +"I submit to you. I will obey your will in every thing. But will not +your father reject me? I feel that he must hate me for the tears I +have caused you to shed." + +"He will love you when he sees that you have taught me to smile once +more," said she gently. "Come to my father." + +She wished to draw him along with her. But his consciousness of guilt +held him back. He wanted the daring courage to face this man whom he +had been sent to ruin; and involuntarily he shrank back from his own +deeds. "I dare not go before him so suddenly and unprepared," said he +hesitatingly. + +"Then allow me to prepare him for your presence." + +"And if he denies his sanction?" + +"He will not do it." + +"He has sworn never to allow you to marry a Russian." + +"Oh, that was long ago," said she, smiling, "when Russia was our +enemy. Now we are at peace. The bloody streams of discord are dried +up, and an angel of peace rules over all countries. Even my father +will feel his influence, and make peace with you and me." + +Feodor did not answer immediately. He stood thoughtful and +contemplative, weighing the necessary and unavoidable, and considering +what he should do. One thing only was clear. Neither Elise nor +Gotzkowsky must be allowed to suspect on what extraordinary mission +his empress had sent him thither. Only when Elise was irrevocably +bound to him, when she was his without recall, when Gotzkowsky had +given his consent to their union, then would he dare to disclose it to +him. It was necessary, above all, to postpone the negotiations about +the Russian demands for a day, and therefore he only gave his agents +his instructions, and imposed on them silence and inactivity for a day +longer. The principal thing, however, was to convince Elise and her +father that their union should suffer no delay, because he was only +allowed to remain a few hours. He put his arm around Elise's slender +waist and pressed her to his heart. "Listen to me, my beloved; my time +has been but sparingly dealt out to me. I have come on with courier +horses, so as to allow me more leisure on my return with you. But +to-day we must leave, for the army is on the frontier, equipped and +ready for war. Only out of special favor did the empress allow me a +short leave of absence, to fetch my wife. In her clemency she has +done what she was able to do, and I must now obey her orders to return +speedily, if I do not wish to bring her anger down upon me. That +nothing might prevent or delay us, I have brought a chaplain of our +Church with me, to bless our union. You see, my beloved, that every +thing is ready, and all that is wanting is the wreath of myrtle in +your hair." + +"And the blessing of my father," she replied solemnly. + +Feeder's brow darkened and an angry expression flashed across +his countenance. Elise did not perceive it, for, in her noble +forgetfulness of self, she had leaned her head on his breast, and all +doubt and distrust were alien to her free and confiding love. The love +of a woman is of divine nature; it forgives all, it suffers all; it is +as strong in giving as in forgiving. Every woman when she loves is +an inspired poetess; the divine frenzy has seized her, and poetic +utterances of ecstasy issue from her trembling lips. This poor girl, +too, had become inspired. Confidingly happy, she reposed on the breast +of the man whom she had never ceased to love, whom she had blest in +the midst of her bitterest tears, whom she had prayed for, earnestly +entreating God to have mercy on him. + +"Do you go to your father," said Feodor, after a pause. "Pray for +his consent and his blessing on both of us--I hasten to prepare every +thing. Tell your father that my whole life shall be spent in the +endeavor to redeem every tear you have shed for me with a smile; that +I will love him as a son to whom he has given the dearest treasure of +life, his Elise." + +He pressed her to his heart and kissed her forehead. Elise raised her +face from his breast, and smiled on him with loving emotion. But he +placed his hands over her eyes; he was not callous enough to be able +to bear those innocent, yielding, tender looks. + +"I must be gone," he said. "But this shall be our last separation, +and when I return, it shall be to lead you to the altar. In an hour, +dearest, you must be ready. At the end of that time, I will come to +take you to St. Petersburg, and present you at the empress's court as +my bride, the Princess Stratimojeff." + +He looked down at her with an air of triumph, to see what impression +his words would have on her. He had expected to prepare a pleasurable +surprise for her with the princely title--to see her blush with proud +satisfaction. But Elise felt neither elevated nor honored by the high +rank. What did she care whether Feodor was a prince or a poor officer, +so that he only loved her, and would never again forsake her? + +She replied, with some surprise, "Princess Stratimojeff! What does +that mean?" + +"For three months," said he with a proud smile, "I have been Prince +Stratimojeff. The empress gave me this title. The world calls me +prince, but you--you will call me your Feodor?" + +"Oh," said she feelingly, "my heart called you so when you did not +hear me." + +"Well, then, go wind the wreath of myrtle in your hair, and wait for +me. In an hour I will return." + +He hastened to the door, but on the threshold he turned to send a +farewell greeting to her. Their eyes met and rested on each other, +and suddenly a deep, indescribable feeling of grief came over him. It +seemed to him as if he would never see her again; as if the threshold +once crossed, Elise was lost to him forever. Once again he returned, +and folded her passionately in his arms, and, completely overpowered +by his painful presentiments, he bowed his head on her shoulder, and +wept bitterly. He then tore himself loose. "Farewell!" he cried, +but his voice sounded hoarse and rough--"farewell! in an hour I +will return for you. Be prepared, do not keep me waiting in vain. +Farewell!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE MAGISTRACY OF BERLIN. + + +Gotzkowsky had conquered his proud heart; he had left his house to +apply to those whom he had benefited and saved in the days of their +need and distress, and who had then avowed him everlasting gratitude. +He resolved now, reluctantly and with deep humiliation, rather to +remind them of those days than to ask of them any favors or assistance +beyond the payment of their debts to him. + +First he went to the ober-burgomaster, President Kircheisen; to the +man whom he had saved from death, who had clung to him, and, when +he had found his speech again, had vowed with tears that he would be +forever grateful to him, and would bless the arrival of the hour in +which he could prove it to him by deeds. + +This hour had now arrived, but Herr von Kircheisen did not bless it; +on the contrary, he cursed it. He was standing at the window of his +ground floor when Gotzkowsky passed by. Their eyes met. Gotzkowsky's +were clear and penetrating; Kircheisen's were cast down, as he stepped +back from the window. He only had time to tell the servants that he +was not at home for any one, whoever it might be, when the bell rang, +and Gotzkowsky inquired for Herr von Kircheisen. + +"Not at home, sir." + +"Not at home! but I saw him just this moment standing at the window." + +"It must have been a mistake, sir. The president has just gone to the +Council-chamber." + +"Very well. I will go to the town-hall," said Gotzkowsky, as he left +the house. + +Passing by the window he looked in again. This time, however, +Kircheisen was not standing before the sashes, but at the side, +ensconced behind the curtain, he was spying Gotzkowsky through the +window. As he saw him passing by, pale of countenance, but erect and +unbent, he felt involuntarily a feeling of remorse, and his conscience +warned him of his unpaid debt toward the only man who came to his +rescue. But he would not listen to his conscience, and with a dark +frown he threw back his head with contempt. + +"He is a bankrupt--I have nothing to do with him!" So saying, he +retired to his study, and in obedience to a natural instinct, he +opened his strong box, and refreshed himself with a look at the +thousands which he had earned from Gotzkowsky as "detective and +informer." And now his conscience no longer reproached him; the sight +of the shining money lulled it into a gentle slumber. + +In the meanwhile Gotzkowsky continued his toilsome and humiliating +journey. He met men who formerly bent humbly to the earth before him, +yet who scarcely greeted him now. Others, again, as they passed him, +whispered, with a malicious smile, "Bankrupt!" As he came to the corner +of a street, he met the valiant editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, +who was coming round from the other side. As they met, he jostled +Gotzkowsky rather roughly, yet Mr. Kretschmer did not think it worth +while to excuse himself, but pulling his hat over his face he walked +on with a dark and scornful look. As Gotzkowsky passed the houses, he +could hear the windows rattle, and he knew that it was his former +good friends, who were drawing back when they saw him coming, and who, +after he had passed, opened the windows again to look after him, to +laugh at and mock him. It was an intellectual running of the gantlet, +and Gotzkowsky's heart bled from the blows, and his feet were tired +to death. What had he then done to burden himself with the cruelty and +contumely of the world? Had he not been benevolent and kind, full +of pity and humanity, obliging to every one? Had he not always shown +himself ready to serve every one, and never requested nor desired +services in return? Therein lay his fault and his crime. + +He had been independent. He had never sought the favor of any +man, but, trusting solely to himself, had always relied on his +own strength. And now mankind wished to make him feel that he had +mortified them by his self-sufficiency--for small natures never +forgive one who dares to be independent of others, and finds his +source of honor in himself. And this crime Gotzkowsky had been +guilty of. What he was, he had made himself. He had owed nothing +to protection, nothing to hypocrisy or flattery, eye-service, or +cringing. Only by the strength and power of his own genius had he +elevated himself above the world which he ruled. + +And now that he was down, it was but natural that the world should +fall upon him, tear him to pieces with its venomous fangs, to enjoy +his torture, and joyfully to witness the lowering of pride and +independence. Gotzkowsky arrived at the town-hall and slowly ascended +the steps. How often had he gone this same road in answer to the +pressing cry for help which the magistrate would utter in his +distress! How often had he mounted those steps to give his advice, to +lend his energy, his money, and his credit to these gentlemen of the +Council! + +This day the doors were not thrown open to him the beadle did not bow +down to the earth before him, but proudly and with erect head stepped +up to him and bade him wait in the antechamber until he had announced +him to the assembled Council. He had to wait long, but finally +the doors opened and he was admitted. There sat the aldermen and +councillors, and the burgomaster, just as they had when, in their +need and distress, they had appealed to Gotzkowsky for advice and +assistance--just as they had when, in solemn session, they +determined to present him with a silver laurel-wreath as an honorable +testimonial. + +Only the chief burgomaster was absent. Herr von Kircheisen was at +home, enjoying the sight of the money he had won from Gotzkowsky. This +day they did not receive him as a counsellor or friend, but more like +a delinquent. No one rose to greet him--no one offered him a seat! +They knew that he came to ask for something. Why, then, should they be +polite to him, as he was only a petitioner like all other poor +people? In the mean time Gotzkowsky did not seem to be aware of the +alteration. Smiling, and with a firm, proud step he walked to a chair +and sat down. + +After a pause the burgomaster asked him churlishly what his business +was. He drew out a parcel of papers, and laying them on the table, +said, "I have brought my accounts." + +A panic seized the worshipful gentlemen of the Council, and they sat +petrified in their seats. + +"Your worships have forgotten my claims," said Gotzkowsky quickly. +"However, that I can easily understand, as the accounts are somewhat +old. It is now four years since I have had the honor of having the +Council of Berlin as my debtor; since I thrice performed the perilous +journey to Königsberg and Warsaw in order to negotiate the war +contribution in the name of the town. At that time, too, I was +obliged, in the service of the Council, to take with me many valuable +presents. I may enumerate among them the diamond-set staff for General +von Fermore, and the snuff-box, with the portrait of the empress, +surrounded by brilliants, which I delivered to the General +Field-Marshal Count Butterlin, in the name of the magistracy and town +of Berlin. But, gentlemen, you will find the accounts of all these +things here." + +The gentlemen of the Council did not answer him; they seized upon the +papers hastily, and turned them over, and looked into them with stern +and sullen eyes. Not a word was said, and nothing was heard but the +rustling of the papers, and the low muttering of one of the senators +adding the numbers, and verifying the calculation. Gotzkowsky rose, +and walked to the window. Raising his looks to heaven, his countenance +expressed all the pain and bitterness to which his soul almost +succumbed. Ah! he could have torn the papers out of the hand of this +miserable, calculating, reckoning senator, and with pride and contempt +have thrown them in his face. But he thought of his daughter, and +the honor of his name. He had to wait it out, and bend his head in +submission. + +At last the burgomaster laid the papers aside, and turned scowlingly +toward Gotzkowsky. The latter stepped up to the table with a smile, +making a vow to himself that he would remain quiet and patient. + +"Have you read them, gentlemen?" he asked. + +"We have read them," answered the burgomaster roughly, "but the +Council cannot admit that it owes you any thing." + +"No?" cried Gotzkowsky; and then, allowing himself to be overcome by a +feeling of bitterness--"I believe you. Those in authority seldom take +cognizance of what they owe, only what is owing to them." + +"Oh, yes, indeed," said the first councillor with solemn dignity, "we +know very well that we owe you thanks for the great services you have +rendered the town." + +Gotzkowsky broke out into a loud, ironical laugh. "Do you remember +that? I am glad that you have not forgotten it." + +"It is true," continued the councillor, in a tone of conciliation, "at +the request of the magistracy you took charge of the affairs of the +town. You travelled to St. Petersburg to see the empress; twice did +you go to Warsaw to see General Fermore, and twice to Saxony to visit +the king. You see the Council knows how much it is indebted to you." + +"And we are cheerfully willing to be grateful to you," interrupted +the burgomaster, "and to serve you when and in what manner we can, but +these debts we cannot acknowledge." + +Gotzkowsky looked at him in dismay, and a deep glow suffused his +cheek. "You refuse to pay them?" he asked, faintly. + +"It pains us deeply that we cannot recognize these claims. You +must abate somewhat from them if we are to pay them," answered the +burgomaster rudely. + +"Do you dare to propose this to me?" cried Gotzkowsky, his eyes +flashing, his countenance burning with anger and indignation. "Is +this the way you insult the man to whom four years ago on this very +spot you swore eternal gratitude? In those days I sacrificed to you my +repose, the sleep of my nights; for, when the town was threatened with +danger and alarm, there was no Council, no authority in existence, for +you were base cowards, and abjectly begged for my good offices. With +tears did you entreat me to save you. I left my house, my family, +my business, to serve you. At the risk of my life, in the depth of +winter, I undertook these journeys. You did not consider that Russian +bayonets threatened me, that I risked health and life. You thought +only of yourselves. I have not put down in the account the sleepless +nights, the trouble and anxiety, the privation and hardships which I +suffered. I do not ask any money or recompense for my services. I only +ask that I may be paid back what I actually expended; and you have the +assurance to refuse it?" + +"No, we do not," said the burgomaster, quite unmoved by Gotzkowsky's +noble excitement. "We do not refuse payment; we only desire a +reduction of the amounts." + +"You wish to cheapen and bargain with me," said Gotzkowsky with a +hoarse laugh. "You take me for a chapman, who measures out his life +and services by the yard; and you wish to pay me for mine by the same +measure. Go, most sapient gentlemen; I carry on a wholesale trade, +and do not cut off yards. That I leave to shopkeepers, to souls like +yours." + +The burgomaster rose up proud and threateningly from his seat. "Do you +dare to insult the Council?" + +"No, the Council of Berlin insult themselves by their own deeds. They +dare to chaffer with me!" + +"And they have a right to do so," cried the burgomaster, quite beside +himself with rage. "Who asked you to play the great lord in our name, +and distribute royal presents--diamonds and gold snuff-boxes? +You could have done it much more cheaply. The Russian is not so +high-priced. But it was your pleasure to be magnificent at our +expense, and to strut about as a bountiful gentleman." + +"Silence!" cried Gotzkowsky, in such a commanding tone that the +burgomaster was struck dumb, and sank back in his chair. Gotzkowsky +said no more. He took the accounts from the table, and, casting a +look of anger and contempt on the worthy gentlemen, tore the papers +in pieces, and threw the scraps at their feet. "I am paid!" he said, +proudly, and turned to leave the room. + +One of the town councillors hastened after him, and held him back. +"You are too hasty: we may yet agree." + +"No!" said Gotzkowsky, striving to free himself. "I do not chaffer and +bargain for my right." + +The other held him tight. "But the Council are not averse to paying +you, if you--" + +"If I will only traffic with you, is it not so?" interrupted +Gotzkowsky. "Let me go; we have done with each other." + +"You will regret having repulsed the Council," said the burgomaster, +threateningly. + +"I never regret an action when my honor is satisfied," said +Gotzkowsky, with proud contempt; and then, without honoring the worthy +gentlemen with another look, he left the hall, and returned into the +street. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE JEWS OF THE MINT. + + +Herr Itzig was a very pious and devout Jew. He kept the Sabbath +strictly after the custom of his ancestors. He was charitable to the +poor; and no Jew beggar ever left his door without a gift. + +He sat in his room, performing his morning devotions, and so deeply +was he immersed therein, that he did not hear a repeated knocking +at the door until a low, gentle voice whispered, "Good-morning, Herr +Itzig!" + +Itzig first finished his prayer; for all the world he would not have +broken off before the end of it: "Be gracious and merciful to us, +Jehovah, and incline us to be compassionate and helpful to all who +approach us with supplication, even as we desire that thou shouldst +be to us." And now the pious Jew closed his prayer-book, and turned +slowly around. + +That pale, bent man, who greeted him with a sorrowful smile--could it +possibly be--could it be John Gotzkowsky, the celebrated banker, the +honored and bright hero of the Exchange, the money-king before whom +all Europe bowed down? + +An expression of malicious joy stole over Itzig's face; but he +suppressed it immediately, for the last words of his prayer still +floated around his lips, and somewhat purified them. "Ah!" said he, in +a friendly tone, as he stepped toward Gotzkowsky, stretching out both +his hands to him, "the great and powerful John Gotzkowsky does me the +honor to visit me. What joy for my humble house!" + +Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be misled by this seeming +politeness. He observed him with sharp and penetrating eyes, and then +proudly said: "Listen, Itzig; let us be candid with each other. You +know the reports which are current about me in the city and on the +Bourse." + +"I know them, but do not believe them," cried Itzig, with an altered, +earnest mien. "Yes, I know these reports, and I know too what they +are worth. They are a speculation of Ephraim, that your notes may +be depreciated, that he may buy them in at a low rate. I know that +Gotzkowsky is a rich man; and a rich man has judgment, and whoever +has judgment is prudent--does not venture much, nor stand security for +other people." + +"I have perhaps less of this judgment than you think," said +Gotzkowsky. "It may be that I have stood security." + +"Then you will certainly know how to pay?" said Itzig, with a forced +laugh. + +"But how if I cannot pay?" said Gotzkowsky, sadly. + +Itzig stepped back, and gazed at him horrified. + +"If I cannot pay," continued Gotzkowsky, impressively; "if I am +unable to pay half a million for Leipsic, another half million for the +Russian claims, after having lost the same amount yesterday by the new +treasury ordinance--what would you say to that, Itzig?" + +Itzig listened to him with increasing terror, and gradually his +features assumed an expression of hatred and savage rage. When +Gotzkowsky had finished, he raised his clasped hands to heaven, as if +imploring the wrath of God on the head of the sinner. "My God! sir, +are you, then, going to fail?" + +Gotzkowsky seized his hand, and looked into his quivering face with +an expression of intense anxiety. "Listen to me, Itzig. I may yet be +saved; every thing depends upon my obtaining a delay, that my credit +may not be shaken. You are rich--" + +"No, I am poor," interrupted Itzig, vehemently. "I am perfectly poor; +I have nothing but what I earn." + +"But you can earn a great deal," said Gotzkowsky, with a faint smile. +"I wish to effect a loan from you. Take my word of honor as security." + +"Your word of honor!" cried Itzig, thrusting back his hand. "What can +I do with your word of honor? I cannot advance any money on it." + +"Consider! the honor of my name is concerned--and this, till now, +I have kept unsullied before God and man!" cried Gotzkowsky, +imploringly. + +"And if my own honor was concerned," exclaimed Itzig, "I would rather +part with it than my money. Money makes me a man. I am a Jew. I have +nothing but money--it is my life, my honor! I cannot part with any of +it." + +But Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be repulsed. It seemed to him +that his future, his honor, his whole life hung upon this moment. He +felt like a gambler who has staked his last hope upon one throw of +the dice. If this fails, all hope is gone; no future, no life is left, +nothing but the grave awaits him. With impetuous violence he seized +the hand of the rich Itzig. "Oh!" said he, "remember the time when you +swore eternal gratitude to me." + +"I never would have sworn it," cried Itzig--"no, by the Eternal, I +never would have done it, if I had thought you would ever have needed +it!" + +"The honor of my name is at stake!" cried Gotzkowsky, in a tone of +heart-rending agony. "Do you not understand that this is to me my +life? Remember your vow! Let your heart for once feel sympathy--act as +a man toward his fellow-man. Advance me money upon my word of honor. +No, not on that alone--on my house, on all that belongs to me. Lend me +the sum I need. Oh! I will repay it in a princely manner. Help me over +only these shoals, and my gratitude to you will be without bounds. You +have a heart--take pity on me!" + +Itzig looked with a malicious smile into his pale, agitated face. +"So the rich, the great Christian banker, in the hour of his trouble, +thinks that the poor derided Jew has a heart; I admit that I have a +heart--but what has that to do with money? When business begins, there +the heart stops. No, I have no heart to lend you money!" + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately. He stood for an instant +motionless, as if paralyzed in his inmost being. His soul was crushed, +and he scarcely felt his grief. He only felt and knew that he was +a lost man, and that the proud edifice of his fortune was crumbling +under him, and would bury him in its ruins. He folded his hands +and raised his disconsolate looks on high; he murmured: You see my +suffering, O God! I have done my utmost! I have humbled myself to +begging--to pitiful complaining. My God! my God! will no helping hand +stretch itself once more to me out of the cloud?" + +"You should have prayed before to God," said Itzig, with cruel +mockery. "You should have begged Him for prudence and foresight." + +Gotzkowsky did not heed him. He fought and struggled with his immense +suffering, and, being a noble and a brave man, he at length conquered +it. For a moment he had been cowed and downcast, but now he recovered +all the power of his energetic nature. He raised again his bowed head, +and his look was once more determined and defiant. "Well, then, I have +tried every thing; now I accept my fate. Listen, then, Herr Itzig, I +am going to suspend payment; my house must fail!" + +Itzig shuddered with a sudden terror. "My God!" cried he, "only +yesterday I bought a draft of yours. You will not pay it?" + +"I will not do it, because I cannot; and I would not do it, if I +could. I have humbled myself before you in the dust, and you have +stretched out no hand to raise me. Farewell, and may that now happen +which you would not prevent when you could! You punish yourself. +Farewell!" + +Itzig held him convulsively back, and cried, in a voice drowned by +rage, "You will pay my draft?" + +"I will not," said Gotzkowsky. "You have judged; take now your +reward." He threw Itzig's hands from him, and hastened from the spot. + +Behind him sounded the wailing and raging of Itzig, who implored +Heaven and hell to punish the criminal who had cheated him of his +money. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE LEIPSIC MERCHANT. + + +Exhausted and weary, Gotzkowsky returned to his house, and retired to +his room, to give himself up to the sad and terrible thoughts which +tortured him. He could not conceal from himself that the sword above +his head was only suspended by two thin threads. If De Neufville did +not return from Amsterdam, and if the courier did not bring a relief +from Leipsic, then was he lost without redemption, and the deadly +sword must fall. For the first time did he think of death; for the +first time did the thought of it flash like lightning through his +brain, and make him almost cheerful and happy. + +He could die; it was not necessary that he should bear the pain and +humiliation of life. He could take refuge in the quiet, silent grave +under the turf, which would soon be decked with flowers over his +agonized breast. He had worked much; his feet were sore, and his heart +weary, from his walk through life. Why should he not lay himself down +in the grave to rest, to dream, or to sink in the arms of eternal, +dreamless sleep? + +But this enticing thought he cast forcibly from him. He had not yet +lost all hope. His anticipations rose as the door opened, and the +servant handed him a large sealed letter, which the courier from +Leipsic had just brought. With hasty hand he seized the letter, and +motioned to Peter to retire. But as soon as he was alone, and was +about to break the seal, he drew back and hesitated. This letter +might, indeed, contain his salvation; but it might also contain his +death-sentence. He weighed it in his hand thoughtfully, and muttered +to himself: "It is as light as a feather, and yet its contents may +be heavy enough to hurl me down the abyss. But this is foolish," he +exclaimed aloud, drawing himself up proudly. "At least I will know my +fate, and see clearly into the future." + +With a firm hand he broke the seal. But as he read, horror and dismay +were depicted in his countenance, and his whole frame shook. +Violently he flung the paper on the ground. "This, then, this is my +reward--reproaches, accusations, instead of thanks; scorn and +malice, instead of compassion. Reproaches, because I assisted them; +accusations, that I had offered to help them; only because without me +it would have been impossible for the King of Prussia to raise so much +money. Without my mediation, they say, they would not have paid, but +at the utmost would have had to endure a somewhat longer imprisonment, +which would have been more tolerable than the loss of such immense +sums." + +He paced impatiently up and down, and as he came to the letter he +spurned it with his foot, like a poisonous adder, too loathsome to +touch. "I have deserved this punishment," cried he, laughing aloud +from inward pain. + +"Who bade me love mankind? who bade me help them, instead of like +a highwayman falling upon and plundering them, when they were +defenceless? Fool that I was to give to life any other interpretation, +any other end!" He threw himself in a chair, and was soon buried in +thought. Once more he reviewed his whole past, and as he made up the +accounts of his life, he had to confess that the total of his hours +of happiness was but small, while that of his years of misery and toil +was heavy enough to bear him down. But there was still one hope, and +as long as he could expect De Neufville's arrival all was not lost, +and he must still wait in patience, still struggle with the worm that +gnawed at his heart. With such painful thoughts as these was he busied +when the door opened, and Elise entered with a glowing countenance. + +She was so happy, that in her selfishness she did not perceived his +troubled and care-worn looks. "Oh" said she, kissing his hand, "I +am so happy at last to find you alone at home. Several times have I +sought you here." + + +"With letters for me?" asked he, hurriedly, for he had not observed +Elise's excited countenance. Both were so occupied with their own +thoughts and feelings, that they took note of nothing else. "Have not +letters arrived?" asked he once more. + +"No letters have arrived," said she, smiling joyously, "but happiness +has come." + +"De Neufville is here, then!" cried Gotzkowsky, anxiously, hurrying +toward the door. + +"What has De Neufville to do with it?" asked Elise, with surprise +holding him back. + +Gotzkowsky stared for a moment, terrified at her bright face, and then +a sad smile stole across his own. "Poor fool that I am!" he muttered; +"I complain of the egotism of men, while I am selfish enough to think +only of myself." He drew Elise toward him, and looking at her with +infinite tenderness, said, "Well, my child, speak: what happiness has +arrived?" + +"Look at me," said she, playfully; "can you read nothing in my looks?" + +Sadly he looked down deep into her large bright eyes. "Oh, your eyes +shine as bright as two stars of hope, the last that are left me!" + +Elise threw both her arms around his neck, and kissed him, then drew +him with gentle force toward the ottoman, and, as she forced him down +on the cushions, she took her own seat, smiling, on the stool at his +feet. "How often, my father, have you sat here and cared for me! Ah! +I know well how much sorrow I have caused you in these last four sad +years, I could not command my heart to forget. You knew this, and yet +you have been considerate and gentle as a mother, and kind as the best +of fathers. You were never angry with me on account of my grief; you +knew of it, and yet you allowed me to weep." She took his hand in +hers, and for a moment covered her hot, burning face with it, then +looked cheerfully up in his face. "See," she said, "I do not shed any +more tears, or, if I do, they are tears of joy. My father, I come to +ask your blessing. Feodor is again here; he has come to ask me of you +for his wife. Oh, forgive him, and grant your blessing to a love which +till now has been the anguish of my life, but which hereafter will be +its chief happiness!" + +Blushing and with maiden modesty she nestled in her father's breast. +Gotzkowsky felt himself paralyzed with terror. He pressed his child's +head warmly to his breast, saying to himself, "And this, too, my God! +you try me sorely. This is the greatest sacrifice you have demanded of +me yet; but my pride is gone. This offering, too, will I make." + +"Well, my father, you do not answer?" asked Elise, still leaning +on his breast. "All is right, is it not? and you will give us your +fatherly blessing, and forgive Feodor the errors of former years, and +receive him as a son?" + +Gotzkowsky, with his eyes still raised to heaven, moved his lips in +silent prayer. At last, after a long, painful pause, he said solemnly: +"Well, let it be so; I give my consent." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, and, amidst tears of unalloyed delight, +kissed him, as smiling, and often interrupted by her own deep emotion, +she narrated her meeting with Feodor, Lodoiska's death, and the letter +she had written to her. "Oh, how delightful this hour would be," +continued she, after finishing her narrative, "if I could only remain +with you! Love bids me go, and yet it keeps me here! I have promised +Feodor to go with him, but I did it in my haste, seeing only him and +listening only to his prayers. Now I see you, my father, and it seems +to me as if I could not leave you to-day." + +"To-day!" cried Gotzkowsky, and a ray of joy shone from his face. He +arose, and, with folded arms, paced the room. His soul was full of +gratitude to God, to whom he had prayed in his despair. Was this not +a sign that God was with him, even if men forsook him?--that God had +pity on him, even if all others were pitiless. This day his child +wished to leave him, to enter on a brilliant destiny. He had, +therefore, no longer any need to be anxious about her fate; and, as +she was going to leave at once, he would be spared the torture of +having her as a witness to his disgrace and degradation. He took her +to his breast, and kissed her with heartfelt fervor. "Farewell, my +child, my only happiness; you wish to leave me. I will be alone, but +I will have time to think of and pray for you." He then cast her from +him almost roughly, for he felt as if his grief would unman him. "Go," +he cried, "your bridegroom is waiting for you; go, then, and order +your bridal ornaments." + +Elise smiled. "Yes, I will adorn myself; but you, father, will place +the wreath of myrtle on my head, will you not? That is the sacred +and last office of love with which a mother sends a daughter from her +arms. I have no mother. You are both father and mother to me. Will you +not crown me with the myrtle-wreath?" + +"Yes," said he, with a sigh, "I will place the myrtle on your brow, +and God grant it may not turn to a crown of thorns! Go now, my child, +adorn thyself, and leave me alone to pray for you." + +He greeted her smilingly, and accompanied her to the door. But when +she had left the room he felt indescribably lonesome, and, pressing +his hands against his breast to suppress the cry which choked him, he +muttered in a low tone, "I have lost her--she is mine no longer. Every +thing forsakes me. The unfortunate is ever alone!" + +Once more a knocking, repeated at his door, awakened him from his +reverie. Peter his servant entered, and announced Herr Ephraim. + +A ray of joyful astonishment flashed across him, and, as he stepped +hastily toward the rich Jew of the mint, he said to himself: "Is it +possible that this man comes to have pity on me in my distress? Will +he be more magnanimous than Itzig? Will he assist me?" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +EPHRAIM THE TEMPTER. + + +"You seek me?" asked Gotzkowsky, as Ephraim entered and saluted him in +silence. + +Gotzkowsky's sharp glance had detected in his insolent hearing and +contracted features that it was not pity or sympathy which had brought +the Jew to him, but only a desire to gloat over the sufferings of his +victim. "He shall not enjoy his triumph. He shall find me collected +and determined, and shall not suspect my grief." Thus thinking, he +forced his features into a cheerful expression, and handing a chair +to the still silent Ephraim, said laughingly: "Indeed, I must be in a +dangerous plight, if the birds of prey are already settling around me. +Do you already scent my death, Herr Ephraim? By Heaven! that would be +a dainty morsel for you!" + +"You are angry with me," said Ephraim, shaking his head slowly; "but +you shall know how much injustice you do me. I bring you an important +and fearful piece of news." + +"It must be fearful, indeed," interrupted Gotzkowsky, "as you do +yourself the pleasure of bringing it to me in person." + +Ephraim shrugged his shoulders and abruptly replied, "De Neufville has +failed!" + +A cry of horror escaped Gotzkowsky's lips; he staggered, and was +obliged to support himself by a chair to keep himself from falling. +This was the last, decisive blow, and it had wounded him mortally. "De +Neufville has failed!" he muttered low to himself. + +"Yes, he is bankrupt!" said Ephraim with scarcely suppressed malice. +"The proud Christian merchant, whose greatest pleasure it was to +look down with contempt upon the Jew Ephraim, he is bankrupt. The Jew +stands firm, but the Christian merchant is broken." And as he spoke, +he broke into a scornful laugh, which brought back to Gotzkowsky his +composure and self-possession. + +"You triumph!" he said, "and on your brow is marked your rejoicing +over our fall. Yes! you have conquered, for De Neufville's failure +is your deed. It was you who persecuted him so long, and by cunning +suspicions and calumny undermined his credit until it was destroyed, +and the whole edifice of his honorable industry fell together." + +"It _is_ my work," cried Ephraim exultingly, "for he stood in my way, +and I have pushed him out of it--what more? Life is but a combat; +whoever is the strongest--that is, has the most money--is conqueror." + +"De Neufville has fallen--that is a hard blow," muttered Gotzkowsky; +and as his wandering eye met Ephraim's, he added with an expression +of complete prostration: "Enjoy my suffering; you have succeeded--I am +hurt unto death!" + +"Listen to me, Gotzkowsky," said Ephraim, approaching nearer to him; +"I mean well by you." + +"Oh, yes!" said Gotzkowsky, bitterly; "after you have hastened my +downfall, you condescend to love me. Yes, indeed! I believe in your +friendship; for none but a friend would have had the heart to bring +such a Job's message." + +Ephraim shook his head. "Listen to me," said he; "I will be quite +candid with you. Formerly I hated you, it is true, for you were more +powerful and richer than I was; you were renowned for being honest and +punctual, and that hurt me. If a large bargain was to be made, they +were not satisfied unless Gotzkowsky was concerned in it, and if your +name stood at the bottom of a contract, every one was pleased. Your +name was as good as gold, and that vexed me." + +"And for that reason you wished to overthrow me, and worked +unceasingly for my downfall; because you knew that I expected this +remittance of light money from Hamburg!" + +"I procured the decision that the light money should be declared +uncurrent, that is true. I succeeded. From this hour I am more +powerful and richer than you. You shall see that I only hated your +house, not yourself; I have come to help you. You must indeed fail; +that I am aware of, and that if you were to put forth all your power, +you could not stand this blow, You must and will fail, and that this +very day." + +Gotzkowsky muttered some unintelligible words, and covered his face +with his hands. "Yes," he cried, piteously, "I and all my hopes have +suffered shipwreck." + +Ephraim laid his hand suddenly upon his shoulder. "Seek, then, to save +some plank from the wreck, on which you may swim. You can no longer +save your creditors; save yourself." + +Gotzkowsky removed his hands slowly from his face, and looked at him +with astonishment and wonder. + +Ephraim met his look with a smiling and mysterious expression, and +bending down to Gotzkowsky's ear, whispered: "I think you will not be +such a fool as to give up all you have to your creditors, and to go +out of your house a poor man. Intrust me with your important papers, +and all that you possess of money and valuables, and I will preserve +them for you. You do not answer. Come, be reasonable; do not allow the +world the pleasure of pitying you; it does not deserve it. Believe +me, mankind is bad; and he is a fool who strives to be better than +his fellows." He stopped, and directed an inquiring look toward +Gotzkowsky. + +The latter regarded him proudly and with contempt. "This, then, is +your friendship for me? You wish to make me a cheat!" + +"Every man cheats his neighbor," cried Ephraim, shrugging his +shoulders; "why should you alone be honest?" + +"Because I do not wish to be ashamed of myself. It is the fault of +others that I fall to-day. It shall not be said that Gotzkowsky is +guilty of any crime of his own." + +"It will be said, nevertheless," interrupted Ephraim; "for whoever is +unfortunate, is in the wrong, in the eyes of men. And if he can help +himself at the expense of others, and does not do it, do you think men +will admire him for it? No! believe me, they will only laugh at him. +I have often been sorry for you, Gotzkowsky; for, with all your good +sense, your whole life through has been a miscalculation--" + +"Or rather say," said Gotzkowsky, sadly, "I have not calculated +enough, and from all the experiences of my life I have not drawn the +sum total." + +"You miscalculated," said Ephraim, "for you calculated on gratitude. +That is a bad investment which does not bear interest. Mankind cannot +be grateful, and when any one tries to be so he must sink, for others +are not so. Whoever wishes to succeed in this world, must think only +of himself, and keep his own interest in sight." + +"You wise men of the world are right!" cried Gotzkowsky, with a hoarse +laugh. + +Unhindered by Gotzkowsky's vehement and scornful bearing, Ephraim +continued: "If I had thought as you did, I would not have been able +to operate against you, nor could I have brought the mint ordinance +to bear on you. Then, to be sure, I would have been grateful, but it +would not have been business-like. Therefore I thought first of my +own welfare, and after that I came here to serve you, and show you my +gratitude." + +"I do not desire any gratitude. Let me go my way--you go yours." + +Ephraim looked at him almost pityingly. "Be reasonable, Gotzkowsky; +take good advice. The world does not thank you for being honorable. +Mankind has not deserved the pleasure of laughing at you. And they +will laugh!" + +"Leave me, I tell you!" cried Gotzkowsky; "you shall not deprive me of +my last possession, my conscience!" + +"Conscience!" sneered Ephraim. "You will starve on that capital." + +Gotzkowsky sighed deeply and dropped his head on his breast. At this +moment there were heard from without loud hurrahs and jubilant sounds, +mingled with the tones of martial music. + +King Frederick II. was returning this day to Berlin, after a long +absence, and the happy and delighted Berliners had prepared for him a +pompous and brilliant entry. They had built triumphal arches, and the +guilds had gone forth to accompany him into the city, now adorned +for festivity. The procession had to pass by Gotzkowsky's house, and +already were heard the sounds of the approaching music, while the +shouts and cries of the people became louder and shriller. + +Ephraim stepped to the window, opened it, and pointing down into the +street, he said, with a mocking laugh: "Just look, Gotzkowsky! There +is the true test of your beautiful, high-toned principles. How often +has Berlin not called you her benefactor, and yet she is overjoyed +on the very day you are going to ruin! The whole town of Berlin knows +that Gotzkowsky fails to-day, and yet they pass by your house with +merry music, and no one thinks of you." + +"He is right," murmured Gotzkowsky, as the huzzas sounded under his +window. "He is right! I was a fool to love mankind." + +Ephraim pointed down into the street again. "See," said he, "there +comes Count Salm, whom you saved from death when the Russians +were here. He does not look up here. Ah, there goes the banker, +Splittyerber, whose factories in Neustadt Eberswald you saved at the +same time. He, too, does not look up. Oh! yes, he does, and laughs. +Look there! There goes the king with his staff. You have caused his +majesty much pleasure. You accomplished his favorite wish--you founded +the porcelain factory. You travelled at your own expense into Italy, +and bought pictures for him. You preserved his capital from pillage +by the Austrians and Russians. The Dutch ambassador, who at that time +interfered in favor of Berlin with the Austrians, him has the king in +his gratitude created a count. What has he done for you? What Verelse +did was but a trifle in comparison with your services, yet he, +forsooth, is made a count. What has the king done for you? See, the +king and his staff has passed by, and not one of them has looked up +here. Yesterday they would have done so, for yesterday you were rich; +but to-day they have forgotten you already: for to-day you are poor, +and the memory of the people is very short for the poor. Ah! look down +again, Gotzkowsky--so many gentlemen, so many high-born people are +passing! Not one looks up!" + +Against his will Gotzkowsky had been drawn to the window, and, enticed +by Ephraim's words, he had looked down anxiously and mournfully at the +brilliant procession which was passing by. How much would he not have +given if only one of the many who had formerly called themselves his +friends had looked up at him, had greeted him cordially? But Ephraim +was right. No one did so. No one thought of him who, with a broken +heart, was leaning beside the window, asking of mankind no longer +assistance or help, but a little love and sympathy. But, as he looked +down into the street again, his countenance suddenly brightened up. +He laid his hand hastily on Ephraim's shoulder, and pointed to the +procession. + +"You are right," said he; "the respectable people do not look up here, +but here comes the end of the procession, the common people, the poor +and lowly, the workmen. Look at them! See how they are gazing at me. +Ah, they see me, they greet me, they wave their hats! There, one of +them is putting his hand to his face. He is a day-laborer who formerly +worked in my factory. This man is weeping, and because he knows that +I have been unfortunate. See! here come others--poor people in ragged +clothes--women with nurslings in their arms--tottering old men--they +all bend dewy eyes on me. Do you see? they smile at me. Even the +children stretch up their arms. Ah, they love me, although I am no +longer rich." + +And turning with a beaming face and eyes moistened with tears toward +Ephraim, he exclaimed: "You tell me that I have miscalculated. No! +you are mistaken. I calculated on the kernel of humanity, not on the +degenerate shell. And this noble kernel of humanity resides in the +people, the workmen, and the poor. I trusted in these, and they have +not betrayed my confidence." + +Ephraim shrugged his shoulders. "The people are weathercocks; they +will stone to-morrow the same men whom they bless to-day. Only wait +until public opinion has condemned you, and the people, too, will +forsake you. Protect yourself, then, against men. When you were rich, +every one partook of your liberality; now that you are poor, no one +will be willing to share your misfortune. Therefore save yourself, +I tell you. Collect whatever papers and valuables you may have. Give +them to me. By the God of my fathers I will preserve them faithfully +and honestly for you!" + +Gotzkowsky repulsed him with scorn, and indignant anger flashed from +his countenance. "Back from me, tempter!" cried he, proudly. "It is +true you possess the wisdom of the world, but one thing is wanting in +your wisdom--the spirit of honor. I know that this does not trouble +you much, but to me it is every thing. You are right: I will be a +beggar, and men will point at me with their finger, and laugh me to +scorn. But I will pass them by proudly, nor will I bend my head before +them, for my dignity and honor as a man are unconnected with gold +or property. These are my own, and when I die, on my tomb will be +written--'He died in poverty, but he was an honorable man.'" + +"Fool that you are!" exclaimed Ephraim, laughing in contempt. "You are +speculating on your epitaph, while the fortune of your life slips away +from you. Take my advice: there is yet time to secure your future." + +"Never, if it is to be accomplished by frauds!" + +"Think of your daughter." + +A painful quivering flitted across Gotzkowsky's face. "Who gives you a +right to remind me of her?" asked he angrily. "Do not soil her name by +pronouncing it. I have nothing in common with you." + +"Yes, you have, though," said Ephraim with a wicked smile. "You have +done me a good deed, and I am thankful. That is something in common." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer him. He crossed the room hastily, and +stepped to his writing-table, out of a secret drawer of which he drew +a dark-red case. He opened it and snatched out the diamond ring that +was contained in it. + +"I do not wish your gratitude," said he, turning to Ephraim, anger +flashing from his countenance--"and if you could offer me all the +treasures of the world, I would throw them to the earth, as I do this +ring!" And he cast down the costly jewel at Ephraim's feet. + +The latter raised it coolly from the ground and examined it carefully. +He then broke out into a loud, scornful laugh. "This is the ring which +the Jews presented to you when you procured our exemption from the +war-tax. You give it to me?" + +"I give it to you, and with it a curse on the tempter of my honor!" + +"You repulse me, then? You will have none of my gratitude?" + +"Yes; if your hand could save me from the abyss, I would reject it!" + +"Let it be so, then," said Ephraim; and his face assumed an expression +of hatred and malice--for now it could be perceived that the rich +Ephraim was again overcome by Gotzkowsky, although the latter was a +poor and shattered man. His sympathy and his help had only met with +a proud refusal from him whom he had not succeeded in humbling and +dragging down to the dust. + +"Let it be so, then!" he repeated, gnashing his teeth. "You will +not have it otherwise. I take the ring," and looking at Gotzkowsky +maliciously, he continued: "With this ring I will buy you a place in +the churchyard, that the dishonored bankrupt may, at least, find +an honorable grave, and not be shovelled in like De Neufville the +suicide!" + +"What do you say--De Neufville is dead?" cried Gotzkowsky, hurrying +after him as he neared the door, and seizing him violently by the arm. +"Say it once more--De Neufville is dead?" + +Ephraim enjoyed for a moment, in silence, Gotzkowsky's terrible grief. +He then freed himself from his grasp and opened the door. But turning +round once more, and looking in Gotzkowsky's face with a devilish +grin, he slowly added, "De Neufville killed himself because he could +not survive disgrace." And then, with a loud laugh, he slammed the +door behind him. + +Gotzkowsky stared after him, and his soul was full of inexpressible +grief. He had lost in De Neufville not only a friend whom he loved, +and on whose fidelity he could count, but his own future and his last +hope were buried in his grave. But his own tormenting thoughts left +him no leisure to mourn over his deceased friend. It was the kind of +death that De Neufville had chosen which occupied his mind. + +"He came to his death by his own hand; he did not wish to survive his +disgrace. He has done right--for when disgrace begins, life ends--and +shall I live," asked he aloud, as almost angrily he threw his head +back, "an existence without honor, an existence of ignominy and +misery? I repeat it, De Neufville has done right. Well, then, I dare +not do wrong; my friend has shown me the way. Shall I follow him? Let +me consider it." + +He cast a wild, searching look around the room, as if he feared +some eye might be looking at him, and read desperate thoughts in +the quivering of his face. "Yes! I will consider it," whispered he, +uneasily. "But not here--there in my cabinet, where every thing is +so silent and solitary, no one will disturb me. I will think of it, +I say." And with a dismal smile he hurried into his study, and closed +the door behind him. + + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ELISE. + + +The bridal costume was completed, and with a bright face, smiling and +weeping for sheer happiness, Elise stood looking at herself in a large +Venetian mirror. Not from vanity, nor to enjoy the contemplation of +her beauty, but to convince herself that all this was not a dream, +only truth, delightful truth. The maiden, with blushing cheeks, stood +and looked in the glass, in her white dress, till she smiled back +again; so like a bride, that she shouted aloud for joy, kissed her +hand to herself, in the fulness of her mirth, as she greeted and +smiled again to her image in the mirror. "I salute you, happy bride!" +said she, in the exuberance of her joy. "I see in your eyes that you +are happy, and so may God bless you! Go forth into the world and teach +it by your example, that for a woman there is no happiness but love, +no bliss but that of resting in the arms of her lover. But am I +not too simply clad?" cried she, interrupting herself suddenly, and +examining herself critically in the glass. "Yes, indeed, that simple, +silly child is not worthy of such a handsome and splendid cavalier: +a white silk dress and nothing else! How thoughtless and foolish has +happiness made me! My Heaven! I forgot that he comes from the land +of diamonds, and that he is a prince. Oh! I will adorn myself for my +prince." And she took from her desk the costly set of diamonds, the +legacy of her mother, and fastened the glittering brilliants in her +ears, on her arms, and the necklace set with diamonds and emeralds +around her snow-white neck. + +"Now that looks splendid," said she, as she surveyed herself again. +"Now perhaps I may please him. But the last ornament is still +wanting--my myrtle-wreath--but that my father shall put on." Looking +at the wreath, she continued, in a more serious and sad tone: "Crown +of love and of death! it is woven in the maiden's hair when she dies +as a maiden, whether it be to arise again as a wife or as a purified +spirit." And raising her tearful eyes to heaven, she exclaimed: "I +thank Thee, O God, for granting me all this happiness. My whole life, +my whole future, shall evince but gratitude toward Thee, who art the +God of love." + +Soon, however, it became too close and solitary in this silent +chamber. She wished to go to her father, to throw herself on his +breast, to pour out to him all her happiness, her affection, her joy, +in words of thankfulness, of tender child-like love. How the +white satin dress rustled and shone! how the diamonds sparkled and +glittered, as, meteor-like, they flitted down the dark corridor! With +a bright, happy smile, holding the wreath in her hand, she stepped +into her father's room. But the apartment was empty. She crossed it +in haste to seek him in his study. The doors were locked and no one +answered her loud calls. She supposed he had gone out, and would +doubtless soon return. She sat down to await him, and soon sank into +deep thought and reverie. What sweet and precious dreams played around +her, and greeted her with happy bodings of the future! + +The door opened, and she started up to meet her father. But it was not +her father--it was Bertram. And how altered--how pale and troubled +he looked! He hardly noticed her, and his eye gleamed on her without +seeing her. What was it that had so changed him? Perhaps he already +knew that she was to be married to-day, and that her lover, so long +mourned, had returned to her. She asked confusedly and anxiously for +her father. + +"My God! is he not here, then?" asked Bertram in reply. "I must speak +to him, for I have things of the greatest importance to tell him." + +Elise looked at him with inquiring astonishment. She had never seen +him so intensely excited in his whole being, and unwillingly she asked +the cause of his trouble and anxiety. + +Bertram denied feeling any anxiety, and yet his eye wandered around +searchingly and uneasily, and his whole frame was restless and +anxious. This only made Elise the more eager to find out the cause of +his trouble. She became more pressing, and Bertram again assured her +that nothing had happened. + +Elise shook her head distrustfully. "And yet I do not deceive myself! +Misfortune stands written on your brow." Then, turning pale with +terror, she asked, "Do you bring my father bad news?" + +Bertram did not answer, but cast his eyes on the ground to escape her +searching gaze. There awoke in her breast all the anxiety and care of +a loving daughter, and she trembled violently as she implored him +to inform her of the danger that threatened her father. He could +withstand her no longer. "She must learn it some time; it is better +she should hear it from me," muttered he to himself. He took her hand, +led her to the sofa, and, sitting down by her side, imparted to her +slowly and carefully, always endeavoring to spare her feelings, the +terrible troubles and misfortunes of her father. But Elise was little +acquainted with the material cares of life. She, who had never +known any extreme distress, any real want, could not understand how +happiness and honor could depend on money. When Bertram had finished, +she drew a long breath, as if relieved from some oppressive anxiety. +"How you have frightened me!" said she, smiling. "Is that all the +trouble--we are to be poor? Well, my father does not care much about +money." + +"But he does about his honor," said Bertram. + +"Oh, the honor of my father cannot stand in any danger," cried Elise, +with noble pride. + +Bertram shook his head. "But it is in danger, and though _we_ are +convinced of his innocence, the world will not believe it. It will +forget all his noble deeds, all his high-mindedness and liberality, it +will obliterate all his past, and only remember that this day, for the +first time in his life, he has it not in his power to fulfil his word. +It will condemn him as if he were a common cheat, and brand him with +the disgraceful name of bankrupt." With increasing dismay Elise had +watched his countenance as he spoke. Now, for the first time, the +whole extent of the misfortune which was about to befall her father +seemed to enter her mind, and she felt trembling and crushed. She +could feel or think of nothing now but the evil which was rushing +in upon her parent, and with clasped hands and tears in her eyes she +asked Bertram if there was no more hope; if there was no one who could +avert this evil from her father. + +Bertram shook his head sadly. "His credit is gone--no one comes to his +assistance." + +"No one?" asked Elise, putting her hand with an indescribable +expression on his shoulder. "And you, my brother?" + +"Ah, I have tried every thing," said he; and even in this moment +her very touch darted through him like a flash of delight. "I have +implored him with tears in my eyes to accept the little I possess, to +allow me the sacred right of a son. But he refused me. He will not, he +says, allow a stranger to sacrifice himself for his sake. He calls me +a stranger! I know that my fortune cannot save him, but it may delay +his fall, or at least cancel a portion of his debt, and he refuses me. +He says that if I were his son, he would consent to what he now +denies me. Elise," he continued, putting aside, in the pressure of the +moment, all consideration and all hesitation, "I have asked him for +your hand, my sister, that I may in reality become his son. I know +that you do not love, but you might esteem me; for the love I bear +your father, you might, as a sacrifice to your duty as a daughter, +accept my hand and become my bride." + +He ceased, and looked anxiously and timidly at the young girl, who +sat blushing and trembling by his side. She felt that she owed him an +answer; and as she raised her eyes to him, and looked into his noble, +faithful face, which had never changed, never altered--as she thought +that Bertram had always loved her with the same fidelity, the same +self-sacrifice--with a love which desired nothing, wished for nothing +but her happiness and contentment, she was deeply moved; and, for the +first time, she felt real and painful remorse. Freely and gracefully +she offered him her hand. + +"Bertram," she said, "of all the men whom I know, you are the most +noble! As my soul honors you, so would my heart love you, if it were +mine." + +Bertram bent over her hand and kissed it; but as he looked at her, his +eye accidentally caught sight of the sparkling jewels which adorned +her arms and neck, and aware for the first time of her unusually +brilliant toilet, he asked in surprise the occasion for it. + +"Oh, do not look at it," cried Elise; "tell me about my father. What +did he answer you when you asked him for my hand?" + +"That he would never accept such a sacrifice from his daughter, even +to save himself from death." + +"And is his fall unavoidable?" asked Elise thoughtfully. + +"I almost fear it is. This morning already reports to that effect were +current in the town, and your father himself told me that if Russia +insisted on payment, he was lost irretrievably. Judge, then, of my +horror, when I have just received from a friend in St. Petersburg the +certain intelligence that the empress has already sent a special envoy +to settle this business with the most stringent measures. This half +a million must be of great importance to the empress, when, for the +purpose of collecting it, she sends her well-known favorite, Prince +Stratimojeff!" + +Elise started from her seat in horror, and stared at Bertram. "Whom +did she send?" + +"Her favorite, Stratimojeff," repeated Bertram, calmly. + +Elise shuddered; her eyes flashed fire, and her cheeks burned. "Who +has given you the right to insult the Prince Stratimojeff, that you +call him the favorite of the adulterous empress?" + +Bertram looked at her in astonishment. "What is Prince Stratimojeff +to you?" said he. "The whole world knows that he is the favorite +of Catharine. Read, then, what my correspondent writes me on the +subject." He drew forth a letter, and let Elise read those passages +which alluded especially to the mission of the imperial favorite. + +Elise uttered a scream, and fell back fainting on the sofa; every +thing swam before her; her blood rushed to her heart; and she muttered +faintly, "I am dying--oh, I am dying!" But this momentary swoon soon +passed over, and Elise awoke to full consciousness and a perception of +her situation. She understood every thing--she knew every thing. With +a feeling of bitter contempt she surveyed all the circumstances--her +entire, pitiable, sorrowful misfortune. "Therefore, then," said she to +herself, almost laughing in scorn, "therefore this hasty wedding, this +written consent of the empress--I was to be the cloak of this criminal +intercourse. Coming from her arms, he was anxious to present me to the +world. 'Look! you calumniate me! this is my wife, and the empress is +as pure as an angel!'" She sprang up, and paced the room with +hasty steps and rapid breathing. Her whole being was in a state of +excitement and agitation. She shuddered at the depth of pitiable +meanness she had discovered in this man, who not only wished to cheat +and delude her, but was about, as if in mockery of all human feeling, +to make herself the scapegoat of her imperial rival. + +She did not notice that Bertram was looking at her in all +astonishment, and in vain seeking a clew to her conduct. "This is too +much!" cried she, half soliloquizing. "Love cannot stand this! Love! +away with the word--I would despise myself if I could find a spark of +this love in my heart!" She pressed her hands to her breast, as if she +wished thereby to extinguish the flames which were consuming her "Oh!" +she cried, "it burns fearfully, but it is not love! Hate, too, has +its fires. I hate him! I know it now--I hate him, and I will have +vengeance on the traitor! I will show him that I scorn him!" Like an +infuriated tigress she darted at the myrtle-wreath which lay on the +table. "The bond of love is broken, and I will destroy it as I do this +wreath!" she exclaimed, wildly; but suddenly a gentle hand was laid +upon her extended arm, and Bertram's soft and sympathizing voice +sounded in her ear. + +What he said, what words he used--he who now understood all, and +perceived the fulness of her grief--with what sincere, heart-born +words he sought to comfort her, she neither knew nor understood. But +she heard his voice; she knew that a sympathizing friend stood at +her side, ready to offer a helping hand to save her from misery, and +faithfully to draw her to his breast. She would have been lost, she +would have gone crazy, if Bertram had not stood at her side. She felt +it--she knew it. Whenever she had been threatened with calamity, he +was always near, to watch and shield, to afford her peace and comfort. + +"Bertram! Bertram!" she cried, trembling in every limb, "protect me. +Do not shut me out from your heart! have pity on me!" She leaned her +head on his breast and wept aloud. Now, in her sorrow, she felt it to +be a blessing that he was present, and for the first time she had +a clear consciousness that God had sent him to her to be a helping +friend, a guardian angel. + +The illusions and errors of her whole life fell from before her eyes +like a veil, and she saw in a clear light both herself and Bertram. +And now, as she leaned her head upon his breast, her thoughts became +prayers, and her tears thank-offerings. "I have entertained an angel +unawares," said she, remembering, unintentionally, the language of +Holy Writ. When Bertram asked the meaning of her words, she answered, +"They mean that an erring heart has found the right road home." + +She wiped away her tears with her long locks. She would no longer +weep, nor shed a single tear for the false, intriguing traitor, the +degenerate scion of a degenerate race. He was not worthy of a sigh of +revenge, not even of a reproach. A mystery had slept in her breast, +and she thought to have found the true solution in the word "Feodor!" +but she was mistaken, and God had allowed this long-mourned, +long-desired man to return to her, that she might be allowed to read +anew the riddle of her heart more correctly, to find out its deceitful +nature, its stubborn pride, and to conquer them. Thus thinking, she +raised her head from Bertram's breast, and looked at him "You asked my +father for my hand. Do you still love me?" + +Bertram smiled. This question seemed so strange and singular! "Do I +love you?" asked he. "Can he ever cease to love who has once loved?" + +"Do you still love me?" she repeated. + +"Faithfully and honorably," said he, with feeling. + +"Faithfully and honorably!" cried Elise, deeply moved. "Oh those are +words as strong as rocks, and like the shipwrecked sailor, I will +cling to them to save myself from sinking. Oh, Bertram, how good you +are! You love my father, and desire to be his son, only for the sake +of helping him." + +"And if need be, to work for him, to give up my life for him!" + +With her bright eyes she looked deeply into his, and held out her hand +to him. "Give me your hand, Bertram," said she, softly. "You were a +better son to my father than I have been a daughter. I will learn from +you. Will you be my teacher?" + +Bertram gazed at her astonished and inquiringly. She replied to this +look with a sweet smile, and like lightning it shot through his heart, +and a happy anticipation pervaded his entire soul. "My God! my God! +is it possible?" murmured he, "is the day of suffering, indeed, past? +Will--" + +He felt Elise suddenly shudder, and pressing his hand significantly, +she whispered, "Silence, Bertram, look there!" + +Bertram followed the direction of her eyes, and saw Gotzkowsky, who +had opened the door of his study, and was entering the room, his +features pale and distorted, and his gaze fixed. "He does not see us," +whispered Elise. "He is talking to himself. Do not disturb him." + +In silence she pointed to the curtains just behind them, concealing +a recess, in the middle of which stood a costly vase. "Let us conceal +ourselves," said she, and, unnoticed by Gotzkowsky, they glided behind +the curtains. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE RESCUE. + + +Gotzkowsky had closed with life and earthly affairs. He had signed the +document declaring him a bankrupt, and he had delivered over all his +property to his creditors. The die had been cast. He had been powerful +and great through money, but his power and greatness had now gone from +him, for he was poor. The same men who yesterday had bowed down to the +ground before him, had to-day passed him by in pride and scorn; and +those who had vowed him eternal gratitude, had turned him from their +door like a beggar. Why should he continue to bear the burdens of +a life which had no longer any allurements, and whose most precious +jewel, his honor, he had lost? + +De Neufville had done right, and only a coward would still cling to +life after all that was worth living for had disappeared. They should +not point scornfully at him as he went along the streets. He would not +be condemned to hear whispered after him, "Look! there goes Gotzkowsky +the bankrupt." No, this fearful word should never wound his ears or +pierce his heart. + +Once more only would he pass through those streets, which had so often +seen him in his glory--once more, not poor, nor as the laughing-stock +of children, but so that those who now derided him should bow down +before him, and honor him as the mourning emblem of departed honor: +only his body should pass by these men who had broken his heart. He +had determined to quit this miserable existence, to leave a world +which had proved itself to him only a gulf of wickedness and malice, +and his freed spirit would wing its way to regions of light and +knowledge. + +With such thoughts he entered the room which was to be the scene of +his last hours. But he would not go down to the grave without bearing +witness to the wickedness and malice of the world. His death should be +a monument of its disgrace and ingratitude. + +For this purpose he had sought this room, for in it was the costly +_étagère_ on which stood the silver pitcher presented to him by the +Council of Leipsic as a token of their gratitude, and from it he would +drink his fatal draught. He took it and emptied into it a small white +powder, that looked so innocent and light, and yet was strong enough +to drag him down with leaden weight into the grave. He then took the +water-goblet and poured water on it. The draught was ready; all that +was necessary was for him to put it to his lips to imbibe eternal +rest, eternal oblivion. + +Elise saw it all--understood it all. She folded her hands and prayed; +her teeth chattered together, and all that she could feel and know +was, that she must save him, or follow him to the grave. "When he +raises the pitcher to his lips, I will rush out," she whispered to +Bertram, softly, and opened the curtains a little in order to watch +him. + +Gotzkowsky had returned to the _étagère_. He took the silver-oaken +wreath, the civic crown presented to him by the city of Berlin, and +looked at it with a bitter, scornful smile. "I earned this," he said, +half aloud--"I will take it with me to the grave. They shall find my +corpse crowned with this wreath, and when they turn away in shame, the +broken bankrupt, John Gotzkowsky, will enjoy his last triumph over a +degenerate world." And as if in a dream, in the feverish delirium of +grief, he placed the wreath on his brow, then for a moment stood with +his head bent in deep thought. + +It was a strange picture to see his proud, tall figure, his pale, +nervous face, crowned with the silver wreath, and opposite to him, +looking through the curtains, his daughter, whose glowing eyes were +eagerly watching her father. + +And now Gotzkowsky seized the silver pitcher, raised it on high--it +had already touched his lips--but suddenly he staggered back. A +dearly-loved voice had called his name. Ah, it was the voice of his +daughter, whom he had forgotten in the bitterness of his grief. He had +believed his heart dead to all feeling, but love still lived in him, +and love called him back to life. Like an electric shock it flew +through his whole frame. + +He put the pitcher down, and covering his face with his hands, cried, +"Oh, unnatural father! I forgot my child!" + +Behind him stood Elise, praying to God eagerly and fervently. She +wished to appear quite composed, quite unsuspicious, that her father +might not have even an inkling of her knowledge of his dark design. +Her voice dare not tremble, her eye must remain clear and calm, and a +smile play about her lips, which yet quivered with the anxious prayers +she had just offered to God. "My father!" she said, in a low but quiet +voice--"my father, I come to beg your blessing. And here is the myrtle +wreath with which you were to adorn me." + +Gotzkowsky still kept his face covered, but his whole frame trembled. +"I thank Thee, O my God! I thank Thee! the voice of my child has saved +me." And turning round suddenly, he stretched out both arms toward +her, exclaiming aloud: "Elise, my child, come to my heart, and comfort +your father." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, rushed into his arms, and nestled close to +his heart. She whispered in his ear words of fervent love, of warmest +affection. They fell on Gotzkowsky's heart like soothing balm; they +forced tears of mingled joy and repentance from his eyes. + +A long while did they remain locked in each other's arms. Their lips +were silent, but their hearts spoke, and they understood each other +without words. Then Elise raised herself from her father's embrace, +and, again offering him the myrtle-wreath, said with a smile, "And +now, my father, bless your daughter." + +"I will," said Gotzkowsky, drying his eyes. "Yes, from my whole soul +will I bless you. But where is the bridegroom?" + +Elise looked at him inquiringly. "Will you bid him, also, welcome?" + +"That I will with all my heart!" + +Elise approached the curtain, drew it back, and taking Bertram's hand, +led him to her father, saying, with indescribable grace: "My father, +bless your children." + +"This is your bridegroom?" asked Gotzkowsky, and for the first time a +sunbeam seemed to flash across his face. + +Bertram with a cry of delight drew Elise to his heart. She clung to +him, and said warmly: "I will rest on your breast, Bertram. I will +be as true and as faithful as yourself. You shall reconcile me to +mankind. You will make us both happy again. My father and I put our +hope in you, and we both know it will not be in vain. Is it not so, my +father?" She extended her hand to Gotzkowsky. + +He took it, but was too much affected to speak. He pressed it to his +eyes and his breast, and then looked with a smile into the countenance +of his daughter. + +Elise continued: "Look, father, life is still worth something. It +gives you a son, who is happy to share your unhappiness with you. It +gives you a daughter, who looks upon every tear of yours as a jewel in +your crown; who would be proud to go as a beggar with her father from +place to place, and say to all the world, 'Gotzkowsky is a beggar +because he was rich in love toward his fellow-men; he has become poor +because he was a noble man, who had faith in mankind.'" And as she +drew her father into her own and Bertram's embrace, she asked him, +smiling through her tears, "My father, do you still wish to leave your +children?" + +"No, I will live--live for you!" cried Gotzkowsky, as, almost overcome +with emotion and pleasure, he threw his arms around their necks, and +kissed them both warmly and lovingly. "A new life is to begin for us," +said he, cheerfully. "We will seek refuge in a quiet cottage, and take +with us none of the show and luxury for which men work and sell their +souls--none of the tawdriness of life. Will you not be content, Elise, +to be poor, and purchase the honor of your father with the loss of +this vain splendor?" + +Elise leaned her head on his shoulder. "I was poor," she said, "when +the world called me rich. Now I am rich when it will call me poor. +Give up every thing that we possess, father, that no one may say +Gotzkowsky owes him any thing, and has not kept his word." With ready +haste she loosened the necklace from her throat, the bracelets from +her arms, and the drops from her ears. "Take these, too," said she, +smiling. "Add them to the rest. We will keep nothing but honor, and +the consciousness of our probity." + +"Now I am your son, father," cried Bertram, with beaming eyes. "Now +I have a right to serve you. You dare no longer refuse to accept all +that is mine for your own. We will save the honor of our house, and +pay all our creditors." + +"That we will do," exclaimed Gotzkowsky; "I accept your offering, my +son." And joining Elise and Bertram's hands together, he cast grateful +looks to heaven, saying: "From this day forward we are poor, and yet +far richer than many thousands of rich people; for we are of sound +health, and have strong arms to work. We have good consciences, and +that proud contentment which God gives to those only who trust in His +help." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +RETRIBUTION. + + +The appointed hour had arrived, and in the full splendor of his rich +uniform, decorated with orders, and glittering with diamonds bestowed +upon him by the favor of two empresses, Prince Feodor von Stratimojeff +entered Gotzkowsky's house. With the proud step of victory he ascended +the stairs that led to the apartments of his bride. The goal was at +last reached. The beautiful, lovely, and wealthy maiden was finally to +become his wife. He could present her at the court of St. Petersburg, +and with her beauty, her virtue, and his happiness revenge himself on +the fickle empress. These were his thoughts as he opened the door and +entered Elise's room. There she stood in her white bridal attire, as +delicate, as slender, and as graceful as a lily to the sight. There +stood also her father, and the friend of her youth, Bertram. The +witnesses to the ceremony were present, and nothing more was necessary +but to lead her to the altar. Elise had requested of her father that +she herself should see the prince, and give him his dismissal. She had +also requested that Bertram should be present. She wished to show him +that her heart had, at once and forever, been healed of its foolish +and unholy love, and that she could face the prince without trembling +or hesitation. This was an offering which she wished to bring to the +honor of her future husband and her own pride; and she would have +despised herself if a motion of her eyebrow or a sigh from her breast +had betrayed the sadness which, against her will, she felt in her +heart. She looked, therefore, with a cold and calm eye on the prince +as he entered, and for the first time he seemed no longer the handsome +man, the being endowed with numberless fascinations, of former days. +She read only in his flaccid features the sad history of the past. The +charm was broken which had held her eyes captive. Her vision was clear +again, and she shuddered before this wild, demoniacal beauty which she +had once adored as God's image in man. As she looked at him, she felt +as if she could hate him, because she had loved him; because she had +spent her first youth, her first love, her first happiness, on him; +because he had defrauded her of the peace and innocence of her heart; +and because she no longer had even the right of weeping for her lost +love, but was forced to turn away from it with blushes of shame. + +Feodor approached with an air of happy triumph and satisfaction, and, +bowing low to her father, said, with a most exquisite smile, "I have +come to seek my bride--to request Elise's hand of her father." + +With eyes beaming with pleasure he offered Elise his hand, but hers +remained calm and cold, and her voice did not tremble or falter as +she said: "I am a bride, but not yours, Prince Stratimojeff;" and +extending her hand to Bertram, she continued: "This is my husband! +To-day, for the third time, he has saved me--saved me from you!" + +Prince Feodor felt annihilated, and staggered back as if struck by an +electric shock. "Elise! is this the way you reward my love?" asked he +sadly, after a pause. "Is this the troth you plighted me?" + +She stepped up close to him, and said softly: "I kept my heart +faithful to my Feodor, but he ceded it to Prince Stratimojeff. Elise +is too proud to be the wife of a man who owes his title of prince to +the fact of being the favorite of an empress." + +She turned and was about to leave the room, but Feodor held her back. +No reserve, no concealment were any longer possible to him. He only +felt that he was infinitely wretched, and that he had lost the hope of +his life. "Elise," he said, in that soft, sad tone, which had formerly +charmed her heart, "I came to you to save me; you have thrust me back +into an abyss. Like a drowning man I stretched out my hand to you, +that in your arms I might live a new life. But Fate is just. It hunts +me back pitilessly from this refuge, and I must and will sink. Well, +then, though the waves of life close over me, my last utterance will +be your name." + +Elise found herself capable of the cruel courage of listening to his +pathetic words with a smile: "You will yet have time to think over +your death," said she, with proud composure; and, turning to her +father, she continued, "My business with this gentleman is finished. +Now, father, begin yours." She gave her hand to Bertram, and, without +honoring the prince with another look, she left the room with her +betrothed. + +"And now," said Gotzkowsky coldly, "now, sir, let us proceed to our +affairs. Will you have the kindness to follow me to my counting-room? +You have come to Berlin to rob me of my daughter and my property! You +have been unsuccessful in the one; try now the other." + +"That I will, that I shall!" cried the prince, gnashing his teeth, and +anger flashing from his eyes. "Elise has been pitiless, I will be so +too." + +"And I would hurl your pity from me as an insult," said Gotzkowsky, +"if you offered it." + +"We are then enemies, for life and death--" + +"Oh, no! We are two tradesmen who bargain and haggle with each other +about the profits. There is nothing more between us." He opened the +door and called in his secretary and his cashier. "This gentleman," +said Gotzkowsky, with cutting coldness, "is the agent of Russia, sent +here to negotiate with me, and in case I cannot pay, to adopt the most +severe measures toward me. You, gentlemen, will transact this business +with him. You have the necessary instructions." He then turned to the +prince, who stood breathless and trembling from inward excitement, +burning with anger and pain, and leaning against the wall to keep +himself from falling. "Prince," said he, "you will be paid. Take these +thirty thousand dollars; they are the fortune of my son-in-law. He +has given it cheerfully to release us from you. Here, further, are my +daughter's diamonds. Take them to your empress as a fit memorial +of your German deeds, and my pictures will cover the balance of my +indebtedness to you."[1] + +"It is too much, it is too much!" cried Prince Feodor; and as if +hunted by the furies, he rushed out, his fists clinched, ready to +crush any one who should try to stop him. + + +[Footnote 1: Gotzkowsky paid his debt to Russia with thirty thousand +dollars cash; a set of diamonds; and pictures which were taken by +Russia at a valuation of eighty thousand dollars, and formed the first +basis of the imperial gallery at St. Petersburg. Among these were some +of the finest paintings of Titian, some of the best pieces of Rubens, +and one of Rembrandt's most highly executed works--the portrait of his +old mother.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TARDY GRATITUDE. + + +John Gotzkowsky, the rich merchant of Berlin, had determined to +struggle no longer with Fate; no longer to undergo the daily +martyrdom of an endangered honor, of a threatened name. Like the +brave Sickenhagen, he said to himself, "Better a terrible end than an +endless terror," and he preferred casting himself down the abyss at +once, to be slowly hurled from cliff to cliff. He had given notice to +the authorities of his failure, and of his intention of making over +all his property to his creditors. He was now waiting to hand over the +assets to the assignees, and leave the house which was no longer his. +Not secretly, however, but openly, in the broad daylight, he would +cross the threshold to pass through the streets of that town which +was so much indebted to him, and which had formerly hailed him as her +savior and preserver. It was inevitable--he must fall, but his fall +should at the same time be his revenge. For the last time he would +open the state apartments of his house; for the last time receive his +guests. But these guests would be the legal authorities, who were to +be his heirs while he was yet alive, and who were to consign his name +to oblivion before death had inscribed it on any tomb-stone. + +The announcement of his fall had spread rapidly through the town, +and seemed at last to have broken through the hardened crust which +collects around men's hearts. The promptings of conscience seemed +for a moment to overcome the voice of egotism. The magistrates were +ashamed of their ingratitude; and even the Jews of the mint, Ephraim +and Itzig, had perceived that it would have been better to have +avoided notoriety, and to have raised up the humbled Gotzkowsky, than +to have trodden him in the dust entirely. + +Instead of the officials whom he had expected, however, a committee of +the Council, accompanied by Ephraim and Itzig, entered his house and +asked to speak with him. He received them in his apartments of state, +with his children at his side. His figure was erect, his head proudly +raised, and he regarded them, not as an unfortunate, downcast man, but +as a superior would regard his inferiors; and they lowered their eyes +before his penetrating glances, ashamed and conscious of wrong. + +"The Council have sent us," said one of the aldermen. + +"I have no further business with the Council," said Gotzkowsky, +contemptuously. + +"Gotzkowsky, do not be angry with us any longer," said the aldermen, +almost imploringly. "The magistracy, in acknowledgment of your +great services to the city, are ready and willing to pay the sum you +demand." Gotzkowsky shook his head proudly. "I am no longer ready to +accept it. The term has expired; you can no longer buy me off; you +remain my debtors." + +"But you will listen to us," cried Itzig. "We come in the name of the +Jews." + +"We are empowered to assist you," added Ephraim. "We have been +instructed by the Jews to give you, on the security of your signature +and the prepayment of the interest, as much money and credit as will +prevent your house from failing." + +Gotzkowsky's large bright eyes rested for a moment searchingly and +speculatively on Ephraim's countenance; and the light, mocking smile +which stood on the lips of the Jew confirmed his determination, and +strengthened him in his resolution. "My house has failed," said he, +quietly and proudly, and, reading the anxiety and terror depicted on +their countenances, he continued almost exultingly: "yes! my house +has failed. The document in which I announced it and declared myself +a bankrupt, has already been sent to the magistracy and the merchant's +guild." + +"You dare not fail!" cried Itzig, in a rage. + +"You dare not put this insult upon the Council and the town," +exclaimed the aldermen, with dignity. "We cannot allow posterity to +say of us, 'The town of Berlin left the noblest of her citizens to +perish in want and misery.'" + +"It will be well for me if posterity should say so, for then my name +and my honor will be saved." + +"But the magistracy will be delighted to be able to show its gratitude +toward you." + +"And the Jews will be delighted, too," cried Itzig. "The Jews are +ready to help you." + +Gotzkowsky cast an angry look at him. "That is to say, you have +calculated that it will not profit you if I do fail. You have large +drafts on me, and if I fail, you only get a portion of your debt; +whereas, if I stand, you get the whole. You would be magnanimous from +self-interest, but I do not accept your magnanimity--you shall lose. +Let that be your punishment, and my revenge. You have wounded my heart +unto death, therefore I will strike you on the only spot in which +you are sensitive to pain: I attack your greed of money. You come too +late; I am bankrupt! My drafts are no longer current, but my honor +will not die with my firm." + +They were all silent, and gazed down to the earth frowningly. Only one +looked toward Gotzkowsky with a clear, bright eye. This was Ephraim, +who, mindful of his conversation with Gotzkowsky, said to himself, +triumphantly, "He has taken one lesson from me--he has learned to +despise mankind." + +But Itzig was only the more furious. "You wish our ruin," said he, +angrily. "You will be ungrateful. The Jews, who made you a present of +a handsome ring, have not deserved that of you. What will the world +say?" + +"The world will learn the cause of my ruin, and condemn you," said +Gotzkowsky. "Go, take all that I have; I will reserve nothing; I +despise riches and estate. I wish to be poor; for in poverty is peace. +I turn my back upon this house, and I take nothing with me but this +laurel-wreath and you, my children." + +Smilingly he gave his hands to Bertram and Elise. "Come, my children! +let us wander out in the happiness of poverty. We shake the dust from +our feet, and are light and free, for though we are poor, we are rich +in love. Yes, we are poor; but poverty means freedom. We are no longer +dependent upon prejudices, conventionalities, and forms. We have +nothing more to conceal or hide. We need not be ashamed of our +poverty, for we dare to show it to all the world; and when we go +through the streets as ragged beggars, these rich people will cast +down their eyes in shame, for our poverty will accuse them, and our +rags testify against them. Come, my children, let us begin our life of +poverty. But when death comes to take me away, crown my cold brow with +this laurel-wreath, given me by the city of Berlin, and write on my +coffin: 'This is the world's reward!'"[1] + +And firm and erect, leaning on his children, Gotzkowsky crossed the +room. No one dared to detain him. Shame and remorse, anger and terror, +kept them all spell-bound. "Let us go, let us go; I have a horror of +this house, and this splendor sickens me." + +"Yes! let us go," said Elise, throwing her arms around her father's +neck. They went out into the street. How refreshing did the cool air +seem to them, and how soft and sweet did the calm blue sky look +down upon them! Gotzkowsky gazed up at it. He did not perceive the +multitude of people which stood before his own door, or rather he did +not wish to see them, because he took them for a portion of the idle, +curious populace, which follows misfortune everywhere, and finds a +spectacle for the amusement of its _ennui_ in the suffering of others. + +But for this once, Gotzkowsky was mistaken; it was indeed only poor +people who were standing in the street, but their countenances bore +the marks of sympathy, and their looks were sad. They had heard of +his misfortunes, and had hastened hither, not from curiosity, but from +interest in him. They were only factory-hands, to whom Gotzkowsky had +been benefactor, friend, and adviser; they were the poor whom he had +supported and comforted, who now stood before his house, to bid him a +last farewell. To be sure, they could render him no assistance--they +had no money, no treasures--but they brought their love with their +tears. + +At the head of the workmen stood Balthazar, with his young wife, and +although his eyes were dimmed with tears, he still recognized his +master who had done him so much kindness; and although his breast was +stifled with grief, yet he controlled himself, and cried out, "Long +live Gotzkowsky, our father!" + +"Hurrah for Gotzkowsky! Long may he live!" cried the crowd, not +jubilantly, but in a sad tone, half smothered by tears. + +Gotzkowsky's countenance beamed with joy, and with a grateful smile +he stretched out his hand to Balthazar. "I thank you, my friend," he +said; "you have often shouted in compliment to me, but never has it +given me so much pleasure as to-day." + +"Never has it been done more cordially and sincerely," said Balthazar, +pressing Gotzkowsky's hand to his lips. "You have always been a father +and a friend to us, and we have often been sorry that you were so rich +and powerful that we could not show you how dear you were to us. Now +that you are no longer rich, we can prove that we love you, for we can +work for you. We have come to an agreement among ourselves. Each of +us will give one working-day in the week, and the proceeds shall go to +you, and as there are one hundred and seventy of us workmen, you shall +at least not starve, Father Gotzkowsky." + +Gotzkowsky looked at him with eyes glistening with pleasure. "I thank +you, my friends," said he, deeply moved; "and if I do not accept your +offer you must not think that I do not appreciate its greatness or its +beauty. Who can say that I am poor when you love me, my children?" + +At that moment, a carriage stopped at the door. Bertram had brought it +to convey them to their new and modest residence. + +"Are you going, then, to leave us forever?" said Balthazar mournfully. + +"No, my children, I remain among you, in the midst of you. I am only +going to exchange this large house for a smaller one." + +"Come," cried Balthazar, "come, my friends, we will escort our father, +Gotzkowsky, to his new house. The town of Berlin shall see that only +rich people are ungrateful, and that the poor never forget their +benefactor and their friend. Come, let us take out the horses. We will +draw Father Gotzkowsky through the streets." + +The crowd answered with a thundering hurrah; and with busy haste they +proceeded to the work. The horses were unharnessed, and twelve of the +most powerful workmen crowded around the pole. In vain did Gotzkowsky +beg them to refrain, not to make him an object of general curiosity. +But the people paid no heed to his request--it was a necessity to +their hearts to give him a public proof of their love. Almost by force +they raised him into the carriage, and compelled Bertram and Elise, +who had mixed with the crowd for the purpose of escaping attention, +to take their seats beside him. And now the procession advanced. Women +and workmen went on before, rejoicing and jumping about merrily at the +side of the carriage; and when they met other workmen, these latter +stopped and waved their hats, and greeted Gotzkowsky, calling him +the great factory-lord, the father of his workmen, the benefactor of +Berlin. Especially when the procession came to the low houses and +the poor cottages, the small dusty windows were thrown open, and +sun-browned faces looked out, and toil-hardened hands greeted and +waved. + +The forsaken, the ruined Gotzkowsky celebrated this day a splendid +triumph. The jubilant voice that thus did him homage was that of the +people--and the voice of the people is the voice of God! + + +[Footnote 1: With these words Gotzkowsky closes his autobiography.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE AUCTION. + + +All was now over--the curtain had fallen: Gotzkowsky had run his +brilliant career, and retired into oblivion. His fall was for some +days the topic of conversation of the good Berliners; but it was +soon superseded by some other novelty, and without either sympathy or +ill-feeling they passed by the deserted house with the closed windows +which had once been Gotzkowsky's residence. The king had purchased +it, in order to carry on, at the expense of the royal government, the +porcelain factory which Gotzkowsky had founded. + +Months had passed by. How many changes had taken place in this short +space of time! How many tears had been shed there, how many hopes +destroyed! + +Elise had become Bertram's wife; and she lived with him in the small, +quiet residence which they had selected in the most remote quarter of +the town. The three had entered the low, narrow rooms, which were to +be their home, with the firm determination not to let themselves +be annoyed by such slight material privation as they might have to +endure, but to pass them over with cheerful equanimity and proud +indifference, consoling themselves with the conviction that no one +could rob them of their great and pure love. And besides this, +their honor and their reputation were untouched, for every one was +acquainted with Gotzkowsky's fate, every one knew that he had not +fallen through his own fault, but through the force of circumstances, +and the baseness of mankind. + +He might have cause of complaint against the world, it had none +against him. With his creditors he had been honest. All that he +possessed he had given up to them, and they were all satisfied. With +proud step and unbent head could he pass through the streets, for no +one dared to follow him with insulting words. Nor had he need to be +ashamed of his poverty, for it was in itself a proof not only of +his unmerited misfortune, but of his integrity. All this he said and +repeated to himself daily, and yet it pained him to go through the +streets, feeling solitary and downcast. His eyes even filled with +tears, as one day passing by his house he saw the gates open, and +equipages, as in former days, at his door, while genteel and rich +people, with cold, apathetic countenances, were entering his house +as they had done of yore. Formerly they came to Gotzkowsky's splendid +dinners, now they had come to the auction. The _fauteuils_ and +velvet-covered sofas, the carpets and gold-embroidered curtains, the +chandeliers of bronze and rock crystal, the paintings and statuary, +the silver table-ware, and the costly porcelain service, all these +were now exposed for sale. + +There is something sad and mournful about an auction. It speaks always +of the ruin and breaking up of a man's life and the happiness of his +family, of the wreck of a shattered existence, and the sad remains of +what was once, perhaps, a brilliant destiny. On the day of an auction +there ceases to be a home, the sacred secrets of family life vanish; +home is no longer the abode of peace, and the long-cherished _penates_ +hide their heads in grief. + +Then the gates are opened, and the curious multitude rushes in, and +with callous eye spies into each corner and every room; tries the +sofas on which, perhaps, yesterday some poor widow sat weeping for her +lost husband; throws itself down on the bed which once had been the +sacred temple of their love; and coldly and unfeelingly examines the +furniture of parlor and boudoir, which yet retains the appearance +of comfort and of genial repose, though soon to be scattered to +the winds, to proclaim aloud its sad and secret story in the gaudy +show-room of some second-hand dealer. All the beauty and splendor of +Gotzkowsky's former days were now to be displayed at auction. For this +reason there stood so many carriages before his door; for this reason +did so many noble and wealthy persons come to his house, and, mixed +with brokers and speculators, crowd into those halls, which they had +formerly trod with friendly smiles and in costly dresses. + +No one took any heed of the figure of a man crouching, leaning against +the staircase, with his hat pressed down over his brow, and the collar +of his cloak drawn up high over his face. No one perceived how he +shuddered when the auctioneer handled the beautiful articles and +called on the public to bid. It was to him a terrible grief to assist +at these obsequies of his past life, and yet he could not tear himself +away. He felt fascinated, as it were, by some supernatural power, and +forced to remain in the house and attend this horrible ceremony. +In the tediousness of his lonesome, inactive, idle misery, it was a +species of diversion to him, something to arouse him from his dull +rumination, to be present at this disintegration and demolition of his +own house. + +As Jeremiah once sat among the ruins of Jerusalem, so sat Gotzkowsky +with concealed face at the threshold of his house, listening with +savage joy to the strokes of the auctioneer's hammer--albeit each blow +struck him to the heart, and made its wounds smart still more keenly. +At times, when a well-known voice fell on his ear, he would raise +his head a little, and look at the bidders, and examine their cold, +unsympathizing faces. How many were there among them whom he had +once called his friends, and to whom he had done good! And now, like +vultures, they flocked to the carcass of his past; they bought his +treasures, while their eyes glistened with malicious joy. They were +delighted to be able to boast that they possessed a souvenir of the +rich Gotzkowsky. + +When Gotzkowsky saw this, he felt ashamed that he had once smiled +lovingly on these men, had confided in them, and believed in their +assurances of friendship. He rose to leave, feeling himself refreshed +and strengthened, for his depression and grief had left him. Never had +he walked the streets more proudly than on the day when he returned +from the auction to his dark, lowly dwelling. Never had he looked upon +mankind with greater pity or more bitter scorn. And yet it pained him +to reënter this dismal, quiet house, and to force himself back +into the _ennui_ and indolence of his inactive life. It was such +a sensitive, burning pain, so, in the fulness of his strength and +manhood to be condemned to do nothing more than drag on a weary +existence--to sleep, to eat, and to dream of the past! And yet he +would repeat to himself, he was strong and active to work and create; +and nevertheless, he was condemned to idleness, to live by the favor +and toil of others, even if these others were his children. + +But they worked for him with so much pleasure and so much love! +Bertram had accepted the situation of book-keeper in a large factory, +and his salary was sufficient to support the three. To be sure, they +had to manage carefully, and provide scantily enough. But Elise was +active and notable; though as the spoilt child of wealth, she had, +indeed, been able to learn nothing of those minor offices of life +which are called by women "housekeeping." Still the instinct of her +sex had enabled her soon to acquire this knowledge, and in a short +time she became mistress of it. It was, indeed, a pleasant sight to +see Elise, with the same quiet cheerfulness, acting at one moment the +part of cook in the kitchen, at another setting her little chamber to +rights with busy hands, and making amends in cleanliness and neatness +for what was wanting in elegance and beauty. True, she was altered, +but never since she had been. Bertram's wife had her brow been +darkened or her eye dimmed. Her face was always bright and clear: for +her husband, when he returned home, she had always a smile of welcome, +a cordial greeting--never a word of complaint or of mourning over the +privations she was obliged to undergo, or the wealth she had lost. +Elise felt rich--for she loved her husband; not with that ardent, +consuming passion which she had once felt, and which had been the +cause of so much disappointment and so many tears; but with that +gentle, affectionate flame which never dies out, but is constantly +supplied and nourished by esteem and appreciation. + +Bertram was no longer her brother; he was her beloved, her friend, her +counsellor, and comforter, above all. With him she was always certain +to be understood and appreciated, to find comfort and help. As on a +rock, she could now rely on the noble heart of one who was at the same +time so firm, and yet so soft in loving, that he had never doubted +her, never turned away from her. Her whole heart was given up to him +in gratitude and affection, and with her whole life did she wish to +reward him for his noble love, for the self-sacrificing gratitude with +which he had given up his entire fortune to her father, and saved +the name and honor of his house from disgrace and shame. She desired +neither splendor nor jewels. Surrounded by the halo of her love, and +of her quiet, peaceful happiness, this poor, little dwelling seemed +to her as a temple of peace and of holy rest; and, locked in Bertram's +embrace, her wishes never reached beyond its narrow sphere. + +But Gotzkowsky was not as yet able to attain this resignation. This +repose was to him an annihilating torment, and the inactive vegetation +a living death. With each day the torture increased, the soreness of +his heart became more corroding and painful. At times he felt as if he +must scream out aloud in the agony of his despair. He would strike his +chest with his clinched fists, and cry to God in the overflow of +his sufferings. He who his whole life long had been active, was now +condemned to idleness; he who through his whole life had worked for +others, was now obliged to lay his hands in his lap, and allow +others to labor for him. How had he deserved this? What crime had he +committed, that after he had toiled and worked honestly, he should go +down, whilst others who had enriched themselves by fraud and lying, +by cunning and malice, should drive through the streets in splendid +carriages, surrounded by elegance and wealth, while he was obliged to +creep along, bowed down with sorrow? He had gone down, while Ephraim +had risen higher and higher. He had become poor because he was honest; +but Ephraim had grown rich on usury. His firm had failed, while +Ephraim continued to coin money. What did the Jew care that his name +was branded by the people, that they spoke with cutting sarcasm of the +pewter-money to which he had so skilfully imparted the appearance of +silver coin, and that he was derided by all? Gotzkowsky's name, too, +had been scoffed at, and he had been a benefactor of the people, while +Ephraim had been their blood-sucking leech. + +At last, Gotzkowsky came to a firm determination that he would have +revenge--yes, revenge on this ungrateful generation which had betrayed +and forsaken him--revenge on the men who had shown themselves so small +and pitiful. He wanted to remind those who were flourishing in pride +and splendor, of their meanness and ingratitude. He would accuse no +one, but his whole life was an indictment, not against individual men, +but whole communities and cities, against the king himself. They had +all been ungrateful toward him. They were all his debtors, and in +presence of the whole world he would cast their ingratitude, their +meanness, their malice, and knavery in their face, and humble them +by recalling the past. He wrote for that purpose _The History of his +Life_, not in anger and scorn; he did not dip his pen in gall, he made +no ill-natured reflections, no contemptuous remarks. He did nothing +more than quietly and simply, clearly and truthfully, describe +his life and his deeds, and whenever it was necessary, confirm +his assertions by quotations from the official documents relating +thereto.[1] + +The very simplicity and truthfulness of this "_Biography of a +Patriotic Merchant_" procured for it an enormous success, and made the +long-forgotten, much-calumniated Gotzkowsky for a while the topic of +conversation, not only in Berlin, but throughout all Germany. Every +one wanted to read the book. All wished to have the malicious pleasure +of seeing how much people of rank, communities, cities, and princes, +were indebted to this man, and how pitilessly they had let him sink. + +The natural consequence was that the book, though written simply and +with reserve, gave great offence. Gotzkowsky had accused no one, but +the facts accused. His present poverty and need condemned the proud, +high-born people, and showed to the world their cold-heartedness and +miserable conduct. He had not exposed _individuals_ to the judgment +of the world; no--his book accused the whole magistracy of Berlin of +deeds of ingratitude; and it even included the king, for whom he had +bought a hundred thousand _ducats_' worth of pictures, and who had +only paid him back a hundred and fifty thousand _dollars_. + +If his book had contained the smallest untruth, if there had been +the least false statement in it, they would have stigmatized him as a +calumniator and scandalizer of majesty. But Gotzkowsky had only told +the truth. They could not, therefore, punish him as a false witness +or slanderer. Consequently they had to content themselves with +suppressing "The Life of a Patriotic Merchant." + +The booksellers in Berlin were therefore ordered to give up all the +copies, and even Gotzkowsky received an order to return those in his +possession. He did so; he gave up the book to the authorities, who +persecuted him because they had cause to blush before him; but his +memory he could not surrender. His memory remained faithful to +him, and was his support and consolation, whenever he felt ready to +despair; this made him proud in his misfortune, and free in the bonds +of poverty. And now they were really poor; and penury, with all its +horrors, its humiliations and sufferings, crept in upon them. + +Gotzkowsky's book had awakened all those who envied and hated him, and +they vowed his ruin. It showed how much the merchants of Berlin +were indebted to him, and how little of this indebtedness they +had cancelled. It was therefore an accusation against the wealthy +merchants of Berlin, against which they could not defend themselves, +but for which they could wreak revenge. Not on him, for he had nothing +they could take from him--no wealth, no name, no credit, and, in +their mercantile eyes, no honor. But they revenged themselves on his +family--on his son-in-law. The rich factory-lord, whose book-keeper +Bertram had been, deprived him of his situation; and in consequence of +a preconcerted arrangement, he could find no situation elsewhere. How +could he now support his family? He was willing to work his fingers to +the bone for his wife, for his father, for his child; who looked up so +lovingly to him with its large, clear, innocent eyes, and dreamt +not of the anxiety of its father, nor of the sighs which told of +the anguish of its young mother. But nowhere could he procure +employment--nowhere was there a situation for the son-in-law of +Gotzkowsky, who had accused the merchants, the magistrates, yea, even +the king! And now they were indeed poor, for they had no work; but, +condemned to inactivity, to comfortless brooding, they shudderingly +asked themselves what was to become of them--how this life of +privation was to end. + +But while Bertram and Elise remained sad and dispirited, Gotzkowsky +suddenly brightened up. For a long time he had walked up and down in +silent thought. Now, of a sudden, his countenance assumed the cheerful +expression of former days, and energetic self-reliance was expressed +in his features. Elise looked on with astonishment. He drew out from +his chest the last remains of by-gone days, the silver oak-wreath set +with diamonds, presented him by the town of Berlin, and the golden +goblet given by the town of Leipsic. He looked at them for a long time +attentively, and then went out, leaving Elise alone, to weep and pray +to God to send them help, and to console Bertram when he came home +from his fruitless search after a situation. + +It was some hours before Gotzkowsky returned, but his countenance +still retained its cheerfulness, and his features exhibited the energy +and activity of past days. He stretched out his hands to both of his +children, and drew them affectionately toward him and embraced them. +"Are we then really poor, possessing one another? I say that we are +still rich, for our hearts are yet warm, and our honor is not yet +lost. But we have not yet learned to bear the indigence of our outer +life, We have covered our poverty with the gloss of respectability; we +have been ashamed to appear in the streets in coarse clothes; we have +not yet learned to distinguish the necessary from the superfluous; we +have endeavored to be poor, and yet happy, in a city. That has been +our mistake. The happiness of poverty does not reside within the cold +walls of a town. It is not sown among the paving-stones of a street. +It is only in Nature, who is rich enough to nourish and give to all +those who trustingly cast themselves on her bosom--only in Nature, and +the privacy of country life, that we can find rest and peace. Come, +my children, let us leave this town; let us have the courage to become +children of Nature and free citizens of poverty. Let us cast the show +and glitter of a city life behind us, and wander forth, not over the +sea nor into the desert, but to a cottage in a wood. I have stripped +off the last vestige of the past, and the silver wreath and the golden +goblet have been of some use, for they have furnished us the means to +found a new existence. Bertram, have you the courage to commence life +anew and become a peasant?" + +Bertram smiled. "I have both the courage and the strength, for I am +hearty and able to work." + +"And you, Elise, are you not too proud to bring up your child as a +peasant?" + +Elise kissed her child, and handed him to her father. "Let us bring +him up to be a good and healthy man--a man like you and his father, +and he will overcome the world and poverty, and be happy." + +"Oh! I well knew that I could count upon you; and now I know how we +all can be helped. We are rich enough to buy, in some corner of the +world, a little piece of land that we can cultivate, and on which we +can build a cottage. The product of my valuables is sufficient for +that purpose; and what we can realize from these articles of furniture +will be sufficient to defray our travelling expenses. Get ready, then, +children; to-morrow we leave for Silesia. In the mountains there +we will look out some quiet, secluded valley, where the newly-made +peasants can build them a cottage. There we will forget the past, and +cast all its sufferings behind us; or if we do speak of them, it will +be as of the tales of our childhood. Come, my children, let us return +to Nature, God, and contentment. Do you remember, Elise, how I once +related to you that as a lad I once lay hungry and wretched on the +high-road? The hand which was then stretched out to me did not proceed +out of the cloud, but from heaven. It was not the consolation of +an alms that it gave me, but the comforting assurance of love which +raised me up and strengthened me, directing my looks to God, and +teaching me to love Him in all His works. God dwells and speaks in +Nature. Let us seek Him there, and serve Him in the sweat of our brow +and in the coarse peasant's frock." + + * * * * * + +And they went, and did as Gotzkowsky said. They moved to Silesia, and +bought themselves there, among the mountains, a piece of land and a +cottage, in which they led a quiet, retired, happy life. The world +forgot them. Gotzkowsky's name passed into oblivion. But history +preserved it, and still holds him up as an example, not only of the +most noble patriotism, but also of the ingratitude of men. His book, +too, is left us, and bears witness for him. But as we read it, we +become sad, and are ready to cry out, as he does, "_This is the +world's reward_!" + + +THE END. + + +[Footnote 1: His biography begins in those words: "I know that I +subject myself to a variety of judgments. How ridiculous will I appear +in the eyes of many, because I did not use my fortune for my own +benefit! They will say, 'A man who pretends to know the world, a +merchant, furthermore, whose principal merit is to make himself rich, +and found a great house, gives so little heed to self-interest, and +entertains dreams of humanity and benevolence, hardly pardonable in +a philosopher. Others, again, will deem my acts too good-natured, +improvident, or vain, as usually happens, when such are considered +from a point of view different from the actual one. But as long as +I am convinced that I have acted as a true Christian and an honest +patriot, I can despise all these criticisms. I would not act +otherwise, if I had my whole life to live over again. But I would be +more prudent, as I am better acquainted with the character of those +in whom I confided most. The peace of mind and cheerfulness which +innocence and the consciousness of good deeds impart, are too +perceptible to me, to allow me to hesitate for a moment between the +demands of selfishness and those of humanity."] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Merchant of Berlin, by L Mühlbach + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN *** + +***** This file should be named 12016-8.txt or 12016-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/1/12016/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/12016-8.zip b/old/12016-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..03169f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12016-8.zip diff --git a/old/12016.txt b/old/12016.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a246c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12016.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14280 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Merchant of Berlin, by L Muehlbach + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Merchant of Berlin + An Historical Novel + +Author: L Muehlbach + +Release Date: April 14, 2004 [EBook #12016] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN + +An Historical Novel + +L. MUeHLBACH + +TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY AMORY COFFIN, M.D. + +1910 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + BOOK I. + + CHAP. I.--The Festival + + II.--The Workman's Holiday + + III.--Brother and Sister + + IV.--Feodor von Brenda + + V.--Mr. Kretschmer, of the "Vossian Gazette" + + VI.--The Cowards' Race + + VII.--The Interrupted Festival + + VIII.--The Leader of the People + + IX.--The Russian is at the Gates + + X.--Be Prudent + + XI.--The Night of Horrors + + XII.--Russians and Austrians + + XIII.--A Maiden's Heart + + XIV.--A Faithful Friend + + XV.--An Unexpected Meeting + + XVI.--The Fugitive + + XVII.--The Eavesdropper + + XVIII.--The Two Cannoneers + + XIX.--Father Gotzkowsky + + * * * * * + + BOOK II. + + CHAP. I.--The Two Editors + + II.--The Chief Magistrate of Berlin + + III.--The Russian, the Saxon, and the Austrian, in Berlin + + IV.--The Cadets + + V.--The Explosion + + VI.--John Gotzkowsky + + VII.--The Horrors of War + + VIII.--By Chance + + IX.--Mistress or Maid? + + X.--An Unexpected Ally + + XI.--The Jew Ephraim + + XII.--The Russian General and the German Man + + XIII.--The Execution + + XIV.--Bride and Daughter + + XV.--The Rivals + + XVI.--The Punishment + + XVII.--The Banquet of Gratitude + + XVIII.--A Royal Letter + + * * * * * + + + BOOK III. + + CHAP. I.--Frederick the Great at Meissen + + II.--The Winter-quarters in Leipsic + + III.--The Friend in Need + + IV.--Gratitude and Recompense + + V.--Four Years' Labor + + VI.--Days of Misfortune + + VII.--Confessions + + VIII.--The Russian Prince + + IX.--Old Love--New Sorrow + + X.--The Magistracy of Berlin + + XI.--The Jews of the Mint + + XII.--The Leipsic Merchant + + XIII.--Ephraim the Tempter + + XIV.--Elise + + XV.--The Rescue + + XVI.--Retribution + + XVII.--Tardy Gratitude + + XVIII.--The Auction + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Feodor's Visit to the Garden + The Merchant draws Feodor from his Hiding-place + The Rich Jews appeal to Gotzkowsky + The Great Frederick examining the Porcelain Cup + + + + +BOOK I. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FESTIVAL. + + +The sufferings of the long war still continued; still stood Frederick +the Great with his army in the field; the tremendous struggle between +Prussia and Austria was yet undecided, and Silesia was still the apple +of discord for which Maria Theresa and Frederick II. had been striving +for years, and for which, in so many battles, the blood of German +brothers had been spilt. + +Everywhere joy seemed extinguished; the light jest was hushed; each +one looked silently into the future, and none could tell in whose +favor this great contest would finally be decided, whether Austria or +Prussia would be victorious. + +The year 1760, the fifth of the war, was particularly sad for Prussia; +it was marked in the history of Germany with tears and blood. Even +Berlin which, up to that time, had suffered but little from the +unhappy calamities of war, assumed now an earnest, mournful aspect, +and it seemed as if the bright humor and sarcastic wit which had +always characterized the inhabitants of this good city had now +entirely deserted them. Going through the wide and almost empty +streets there were to be met only sad countenances, women clothed in +black who mourned their husbands or sons fallen in one of the many +battles of this war, or mothers who were looking with anxiety into the +future and thinking of their distant sons who had gone to the army. + +Here and there was seen some wounded soldier wearily dragging himself +along the street, but hearty, healthy men were seldom to be met, and +still more seldom was seen the fresh countenance of youth. + +Berlin had been obliged to send not only her men and youths, but +also her boys of fourteen years to the army, which, according to the +confession of Frederick the Great, consisted, in the campaign of the +year 1760, only of renegades, marauders, and beardless boys. + +For these reasons it seemed the more strange to hear at this time +issuing from one of the largest and handsomest houses on the Leipsic +Street the unwonted sounds of merry dance-music, cheerful singing and +shouting, which reached the street. + +The passers-by stopped and looked with curiosity up to the windows, at +which could be seen occasionally a flushed joyous man's face or pretty +woman's head. But the men who were visible through the panes evidently +did not belong to the genteeler classes of society; their faces were +sunburnt, their hair hung down carelessly and unpowdered upon the +coarse and unfashionable cloth coat, and the attire of the maidens had +little in common with the elegance and fashion of the day. + +"The rich Gotzkowsky gives a great feast to his workmen to-day," +remarked the people in the street to one another; and as they passed +on they envied with a sigh those who were able at the same time +to enjoy a merry day in the rich and brilliant halls of the great +manufacturer, and admire the splendor of the rich man's house. + +The mansion of Gotzkowsky was indeed one of the handsomest and most +magnificent in all Berlin, and its owner was one of the richest men of +this city, then, despite the war, so wealthy and thriving. But it was +not the splendor of the furniture, of the costly silver ware, of the +Gobelin tapestry and Turkish carpets which distinguished this house +from all others. In these respects others could equal the rich +merchant, or even surpass him. + +But Gotzkowsky possessed noble treasures of art, costly paintings, +which princes and even kings might have envied. Several times had he +travelled to Italy by commission from the king to purchase paintings, +and the handsomest pieces in the Royal Gallery had been brought from +the land of art by Gotzkowsky. But the last time he returned from +Italy the war of 1756 had broken out, and the king could then spare +no money for the purchase of paintings: he needed it all for his army. +Therefore Gotzkowsky was obliged to keep for himself the splendid +originals of Raphael, Rubens, and other great masters which he had +purchased at enormous prices, and the wealthy manufacturer was just +the one able to afford himself the luxury of a picture gallery. + +The homely artisans and workmen who this day had dined in Gotzkowsky's +halls felt somewhat constrained and uncomfortable, and their +countenances did not wear a free, joyous expression until they had +risen from table, and the announcement was made that the festival +would continue in the large garden immediately adjacent to the house, +to which they at once repaired to enjoy cheerful games and steaming +coffee. + +Bertram, Gotzkowsky's head book-keeper, had been commissioned by him +to lead the company, consisting of more than two hundred persons, into +the garden, where Gotzkowsky would follow them, having first gone in +search of his daughter. + +With lively conversation and hearty laugh the people retired, the +halls were emptied, and now the deep silence of these state-apartments +was only interrupted by the gentle ticking of the large clock which +stood over the sofa on its handsomely ornamented stand. + +When Gotzkowsky found himself at last alone, he breathed as if +relieved. The quiet seemed to do him good. He sank down into one +of the large chairs covered with gold-embroidered velvet, and +gazed earnestly and thoughtfully before him. The expression of his +countenance was anxious, and his large dark eyes were not as clear and +brilliant as usual. + +John Gotzkowsky was still a handsome man, despite his fifty years; his +noble intellectual countenance, his tall proud figure, his full +black hair, which, contrary to the custom of that period, he wore +unpowdered, made an imposing and at the same time pleasing impression. + +And certainly it was not because of his personal appearance that +Gotzkowsky, notwithstanding the early death of his wife, had never +contracted a second marriage, but had preferred to remain a solitary +widower. Nor did this occur from indifference or coldness of heart, +but solely from the love for that little, helpless, love-needing +being, whose birth had cost his young wife her life, to whom he had +vowed at the bedside of her dead mother to stand in stead of +that mother, and never to make her bend under the harsh rule of a +step-mother. Gotzkowsky had faithfully fulfilled his vow; he had +concentrated all his love on his daughter, who under his careful +supervision had increased in strength and beauty, so that with the +pride and joy of a father he now styled her the handsomest jewel of +his house. + +Where then was this daughter whom he loved so dearly? Why was she not +near him to smile away the wrinkles from his brow, to drive with light +chat serious and gloomy thoughts from his mind? She it was, doubtless, +whom his wandering glance sought in these vast, silent rooms; and +finding her not, and yearning in vain for her sweet smiles, her rosy +cheeks, he sighed. + +Where was she then? + +Like her father, Gotzkowsky's daughter sat alone in her room--her +gaze, as his, fixed upon empty space. The sad, melancholy expression +of her face, scarcely tinged with a delicate blush, contrasted +strangely with her splendid dress, her mournful look with the full +wreath of roses which adorned her hair. + +Elise was the daughter of the wealthiest man in Berlin, the world +proclaimed her the handsomest maiden, and yet there she sat solitary +in her beautiful chamber, her eyes clouded with tears. Of a sudden she +drew a golden case from her bosom and pressed it with deep feeling to +her lips. Looking timidly at the door she seemed to listen; convinced +that no one approached, she pressed a hidden spring of the medallion; +the golden cover flew open and disclosed the portrait of a handsome +man in Russian uniform. + +The young girl contemplated this portrait with a strange mixture +of delight and melancholy, and then, completely overpowered by its +aspect, she approached it to her lips. "Feodor!" murmured she, so +softly that it sounded almost like a sigh, and stretching out the hand +which held the medallion, in order to be able better to contemplate +the picture, she continued-- + +"Feodor, why did we meet, to be separated forever again? Why did +not Fate allow me to be born as a poor serf upon one of thy estates, +giving to thee the right to possess me, to me the sweet duty of loving +thee? O Heaven, why art thou an enemy of my country, or why am I a +German? Men call me happy; they envy me my father's wealth; they know +not how wretched and forsaken I am." + +She bowed her head upon her breast and wept bitterly. Suddenly steps +were heard quite close to her door. She started, and concealed the +medallion quickly in her breast. "My father," murmured she, and +drying her tears she arose to open the door. She was right, it was her +father. He held out his hand to her. She took it and pressed it to her +lips respectfully, but she did not see the look of almost passionate +tenderness with which he regarded her, for she had cast down her eyes +and did not dare to look at him. + +"I have come, Elise, to lead you to our garden festival. You will go +with me, my child?" + +"I am ready," said she, taking her hat and shawl. + +"But why in such a hurry, my child?" asked her father. "Let us leave +these good people yet a little while to themselves. We will still be +in time to witness their games. I would like to stay a quarter of an +hour with you, Elise." + +Without answering, she rolled an arm-chair to the window, and laid +aside her hat and shawl. + +"It is very seldom, father, that you make me such a present," said +she. + +"What present, my child?" + +"A quarter of an hour of your life, father." + +"You are right," said he, thoughtfully. "I have little time for +pleasure, but I think so much the more of you." + +She shook her head gently. + +"No," said she, "you have no time to think of me. You are too busy. +Hundreds of men claim your attention. How could you have time, father, +to think of your daughter?" + +Gotzkowsky drew a dark-red case from his breast pocket and handed it +to her. + +"Look, Elise! see if I have not thought of you. To-day is your +birthday, and I have celebrated it as I have done every year by giving +my workmen a festival, and endowing a poor bridal pair who on this +day become betrothed. Their prayers and tears constitute the most +beautiful thank-offering to you, and being happy they bless you, the +authoress of their happiness. But how is this? You have not yet opened +the case. Are you so little like other girls that diamonds cause you +no pleasure?" + +She opened the case, and contemplated the jewels with weary looks and +scarcely concealed indifference. + +"How wonderfully they shine and sparkle, and what tempting promises +their brilliant colors hold forth! But this is a princely present, +father; your poor Elise it not worthy to wear this diadem and collar." + +"Oh, you are worthy to wear a crown!" cried her father with tender +pride. "And let me tell you, my child, you have only to choose whether +you will place on this beautiful hair an earl's coronet or a prince's +diadem. And this, my child, is the reason of my visit to-day." + +"On business," murmured she, almost inaudibly, with a bitter smile. + +Gotzkowsky continued-- + +"Young Count Saldem applied to me yesterday for your hand." + +"Count Saldem?" asked Elise. "I hardly know him. I have only spoken to +him twice in the saloon of Countess Herzberg." + +"That does not prevent him from loving you ardently," said Gotzkowsky, +with scarcely perceptible irony. "Yes, Elise, he loves you so ardently +that he would overcome all obstacles of rank and make you a genuine +countess, if I will only promise to endow you with half a million." + +The habitually pale countenance of Elise suddenly assumed life and +color. She drew herself up and threw her head proudly back. + +"Do you wish to sell me, father? Do you wish to give some value to +this noble nonentity by the present of half a million, and will his +lordship be kind enough in return to take the trifling burden of my +person into the bargain?" + +Her father gazed at her glowing countenance with eyes beaming with +joy; but he quickly suppressed this emotion, and reassumed a serious +air. + +"Yes," he said, "the good count, in consideration of half a million, +will consent to raise the manufacturer's daughter to the rank of a +countess. But for a whole million we can obtain still more; we can +rise yet higher in the scale. If I will advance his uncle, Prince +Saldem, half a million to redeem his mortgaged estates, the prince +promises to adopt the nephew, your suitor, as his son. You would +then be a princess, Elise, and I would have the proud satisfaction of +calling a prince my son." + +"As if the king would consent to a nobleman thus demeaning himself!" +cried Elise; "as if he would graciously allow the count so far to +degrade himself!" + +"Oh, the king will consent," continued her father in a light tone. +"You know that he is fond of me. Only say whether you consent to +become Countess Saldem." + +"Never!" cried she proudly. "I am no chattel to be bartered, and this +miserable title of princess has no charms for me. You can command me, +father, to renounce the man I love, but you can never compel me to +give my hand to a man I do not love, were he even a king!" + +Her father clasped her vehemently in his arms. + +"That is blood of my blood, and spirit of my spirit," cried he. "You +are right, my child, to despise honors and titles; they are empty +tinsel, and no one believes in them any longer. We stand at the portal +of a new era, and this era will erect new palaces and create new +princes; but you, my child, will be one of the first princesses of +this new era. Manufactories will be the new palaces, and manufacturers +the new princes. Instead of the sword, money will rule the world, and +men will bow down before manufacturers and merchants as they are +wont to do before generals. Therefore I say you are right in refusing +Prince Saldem's offer, for I promise you, you shall be a princess, +even without the title, and the great and noble shall bow as low +before your riches as if they were a ducal diadem." + +Elise shook her head with a melancholy smile: "I have no desire for +such homage, and I despise the base metal with which you can buy +everything." + +"Despise it not!" cried her father, "prize it rather! Gold is a holy +power; it is the magic wand of Moses which caused springs to gush +forth from the sterile rock. See, my child--I, who despise all the +rank and honors which the world can offer me, I tell you gold is the +only thing for which I have any respect. But a man must perceive and +understand the secret of this magic power. He who strives for wealth +only to _possess_ it is a heartless fool, and his fate will be that +of Midas--he will starve in the midst of his treasures. But he who +strives for wealth for the purpose of _giving_, he will discover that +money is the fountain of happiness; and in his hands the dead metal is +transformed into a living blessing. You may believe your father, who +knows the world, and who has drunk the bitter cup of poverty." + +"You were once poor?" asked Elise, looking at her father with +astonishment. + +Gotzkowsky smiled, and sank back in his chair, musing and silent. +After a pause he resumed: "Yes, I was poor. I have endured all the +horrors of poverty. I have hungered and thirsted, suffered misery +and privation, even as a little boy. Thus lay I once, wretched and +forsaken, in a ditch by the highway, and raised my hands to God on +high, praying but for a drop of water, but for a morsel of bread. Ah! +so strong was the belief of the goodness of God in my heart, that I +was convinced He would open the heavens, and reach to me with His own +hand the food for which I prayed. I waited and waited, in despairing +anxiety, but the heavens were not opened, and not even a drop of rain +came to cool my parched lips. But the cloud, which I had looked for in +vain in the sky, was seen at last on the highway, and, as I saw this +whirling cloud of dust, in the midst of which a splendid equipage +came rolling on, I said to myself: 'Here comes God!' and then I found +strength enough to raise myself from my knees, to hurry toward the +rapidly passing vehicle, and to cry with a voice which was almost +overpowered by the noise of the wheels, 'Pity! pity! give me a morsel +of bread, a drop of water! Have pity on me!' A hand was stretched +toward me out of the cloud of dust, and I saw a small, brightly +shining object drop. The carriage rolled on, and disappeared in its +cloud. But I sank on my knees and searched the dust for the piece of +money, for in this coin lay for me life, health, and strength. I was +obliged to hunt in the dust for a long time with hands tremulous with +anxiety, and finally, when I found it, I rejoiced aloud and thanked +God. Then I hurried with fleet steps toward the neighboring town, to +the same baker's shop near the gate, where, shortly before, they +had refused to my entreaties a bit of bread. Now, willingly and with +smiles, they handed me a loaf, for I had money to pay for it. In that +hour I said to myself: 'I must seek money, even if I have to grovel +in the dust for it; for money is life, and poverty is death!' The hand +which, from the cloud of dust threw me that piece of money, decided my +whole future, for it taught me that even dust was not to be despised, +as therein money might be found; but it taught me something more--it +taught me compassion and charity. Then, as I crouched down with +bleeding feet at the street-corner and devoured my loaf, I vowed to +myself that I would become rich, and when I had grown rich, to be to +each poor and needy one the helping hand stretched forth out of the +cloud of dust." + +Elise had listened to her father with deep emotion, and in the depth +of her heart she at this moment absolved him from many a silent +reproach, and many a suspicion, which her soul had harbored against +him. + +"You have kept your word, my father!" cried she. "How did you contrive +to become a rich man from a beggar?" + +Gotzkowsky laughed. "How did I contrive that?" said he. "I worked, +that is the whole secret--worked from sunrise until late in the night, +and by work alone have I become what I am. But no, I had one friend +who often helped me with his sympathy and valuable counsel. This +friend was the king. He protected me against my malicious enemies, who +envied me every little piece of fortune. He cheered me on. Frederick's +eye rested on me with pleasure, and he was delighted to see my +manufactories thrive and increase. The king's satisfaction was for +many years the only spur to my exertions, and when he looked on me +with smiling benevolence, it seemed to me as if a sunbeam of fortune +shone from his large blue eyes into my heart. I have learned to love +the king as a man, and because I love mankind I love the king. It +is said that he likes the French better than he does us, and prefers +every thing that comes from them; but, indeed, he was the first to +supply his wants from my manufactories, and in that way to encourage +me to new undertakings.[1] Mankind, in general, do not like to see +others favored by fortune in their enterprises and they hate him +who succeeds where they have failed. I have experienced that often in +life. I knew that men hated me because I was more fortunate than they +were, and yet I saw how they cringed before me, and flattered me. Oh, +my child, how many bitter and painful experiences do I not owe to my +wealth! In wealth lies Wisdom, if one would only listen to her. It has +humbled and subdued me, for I said to myself, 'How quickly would all +these men who now surround me with attention and flattery, disappear +if I became suddenly poor!' These princes and counts, who now invite +me as a guest to their tables, would no longer know me if I appeared +before them as a poor man. Wealth is rank and worth; and no prince's +title, no star of honor, shines so brightly as golden coin. But we +must learn how to use it, and not convert the means of fortune into +the end. We must also learn to despise men, and yet to love mankind. +My philosophy may be condensed into a few sentences. Strive for +gold; not to take, but to give. Be kind and faithful to all men; most +faithful, however, to thyself, thy honor, and thy country." + +Elise looked at him with a strange expression: "You love all mankind! +Do you then include our country's enemies?" + +"The enemies of our country are the only men whom I hate," cried +Gotzkowsky quickly. + +"Even were they noble and good?" asked Elise with reproachful tone. + +Gotzkowsky looked at her with astonishment and curiosity, and a cloud +flitted across his brow. Then, as if shocked at his own thoughts, +he shook his head, and murmured in a low tone, "No, that were too +terrible!" He rose and paced the room in thoughtful mood. Suddenly a +burst of lively music and gleeful shouts were heard from the garden. +Gotzkowsky's brow brightened immediately, and he extended his hand +with a tender look. + +"Come, my child," exclaimed he, "come, and see how happy you have made +men! Come, and see the power of wealth!" + + +[Footnote 1: "Gotzkowsky founded the first large velvet and silk +manufactories in Berlin. He was also the first to attend the Leipsic +fair with domestic goods, and thus open the commerce with Poland and +Russia."--_History of a Patriotic Merchant of Berlin_, 1768, pages +10-12.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WORKMAN'S HOLIDAY. + + +The garden, which stretched from behind Gotzkowsky's house to the +limits of the city, was really of artistic beauty, and he had spent +thousands in creating a park out of this dead level of sand. Now, his +work was completed, and all Berlin spoke with praise and admiration +of this garden, which ranked among the lions to be visited by every +traveller. The most splendid groups of trees were seen here and there, +interspersed among green plats of grass, ornamented by marble statues +or graceful fountains; in other places, trimmed hedges stretched +along, and from the conservatories exotic plants filled the air with +perfume. + +On this day, however, the garden presented a peculiarly lively +spectacle. On the lawn, the young girls and lads were dancing to the +music of a fiddle and bass-viol, while the older workmen and their +wives had seated themselves around tables, on which all kinds of +refreshments were spread. + +At the largest of these tables, ornamented with flowers, was seated +the betrothed couple, the workman Balthazar and Gretchen his young +bride, who bashfully and affectionately clung to his side. They had +loved each other long and faithfully in silence, but without hope, for +they were both poor, and had to support themselves and their parents +by the work of their hands. But Gotzkowsky had come to them as a +helping benefactor; he had given Balthazar a considerable sum of +money, and his daughter Elise had bestowed a dower upon the bride. +On this day, Elise's eighteenth birthday, was to be celebrated the +marriage of the happy couple. No wonder, then, that they regarded +Gotzkowsky with feelings almost of adoration, and that this young girl +appeared to them as a benevolent angel. + +Elise had just come into the garden with her father, and had taken +her seat at the table of the bridal pair. Next to her sat a young +man, whose mild and noble countenance seemed to be lighted up with +happiness and adoration whenever he looked upon her. He followed every +one of her motions with watchful eyes, and the most trifling shade, +the slightest change in the expression of her countenance, did not +escape him. At times he sighed, reading perhaps in her features the +secret thoughts of her soul, and these thoughts saddened him, and +clouded his bright clear eye. + +This young man, who sat at Elise's side, was Bertram, Gotzkowsky's +head book-keeper. From his earliest youth he had been in the house of +the rich manufacturer, who had adopted the poor orphan, and treated +him as a tender father would have done, and Bertram loved him with all +the affection of a son. And never by the lips of a true son was the +name of father pronounced with more warmth and tenderness than by this +son, adopted and won by deeds of generosity. + +But Bertram, who called Gotzkowsky father, had never ventured to call +Gotzkowsky's daughter sister. Brought up together, they had in their +childhood shared their games, their childish joys and sorrows with one +another; he had been a protecting brother to her, she an affectionate +sister to him. But ever since Bertram had returned from a journey of +three years, which Gotzkowsky had caused him to make, all this had +changed. Elise, whom he had left almost a child, he found on his +return a blooming young woman, and a feeling of joyous emotion flashed +through him as he stood blushing before her; while she, perfectly +collected, with a quiet look bade him welcome. + +Under the charm of this look he had lived several weeks of rapture +and yet of anxiety. He soon felt that he loved this young girl +passionately, but he also felt that she returned his passion with +the lukewarm affection of a friend or a sister, and that she had no +suspicion of the tumult and pain, the joy and ecstasy which filled his +breast. And yet he had a right to strive for the prize of her love; +and if he raised his eyes to the daughter of his benefactor, it was +not presumption, it was Gotzkowsky himself who emboldened him to do +so. He had said to him, "Seek to win the love of my daughter, and I +will cheerfully bid you welcome as my son, for I know that in your +hands Elise's happiness is safe." + +Thus he had the consent of her father, but Elise's love was wanting, +and how could he ever deserve this love, how win this heart which +shone as bright and clear, as hard and cold as rock crystal? Of +what avail was it that he worked indefatigably in the service of his +benefactor? how did it help him that the money, which Gotzkowsky had +given to him as a boy, had borne rich interest and made him a man of +means, and even, if he chose, of independence? What did it profit +him that all men loved him, if this one being, by whom he so ardently +longed to be loved, always remained the same, unchanged toward him, +always affectionate and friendly, always open and candid, never +abashed, never blushing, never casting her eyes down before him? + +"It must at last be decided," thought Bertram, as he sat next Elise; +"I must at last know whether she returns my love, or whether that be +true which I have heard whispered since my return. I must at least +have certainty, even if it annihilates all my wishes." + +At this moment there sounded near him merry shouts and laughter. +Gotzkowsky had accosted the bridal pair with a jest, and the grateful +audience had taken up this jest with delight. + +"Long life to the bridal pair!" cried he, raising his glass on high. +"Health, wealth, and happiness to them!" A perfect uproar followed +this appeal, and brought tears of delight into the eyes of the +blushing little bride, who stood up with the bridegroom and bowed her +thanks. + +Balthazar laughed, and, as soon as every thing had become quiet, +replied: "There, that will do! you have hurrahed enough. I don't wish +for wealth; health, happiness, and content are enough for me with my +little Gretchen; but for these blessings I have to thank, we have all +to thank, our lord and master, our father Gotzkowsky. Therefore, you +boys up there, stop your clatter and dancing, and listen to what I +have to say to you." + +Balthazar's loud clear voice overpowered the music which now ceased, +and the lads and maidens crowded around him. + +"Balthazar is going to make a speech!" cried one with hearty laughter, +in which the others joined lustily. "Silence, silence! Balthazar is +going to make a speech. Come, Balthazar, out with it! It's a failing +he has." + +"Well, why shouldn't I?" said Balthazar, laughing; "many a great lord +does nothing else all his life but make pretty speeches. Why shouldn't +I play the great lord on this my wedding-day?" He drew himself up, +cleared his throat, and continued: "I want to talk to you about our +master, who turned us from good-for-nothing drones into industrious +workmen, who gave us bread when nobody else had bread for us. Nobody, +I say, not even our mayor, who is a very good mayor, but who cannot +help the poor, feed the hungry, and give bread and work to hands +willing to work. Who is able to do that, and who does it? Who in +Berlin is the rich, the good man, who gives work to all, and in his +large and celebrated mills procures us food and wages? Who is it?" + +"Gotzkowsky, our father Gotzkowsky!" cried the crowd unanimously. + +Balthazar waved his hat joyfully in the air. "Therefore, say I, long +live Gotzkowsky our father!" cried he with stentorian voice. And +loud shouts and cheers followed this appeal. Men and women surrounded +Gotzkowsky and offered him their hand, and thanked him with those +simple and plain words which never fail to reach the heart, because +they come from the heart. All hailed him as friend and father, +benefactor and master. Gotzkowsky stood in their midst, proud and +erect. A deep emotion was evident in his noble features, and he raised +his beaming, radiant face to heaven, thanking God in the humbleness of +his heart for the proud joy of this hour. + +"Long live Gotzkowsky, our father!" reiterated the happy multitude. + +He lowered his eyes, and glanced with friendly looks at the cheerful +assemblage. + +"Thank you, my children," said he, "but I beg you not to overrate my +merits. You are of as much service to me as I am to you. He who gives +work is nothing without the worker; the one has need of the other, to +increase and thrive. Of what avail would my looms and my money be if +I had not your industrious hands and your good will to serve me? Money +alone will not do it, but the good will and love of the workmen carry +the day. I thank you all for your good will and your love; but above +all," continued he, turning to Bertram, "above all things I must thank +you, my friend. You have stood by me and helped me bravely, and it is +full time that I should try to reward you. Children, one more surprise +have I in reserve for you to-day. I appoint Mr. Bertram my partner +and sole director of the silk factory." "That's right, that's noble!" +cried the workmen. + +Bertram said nothing. He only turned his eyes, clouded with tears, +toward Gotzkowsky, and the latter read in his looks his deep emotion +and affectionate gratitude. + +"My son," said he, opening his arms. + +"My father, oh my dear, noble father," cried the young man, throwing +himself, with streaming eyes, on Gotzkowsky's breast. The workmen +stood round, deeply moved, and in silence; and in their hearts they +sent up quiet prayers to God on high for their employer. At last +Gotzkowsky raised himself from Bertram's arms and sought his daughter +with his eyes. She was still sitting, silent and pensive, at the +table, and did not appear to have observed what was going on around +her. A light cloud crossed his brow as he took Bertram's hand and +approached Elise. + +"Well, Elise, have you no word of congratulation for him?" + +She shuddered, as if awaking from a dream. "Oh," said she, "my good +brother Bertram knows that I rejoice in his fortune." + +"Brother! still brother?" murmured Gotzkowsky impatiently. + +"And why should she not give me that sweet name?" asked Bertram, +quickly. "Have you not often called me son, and allowed me to call you +father?" + +"Oh, I would like indeed to be your father, my son, without Elise's +having to call you brother. But we will speak of this another time," +said he, interrupting himself; and turning to his workmen, continued: +"Come, let us be merry, and of good cheer. Who knows how long Heaven +will grant us sunshine? Come, you young folks, I have caused a target +to be set up in the court. Let us go there. He who makes the best shot +shall get a new coat. Come, bride Greta, take my arm; I will be your +groomsman to-day. Bertram, you and Elise follow us. Now, music, strike +up a song for the bride." + +Gotzkowsky offered his arm to the bride and led her out. Cheerfully +the motley crowd followed him, and soon there was heard in the +distance their happy laughter and the merry sound of the music. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +BROTHER AND SISTER. + + +Elise did not follow the joyous multitude. She still sat musing, +unaware that Bertram was standing opposite to her, considering her +attentively. At last he ventured to pronounce her name softly. She +looked up at him with perfect composure. + +"You do not go with them, Elise?" asked he. "Do you not take any part +in the general rejoicing?" + +She tried to smile. "Oh yes," said she, "I am glad to see how much +these good people love my father. And he deserves it too. The welfare +of his workmen is his only thought, and the only fame for which he +strives." + +"You are too modest in your estimate of your father, Elise," cried +Bertram. "Gotzkowsky's fame extends far beyond the walls of this town. +All Germany, yes, even Holland and England, are familiar with his +name, and the Prussian merchant is as much a hero on "'Change' as the +Prussian king is on the battle-field." + +"Only my father's victories are less bloody," said Elise, smiling. + +A pause ensued. Both felt anxious and embarrassed, and neither dared +to break the silence. It was the first time, since Bertram's return +from his grand tour, that she had found herself in his presence +without witnesses, for she had carefully avoided being alone with him. +This had not escaped Bertram's notice, and he had therefore determined +to take advantage of the present opportunity to have his fate decided. +But yet he did not venture to speak, and the words died away on +his lips as he remarked her silent, indifferent composure. As he +contemplated her, memories of former days rose up before him. He +saw her as, half child, half maiden, she clung trustingly and +affectionately to his side, and with charming blushes listened to the +teasing jokes of her father. Then her whole soul lay open and clear +before him; then she disclosed to him the entire treasure of her pure, +full heart, and all the fanciful and dreamy thoughts of her young +virgin soul were perceptible; then he had participated in her joys, +her little sorrows, every feeling which agitated her breast. + +And now, why was it all so different? + +A deep, painful melancholy took possession of him, and made him +overcome his fear of her decision. He sat down resolutely at her side, +and took her hand. + +"Elise," said he, "do you still remember what you said to me three +years ago, as I took leave of you?" + +She shook her head and turned her eyes toward him. These eyes were +full of tears, and her countenance was agitated with painful emotion. + +Bertram continued: "You then said to me, 'Farewell, and however far +you may travel my heart goes with you, and when you return I will be +to you the same loving, faithful sister that I now am.' These were +your words, Elise; you see that I have preserved them in my memory +more faithfully than you, my sister." + +Elise shuddered slightly. Then she said, with a painfully subdued +voice, "You were so long absent, Bertram, and I was only a child when +you left." + +"The young woman wishes, then, to recall the words spoken by the +child?" + +"No, Bertram, I will always love you as a sister." + +Bertram sighed. "I understand you," said he, sadly; "you wish to erect +this sisterly love into an impassable barrier separating me from you, +and to pour this cool and unsubstantial affection like a soothing balm +upon my sufferings. How little do you know of love, Elise; of that +passion which desires every thing, which is satisfied with nothing +less than extreme happiness, or, failing that, extreme wretchedness, +and will accept no pitiful compromise, no miserable substitute!" + +Elise looked at him firmly, with beaming eyes. She too felt that the +decisive hour had come, and that she owed the friend of her youth an +open and unreserved explanation. + +"You are mistaken, Bertram," said she. "I know this love of which you +speak, and for that very reason, because I know it, I tell you I will +always love you as a sister. As a true sister I bid you welcome." + +She offered him her hand; but as she read in his pale face the agony +which tormented his soul, she turned her eyes away and drew her hand +back. + +"You are angry with me, Bertram," said she, sobbing. + +He pressed his hand convulsively to his heart, as if he would suppress +a cry of agony, then held it firmly to his eyes, which were scalded by +his hot tears. He wrestled with his sufferings, but he wrestled like +a hero and a man who would not be subjugated, but is determined to +conquer. As his hand glided from his face his eyes were tearless, +and nothing was visible in his countenance but an expression of deep +earnestness. + +"Well, then," said he, recovering himself, "I accept this sisterly +love as a sick man accepts the bitter medicine which he will not cast +away lest he commit suicide. I accept you as my sister, but a sister +must at least have confidence in her brother; she must not stand +before him like a sealed book whose contents he is ignorant of. If I +am to be your brother, I demand also the rights of a brother. I demand +truth and trust." + +"And who says that I will deny you either?" asked she, quickly. + +"You, yourself, Elise; your whole conduct, your shyness and reserve, +the manner in which you avoid me, the intentional coldness with which +you meet me. Oh! even at this moment you would withdraw from me, but I +will not let you, Elise; I will compel your heart to reveal itself to +me. I will move you with my devotion, my tender anxiety, so that the +cruel crust will fall from your gentle and pure heart, and you +will become again my candid and confiding sister. Oh, Elise, have +compassion on me! tell me what secret, mysterious charm has suddenly +seized you; what wicked, hurtful demon has suddenly converted this +bright ingenuous girl into a pale, sad, serious woman. Have courage +and trust me, and let me read as in those happier days." + +Elise looked at his noble countenance with a deep and painful emotion, +and met his inquiring look with unabashed eye. + +"Well, then," said she, "I will trust you, Bertram. I will tell you +what I have confided to no human ear. Know, then, that my heart also +has felt the pains which affect yours. Know that an ardent, hopeless +love burnt my soul." + +"A hopeless love?" asked Bertram. + +"Yes, hopeless," said she, firmly; "for never can I hope for my +father's blessing on this love, and never, without it, will I leave my +father's house to follow the man I love." + +"The man you love!" cried Bertram, painfully. "Does he also then love +you, and does he know that you love him?" + +She looked at him with astonishment. "Can one then love without being +beloved?" asked she, with the unconscious pride of a young girl. + +"You are right," said Bertram; "I was a fool to ask this question of +you. But why do you doubt your father's consent? Why do you not go +confidingly to him and confess your love? But how? Is this love such +that it dare not face the light, and must conceal itself from the eyes +of your father?" + +"Yes, Bertram, it is such a love; but yet you must not doubt me, you +must not think that this love which conceals itself from the eyes of +my father need therefore fear the light of the world. My father would, +perhaps, if he knew my secret, declare me unworthy of him; but never, +be assured, never would I commit any act unworthy of myself, and for +which I would have to blush. It is possible that not only my father +but the whole world would pronounce me guilty if it knew my love; but, +believe me, that in the consciousness of my rectitude I would have the +courage to brave the verdict of the whole world, provided that my own +heart acquitted me, and that I am guilty of no other crime than this +accidental one, which fate, and not my own will and trespass, imposes +on me. Love allows itself neither to be given nor taken, and when it +cannot command fortune, it can at least lighten misfortune. More I +cannot tell you, my brother, and what is the use of words? Only depend +on what I assure you, I will never be faithless to my honor nor my +love. You may think," continued she, proudly and passionately, "that +my love is a crime, but never that I could love unworthily, or that I +could bow my head under the disgrace of a dishonorable love." + +She looked beautiful in her proud, flashing maidenhood; and Bertram +felt, as he looked on her handsome, glowing countenance, that he had +never loved her so sincerely, and at the same time so painfully, as at +this moment. + +"Elise," said he, grasping her hand, "will you not have entire +confidence in your brother? Will you not tell me the name of your +lover?" + +She shook her head earnestly. "Only God and my heart dare know it." + +"Elise," continued he more urgently, "shall I tell you what has been +whispered in my ear as I returned from a long absence? Shall I tell +you what your enemies--for your youth and beauty and your father's +wealth have made you enemies--shall I tell you what your enemies +whisper to each other with malicious joy?" + +"No, no!" said she anxiously, "how would it help me to know it?" + +Bertram continued inexorably, "They say that the captive Russian, +General Sievers, was welcomed by your father into his house as +a friend, and that he overwhelmed the noble prisoner with kind +attention." + +Elise breathed more freely. "It was with the consent and by the wish +of the king that my father was kind to the captive Russian general." + +"And was it also by the wish of the king that Gotzkowsky's daughter +accepted the homage of the Russian general's adjutant?" + +A slight shudder ran through Elise's whole frame, and her cheeks +became crimson. + +"Ah," cried Bertram sadly, "I see you understand me. You will not tell +me the name of your lover--let me tell it to you. It is Feodor von +Brenda." + +"No, no!" cried Elise, looking around in alarm, and fearful lest some +treacherous ear had heard the dangerous secret. + +"Yes," said Bertram, "his name is Feodor von Brenda; he serves as a +colonel in the Russian army; he fights against our brothers and our +king; he is the enemy of our country." + +"You have no pity on me," cried Elise, wringing her hands, her eyes +streaming with tears. "You wish to kill me with your cruel words." + +"I wish to show to the daughter of the noblest and truest patriot, I +wish to point out to the young, inexperienced, credulous maiden, to +my sister, that she stands at the edge of an abyss. I wish to open her +eyes that she may be aware of the danger which threatens her. I wish +to draw her back from this abyss which threatens to engulf her." + +"It is too late," said Elise, rising proudly and drying her tears. +"I know it all, Bertram; I stand at the edge of this abyss with open +eyes, conscious of the danger; but I will not, cannot draw back, for +my heart holds me fast." + +Elise took leave of him with a sad smile, and hurried rapidly down +the dark walk which led to the retired and unfrequented parts of the +garden. + +Bertram looked after her until her pink dress disappeared behind the +dark foliage of the hedge. + +"She loves him," murmured he, letting his head drop upon his breast, +"it is certain she loves him." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +FEODOR VON BRENDA. + + +Elise directed her hasty steps toward the now retired parts of +the garden. She longed to be alone. Her soul, agitated by painful +emotions, required silence and solitude, in order to settle down again +gently to rest and peace. Slowly, and with bowed head, she traversed +the dark, silent garden-walks. Her thoughts wandered afar off, and +she sought some little comfort, some relief from the privations of the +present, in the sweet and blissful recollections of bygone days. + +"What can keep him?" asked she of herself; and as she thought of him, +her countenance assumed a cheerful, almost happy expression. "He swore +to brave every danger, every difficulty, in order to let me hear from +him; and now, alas! ten weeks have passed, and no news, no token, from +him. My God! is it possible that in all this long time he could have +found no opportunity to write to me?--or perhaps his love has not +survived the test of separation and silence." + +At this thought she stopped, as if stunned, and pressed her hand to +her breast. A sharp pain shot through her, and her heart seemed to +cease to pulsate. But, in a moment, her countenance brightened up, +and she murmured, with a gentle smile, "Oh, to doubt his love were a +greater treason than to love my country's enemy. Oh, no! Feodor, my +heart does not doubt you; and notwithstanding your silence, I know +that your heart answers mine, and that we are forever and inseparably +united." + +With rapid step and cheerful mind she continued her wandering. She +had now arrived at the darkest and most secluded part of the garden. +Nothing stirred around her, and there was only heard the rustling of +the dark fir-tree moved by the wind, or the melodious note of some +bird hidden in the foliage. + +The garden, elsewhere so carefully and artistically tended, stretching +from the Leipsic Street to the Palisades, which surrounded the town +in lieu of a wall at that time, was here overgrown with underwood, +protecting the more beautiful parts like a quickset hedge. But this +bush was, besides, surrounded by a high wall, running immediately next +to the Palisades, and bounding the whole back part of the garden. It +was seldom that any one wandered in this neighborhood, and Elise +was certain, therefore, that no inquisitive eye could watch her, no +treacherous ear listen to her half-whispered words. + +She seated herself on a bench under a tree, not far from the wall, +and looked up dreamingly and thoughtfully at the patches of blue +sky visible through the tree-tops. Her whole soul was sunk in +reminiscence. Ah, how often had she sat here, but not alone--not with +this painful longing in her heart, but in the fullest contentment of +happiness, listening with delighted ear to words spoken by him who +sat next to her, holding her hand in his, and gazing on her with looks +which made her heart tremble with happiness! Here, on this spot, he +had taken leave of her, and since then it had become, as it were, the +temple of her recollections, to which she daily made her pilgrimage to +offer up her devout, sincere, and ardent prayer of love. + +She sat and looked up to heaven, and her ear, dwelling on words which +had died away long ago, did not hear sounds which were perceptible on +the other side of the wall. It appeared as if some one were striving +to climb it, and indeed there could be now seen a hand feeling about, +and then a man's figure rising above the wall. + +Cautiously spying around, large flashing eyes looked into the garden. +One moment the figure rested upon the wall, as if exhausted by the +exertion, or listening for some sound. It was a young man, in the garb +of a peasant, who sat upon the wall; but the heavy, black mustache +little suited this peaceful dress, and his bold air, verging on +insolence, seemed to challenge the dangers which surrounded him. + +He rested for a moment on the wall, and listened attentively. Then +he drew a pistol from his breast, and examined carefully its lock and +barrel. He then cocked it, and holding it in one hand, began carefully +and noiselessly to descend. With one leap he sprang to the ground; +the leaves rustled under his feet, and again he stood motionless in +a listening attitude. His glance was as keen and bright as that of an +eagle, and it seemed to penetrate the dark foliage. Suddenly a light +flashed across his countenance, and a smile of delight played about +his lips. He had seen the young girl, who was seated on the bench lost +in deep thought, and that he had recognized her was betrayed by his +animated expression. Quietly, carefully, he drew nearer, ever and +again standing still and listening. Then he stood close behind her at +the tree. Again he listens, but every thing is silent and hushed. Now +he calls her softly by name, and whispers almost inaudibly, "Elise!" + +She started and looked up, but saw no one, and as she recovered +herself, she sighed gently, and said: "I was mistaken, it was only the +wind." + +But again he whispered: "Start not, Elise; do not utter a word or +cry!" + +"O God!" murmured she in a low tone, trembling in all her limbs. An +ardent embrace, a glowing kiss upon her brow, and a well-beloved voice +whispered her name. + +"Feodor!" uttered she faintly. Overcome by the sudden violence of +her feelings, her head dropped languidly on his breast. Then, drawing +herself up, she gazed at him, and her eager, loving look encountered +his flashing eye. She was, as it were, fascinated--happy as in a +dream, and yet conscious of the most delicious waking. + +"Do you know me, Elise? Do you recognize your Feodor in spite of his +disguise?" + +"Oh, speak again," said she as he ceased. "It is so long since I have +heard your voice!" + +"Ten weeks have passed," said he, pressing her still closer to +his heart, "without my being able to see you or convey to you any +information. I could endure it no longer. I said to myself, 'God is +the friend of lovers,' and so I disguised myself as you see me, and +ventured here." + +Elise started up and gazed at him anxiously. Awaking from her ecstasy +of delight, she just began to be conscious of the present. + +"Good heavens!" she cried, "danger threatens you." + +"Death, if I am found here!" said he, solemnly--"death, if it is known +in the Russian camp why I came here!" + +She uttered a cry, and clung anxiously to him. "You should not have +come here," said she, trembling. "My God, if my father should find you +here! It was cruel of you to come." + +"It would have been more cruel," said he, smiling, "if being so near +you, I had not come at all. I have watched and yearned so long for +this meeting; I have longed so to read in your eyes that you have not +forgotten me! Why do you cast them down, Elise?" + +"Because, Feodor, you have already read too much in them, more than my +father would ever forgive." + +"Your father was always kind and friendly toward me but at that time I +was his prisoner, now he regards me only as the enemy of his country; +and yet, Elise, my object here is any thing but that of an enemy. It +is not only the desire but also the anxiety of love which brings me +here. Listen to me--my time is limited, and I am lost if I linger +too long; but I had to see you to warn you, to avert the danger which +threatens you, and all of you. Listen, therefore. Your father is the +most powerful and influential man in Berlin. His influence will go far +with the council and the citizens. Entreat him, Elise, to use all his +influence to avert a terrible bloodshed from this city." + +Elise shook her head seriously and sadly. Her sweet dream was +dissipated; she was now no longer the dreaming, loving girl, but a +conscious, reasoning, collected woman. + +"How can my father do that?" said she, doubtingly. + +"He must persuade the citizens to yield without fighting." + +"That my father will never do," said she, warmly. + +"Yes, he will do it," replied her lover, "when he learns that all +fighting is useless. Let him have compassion on his native town, on +himself. You are all lost if you fight. Already twelve thousand of our +men, under General Tottleben, stand before the gates. At this moment, +while I am speaking, Tschernitscheff, with twenty thousand regulars, +is approaching from the other side. Count Lacy, too, with his +Austrians, is drawing near. All this tell your father. Tell him, also, +that General Tottleben has promised our Empress Elizabeth to +take Berlin, if he has to lay it in ruins and ashes. Use all your +influence, implore him to do all in his power to persuade the citizens +to a peaceful surrender." + +"I have no influence over my father," said she, sadly, "and if I had +I would not abuse it. Such a surrender, without a fight, would be +cowardice." + +"But a fight, with the assured certainty of defeat, would be madness. +Your father does not know the number of troops massed around Berlin. +Do you tell him." + +She looked at him mournfully. "And shall I tell him, too, from whom I +received this information?" + +After a little reflection, he replied: "Yes, if it cannot be +otherwise, tell him. Your father will not betray me." + +"No, but he will curse his daughter," cried Elise, painfully--"curse +her for having had intercourse with our country's enemy, while the +Russian cannon threaten our town. No, no, Feodor, it were no use to +warn him. My father would not listen to me." + +"So Berlin will run toward its ruin, and I cannot prevent it," said +the colonel, sadly. "I have done all in my power. I wish to requite +your father for all the kindness he has shown me, and for that reason +I risked my life in order to warn him." + +"Believe me, Feodor, I will never forget you for it," said she, +offering him both her hands. "However angry my father may be, my heart +still remains yours. Love does not recognize any national hatred. It +yields itself without reserve to him who has won it." + +She leaned her head upon his breast, and he imprinted a kiss upon her +forehead. + +"Thank you for these words," said he; "wherever I go they shall be my +talisman." + +"Are you going already?" asked she, anxiously. + +"I must go, Elise," replied he. + +"Oh, Feodor, I dare not bid you stay. I tremble at the thought of my +father seeing you," sighed she; "but when, my beloved, when shall we +see each other again?" + +He looked at her a long time with a steady, piercing glance. He then +exclaimed, almost rudely: "You have sworn me love and constancy till +death. Do you remember it?" + +"I remember it, and never will I be faithless to my vow," whispered +she, smiling through her tears. + +"You swore to me never to belong to any one but me. Have you forgotten +that?" + +"No, I have not." + +"Well, then," said he, rising, "we shall soon see each other again." + +"When, Feodor, when?" + +"When Berlin is in our hands," said he, smiling proudly; "when we +enter your gates as conquerors." + +She shuddered painfully. He saw it, and a hateful, mocking expression +passed across his features; but this lasted only a moment, and his +changeable countenance appeared again bright and loving. He took +Elise's hand and pressed it to his lips. + +"Will you, even at such a time, allow me to see you? Will you, +faithful to your vow, remember that my Elise has sworn by God and her +love never to turn a deaf ear to my call? Will you expect me?" asked +he, coaxingly. + +"I will," answered she, in a low voice. + +"And I will come," cried he, passionately, "if the way to you leads +over mountains of dead bodies!" + +She threw herself into his open arms, and nestled like a timid dove on +his breast. + +"Oh!" cried she, "when danger threatens you, then I think I would like +to be a man to share it with you." + +He covered her lips and eyes with kisses. "Farewell, farewell, Elise; +and if it is God's will, we will meet again." + +One last kiss, one last embrace, and he tore himself from her arms +and hurried toward the wall. Now he climbs it, and throws his last +greetings to her, then descends on the other side. + +"He is gone, he is gone!" she shrieked, and, falling on her knees, +raised her hands to heaven. "O God, have mercy on me, have pity on my +love!" + +It seemed as if God did grant her prayer, for a thick veil sank over +her eyes, and a swoon robbed her of consciousness. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MR. KRETSCHMER, OF THE VOSSIAN GAZETTE. + + +The editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, Mr. Kretschmer, sat at his desk, +busily writing. That he was a learned man was seen by his earnest, +care-worn forehead, his large, well-powdered wig, and above all by the +disorder and confusion which reigned in the whole room. Besides which, +Mr. Kretschmer wore a dressing-gown, thickly sprinkled with ink-spots, +the official robe of his literary dignity. And whosoever beheld him in +this robe, his long pipe in his mouth, filling the room with a thick +blue smoke, seated on his high tripod before his desk, could not but +believe that Mr. Kretschmer was a learned man. + +But more than this, he was a great politician. Thereto testified the +numerous journals which lay scattered about on the floor, but more +especially the nineteen quarto volumes, which stood above on the +book-shelf, lettered in gold on the back, "VOSSIAN GAZETTE," and under +that the number of the year, from 1740 to 1759. The _Vossian Gazette_ +was then a young, blooming rose, of scarcely nineteen summers. It +could still pass for a vigorous, handsome, and perhaps even innocent +young maiden; and Mr. Kretschmer was the editor of the _Vossian +Gazette_. Had he not, then, a right to be regarded as a great +politician? + +Mr. Kretschmer was at this moment occupied in writing an article for +the next morning's paper, and as he had just received news "by special +courier" of another battle, subsequent to that of Liegnitz, which +had resulted favorably for the Prussians, he was composing, with the +courage of a lion, an extra, which fairly glowed with ardent hatred +against the oppressors and cannibals, namely, the Russians and the +Austrians; and declared that the salvation of all Germany depended on +the supreme dominion of Prussia. + +The bold editor of the _Vossian Gazette_ in this article called +upon the people to fly to arms against the "incendiary oppressors +of Freedom and the people's rights," as he called the Russians; he +exhorted even the women and girls to fight, and called upon them to +grasp the sword in their tender hands instead of the needle. Finally, +he entreated all Berlin, if ever the _incendiary enemy_ should +approach the gates, rather to let the whole city be destroyed by fire, +and bury themselves in the ruins before they submitted to the foe. + +Mr. Kretschmer then laid his pen down, and revised with a satisfied +look what he had written. + +"That will have an effect," said he, rubbing his hands together, +delighted. "When his majesty, our heroic king, returns victorious to +Berlin, I will send him this sheet of the _Vossian Gazette_, and I +know that he will be satisfied with my heroism." + +He looked again at the paper. "Beautiful, beautiful!" exclaimed +he, with a self-satisfied smile. "My pen has shot nothing less than +bomb-shells and grape, and my ink has turned into whole streams of the +enemy's blood. And why should I not be bold, it being perfectly safe, +since the king must certainly be victorious, and the enemy has no idea +of visiting Berlin? Tschernitscheff and Tottleben are quietly encamped +on the other side of the Oder; Soltikoff with his army is near +Frankfort; and Count Lacy with his Austrians is waiting an opportunity +to give battle to our king. Thus, as I said, I can safely exhort the +good citizens of Berlin to defend themselves heroically against the +infamous spoiler. How beautifully this peroration sounds: 'People +of Berlin! rather let yourselves be buried under the ruins of your +burning city than submit to an incendiary enemy!'--_Incendiary_," +repeated he thoughtfully, "that is rather a strong expression, and if +the Russians do come, they will revenge themselves for it; but, pshaw! +the Russians are not coming, and I can safely send this article to +the press. And, furthermore, did not the king himself stigmatize the +Russians as such? Yes, I remember last year, after the unfortunate +invasion of the Russians, he looked down from the steeple in Frankfort +upon the devastation of the country, and cried out with angry +indignation, 'Incendiaries! incendiaries!' The expression is at least +official, and can therefore remain." + +Mr. Kretschmer seized the bell-rope, and began to ring violently. +Immediately the door opened, and a small boy entered with a portfolio +under his arm. + +"Devil," said Mr. Kretschmer, majestically, "here is my article; run +as fast as you can to the printing-office with it, and impress upon +the compositor the necessity of haste, and, above all things, not +to make such mistakes as he did lately, when, in speaking of +the Russians, he put 'friends' instead of 'fiends,' which was an +unpardonable and most treasonable error of expression." + +The little boy took the paper and laid it in his portfolio. + +"The printer told me to ask you," said he, "if you had written nothing +yet for the 'Miscellaneous.' _Spener's Journal_ had yesterday such +a beautiful 'Miscellaneous,' and told about a woman who had four +children at a birth, and a stork which had arrived and built its nest, +although it was the month of October." + +Mr. Kretschmer frowned. "_Spener's Journal_ always has some wonderful +news, and amuses the Berlin people with all kinds of stupid gossip," +grumbled he. "The rivalry of such a paper is unbearable." + +"Well, how about the miscellaneous intelligence?" asked the printer's +boy. + +Mr. Kretschmer stamped his foot angrily. "Go to the devil!" said he. + +At this moment there was heard a loud crying and shouting; and while +the printer's boy pitched out of the door, Mr. Kretschmer hurried to +the window to find out the cause of the uproar. + +A heaving, noisy crowd filled the street below, and had halted right +under the editor's window. In the midst thereof was seen the tall, +lank figure of a man, whose extraordinary appearance enchained the +attention of the multitude, and excited afresh their shouts and +derisive laughter. And, in fact, nothing could be more striking or +fantastic than this man. Notwithstanding the cool October weather, +his gigantic figure was clothed from head to foot in gray linen, +harmonizing strangely with the gray color of his skin and hair, +which latter fell in long locks from his uncovered head down on his +shoulders, and gave to the apparition the semblance of a pyramidical +ash-heap, out of which his eyes shone like two burning coals. Around +his shoulders hung a long cloak of gray linen, which, in addressing +the multitude, he sometimes threw around him in picturesque folds, +sometimes spread out wide, enveloping his long arms in it, so that he +looked like an expanded bat. + +"Ah! it is Pfannenstiel, our prophetic linen-weaver," said Mr. +Kretschmer, smiling, as he opened his window, and exchanged a look of +recognition with the man who was gazing up at him. + +The linen-weaver and prophet had rapidly acquired some renown in +Berlin by his prophecies and predictions. The people believed in his +mystic words and soothsayings and mistaken fanaticism. He related to +them his visions and apparitions; he told about the angels and the +Lord Jesus, who often visited him; about the Virgin Mary, who appeared +in his room every night, and inspired him with what he was to say to +the people, and gave him pictures whose mystic signification he was to +interpret to them. The prophet possessed more than a hundred of these +pictures, given him by celestial apparitions. He had them carefully +pasted together, and rolled up always with him. These pictorial +sheets, roughly painted on coarse paper, served the linen-weaver in +lieu of cards or coffee-grounds, for the purpose of prophesying to the +people and announcing the future to them; and the good folks of Berlin +believed in these prophecies with firm faith, and listened with devout +confidence to the words of their prophet. + +Pfannenstiel was in the act of unrolling his pictures, and the +multitude, which, just before, had been shouting and screaming, became +suddenly silent, and gazed up at the weaver with intense expectation. +A breathless silence ensued, and, far down the street, sounded the +prophet's loud and sonorous voice. He pointed to the last of his +pictures, which, in coarse, clumsy drawing, represented a town, from +the houses of which flames arose in the most variegated colors. + +"Behold! behold!" cried the prophet, "and fall on your knees and pray! +Yes, pray! for I tell you the Holy Ghost appeared to me, His wings +dripping with blood, and in His burning and flaming beak He held this +picture which I now show you." + +"Well, then, how is it that the picture is not burnt too, if the Holy +Ghost held it in His burning beak?" asked an impudent shoemaker's boy. + +A low laugh ran through the crowd, but this was soon suppressed by +angry, threatening voices, commanding silence and quiet. + +The prophet turned with an air of majestic composure toward the +questioner: "Why was not this picture burnt? Because God wished to +perform a miracle, to manifest Himself to me in His glory, and to +prove to me that this vision was from Him, and not from the devil. +Yes, indeed, God gave me this picture that we might be warned--not +to terrify us. Listen, therefore, to my voice, and learn what God +announces to you from my mouth." + +"I would like indeed to hear what the stupid rascal is going to +announce to these poor foolish devils," muttered Mr. Kretschmer, +leaning out of the window and listening attentively. + +Pfannenstiel continued: "Behold these columns of fire rising from the +houses of this town. This town is Berlin, and the fire will burst out +of the roofs of your houses. Woe! woe! will sound in your streets, and +weeping and lamentation will fill the air. I say unto you, watch and +pray! Strew ashes on your heads, and fall down on your knees and pray +to God for mercy, for the enemy is before your gates, and ere the sun +sets the Russians will enter your town! I say unto you, verily I +say unto you, God spoke to me in a voice of thunder, and said, +'The Russians are coming!' Fall down and pray, for the Russians are +coming!" + +"The Russians are coming!" cried the terrified multitude and some +among them turned pale. The weeping women folded their hands in +prayer; the men looked around timidly, and the frightened children +clung to their mothers in dread of the Russians, whose name was +synonymous with that of savages and cannibals. Even Kretschmer could +not help feeling somewhat terrified. He drew back thoughtfully from +the window, muttering with a shudder, "The Russians are coming!" + +The people crowded around the prophet in still narrower circles, and +in more piercing tones wept and cried out: "What shall we do? What +shall we do to be saved? Have mercy, O God! Have mercy on Berlin, for +the Russians are coming!" + +"Yes, they are coming!" cried Pfannenstiel. "God told me so in the +roll of His thunder and the lightning of His eyes; and he said to me: +'Go and say to the people of Berlin, "The Russians are coming!" and +thou shalt see in the same hour how their hearts will shrink, and how +cast down they will be; how their eyes will run tears, and their +lips utter prayers, for the Russian is the sworn enemy of the Berlin +people; and as often as the cry, "The Russians are coming," sounds +through the streets of Berlin, there will be wailing and lamentation +in every house and every heart; and they will bow down in timid +contrition and abject obedience. Speak, therefore, to them, and say, +"The Russians are coming!" that they may become humble and quiet; that +the proud word may be silenced on their lips, and that they may submit +in peace.'" + +"What shall we do?" asked the people. "Help us, advise us, for thou +art our prophet." + +Pfannenstiel drew himself up to his utmost height, and an expression +of triumphant cunning sparkled in his eyes. "Do you not understand +the voice of God? God commands you to withdraw in silence and peace to +your own dwellings, to weep and pray. Go, then! Let the word of your +mouth and the rebelliousness of your hearts be silent. Go home to your +huts, shut the doors and windows, and do not venture out, for without, +death and the Russians await you!" + +Obedient to the voice of their prophet, the crowd separated in +different directions, and dispersed quietly. + +Pfannenstiel looked after them with a smile of scorn; then silently +rolled up his pictures, threw his gray cloak over his shoulders, and, +casting a serious and significant look up at Mr. Kretschmer's window, +strode down the street slowly and with an air of majestic dignity. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE COWARDS' RACE. + + +The warning sounded loud and threatening in Mr. Kretschmer's +ears--"The Russians are coming!" A cold chill ran through him, and +he could not prevent an involuntary shudder. But he tried to rouse +himself from this despondency, and laughed at himself for this +credulous fear. + +"This Pfannenstiel is a fool, and I would he a greater one if I +believed his nonsense," said he. "No, no, my information is warranted +and authentic. The king has had a sharp skirmish with the Russians +near Reitwan, and driven them back, and then proceeded quietly to +Meissen. Thus there is no ground for anxiety, and I can safely let off +my bomb-shells against the Russians." + +Mr. Kretschmer felt his courage return and his heart grow warm. + +"Now I see the whole game," cried he, laughing. "Pfannenstiel wishes +the _Vossian Gazette_ to take notice of him. He wants to be talked +about, and wishes the newspapers to spread his reputation. For that +reason he stationed himself right under my window, for that reason he +cast such significant looks at me, for that reason he addressed the +crowd and poured forth his nonsense right here. Yes, that's it! He +wishes to prove to me how great his power is over this people +which believes in him, even when he utters the most incredible and +unheard-of things. Well, we can help the man," continued he, +laughing, as he stepped to his desk. "The desired article for the +'Miscellaneous' is found, and I think that the prophetic linen-weaver, +Pfannenstiel, is well worth more than the four children at a birth and +the miserable stork's nest of yesterday's _Spener's Journal_. Let's +write it off quickly." + +Kretschmer began to write most industriously, when he was suddenly +interrupted by a violent knocking at the door. It opened, and a +stately old gentleman entered, with well-powdered wig and long queue. + +"Mr. Krause, my worthy colleague!" exclaimed Kretschmer, jumping +up and hastening toward the old man. But Mr. Krause had no word of +greeting. He sank sighing into a chair. + +"Do you know the news?" asked he, in a whining tone, folding his +trembling hands, and looking at Kretschmer timidly, as he stood before +him. + +"Know what?" demanded the latter in reply, feeling his heart sink. + +"The Russians are coming!" sighed Mr. Krause. + +"That is a silly tale," cried Kretschmer peevishly, with an impatient +gesture. + +"Would to God it were!" groaned Krause; "but the news is, alas, but +too true, and it can no longer be doubted!" + +"Man of misfortune," cried Mr. Kretschmer, "who told you so?" + +"Pfannenstiel." + +"Pfannenstiel?" repeated Kretschmer, laughing heartily; "oh, yes! +Pfannenstiel prophesied it just now in the streets, under my window. +Now don't distress yourself, dearest friend and colleague. That was +only a clumsy trick of the scoundrel to get me to write an article +about him in the _Vossian Gazette_. I have already gratified his +wish." + +"You are mistaken," said Krause, mournfully. "I sent Pfannenstiel +into the streets, to quiet the people, and to admonish them to behave +peaceably and soberly, even if the Russians should come." + +"Oh! you believe in all these dreams of Pfannenstiel?" + +"I believe in the truth, and in what I know!" exclaimed Krause +emphatically. "Pfannenstiel has for a long time been my agent, and +for a considerable stipend, paid every month, informs me of all that +happens, is talked and thought of in the town. He is a very useful +man, peculiarly suited to this service." + +"The approach of the Russians is then town-talk, and nothing more?" +asked Kretschmer, who was still anxious to throw doubt on the bad +news. + +"No, it is a fact," said Krause seriously. "Pfannenstiel is, as you +know, not only a prophet, but also a quack doctor, and his herbs and +decoctions are certainly often of astonishing efficacy. He always +gathers the plants for his mixtures himself, and roams about in search +of them in the neighborhood of Berlin for days together. Last evening +he was outside the town, on one of these tramps, intending to pass +the night sleeping under a tree. He was awoke by the sound of +troops marching, and as he looked carefully around, he could plainly +distinguish in the bright moonlight the uniforms of the Russian army. +It was a long column of many thousand men. They halted not far from +the place where Pfannenstiel lay, and he crept carefully nearer. He +then ascertained from their conversation that this was only a small +division of the army, which had advanced by forced marches from +Frankfort, and was commanded by General Tottleben." + +"By Tottleben!" cried Kretschmer in dismay. + +"Yes, by Tottleben," whimpered Krause, and they both looked in silence +on the ground. "Yes, his vengeance will be terrible," said Krause, +after a long and anxious pause. "Have you not heard," continued he in +whisper--"have you not heard the sad story of what occurred last year +in Erlangen? The editor of the _Erlangen Gazette_ admitted into his +columns an article abusive of our great king. A Prussian officer came +in person to Erlangen to call the editor to account. And what do you +think he did? He caused the unfortunate and pitiable journalist to be +beaten with cudgels, and then gave him a receipt for the bastinado he +had gotten." + +"Horrible!" cried Mr. Kretschmer, wringing his hands. + +Mr. Krause continued: "When a refined Prussian, officer can behave +in this way, what have we to expect from these rough, uncivilized +enemies, the Russians? Oh! they will murder us, for we, too, have +ventured to write boldly and energetically against them." + +"Yes, you particularly," said Mr. Kretschmer quickly. "Do you +recollect the famous article in your paper, in which you called +General Tottleben a notorious adventurer, who had deserted to the +enemy after having enjoyed the unmerited favor of our king? This was, +certainly, rather strong; it might even be called indiscreet." + +"Not as indiscreet as your 'Earnest and Confidential Country Talk,'" +cried Krause sharply. + +"I never avowed myself the author of that pamphlet," said Kretschmer +quickly. + +"But every one knows that you are, and you never denied it," replied +Krause maliciously. "This 'Country Talk' is more than indiscreet, +it is foolhardy. In it you nicknamed Maria Theresa, Aunt Tilla; the +Elector of Saxony, Brother Osten; the Empress of Russia, Cousin Lizzy; +and our king, Neighbor Flink. And don't you remember what words +you put into Cousin Lizzie's mouth, and how you made neighbor Flink +ridicule her? Ah, I am afraid you will pay dearly for this" piece of +boldness." + +"It is not quite so bad as your calling Tottleben a notorious +adventurer; for the princes are not here, but Tottleben is before the +gates of Berlin, and will revenge himself." + +"I am afraid our prospects are equally bad, and for that reason I have +come to you, that we might consult together as to what we had best do, +to avert this threatening blow from our heads." + +"You are right," said Kretschmer, drawing nearer to his brother +editor. "Let us consider. Above all things, no exciting calls, no +appeals to the people to perform deeds of heroic valor. Berlin is too +weak for defence; why, then, should we irritate the enemy by useless +opposition?" + +"You, too, are right," said Krause thoughtfully; "let us rather advise +the citizens of Berlin to be quiet; let us wheel boldly round, and +speak in our journals with respect and deference of our worthy enemy." + +"Besides which, it would be well to consult with some of the principal +men who have an influence on the people. For example, let us go to +Gotzkowsky," said Kretschmer. + +"Gotzkowsky gives a great holiday to his workmen to-day." + +"So much the better, for then he can immediately use his influence on +his workmen. Come, let us go at once to Gotzkowsky, this Croesus of +Berlin, who bought for our king three hundred thousand dollars' worth +of pictures in Italy, without having been paid for them up to this +day, and yet is able to take a contract for commissary stores to the +amount of eight millions. Let us go to him; and, hark ye! it would be +as well to take Pfannenstiel with us to back us." + +"Yes," said Krause, raising himself quickly by the arm of his younger +friend, "let us go to Gotzkowsky with Pfannenstiel, and preach +mildness and submission to him and his workmen." + +They both prepared to go. Suddenly Kretschmer stopped as if struck by +lightning, and sank down on a chair stunned. "My article, my article!" +moaned he. "I am a lost man!" + +"What article do you mean, my dearest friend?" + +"The leading article in tomorrow's paper," whimpered Kretschmer. +"Oh, it was a beautiful article, full of inspiration, but it is not +suitable to the times or the circumstances. I wrote it under the +erroneous impression that our armies had gained a victory, and in it I +spoke with great contempt of the incendiary enemy." + +"My God, what rashness!" exclaimed Krause, clasping his hands in +despair. + +Kretschmer flew from his stool, and grasped his hat. "My article! I +must have my article back. The printer must give it up to me. Wait for +me in the street. I come either with my article or not at all." + +Bidding Krause a hasty farewell, he hurried out. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE INTERRUPTED FESTIVAL. + + +Gotzkowsky had as yet received no intelligence of the danger which +threatened the town, and was enjoying the festival in his garden in +the midst of his people. + +They were all collected on a grass-plat for target-shooting. In the +midst of the plat rose a pole with a target. The women and girls were +standing around, attentively and curiously watching the men, who, +collected under a tent, were shooting with crossbows at the target. +Every lucky shot was greeted with a cheer, every unlucky one with +derisive laughter; and the prizes which were assigned to the fortunate +marksmen only served to increase the joy and merriment of the happy +crowd. + +Suddenly loud cries of weeping and lamentation were heard from a +distance. The people looked at each other with anxiety and alarm. The +dismal noise came nearer and still nearer, and then appeared at the +entrance gate near by the strange and wild figure of the linen-weaver, +accompanied by the two editors, Krause and Kretschmer. + +"Pfannenstiel! it is Pfannenstiel, our prophet!" shouted the crowd, +while they hastened with joyous laughter and words of greeting toward +their beloved seer. + +The linen-weaver strode forward with a serious and majestic air, +answering the greetings of the workmen with patronizing nods, and +from time to time stretching out his hand as if to bless them. The +multitude crowded around him, and seemed to look upon the advent +of the prophet as part of the programme of the entertainment. But +Gotzkowsky hastened toward the two editors with a cheerful smile, +bidding them a courteous welcome. They responded to his friendly +greeting with a solemn earnestness, and requested a conference with +a mysterious and important air. Gotzkowsky looked at them with +astonishment; but as he read in their countenances an expression of +deep and anxious concern, he motioned to them and preceded them to a +summer-house on the other side of the lawn. + +"Here we can talk without being observed," said he, casting a look +across at his workmen. "You see my guests are still busy with the +scarecrow which you brought here; and what business has this man, +indeed, among merry people?" + +"He maintains that God ordered him to come to you, to warn you in His +name, and call upon you to protect Berlin," said Krause. + +"Yes," continued Kretschmer, "and he entreated us to accompany him, +trusting to our influence with our dear friend." + +Gotzkowsky looked at both of the men with astonishment. "Tell me, my +worthy friends, which of us is crazy?" asked he, smiling, partly in +derision, partly in pity. "I am called on to protect Berlin, and from +what?" + +"Because the Russians are coming," said Mr. Krause, solemnly. + +Gotzkowsky shrugged his shoulders. "That is an idle rumor," said he; +"two days ago they were still in Frankfort. You see, therefore, that +some wag has amused himself by teasing you and frightening you a +little for the thunderbolts which you two, and particularly the +_Vossian Gazette_, have launched against the Russians." + +Mr. Kretschmer shuddered and turned pale. "I beg you," cried he, "do +not speak of it! Good Heavens! the _Vossian Gazette_ is the organ of +the popular mind, and it is its duty to take each day the exact tone +of public opinion. I abused the Russians, therefore, because--" + +"Because they were still a hundred miles from Berlin. Oh, yes! we know +you, gentlemen of the press. You are full of courage as long as no +enemy is in the field, but as soon as you scent him and see the points +of his lances, you become quite humble and mild; and when he comes +threateningly down upon you, assure him of your respect and swear to +him that you love him," interrupted Gotzkowsky. + +"You are pleased to jest," said Mr. Krause, casting a rapid glance of +hatred at Gotzkowsky; "it is well, indeed, that the rich and powerful +Gotzkowsky is so cheerful. I will notice it in my journal. It is news +for 'Change, and the funds will rise when people hear that Gotzkowsky +has laughed." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance became sad and serious. "You may tell the +world," said he, "that my lips laugh; but how my heart feels, that you +gossips and newspapers know nothing about." + +"God be praised," said Kretschmer, ironically, "you are now +talking earnestly, and I can request you to listen to our serious +representations. It is no idle rumor that I have told you. The +Russians are already at the gates of Berlin. They have hurried thither +by forced marches. This news is no longer a secret. All Berlin knows +it, and it is only accidentally that you have not learned it earlier." + +"Oh, Heavens!" sobbed Krause, wringing his hands, "what a terrible +fate awaits our unfortunate town!" + +Gotzkowsky looked at him with a gloomy frown. "You are, it is true, an +old man," said he, "but even old men should, at such a time, possess +some manhood. But you, Mr. Kretschmer, are young and hearty; what do +you say to this approach of the Russians?" + +"I say," replied Kretschmer, sharply, "I say that it would be madness +to excite the wrath of the enemy by resistance. I say, that those +citizens who call on the people to fight are rash fools." + +"Oh!" cried Gotzkowsky, joyfully, "if there be any such _rash fools_, +then all is not lost!" + +"Can you comprehend such madness?" whispered Krause, "to wish to +oppose an overwhelming force while all our capable men and youths +are with the army in Silesia, and we have no troops but the sick and +maimed; no artillery save two old rusty cannon?" + +"A people willing to fight for liberty," cried Gotzkowsky, "such a +people have the strength of a giant even without cannon and bayonets. +God has given them hands and paving-stones. If we cannot shoot down +the enemy who threatens our liberty, we can beat him down." + +"What do you say?" stammered Krause, looking with amazement at +Gotzkowsky's glowing countenance. + +"I say," said Gotzkowsky, "that you have mistaken your man. I will not +advise the brave Berlin people to yield without having at least fought +for their freedom." + +"But only reflect!" exclaimed Kretschmer, while Krause paced up +and down, wringing his hands and moaning in a low tone; "have you +forgotten that the Russian generals have proclaimed that the +empress has commanded them to leave nothing but air and earth to the +inhabitants of every conquered town and province of Prussia?" + +"Oh, pshaw!" cried Gotzkowsky, laughing, "they will have to conclude +to leave us something more." + +"And did you hear London's terrible threat? He has said his soldiers +should massacre every one, and not spare even the child in its +mother's womb." + +"And did you not hear the brave Schwerin's answer to this Austrian +bravado?" asked Gotzkowsky. "He said, 'My soldiers are not with +child, neither am I.' Well, our men of Berlin are not with child, and +therefore they need not be afraid." + +"But you must be afraid!" whined Krause. "It is disgraceful madness +not to be afraid. How! You can be so unreasonable as to advise war? +But war is the most bitter enemy of prosperity, and threatens property +above all things." + +"Then shame on the proprietors," cried Gotzkowsky, "if their property +is to make cowardly poltroons of them! Liberty is our greatest +possession, and all else must yield to it." + +At this moment loud cries and sounds of wailing were heard in the +garden from the collected workmen, who surrounded the prophet in a +dense group, and listened to his prophecies with anxious wonder as he +uttered them from a high bench. + +Gotzkowsky frowned. "Ah, I understand!" said he, "this good +linen-weaver is your accomplice, my brave gentlemen, and as you wish +to convert me, so does he wish to convert my honest workmen into old +women. Let us see first in what sort of gibberish he preaches his +wisdom to these good people." + +Without taking any further notice of the two editors, Gotzkowsky left +the summer-house rapidly and approached the listening multitude. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE LEADER OF THE PEOPLE. + + +The inspired prophet stood on a bench, and, as he unrolled his +pictures, he endeavored to explain these mystical paintings to his +devout gazers and listeners in equally mystical language. Gotzkowsky +hastened toward this group, and pressed in silent observation close up +to Pfannenstiel's side. + +The linen-weaver, wholly possessed by his prophetic god, had in the +mean while unrolled another picture, and holding it up high with +solemn countenance, exclaimed with a screaming voice: "The day of +judgment is at hand, and destiny is at your door! In my dream I saw a +face like unto no other face, and I heard a voice, and the voice was +like unto no other voice!" + +"And yet you heard it! What ears you must have!" said Gotzkowsky, +laughing. + +The prophet answered calmly, "Yes! for then were seen invisible +things, and then were heard inaudible sounds!" And showing a fresh +picture to the crowd, he continued: "Look at this picture, which +I found this morning on my sheet. It contains the history of your +future, and God announced it to me as I sat at my loom weaving. I +heard a voice crying, 'Pfannenstiel, my beloved son, dost thou hear +me?' And I fell on my knees and answered, 'Yes, I hear.' 'Dost thou +know what thou art weaving?' asked the voice. 'Yes,' said I, 'it is +linen shirting for the almshouse.' 'No,' said the voice, 'it is a +cloth of weeping for the town of Berlin, for the daughters of your +fathers will shed tears, and there will be moaning and weeping.'" + +These last words he accompanied with a sobbing and plaintive howl, +in which his trembling hearers joined. They assured each other in +uncomfortable whispers that Pfannenstiel's prophecies usually came +true, and that, even before the war, he had predicted the coming of +this day of terror. + +But soon Pfannenstiel raised his voice, and its hoarse croaking +sounded above the loud conversation and anxious cries of the +multitude. "Woe unto Berlin!" cried he, with shrieking pathos. "Blood +will flow within her walls! The voice said unto me, 'I will look upon +red, but it will not be a scarlet cloak, and when the red banner waves +thrones will tremble, and there will be no end to the lamentation. +And the cock will crow, and the heavens will shine blood-red, and +everywhere and in all places men will cry, "Blood! blood is the drink +of new life; blood makes young what is old; blood wipes out sworn +debts; blood makes the proud humble. Let us drink blood!"'" + +Here the prophet was interrupted by the loud cries and wailing of +the multitude. The women broke out in tears, sank on their knees +and prayed, or clung trembling and weeping to their moody-looking +husbands. + +Pfannenstiel looked with an air of proud triumph on this evident +effect of his speech, and then continued in a more subdued tone: "But +the voice said to me, 'Hope, and every thing will turn out well, and +the blood which flows will transform itself into a purple robe, and +men will call it freedom. Out of death will arise life.' Therefore +fall down on your knees, for the hour of judgment has come, and prayer +alone, but not the sword, can save you." + +The multitude, carried away by the deception, were in the act of +obeying this order, when Gotzkowsky, who could no longer restrain +himself, stepped rapidly forward, his countenance radiant, and his +eyes sparkling with anger. + +"Listen not to this hypocritical set, this lying prophet, my people!" +cried he, with a voice of thunder. "He will make cowards of you all, +cowards who will submit to the yoke, howling and whining. You would +not have this ignominy put upon you. You will be men, who will defend +their liberty with noble courage to the last drop of their blood, +against the invading hordes of barbarians. For the barbarians are +coming, and their fierce wrath threatens your wives and children. Will +you submit to the Russians with a humble whine?" + +"No, no!" cried the men, and many a clinched fist was raised, and many +a wild but muttered oath was heard. + +At this moment there arose in the street a confused sound of screams +and yells, then the hollow roll of the drum, and the deep clang of the +alarm-bell, which summoned the citizens to the town-hall. + +The garden gates were now violently thrown open, and a band of stout +workmen was seen hastening in wild disorder toward Gotzkowsky. + +These were the workmen from Gotzkowsky's factories, industrious men, +who had preferred working in the factory, and not losing their time, +to the enjoyment of the day's festival, and to whom Gotzkowsky had +ordered double wages to be paid, that they might not lose their share +in the celebration of his daughter's birthday. + +"The Russians are at the gates!" cried they. "All the citizens are +arming themselves. We have no arms. Give us arms, master!" + +The cry was taken up by those who had just been listening to +Pfannenstiel's words. "Yes, give us arms, give us arms. We are no +cowards, we will fight!" Gotzkowsky's flashing eye flew across the +multitude, and he saw in the earnest countenances of the men that they +were serious in their demand, and in their desire to fight. "Well, +then, if you will fight, you shall not want for weapons," cried he, +joyfully. "I have, as you know, in my house, a collection of costly +arms. Follow me, my children; we will go to the armory, and each one +shall take what he likes best. On such a day as this, arms do not +belong to any one in particular, but are the property of him who can +find and make use of them. That is the sacred right of manhood. The +country is in danger! Come to my armory and arm yourselves!" + +The men shouted for joy at Gotzkowsky's words, and pushed after him +with wild impetuosity into the house, and the large hall, in which +the costly weapons were tastefully grouped and ornamentally arranged +against the walls. With eager haste the men possessed themselves +of these arms, and Gotzkowsky saw with glad pride his rare Damascus +blades, his delicately carved silver-mounted pistols, his daggers +inlaid with gold, his costly ornamented sabres and guns in the hands +of his warlike workmen. He then armed himself, and his men, always +accustomed to look upon him cheerfully and willingly as their leader, +fell into line behind him in a long military procession. + +"Now, then, my children," cried he, "let us go to the town-hall and +offer our services to the magistrates." + +And at the head of his workmen he left the house. Soon deep silence +reigned in these rooms, so lately filled with noise and tumult. +The garden, too, had become deserted and empty. Pfannenstiel alone +remained in his elevated position, gazing pensively, as in a dream, on +his collection of pictures. + +After this silence had lasted some time, Krause and Kretschmer crept, +cautiously looking around them, out of the summer-house in which they +had secreted themselves up to this moment. Their countenances were +pale and angry. + +"Gotzkowsky is a puffed-up fool," exclaimed Krause, with a dark frown. +"With his swaggering phrases he has seduced these workmen away from +us, to rush into the fight like wounded wild boars, and to bring the +Russians down upon us." + +"We must not give up all hope," said Kretschmer; "the people are timid +and fickle, and whoever will give them the sweetest words wins them +over to his side. Come, let us try our luck elsewhere. Every thing +depends upon our being beforehand with this braggart Gotzkowsky, and +getting first the ear of the people. You, Pfannenstiel, come with us, +and get up your words strong and spirited, so that the stupid people +may believe you." + +Pfannenstiel clapped up his picture-book, and threw his cloak with +majestic dignity over his lean shoulders. "The people are like a flock +of sheep," said he; "they want a leader, never mind who. Only the +leader must be there at the right hour; and if God has bestowed upon +him the gift of eloquence, he can lead them either into the church to +contrite prayer, or to the slaughterfield to bloody combat. The people +are a flock of sheep, nothing more!" + +"Come, then," cried Kretschmer pathetically; "come and be their +bellwether, and lead the people into the church." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE RUSSIAN IS AT THE GATES. + + +In a few minutes quiet, peaceful, industrious Berlin was transformed +into an open encampment. From all the streets there poured throngs +of armed men toward the town-hall, where the wise magistrates were +consulting on the possibility of resistance, or toward the commander +of Berlin, General Rochow, who had the streets patrolled, and called +upon the citizens, by beat of drum, to assemble with arms, and assist +in the defence of the town. + +"The Russian is at the gates!" This cry of terror seemed to cure the +sick and feeble, and give courage and strength to the wavering. The +old national hatred of the German toward the Russian broke out in its +entire vigor; and vehemence made even the faint-hearted fly to arms, +and caused words of imprecation to rise to the lips of those who were +in the habit of uttering prayers and timid complaints. + +The council of war was assembled at the commander's office, and, +strange to say, it consisted of only old men and invalids. There were +present the infirm veteran general and commander, Rochow, and the +eighty-year-old Field-Marshal Lehwald, the severely-wounded General +Seidlitz, and General Knoblauch, also wounded. These four composed the +whole council, and fully aware of the danger and of the smallness of +their forces, were debating whether they should yield to the demand of +the Russian troops, and give up the town without any defence, or, +with twelve hundred garrison troops, two rusty cannon, a few thousand +wounded soldiers, and an inefficient body of citizens, give battle to +the twelve thousand irregular troops of General Tottleben, who would +soon he reenforced by the army of General Tschernitscheff, twenty +thousand strong, and fourteen thousand Austrians under Count Lacy, +who, as they well knew, were coming on by forced marches. But so great +was the heroic exasperation and eagerness for the fight of these noble +and war-worn veterans, that not one of them advised submission; but, +on the contrary, they unanimously determined to defend Berlin as long +as a drop of blood flowed in their veins. As these brave generals had +no army to lead into the fight, they would defend the town, not as +commanders of high rank, but as fighting soldiers, and waiving their +military rank and dignity to their noble love of country, like other +soldiers, they would each one defend his intrenchment or redoubt. + +But while the military commanders were adopting these heroic +resolutions, the Town Council was engaged in secret session at the +town-hall. The wise fathers were staring at each other with terror +in their countenances, and considering, in pusillanimous +faint-heartedness, whether they would really assume the heavy +responsibility of engaging the peaceful citizens in a fight, which, +after all, would be, in all probability, useless and without result. + +"I vote for submission," stammered out the chief burgomaster, Herr von +Kircheisen, with heavy tongue, as he wiped off the big drops of sweat +which stood upon his brow with his silk handkerchief. "I vote for +submission. The honorable citizens of this town are not called on to +spill their blood in useless fighting, nor to irritate the wrath of +the enemy by resistance. And besides, the enemy will doubtless lay a +war tax on us, and this will certainly be lighter if we submit at +once than if we resist. Further, it is the sacred duty of a prudent +magistrate to protect and preserve, to the best of his ability, the +property of the citizens. It is therefore my opinion that, in order +to save the hard-earned possessions of the poor citizens of Berlin, +already sufficiently oppressed, we submit at once to an overwhelming +force." + +By the brightening countenances of the worthy councilmen it could be +plainly perceived that the eloquence of the chief burgomaster had +told powerfully upon them, and that the question of money which he +had raised would prove a powerful and decisive argument in favor of +submission at this momentous period. + +The assistant burgomaster had already expressed his entire concurrence +in the views of Herr von Kircheisen, and the first alderman was in +the act of opening his mouth to do the same, when the patriotic +deliberations of the worthy gentlemen were interrupted by shouts and +cries from the street below, which drove them in terror from their +seats. They hastened to the windows, and, carefully concealed behind +the curtains, ventured to peep down into the street. + +Down there they beheld a much more lively sight--men and youths, old +men and boys streamed toward the town-hall, and, raising their eyes +and arms to the windows, demanded from the city fathers, with genuine +enthusiasm, weapons and ammunition. Perhaps, indeed, it was only fear +which had suddenly made these peaceful citizens of Berlin so bold and +lion-hearted: one thing is certain, that is, that at this moment they +were all animated by one sentiment, one impulse, and that their deadly +hatred against Russian and Austrian tendered peaceable submission +impossible. The tailor threw away his needle and grasped the sword, +the shoemaker exchanged his awl for a dagger, and all these quiet, +humble citizens had been transformed by hatred and fear, anger and +terror, into most belligerent heroes. + +"Give us arms!" was the reiterated cry. + +An heroic tailor climbed up on the shoulders of a hunchback shoemaker, +and sawing the air violently with his arms, cried out: "The people of +Berlin demand their rights; they will fight for their liberty. Give +the people of Berlin their due. Give them arms--arms!" + +"Arms!" roared the crowd. "We will have arms!" + +"And what do you want with arms?" cried suddenly a shrill, piercing +voice. All eyes were turned toward the spot whence the voice +proceeded, and there was seen the meagre figure of the linen-weaver, +who had leaped upon a bench, and from his elevated position was +looking down upon the people with the confident air of a conqueror. +But Pfannenstiel observed, to his dismay, that this time his +appearance did not produce the desired effect; on the contrary, angry +looks were cast upon him, and occasionally a threatening fist was +raised against the divinely-inspired prophet. + +"What do you want with arms?" cried he once more. "Prayer is the only +weapon becoming peaceful citizens." + +A burst of scornful laughter was the answer. "Down with the +linen-weaver! Tear him to pieces!" roared the crowd, becoming +infuriated. + +"We mean to fight, and not to pray," cried the valorous tailor. + +"We want none of your poltroonery, you blackguard of a linen-weaver!" + +"The tailor is right! Pfannenstiel is a false prophet!" cried another +voice. + +"Hang him!" + +"He wants to make cowards of us!" + +The crowd raged still more furiously, and pressed toward the spot +where Pfannenstiel stood. Threatening hands were raised against him, +and the situation of the prophet of peace began to be uncomfortable +enough, when suddenly two new figures rose near him, and, by their +unexpected appearance, restrained for a moment the wrath of the +people. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BE PRUDENT. + + +These two men, who so unexpectedly appeared at the side of the +prophetic weaver, were none else than the two editors, Kretschmer and +Krause, who came to support him in his exhortations in favor of peace, +and to use their eloquence on the multitude assembled in front of the +town-hall. + +Mr. Krause opened: "Listen to me, good citizens of Berlin; look at +my gray hairs. Age has the advantage, if not of wisdom, at least of +experience. Listen to my advice. You who wish to fight for liberty, be +at least prudent and moderate." + +"None of your moderation!" cried the tailor. "We won't be moderate!" + +"But you will be reasonable and prudent, won't you?" cried Mr. +Kretschmer, with his clear, penetrating voice, raising himself on +tiptoe, and casting his large, light-blue eyes over the crowd. "You +will be reasonable, certainly, and in reason you can tell me what you +wish, and we can deliberate, and decide whether that which you wish, +is reasonable." + +"We want arms." + +"But why do you want arms?" + +"To fight the enemy," cried the shoemaker, whom the crowd seemed +tacitly to recognize as their mouthpiece. + +"You really wish, then, to fight?" asked Mr. Kretschmer. "You wish +to precipitate yourselves into a fight, with the certainty of being +defeated. You wish to put yourselves in opposition to an enemy who +out-numbers you ten times; who, with sneering pride, will drive your +little band of warriors, with his cannon, to destruction! Consider +what you are about to do! Twelve thousand Russians are now before +your gates; their cannon pointed against your walls, your houses, your +churches, and they are awaiting only an opportunity of springing upon +you like a tiger on his prey. And what have we to oppose them? Our +little garrison consists of invalids and wounded men; for our young +men, able to fight, are all with the king on the bloody fields of +Silesia, and only a small band of worthy citizens remains here. Can +they fight against an overwhelming enemy, ten times their number? Can +they wish to do it?" + +No one answered this question. The countenances became thoughtful, and +the redness of anger grew paler on their cheeks. + +"Yes," cried one of the people, "we are very weak." + +"We cannot think of gaining a victory," grumbled out another. + +Mr. Kretschmer perceived, by the darkening faces and downcast look of +his audience, that the prudence he was preaching had already commenced +to press the courage of the poor people into the background, and +raising his voice still higher he continued: + +"Your fighting will be a species of suicide. Your wives and children +will curse you for having killed their husbands and fathers. Worthy +citizens! be prudent, and remember that work and not war is your +calling. Go home, then, and mind your business; take care of your +wives and children, and bow your heads in humbleness, for necessity +will teach you prudence." + +Mr. Kretschmer stopped, and the silent assembly seemed to be +considering whether they should listen to his prudent advice. Even +the heroic tailor had climbed down from the hump of the shoemaker, and +remained thoughtful and silent. + +"The man is right," cried the shoemaker, in his grumbling, bass voice. + +"Yes, indeed," said his gossip, the glover; "why should we sacrifice +our legs and arms? We can't beat them anyhow." + +"Now, my friends," whispered Kretschmer to his associates, "now is +your turn to speak. My breath is exhausted. You speak now and finish +the good work I commenced. Admonish the people to be moderate." + +"I will make them perfectly enthusiastic in the cause of peace +and quiet," said Mr. Krause, in a low voice. "You shall see how +irresistible the stream of my eloquence will be," and striding forward +with pathetic mien, and raising both arms as if to implore the people, +he exclaimed in a loud voice: "You say so, and it is so! We cannot be +victorious. Now, my opinion is, that as we cannot beat the enemy, we +ought not to fight him, and in that way we can cheat him out of his +victory. For where there is no fight, there can be no victory. Resist +the armed bands with the quiet obstacle of mental fortitude. Do not +act, but submit. Submit with a defiant air. Do not use your weapons, +but do not yield them up to the enemy. Keep your hands on the hilts +of your swords, and be quiet. When they mock and abuse you, be silent; +but let them read your defiance in your countenances; when they press +upon you with sword and cannon, retire with a proud smile, and do not +defend yourselves, and we will see whether they are brutal enough to +attack peaceful non-combatants. Act in this way, and the moral victory +is yours, and you then will have conquered the enemy by your moral +greatness, even if you are physically subdued. Against cannon +and bayonets a people cannot defend themselves except by passive +resistance, by submission, with secret and silent hatred in their +hearts. Use no other weapons than this passive resistance, and +posterity will praise you, and say of you, with admiration, that +you were no heroes of fight, but heroes of passive resistance. Your +country will be proud of you!" + +Mr. Krause paused, and leaned, worn out, on the shoulder of the +prophetic linen-weaver. + +"You may be in the right," said the tailor, still rebellious at heart; +"all that sounds right and reasonable, but still it don't suit me, +and I don't see how the country can be proud of us, if we behave like +cowards, and let ourselves be bamboozled this way." + +"Do you hush, tailor!" cried the hunchbacked shoemaker. "The chap +thinks because he can manage a sharp needle, he must be able to yield +a broadsword; but let me tell you, my brave boy, that a stick with a +sword hurts worse than a prick with a needle. It is not only written, +'Shoemaker, stick to your last,' but also, 'Tailor, stick to your +needle.' Are we soldiers, that we must fight? No, we are respectable +citizens, tailors and shoemakers, and the whole concern is no business +of ours. And who is going to pay us for our legs and arms when they +have been cut off?" + +"Nobody, nobody is going to do it!" cried a voice from the crowd. + +"And who is going to take care of our wives and children when we are +crippled, and can't earn bread for them? Perhaps they are going to +put us in the new almshouse, which has just been built outside of the +King's Gate, and which they call the Oxen-head." + +"No, no, we won't go into the Oxen-head!" screamed the people. "We +won't fight! let us go home." + +"Yes, go home, go home!" cried Krause and Kretschmer, delighted, and +Pfannenstiel repeated after them-- + +"Let us go home!" + +And indeed the groups began to separate and thin out; and the two +editors, who had descended from their bench, mixed with the crowd, and +enforced their peaceful arguments with zealous eloquence. + +But it seemed as if Fortune did not favor them, for now down the +neighboring street came Gotzkowsky with his band of armed workmen. He +drew them up in front of the town-hall. The sight of this bold +company of daring men, with determined countenances and flashing +eyes, exercised a magical influence on the people; and when Gotzkowsky +addressed them, and with overpowering eloquence and burning words +implored them to resist, when with noble enthusiasm he summoned them +to do their duty, and to remember their honors as men, the versatile +crowd began again to cry out--"Arms, arms! give us arms!" + +But the humpbacked shoemaker still remained cowed and timid, and the +threatenings of the preachers of peace still sounded in his ears. +He threw up his arms and cried out: "Children, remember what the +gentlemen told us. Have nothing to do with fighting. Be wise and +prudent!" + +"The devil take your prudence!" cried Gotzkowsky. In an hour like this +we have no need of prudence; we want courage! Won't you fight?" + +"No, we won't!" cried the shoemaker, resolutely. "We want to keep our +arms and legs." + +"We don't want to go to the Oxen-head!" exclaimed another. + +Gotzkowsky broke out impetuously: "Are you men, who dare to talk in +this way? You are afraid of losing your limbs, and you are not afraid +of losing, by your cowardice, your most valuable possessions, your +liberty and your honor. Even if you do crawl through our streets as +cripples, your wives and children will point to you with pride, and +men will whisper to each other, 'He too was one of the heroes +who fought for liberty, one of the brave men who, when Berlin was +besieged, met the enemy, and fought bravely for our rights.'" + +"That's fine," cried the tailor, carried away by Gotzkowsky's fiery +words. "Yes, let us be heroes, let us fight!" + +At the windows of the town-hall above, hid behind the curtains, the +wise members of the city Council still stood and listened with anxious +hearts to what was going on below. The countenance of the chief +burgomaster became ashy pale, and drops of cold sweat stood on his +brow. "This Gotzkowsky will ruin us all," sighed he heavily. "He does +not think what he is doing. His foolhardiness will compel us all to +be brave. But we will have to pay for our liberty, not only with our +blood, but with our fortunes. And this man, who calculates so badly, +pretends to be a merchant! But we must yield to this rash mob, for to +oppose an excited people might bring even the honorable Council into +danger. Good Heavens!" cried he, interrupting himself, "what is this +again?" + +To the sound of martial music, there was seen coming down the street a +band of scar-covered veterans, the invalids of the first years of the +war. Some limped, others carried their arms in slings, others again +had their heads bound up; but one could perceive, by their serious, +determined faces, that they were animated by a high and cheerful +courage, which placed them above physical suffering. In their midst, +on a litter, was borne the brave General von Seidlitz, whose wounds, +received in the battle of Kunersdorf, had not yet healed; but the +danger which threatened Berlin had roused him from a bed of suffering, +and, as he could not walk, he had himself carried to the battery at +the Kottbuss Gate, the defence of which he had undertaken. + +As the hero turned to the people with a friendly greeting, and +exhorted them to courage, with short and appropriate words, there +sounded from a thousand voices an enthusiastic "Hurrah!" The people +waved their hats, and cried loudly and tumultuously up at the windows +of the Council, "Give us arms--arms!" + +At the window above stood the chief burgomaster, with trembling limbs +and livid face. "It is decided," said he, softly; "the people of +Berlin are determined to die as heroes, or purchase their liberty with +all the wealth of the town," and, with a weak cry of grief, he sank +fainting into the arms of the head alderman. + +The assistant burgomaster opened the window and cried out: "You shall +have arms. We will defend Berlin with our last breath, and to the last +drop of our blood!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE NIGHT OF HORRORS. + + +Thus, once more, had the impetuous boldness of the patriots carried +the day against braggart cowardice. The Council, yielding to +necessity, had resolved to be brave. The chief burgomaster, who had +revived, donned his robe of office, adorned himself with his golden +chain, and followed by the councillors, proceeded to Commander Rochow, +to ask for arms for the citizens of Berlin. This petition was readily +granted; the armory was thrown open, and there were seen, not only +men and youths, old men and boys, but even women and girls, arming +themselves for the sacred fight for fatherland and freedom. As if on +a pilgrimage, the people proceeded to the armory in a long, solemn +procession, silent and devout, a noble determination, a brave and +cheerful but subdued expression observable in every face. No loud +cries, not a rude word, nor boisterous laughter was heard from this +crowd. Each one spoke in low and earnest tones to his neighbor; every +one was conscious of the deep significance of the hour, and feared to +interrupt the religious service of the country by a word spoken too +loud. In silent devotion they crossed the threshold of the armory, +with light and measured steps the crowd circulated through the rooms, +and with solemn calmness and a silent prayer in their hearts, the +people received from the hands of the veteran soldiers the weapons for +the defence of their country. And the flags which hung around on the +walls as shining mementoes of former victories, seemed to greet the +people as patriots who were arming themselves for the holy fight +against the enemy of their country, the destroyer of liberty. + +For it was no longer a fight for Silesia, a strip of territory, which +was to be fought, but a struggle between intellect and brute power, +between civilization and barbarism, the inevitable companion of the +Russian hordes. Prussia represented Germany, and on her waving banner +she bore the civilization, refinement, science, and poetry of Germany. +Her opponent was no longer the German brother, sprung from the same +stock; it was the Austrian, who had called in the assistance of +foreign barbarians, and who was fighting the Germans, the Prussians, +with the help of the Russians. For that reason, the hatred against +the Austrian was among the Prussian troops much more bitter and bloody +than the hatred and abhorrence of the Russians, the sworn enemy of +the German; and when, therefore, the Berlin citizens learned that +the Austrians, too, were approaching under Count Lacy, this news was +considered by these soldier-citizens as a consecration of their arms. + +"Better be buried under the walls of Berlin than yield to the +Austrian!" was the war-cry of the people, who flocked in constantly +renewed streams to the armory for weapons, the watchword of the brave +militia who hastened to all the gates to defend them against the +enemy. + +But all the streets did not offer so lively or proud an appearance. +Whilst the citizens and the warriors scarcely recovered from their +wounds, whilst the people were arming themselves to defend wife and +child, and the sacred liberty of fatherland; whilst these brave +troops were hurrying toward the Dresden and Kottbuss Gates to meet +the Russians, others were seen hastening down the Linden and Frederick +Streets. But these crowds were unarmed, though not empty-handed; their +faces were pale, and their eyes were gloomy and dull. These were the +faint-hearted and irresolute, who, in fear and trembling, were turning +their backs on a town in which was to be fought the fight for the +noblest possessions of mankind. This was the crowd of boasting, +versatile flatterers and parasites, who worshipped no other God +but fortune, and possessed no other faith than that of property and +personal safety. Berlin might be reduced to ashes, barbarism and +slavery might conquer, a foreign ruler might erect his throne in the +midst of the down-fallen city, what did they care, provided their own +lives and money were safe? + +At this time they were hurrying along, pale with fright, death +and terror in their distracted countenances. Women of the highest +nobility, whose silken-shod feet had never before trod the rough +pavement, fled with hasty steps down the street; shoulders which had +never borne the least burden of life or sorrow, were now laden with +treasures, and gold was the parent whom these modern Aeneases +sought to save from the ruins of the threatened town. All ranks and +conditions were confounded; no longer servant and master, fear had +made brothers of them all. Countesses were seen smiling on their +valets, in order to obtain the assistance of their arm to a more rapid +flight; high-born gentlemen were seen laden down, like the meanest of +their servants, with gold and silver ware, which they were seeking to +save from the beleaguered city. + +What did these people care whether Berlin fell, and was taken or not? +What did they care if the throne of the house of Hohenzollern was +overthrown? They had but one thought, one object--safety in flight. +So they hurried down the street, moaning and wailing, breathless and +trembling in every limb, toward the town gates. They reached the goal; +they stood before the gates beyond which were escape and safety. But +these gates were closed, and the soldiers who guarded them declared +that none should pass them, that the men must stay to defend the town, +the women to nurse the wounded and dying. All begging and pleading +were in vain; in vain did the Jew Ephraim, who had become a +millionnaire by the farming of the mint, offer the sentinel thousands +to open the gates; in vain did the gentlemen, once so proud, entreat; +in vain did the beautiful countesses wring their white hands before +the poor despised workman who now stood as sentinel at the gates. +In this moment this poor man was richer than the Hebrew mint-farmer +Ephriam, for he was rich in courage; mightier than the proudest +countess, for to his hands were intrusted the keys of a town; and +the town gates were not opened to these bands of cowards. They were +condemned to remain, condemned to the torture of trembling fear, +cowardly, inactive supplication. + +Howling and whining, they fled back again into the town, in order at +least to bury their treasures, and hold themselves in readiness to +meet the victor, whoever he might be, with flags of peace and hymns of +welcome. + +But before they had reached their houses, bombs had commenced to fly +into the town, and here and there mortar-shells were heard whizzing +through the air; with the cries of the flying and the wounded, and +the screams of the dying, was now heard the moaning toll of the +alarm-bell, telling that to the terrors of the siege were added those +of the elements. Like gigantic torches of a funeral procession shone +the flames of the burning houses, and covered the heavens with crimson +as deep as the blood of those wounded unto death. At last night set +in, but brought no rest for the sick, no refreshment for the +weary. The fire-balls and bomb-shells still flew into the town, the +alarm-bells still continued their mournful toll, the burning houses +still flamed up to the sky; but yet the courage of the besieged did +not sink. They still held their ground intrepidly, and they still +bade an heroic defiance to the attacks of the enemy. In vain did the +Russians attempt to storm the gates, the brave defenders drove them +back again and again. Suddenly the cannon ceased firing, and the enemy +drew back. + +"What is the meaning of this?" asked the combatants at the gates. + +"The meaning is," said Gotzkowsky, who had just arrived from another +part of the town with a squad of his workmen--"the meaning is that +help is approaching. It means that God is on our side, and succors our +noble and righteous cause. The Prince of Wurtemberg has just arrived +from Pasewalk with his division, and General Huelsen is hastening +hither as rapidly as possible from Koswig." + +The brave warriors received this news with a loud hurrah, and embraced +each other with tears in their eyes and thanksgiving in their hearts. + +"We are saved!" cried they to each other; "Berlin will not be +surrendered, Berlin will be victorious, for help has arrived." And +then they sank down on the pavement, to rest for an hour on this hard +bed, after the fatigue of the fierce combat. + +But Gotzkowsky could not rest. For him there was no leisure, no sleep; +neither was there any fear or danger for him. As he had left his +house, his daughter, and his riches unguarded, with the same unconcern +did he move among the rain of balls and the bursting of shells. He did +not think of death nor of danger! He only thought of his country, and +one great, lofty idea--the idea of liberty--burned in his heart and +animated his whole being. The Council, knowing his influence over +the citizens, had, therefore, as soon as the Prince of Wurtemberg had +arrived with his regiment in Berlin, communicated this intelligence to +the brave patriot, and commissioned him to acquaint his men with the +fact. With glistening eye and beaming countenance did he announce +this significant intelligence to his brave warriors, reviving their +courage, and redoubling their strength as they drove the enemy back +from the gates and silenced his cannon. + +But yet in his soul Gotzkowsky was sad and full of care. He had seen +the regiments of the Prince of Wurtemberg as they marched in, and +he had read in the dull countenances of the soldiers, staggering +and sinking from fatigue, that they were not able, nor even in a +condition, to hold a sword. But yet his heart did not fail him. The +elasticity of his courage seemed only to increase with the danger. +Perhaps a short rest, strengthening food, refreshing wine, might +restore to these men their lost strength. + +And now for the first time since the attack of the enemy did +Gotzkowsky turn toward his home; but not to visit his daughter, not to +inquire after his property, but to open his wine-cellars, and to let +his cashier fill his pockets with gold. + +He then returned rapidly down the street directly to the town-hall, +where the Council were in session, and had invited the most venerable +citizens to consult with them. + +Appearing before this august body, Gotzkowsky painted, with glowing +eloquence and impressive words, the destitute condition of the +regiments which had entered the town. He demanded for them nourishment +and support; he entreated the Council to give these weary troops +shelter and rest. + +"First let them eat and sleep," said he, "and then they will fight +for us and conquer. We cannot expect courage from a tired and starved +man." + +From the Council he hastened to the rich merchants and factory lords. +The rich man went begging for his hungry brethren, and his pride +did not feel itself lowered by the petition. No one could resist his +impetuous eagerness; every one was carried away by his unselfish and +impulsive magnanimity. For the moment, even earthly treasures lost +their value, for more valuable possessions were at stake, namely, +liberty and honor. Every one gave cheerfully and most liberally. + +And now it was a glorious sight to see how, in a few hours, the whole +city changed its appearance. As the night before had been full +of horrors and dread events, the next morning and day were like a +festival, the preparation to a great and solemn feast. Forty of the +largest and fattest oxen were slaughtered, to afford a strengthening +meal to those so much in need of nourishment. About mid-day, a strange +procession moved down the Koenig's Street and across the Palace Square. +And what was the meaning of it? It was not a funeral, for there were +no mourning-wreaths and no hearse; it was not a bridal procession, +for the bridal paraphernalia and joyous music were wanting. Nor did it +wend its way toward the church nor the churchyard, but toward the new +and handsome opera-house, recently erected by the king, whose gates +were opened wide to receive it. It looked like a feast of Bacchus at +one time, from the enormous tuns driven along; at another time like +a festival of Ceres, as in solemn ranks came the bakers bringing +thousands of loaves in large wagons. Then followed the white-capped +cooks, bringing the smoking beef in large caldrons. The rear was +finally brought up by the butlers, with large baskets of wine. + +And the beautiful and resplendent temple of art was thrown open to the +reception of all these things, although they only served for material +nourishment, and in the magnificent hall in which formerly Frederick +the Great, with his generals and chosen friends, listened to the magic +strains of Gluck, there sounded now a wild confusion of discordant +cries. The butlers stood by the wine-casks, filling the bottles which +were carried out by the nimble and active _vivandieres_, and on the +same stage on which once Galiari and Barbarini, Ostroa and Sambeni +enchanted the public with their marvellous singing, were seen now +large caldrons of beef; and, instead of the singers, the performance +was conducted by cooks, who drew the meat out of the pots, and +arranged it neatly on enormous dishes. Gotzkowsky had attained his +object, and Berlin fed this day the exhausted and hungry troops of the +Prince of Wurtemberg. The merchant of Berlin had given his choicest +and best wines to the banquet of patriotism. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RUSSIANS AND AUSTRIANS. + + +After so many horrors and so many hours of anxiety, at last, on the +evening of the second day of the siege, a momentary suspension of +hostilities occurred. Berlin rested after the excitement and turmoil, +and even the besiegers seemed to be reposing. Shells and fire-balls no +longer hissed through the groaning air, and the thunder of the cannon +had died away. Peace--the peace arising from disabling exhaustion +on the part of the combatants, reigned for a short while, and the +belligerents rested for a few hours to invigorate themselves for +a renewal of the fight. The streets of Berlin, lit by the dull +lamplight, were forsaken and empty, and only occasionally from the +dark houses was heard wailing and moaning, either the death-struggle +of a wounded man or the lamentations of his mourning friends. This +death-like silence prevailed for several hours, when it was broken +by a peculiar noise, sounding like the dull, muffled beat of +drums, followed by the measured tread of marching troops. The sound +approached nearer and nearer, and by the dim light of the street lamps +one could distinctly recognize a column of men marching in close order +from the opera-house down the Linden Street. + +It consisted of more than six thousand men, moving down the "Linden" +in deep silence, unbroken even by a word of command. To see this dark +and silent column passing along the gloomy and deserted street, was +calculated to produce a feeling of awe in the spectator. Any one +inclined to be superstitious might have imagined this warlike force, +marching through the streets at the hour of midnight, noiseless and +silent as the grave, to be, not living soldiers, but the large and +daily increasing cohort of spirits of those fallen in battle, taking +its way through the dying town, as birds of prey fly with prophetic +wing in circles round the fields of death. + +And now the head of the column reaches the Brandenburg Gate. The +sentinel stands to arms and challenges. The leader steps up to the +officer of the guard and whispers a few words in his ear. This officer +bows deeply and respectfully, and gives his sentinel a short order in +an under-tone. He then steps back to his command and presents arms. +The leaves of the gate then turned creaking on their hinges, and in +solemn silence the column marched out. This long, dark procession, +lasted nearly an hour; the gate then closed, and the same quiet +resumed its sway in the streets. + +Berlin was dreaming or sleeping, praying or weeping, but knew not that +in this hour fresh misfortune had fallen upon it; knew not that the +Prince of Wurtemberg had just left the town, and retired upon Spandau +with his regiments, feeling himself too weak to resist an enemy three +times his number. And furthermore, it was not aware that the Austrian +Count Lacy, who had already occupied Potsdam and Charlottenburg, with +his division of ten thousand men, would in a few hours be at the gates +of Berlin. + +In serious consultation, in anxious and wavering expectation, the city +fathers were assembled in the town-hall, which they had not quitted +for two days. But, at this moment, a pause seemed to have occurred in +their deliberations, for both the chief burgomaster, Von Kircheisen, +and the aldermen were leaning back in their high, carved chairs, +in sleepy repose, contemplating the wax-lights in their silver +candelabras, which shed a dim and uncertain light into the more +distant parts of the hall. One or the other occasionally threw an +inquiring glance toward the door, and leaned forward as if to +listen. After a while, steps were heard in the antechamber, and the +countenances of the honorable members of the Council lighted up. + +"At last he comes," said the chief burgomaster, raising himself with +an effort in his chair, and arranging the chain on his breast, which +had got a little out of order. + +The door now opened, and the merchant Gotzkowsky entered. + +He approached the assembly with a firm and hurried step. The light of +the candles shone upon his countenance, and in his pale, worn features +you could read the traces of the hardships, the efforts and dangers he +had undergone during the last two unfortunate days; only his eye still +shone with its mild and yet fiery glance, and in his breast there beat +still a brave and cheerful heart. + +"Ye have called me, honorable gentlemen, and, as ye see, I have not +delayed in answering your call." + +"Yes, we have summoned you," answered the chief burgomaster. "The +Council desire your advice." + +A slight, mocking smile played about Gotzkowsky's lips. "It is not the +first time," he said, "that the Council have done me this honor." + +Herr von Kircheisen plucked uneasily at his golden chain, and frowned. +Gotzkowsky's answer had wounded his pride. "Yes, you gave us your +advice yesterday, and it was only by your urgent appeal that we were +induced to feed and lodge the Prince of Wurtemberg's troops. We +might have spared ourselves the trouble, and our forty oxen remained +unslaughtered." + +"The Prince of Wurtemberg has left us, I know," said Gotzkowsky, +sorrowfully, "and we are thrown again on our own resources. Oh, I +could weep over it! Two days and nights have the citizens of Berlin +fought with the courage of a lioness defending her young, and all in +vain. So much noble blood shed in vain!" + +"We must surrender, then?" said Kircheisen, turning pale. + +"Unless the honorable Council can sow dragons' teeth and reap armed +men, unless we can mould cannon and create gunners to serve them, we +must, indeed, surrender!" said Gotzkowsky, in a sad tone. "Yes, if +we had a dozen cannon like the two at the Kottbuss Gate served by the +brave artillerist, Fritz, there might be some hope for us. Those were +beautiful shots. Like the sickle of death did they mow down the ranks +of the enemy, and whole rows fell at once. Fritz is a hero, and has +built himself a monument with the dead bodies of the Russians--and all +this for nothing!" + +"For nothing! do you say?" sighed the chief burgomaster. "On the +contrary, I rather think it will cost us a mint of money. The +Austrians have sent Prince Lowenstein in with a flag of truce, to +demand the surrender of the town. The Russians have also sent in a +flag of truce with the same demand. Now comes the important question, +To which of these two powers shall we surrender? Which will give us +the best bargain?" and as the burgomaster stammered out this question, +he seized a large goblet of wine which stood before him and emptied it +at a draught. He then ordered the servant, who stood at the door, to +replenish it with Johannisberger. + +The aldermen and senators looked significantly at each other, and the +second burgomaster ventured timidly to suggest that the heavy wine +might possibly be injurious to the health of his honor the chief +burgomaster. + +"Wine makes a man brave," he drawled out, "and as long as the city +fathers have good wine in their cellars, the citizens of Berlin may +sleep in peace, for so long will the Council have the courage to brave +the enemy! Let me have wine, then, and be brave!" and again he emptied +the replenished goblet. He then stared complacently at the ceiling, +and seemed lost in contemplation of the laurel-wreath painted above. + +The second burgomaster then rose gently from his seat, and taking +Gotzkowsky's arm, led him with the two principal councillors to one of +the more remote window-seats. With a slight motion of the hand and a +compassionate shrug of the shoulders, he pointed across to Herr von +Kircheisen. + +"Our poor oppressed chief wishes to acquire pot-valor," said he, "and +to stimulate himself into a delirium of firmness; but I am afraid +that the _delirium tremens_ of fear is the only kind that he will +experience. The poor man is very much to be pitied. It is just at +such a time, when presence of mind is most requisite, that the good +burgomaster regularly loses his head, and his brain rushes off with +him like a mad horse to death and destruction." + +"And such a man is the chief magistrate of the town of Berlin," said +Gotzkowsky, mournfully. + +"The citizens chose him, and the king confirmed their choice," said +the burgomaster; "so we ought to be satisfied. But now let us come to +the subject which induced us to disturb your slumbers, my friend. +We need your counsel. The Russians and Austrians both summon us to +surrender, and the Council of Berlin wish your advice, Gotzkowsky, as +to which of these two enemies they shall yield." + +"That is, by Heavens! a choice that the devil himself must envy +us," cried Gotzkowsky, with a sad smile. "To which party shall we +surrender? To the Austrian, who wears the imperial German crown, +and yet is the enemy of Germany! or to the Russian, the northern +barbarian, whose delight it is to trample every human right in the +dust! Let me consider a little while, for it is a sad and painful +choice." And Gotzkowsky strode up and down, absorbed in the deepest +reflection. Then turning to the gentlemen, after a long pause, he +asked, "To whom shall we yield? If my brother were among my enemies, +I would fear him above all others; for a brother's hatred is most +unnatural, and, for that very reason, the most violent. The Austrian +is the German brother of the Prussian, and yet they are striving for +the right of the first-born, instead of confederating for the +general good in unity, in equal authority, equal power, and equal +determination. On the contrary, Austria allies herself to Russia, the +sworn enemy of Germany, and with the assistance of this enemy fights +against her German brothers. Therefore, my opinion is that, if we +really must surrender, and if the Prussian really must yield, let it +not be to Austria. Subjection to an equal is doubly humiliating. It +is less painful to suffer death at the hand of a barbarian than to +be butchered by a brother. I would, then, in this instance, give the +preference to Russia." + +"That is also my opinion," said the burgomaster, and the councillors +agreed with him. They returned to the table, at which the chief +burgomaster still sat, gazing stupidly at the wine-cup. + +"Gotzkowsky is of our opinion," said the second burgomaster, turning +toward him; it would be best to yield to the Russian." + +"The Russian is a capital fellow!" stammered the chief burgomaster. +"The Russian has a great deal of money, and spends it freely. I +esteem the Russian astonishingly; and my decided opinion is, that we +surrender to the Russian." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A MAIDEN'S HEART. + + +Elise had passed the last two days and nights in her room; +nevertheless she had felt no fear; the thunder of the cannon and the +wail of the wounded had inspired her with mournful resignation rather +than with fear. As, at one time, she stood at the window, a shell +burst near the house, and shattered the window-panes of the ground +floor. + +"Oh, if this hall had only struck me," cried she, while her cheeks +burned, "then all this suffering would have been at an end, this doubt +would have been cleared up: and if my father ever again gave himself +the trouble to visit his house, and ask after his daughter, my death +would be the proper rebuke to his question." Her father's long absence +and apparent indifference tormented her and converted her grief into +anger. + +During these days of danger and mortal peril he had never once entered +his house to visit his daughter. With the unmitigated egotism of her +sex, she could not comprehend the greatness, the noble self-denial, +the manly firmness which dictated his conduct; she could see in it +nothing but indifference and cold-heartedness. + +"The most insignificant and unpolished workman is dearer to him than +his own child," said she, proudly, drying her tears. "He is now, +perhaps, watching in the cabins of his laborers, and does not care if +his own house is burned to the ground; but even if he were told that +it was so, if he heard that his daughter had perished in the flames, +he would calmly say, 'My country demands this sacrifice of me, and I +submit.' No tear would dim his eye; his country would not leave him +time to mourn for his daughter. Oh, this country! what is it? My +country is where I am happy, and where I am beloved!" She sighed +deeply, and her thoughts wandered to her lover, her Feodor, the enemy +of her country, in whose heart she thought she would find her real +country, her true home. + +The spoiled child of fortune, always accustomed to see every wish +fulfilled, Elise had not learned the power of self-control, nor to +bend her will to any higher power. Fortune seemed anxious to spare yet +awhile this warm, loving heart, and to allow her a little longer the +freedom of happy ignorance, before it initiated her into the painful +and tearful mysteries of actual life. Besides this, Elise had +inherited from her father a strong will and dauntless courage, and +behind her bright, dreamy eyes dwelt a proud and spirited soul. Like +her father, her whole soul yearned for freedom and independence; +but the difference between them was, that while she only understood +freedom as applying to herself personally, Gotzkowsky's more capacious +mind comprehended it in its larger and more general sense. She wished +for freedom only for herself; he desired it for his country, and he +would willingly have allowed his own person to be cast into bonds and +fetters, if he could thereby have secured the liberties of the people. +Out of this similarity, as well as from this difference of character, +arose all the discord which occasionally threatened to disturb the +harmony of these two hearts. + +Gotzkowsky could not understand the heart of the young maiden, nor +Elise that of the noble patriot. To these two strong and independent +natures there had been wanting the gentle, soothing influence of a +mother's love, acting conciliatingly on both. Elise's mother had died +while she was young, and the child was left to the care of strangers. +Her father could seldom find time to be with his daughter; but, +though seldom personally present, yet his whole soul was faithfully, +unalterably devoted to her. Elise did not suspect this, and in +consequence of seldom seeing or meeting him, and the want of mutual +intercourse, the heart of his daughter became estranged from him, and +in the soul of this young girl, just budding into life, brought up +without companions, in the midst of wealth and plenty, arose at first +the doubt, and later the conviction, of the indifference of her father +toward his only child. But proud as she was, and full of a feeling +of independence, she never met him with a reproach or complaint, but +withdrew into herself, and as she believed herself repelled, strove +also, on her part, to emancipate herself. + +"Love cannot be forced, nor can it be had for the asking," said she, +as, yielding sometimes to a natural childish feeling, she felt an +irresistible longing to go to her father, whom she had not seen the +livelong day; to hunt him up in the midst of his work, to lay herself +gently on his breast, and say to him: "Love me, father, for without +love we are both so lonely!" Once she had yielded to the impulse of +her heart, and had gone down to his work-room, to take refuge with all +her love and all her desire in her father's heart. It was on the very +day that Gotzkowsky had returned from a most important journey. He had +been absent for weeks from his daughter, and yet his first visit had +not been to her, but to the work-room, which he had not left since his +arrival. But Elise did not know that he had travelled with relays of +horses, and that, in spite of the intensely bitter weather, he had +driven day and night, allowing himself no rest nor refreshment, in +order to reach home as rapidly as possible, solely from desire to see +his daughter, whose fair and lovely countenance was the star which +lighted his dreary, lonesome hours of toil, and inspired him with +courage and cheerfulness. Nor could she know that he had only +undertaken this journey because, by the failure of one of the largest +mercantile firms in the Netherlands, his own house had been put in +danger, and he had been threatened with the loss of his hard-earned +wealth. + +With palpitating heart, and tears of love in her eyes, she entered his +room. Her whole bearing was sublime, full of tenderness and warmth, +full of the humble love of a child. But Gotzkowsky scarcely raised his +eyes from his books and papers, did not advance to meet her, did not +leave the circle of his officials and servants, did not even break +off the conversation he was engaged in with the directors of his +silk-factory. And yet Elise drew nearer to him, her heart yearned so +to bid him welcome. She laid her hand on his shoulder, and whispered +an affectionate greeting in his ear. Gotzkowsky only looked at her +hastily, and replied almost impatiently, "I pray you, my child, do not +disturb me; we are busy with very important matters." + +It certainly was business of great importance, which monopolized +Gotzkowsky's attention immediately on his return. It was a question of +nearly half a million, which he would probably lose in consequence +of a royal decree just issued. This decree ordained that the new +_Frederick d'ors_ coined by the Jewish farmer of the mint, and which +were much too light, should be received at par all over the whole +kingdom, and even at the treasury offices. It was, therefore, but +natural that all debtors would hasten to pay their creditors in +this coin which had imparted to it so sudden and unexpected a value. +Gotzkowsky had received from his debtors upward of eight hundred +thousand dollars in this light coin, while his foreign creditors +absolutely refused to take them, and demanded the payment of their +debts in good money. Gotzkowsky, who, in consequence of his large and +extensive connections abroad, had about three hundred thousand dollars +in exchange against him, paid his creditors in gold of full weight, +and lost by these transactions three hundred thousand dollars in one +day. + +Just at the moment when this heavy loss befell him, Elise appeared, to +welcome him. His heart sank as he beheld her, for as he looked at her +this loss appeared in its full magnitude; it seemed as if not he, but +his child, had lost a portion of her wealth. + +Elise knew and suspected nothing. She only felt that she had been +repulsed, and she withdrew, deeply wounded and mortified, with the +vow never to run the risk again of such another rebuff, such another +humiliation. + +Gotzkowsky lost in this hour, not only the three hundred thousand +dollars, but, what he valued above all earthly treasures, the +affection of his daughter, and both without any fault of his own. +Elise forced herself to close her heart against her father, or at +least to conquer her grief at the supposed indifference, or quiet, +lukewarm inclination. And yet this ardent heart longed for love, as +the plant longs for the sunshine which is to penetrate it, and ripen +it into wonderful bloom. Had the friend and companion of her youth, +Bertram, been near her, she would have confided all her sorrows to +him, and found consolation on his breast. But he had been absent for +about a year on his long journey; and Elise's heart, which had always +clung to him with a sisterly affection, became more and more alienated +from the friend of her youth. + +But fate or perhaps her evil destiny ordained that, about this time, +she should make the acquaintance of a young man who quickly won the +love of her vacant heart, and filled its void. + +This young man was Colonel Feodor von Brenda, whom the fortune of war +had thrown into Berlin. + +Elise loved him. With joy and delight, with the unbounded confidence +of innocence, she gave her whole heart up to this new sensation. + +And, indeed, this young colonel was a very brilliant and imposing +personage. He was one of those Russian aristocrats who, on the +Continent, in their intercourse with the noblest and most exclusive +society of Germany and France, acquire that external adroitness and +social refinement, that brilliant graceful polish, which so well +conceals the innate barbarism and cunning of the natural character of +the Russian. + +He was a bright companion, sufficiently conversant with arts and +sciences to talk on every subject, without committing himself. He knew +how to converse on all topics fluently enough, without betraying the +superficial character of his knowledge and his studies. Educated at +the court of the Empress Elizabeth, life had appeared to him in all +its voluptuousness and fullness, but at the same time had soon been +stripped of all its fancies and illusions. For him there existed no +ideals and no innocence, no faith, not even a doubt which in itself +implies a glimmer of faith; for him there was nothing but the plain, +naked, undeceivable disenchantment, and pleasure was the only thing in +which he still believed. + +This pleasure he pursued with all the energy of his originally noble +and powerful character; and as all his divinities had been destroyed, +all holy ideals had dissolved into myths and hollow phantoms, he +wished to secure one divinity, at least, to whom he could raise an +altar, whom he could worship: this divinity was Pleasure. + +Pleasure he sought everywhere, in all countries; and the more ardently +and eagerly he sought it, the less was he able to find it. Pleasure +was the first modest, coy woman who cruelly shunned him, and the more +he pursued her, the more coldly did she seem to fly him. + +And now he converted his whole life into an adventure, a kind of +quixotic pursuit of the lost loved one, Pleasure. In the mean time, +his heart was dead to all the better and nobler feelings. But, at one +time, it seemed as if a higher and more serious inclination promised +permanently to enchain this dreaded rival of all husbands and lovers. + +Feodor von Brenda, the most _blase_, witty, insolent cavalier at the +court of his empress, became suddenly serious and silent. On his proud +countenance was seen, for the first time, the light of a soft and +gentle feeling, and when he approached his beautiful bride, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, there beamed from his dark eyes a glow +holier and purer than the fire of sensuality. Could he have fled with +her into some desert, could he have withdrawn into the stillness of +his mountain castle, he would have been saved; but life held him with +its thousand minute, invisible threads, and the experiences of his +past years appeared to mock him for his credulity and confidence. + +Besides this woman, whom he adored as an angel, arose the demon of +skepticism and mistrust, and regarded him with mocking smiles and +looks of contempt; but still Feodor von Brenda was a name of honor, a +cavalier to whom his pledged word was sacred, and who was ready to pay +the debt of honor which he had incurred toward his betrothed; and this +love for the Countess Lodoiska, although cankered by doubt and gnawed +by the experiences of his own life, still had sufficient power over +him to cause the future to appear not gloomy but full of promise, +and to allow him to hope, if not for happiness, at least for rest and +enjoyment. + +The war-cry roused him from these dreams and doubts of love. Elizabeth +had united with Maria Theresa against Frederick of Prussia, and the +Empress of Russia was about to send an army to the support of her +ally. Feodor awoke from the sweet rest into which his heart had sunk, +and, like Rinaldo, had torn asunder the rosy chains by which his +Armida had sought to fetter him. He followed the Russian colors, and +accompanied General Sievers as his adjutant to Germany. + +As to him all life was only an adventure, he wished also to enjoy the +exciting pastime of war. This, at least, was something new, a species +of pleasure and amusement he had not yet tried, and therefore the +young colonel gave himself up to it with his whole soul, and an ardent +desire to achieve deeds of valor. + +But it was his fate to be carried early from the theatre of war as +a prisoner, and in this character he arrived with General Sievers at +Berlin. But his durance was light, his prison the large and pleasant +city of Berlin, in which he could wander about perfectly free with the +sole restriction of not going beyond the gates. + +General Sievers became accidentally acquainted with Gotzkowsky, and +this acquaintance soon ripened into a more intimate friendship. He +passed the greater part of his days in Gotzkowsky's house. As a lover +of art, he could remain for hours contemplating the splendid pictures +which Gotzkowsky had bought for the king in Italy, and which had not +yet been delivered at Sans Souci; or, by the side of the manufacturer +he traversed the large halls of the factory in which an entirely new +life, a world of which he had no idea, was laid open to him. And then +again Gotzkowsky would impart to him the wide and gigantic plans which +occupied his mind; and this disclosed to him a view into a new era +which arose beyond the present time, an era when industry would +command and raise the now despised workman into the important and +respected citizen. + +While Gotzkowsky and his friend the general were discussing these +extensive plans, and speculating about the future of industry, the +young people, Elise and the adjutant, were dreaming about the future +of their love. + +The colonel had only commenced this love-affair with the daughter +of the rich manufacturer as a new adventure. It was so piquant to go +through all the stages of a romantic, dreamy German love, with a pure, +innocent German girl, and to let himself be led by her through +the sacred mazes of innocent romance, holy transports, and chaste +affection--it was so pleasant a diversion of his captivity, why should +he not enjoy it? + +This attachment to Elise was for him at first only a temporary +amusement, and he toyed with his vows and wooing, until, +imperceptibly, he found his heart entangled in his own net. The ardent +yet innocent love of the young girl touched his feelings. It was +something new to be the object of so chaste and devoted an affection. +He was ashamed of himself in his inmost soul to perceive with what +childish trust, what sacred security and humble resignation this +young, rich, and beautiful maiden gave herself up to him. + +For the first time, he experienced an ardent desire to be worthy of so +noble an affection, and to resemble, at least in some slight degree, +the ideal picture which Elise had formed of him--to be something of +the hero, the knight, the noble being whom Elise worshipped in him. + +At the same time it was so surprising and strange to meet a girl, who, +all submission and devoted love, yet remained firm and immovable in +her purity and chastity, so bright and proud that even he felt respect +for this innocence which surrounded the beloved one like a halo, and +his lips refused to utter words at which her pure soul might tremble. + +With his fiery and mercurial temperament, he had, with a kind of +passionate curiosity, adopted the _role_ of a Platonic lover, and +the libertine in his character had been subdued by the love of the +eccentric. He had converted this love into a kind of adoration. He +placed Elise upon the altar, and worshipped her as a saint to whom +he had turned from the turmoil and wild lust of life, and in the +contemplation and worship of whom he could obtain forgiveness of all +his sins and errors. It affected him to think that Elise was praying +for him while he, perhaps, forgot her in the whirlpool of pleasure; +that she believed in him so devotedly and truly, that she looked up to +him so lovingly and humbly--to him who was so far her inferior. And in +the midst of his wild life of pleasure he felt the need of some saint +to intercede for forgiveness for him. All these new and unaccustomed +feelings only enchained him the more closely, and made him consider +the possession of her as the most desirable and only worthy object of +his life. + +She must be his; he was determined to wear this brilliant diamond, +the only one he had ever found genuine and without flaw, as his +most costly possession; to become, in spite of all difficulties and +impossibilities, unmindful of his betrothed bride and his solemn vows, +the husband of this beautiful German maiden, who had given herself to +him heart and soul. + +In proportion to the difficulties that opposed such a union, increased +his fierce determination to overcome them. He was betrothed, and the +Empress Elizabeth herself had blessed the betrothal. He could +not, therefore, retract his vows without exciting the anger of his +mistress, and history had more than one example to show how violent +and annihilating this anger could be. In like wise, Elise dared not +hope ever to obtain the consent of her father to her union with a man +who was the enemy of her country. She was obliged to conceal this love +with anxious care from his eyes, if she did not wish to expose herself +to the danger of being separated from her lover forever. She knew that +her father, in every thing else uniformly kind and yielding toward +her, was on this one subject implacable, and that no tears, no +pleading, were capable of moving the firm and energetic will of the +ardent patriot. + +Both were obliged, therefore, to preserve their love a secret, and in +this concealment lay for Feodor a new charm which bound him to her, +while it estranged Elise's heart still more from her father, and +chained it in unbounded devotion to her lover. + +In the mean while the time arrived for Feodor to leave Berlin with +General Sievers. He swore eternal love and fidelity to Elise, and she +vowed to him cheerfully never to become the wife of another, but in +patience and trust to await his return, and to hope for the end of the +war and the coming of peace, which would solve all difficulties, and +remove the opposition of her father. + +That besides her father there could be any obstacle, she did not +suspect; Feodor had so often sworn that she was his first and only +love, and she, young and inexperienced as she was, believed him. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A FAITHFUL FRIEND. + + +Elise's father had not yet returned. She was still alone, but in her +soul there was neither fear nor trembling, but only a defiant grief at +this apparent indifference to the danger which had threatened her, in +common with the rest of Berlin, for the last two days. + +She had shut herself up in her room, not that she anticipated any +danger, but because she wished to be alone, because she wished to +avoid Bertram, the faithful friend, who had watched over her during +this time with the most attentive devotion. Truthfully had he remained +in the house, deserted by her father, as a careful watchman; had never +left its door; but, armed with dagger and pistol, he had stationed +himself as a sentinel in the antechamber, ready to hasten at the +slightest call of Elise, to defend her with his life against +any attack or any danger, and Elise felt herself bound to him in +gratitude, and yet this duty of gratitude was a burden to her. It was +distressing and painful to her to see Bertram's quiet and mournful +countenance, to read in his dimmed eyes the presence of a grief so +courageously subdued. But yet she had endeavored to overcome this +feeling, and she had often come to him lately to chat with him about +past times and to reward him with her society for his protection and +faithful presence. And yet Bertram's tender conscience was well aware +of the constraint Elise had put herself under, and the harmless and +cheerful chat was to him all the more painful as it reminded him of +past times and blasted hopes. + +He had, therefore, with a melancholy smile of resignation, requested +Elise not to come any more into the hall, as it would be better, by +the anticipated occupation of the enemy, to remain in her room, in the +upper story of the house, and to lock the door in order to secure her +from any possible surprise. + +Elise had completely understood the delicacy and nobleness of this +request, and since then had remained quiet and undisturbed in her +room. + +Thus the second night had commenced. She passed it like the one +preceding, wandering up and down, not needing sleep, but kept awake by +her thoughts and cares. In the middle of the night she was interrupted +in her anxious reveries by Bertram, who came to her door, and in a low +and timid voice requested permission to enter. + +Elise knew very well that she could trust Bertram like a brother, as +an unselfish, disinterested friend. Therefore, fearlessly she opened +the door, and bade him come in. Bertram entered timidly and confused, +almost overpowered by happiness, for this room into which he came was +Elise's bedroom, the sanctuary of maidenhood and beauty, and he felt +disposed to kneel down and pray, so evidently did this room seem to +him a temple of innocence. + +It appeared to him as if his unholy foot was not worthy to tread this +ground, nor to approach the bed which, with its white curtains, seemed +to wave before his dazzled eyes like a white swan. + +In soft and gentle words he brought to Elise greeting from her father. +He related to her how Gotzkowsky had visited his house, not to take +rest, but to see Elise; how, scarcely arrived there, a messenger +from the Council had called him back to the town-hall. There he had +commissioned Bertram to request his daughter to withdraw from the +front rooms of the house, and to retire into those next to the garden, +where she would be safer and have less to fear from the enemy as he +marched in. + +"At last, then, my father has consented to think of me," said Elise, +with a bitter smile. "His patriotism has allowed him leisure to +remember his only daughter, who would have remained solitary and +forsaken in the midst of servants and hirelings if my noble and +faithful brother had not assumed the duties of my father, and watched +over and protected me." She reached out both her hands to Bertram with +a look full of gratitude, but he scarcely touched them; he held them +for a moment lightly and coldly in his, and then let them go. This +slight and transient touch had shot through him like an electric shot, +and reawakened all the sorrows of his soul. + +"You will then leave this room?" asked Bertram, approaching the door. + +"I will go into the hall immediately next to it." + +"All alone?" asked Bertram; and then fearing that she might suspect +him of wishing to force his company upon her, he added, quickly, "You +ought to keep one of your maids near you, Elise." + +Smilingly she shook her head. "For what purpose?" asked she. "Bertram +is my protector, and I am quite safe. I have sent my maids to their +rooms. They were tired from long watching and weeping; let them sleep. +Bertram will watch for all of us. I have no fear, and I would not +even leave this room, if it were not that I wished to comply with the +rarely expressed and somewhat tardy desire of my father." + +Saying which, she took the silver candelabras from the table and +quietly traversed the room in order to proceed to the adjoining +hall. At the door she stopped and turned round. The full light of the +candles shone on her handsome, expressive face, and Bertram gazed on +her with a mixture of delight and anguish. + +"Bertram," said she gently and timidly, "Bertram, my brother, let me +thank you for all your love and constancy. Would that I could reward +you more worthily! In that case all would be different, and we would +not all be so sad and despondent as we now are. But always remember, +my brother, that I will never cease to love you as a sister, and that +if I cannot compel my heart to love you otherwise, yet no other power, +no other feeling can ever lessen or destroy my sisterly affection. +Remember this, Bertram, and be not angry with me." She nodded to him +with a sweet smile, and retreated through the door. + +Bertram stood rooted to the floor like one enchanted, and gazed at the +door through which this vision of light had departed. He then raised +his eyes to heaven, and his countenance shone with excitement. "God +grant that she may be happy!" prayed he, softly. "May she never be +tormented by the agonies of error or repentance; may he whom she loves +prove worthy of her!" + +Overpowered by bitter and painful thoughts, his head sank upon his +breast, and tears coursed down his cheeks. But he did not abandon +himself long to his sad and anxious thoughts, nor did he allow sorrow +long to take possession of his heart. After a short pause he raised +himself and shook his head, as if to roll off the whole burden of care +and grief with all the power of his will. + +"At least I will always be at her side," said he, his countenance +beaming from the noble decision. "I will follow her like a faithful, +watchful dog, and ward off from her every danger and every misfortune +which comes from man and not from God. She has called me her brother! +Well, a brother has both rights and duties, and I will perform them!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +The hall to which Elise had retired, next to her bedroom, was on the +garden side of the house, and its glass doors opened on a porch from +which handsomely ornamented bronze steps led winding down into the +garden. Notwithstanding the advanced season of the year, the night was +mild, and the moon shone brightly. Elise opened the glass doors and +stepped out on the porch to cool her burning forehead in the fresh +night air; and, leaning on the balustrade, she looked up smiling and +dreamily at the moon. Sweet and precious fancies filled the soul of +the young maiden, and brought the color to her cheeks. + +She thought of her lover, who so lately had appeared to her as in a +dream; she repeated to herself each one of his words. With a sweet but +trembling emotion she remembered that he had bidden her to await him; +that he had sworn to her to come, even if his way should be over dead +bodies and through rivers of blood. + +With all the pride of a loving girl she recalled his bold and +passionate words, and she rejoiced in her heart that she could call +herself the bride of a hero. Even if this hero was the enemy of +her country, what did she care? She loved him, and what to her were +nationalities or the quarrels of princes? She was his--his in love and +faith, in purity and innocence; what cared she for aught else? + +Elise started suddenly from her dreams. She had heard a noise down +in the garden, and leaned listening over the balustrade. What was the +meaning of this noise? Was it perhaps some thief, who, under cover +of the general confusion, had stolen into the garden? Elise remained +motionless, and listened. She had not deceived herself, for she +distinctly heard footsteps. A feeling of fear took possession of her, +and yet she did not dare to move from the spot, nor to cry for help. +Might it not be her lover, for whom she had promised to wait? + +With strained attention she gazed down into the garden; her eye seemed +to penetrate the darkness with its sharp, searching look. But she +could distinguish nothing; not an object moved through these silent +paths, where the yellow sand was sufficiently lighted up by the moon +to betray any one sufficiently bold to tread them. Every thing was +again quiet; but Elise shuddered at these long, black shadows cast on +both sides of the alleys; she was afraid to remain any longer on the +porch. She retired into the hall, the door to which she had left open +on purpose to perceive any noise coming from that quarter. + +Now again she became aware of steps approaching nearer and nearer. +She wished to rise, but her feet refused their office. She sank back +powerless into her chair and closed her eyes. She could not determine +whether it was fear or happy expectation which pervaded her whole +being. + +And now the footsteps ascended into the porch, and came quite near to +the window. Would a thief dare to approach these lighted windows? She +raised her eyes. He stood before her!--he, her beloved, the friend +of her heart, her thoughts, her hopes! Feodor von Brenda stood in the +doorway of the hall, and uttered softly her name. She could not rise, +her feet trembled so; and in her heart she experienced an uneasy +sensation of fear and terror. And yet she stretched her arms out to +him, and welcomed him with her looks and her smile. + +And now she lay in his arms, now he pressed her firmly to his heart, +and whispered tender, flattering words in her ear. + +She pushed him gently back, and gazed at him with a smile of delight. +But suddenly her look clouded, and she sighed deeply. Feodor's +brilliant Russian uniform pained her, and reminded her of the +danger he might be incurring. He read her fear and anxiety in her +countenance. + +"Do not be afraid, my sweet one," whispered he gently, drawing her +into his arms. "No danger threatens us. My people are now masters of +the town. Berlin has surrendered to the Russians. _The enemy_ is now +conqueror and master, and no one would dare to touch this uniform. +Even your father must now learn to yield, and to forget his hatred." + +"He will never do it," sighed Elise sadly. "You do not know him, +Feodor. His will never bends, and the most ardent prayers would not +induce him to grant that to his heart which his judgment does not +approve of. He is not accustomed to yield. His riches make him almost +despotic. Every one yields to him." + +"He is the king of merchants," said Feodor, as he passed his fingers +playfully through the dark tresses of the young girl, whose head +rested on his shoulder. "His money makes him as powerful as a prince." + +"That is exactly my misfortune," sighed Elise. + +The colonel laughed, and pressed a kiss upon her forehead. "Dreamer," +said he, "do you call yourself miserable because you are the daughter +of a millionnaire?" + +"Millions alone do not make one happy," said she sadly. "The heart +grows cold over the dead money, and my father's heart is cold toward +his daughter. He has so many thousand other things to do and think of +besides his daughter! The whole world has claims upon him; every one +requires his advice, submits to and obeys him. From all parts of the +world come letters to be answered, and, when at last, late in the +evening, he remembers he is something besides the king on 'Change, the +man of speculation, he is so tired and exhausted, that he has only a +few dull words for his child, who lives solitary in the midst of all +this wealth, and curses the millions which make her poor." + +She had spoken with increasing excitement and bitterness. Even her +love had for a moment been eclipsed by the feeling of an injured +daughter, whose grief she now for the first time disclosed to her +lover. + +As she finished speaking, she laid her arm on Feodor's shoulder, and +clung still more closely to him, as if to find in his heart protection +and shelter against all pain and every grief. Like a poor, broken +flower she laid herself on his breast, and Feodor gazed at her +with pride and pity. At this moment he wished to try her heart, and +discover whether he alone was master of it. For that purpose had he +come; for this had he risked this meeting. In this very hour should +she follow him and yield herself to him in love and submission. His +long separation from her, his wild soldier's life had crushed out +the last blossoms of tender and chaste affection in his heart, and +he ridiculed himself for his pure, adoring, timid love. Distrust had +resumed power over him, and doubt, like a mildew, had spread itself +over his last ideal. Elise was to him only a woman like the rest. She +was his property, and as such he wished to do with her as he chose. + +But yet there was something in her pure, loving being which mastered +him against his will, and, as it were, changed his determination. +In her presence, looking into her clear pure eye, he forgot his dark +designs and his dreary doubts, and Elise became again the angel of +innocence and purity, the saint to whom he prayed, and whose tender +looks shed forgiveness on him. + +This young girl, resting so calmly and confidingly on his breast, and +looking at him so innocently and purely, moved him, and made him blush +for himself and his wild, bold desires. Silent and reflecting he sat +at her side, but she could read in his looks, in his smile, that he +loved her. What further need had she of words? + +She raised her head from his breast, and looked at him for a long +time, and her countenance assumed a bright, happy expression. + +"Oh," said she, "do I call myself poor when I have you? I am no longer +poor since I have known you, but I have been so; and this, my friend, +must be the excuse for my love. I stood in the midst of the cold +glitter of gold as in an enchanted castle, and all around me was +lifeless, stiffened into torpidity by enchantment, and I knew no +talisman to break the charm. You came, and brought with you love. The +talisman was found; a warm life awoke in me, and all the splendor of +gold crumbled into dust. I was rich then, for I loved; now I am rich, +for you love me!" + +"Yes, I love you," cried he; "let your father keep his treasures. You, +and only you, do I desire." + +She sprang up startled from his arms. In the overpowering happiness +of the hour she had entirely forgotten the danger which threatened her +lover. She suddenly remembered, and her cheek paled. + +"My father!" cried she, "if he should come at this moment! His look +alone would be enough to kill me." And anxiously and tremblingly she +clung to Feodor. + +"Fear not, dear one," he whispered, "he is not coming. God protects +and watches over those who love each other. Do not think of danger. +Banish all care, all fear. This hour belongs to us, and as I now fold +you in my arms with delight, so let it be always and forever. For you +know, precious child, that you are mine, that you can never belong to +another; that you have pledged yourself, and at some future time must +follow me as your husband." + +"I know it, I know it," she murmured; and, in blissful +self-forgetfulness, she leaned her head on his shoulder, and listened +with beating heart to the burning, passionate words which he poured +into her ear. + +Of a sudden, with the rapidity of lightning, she sprang up, as if an +electric shock had pervaded her body, and listened eagerly. + +As Feodor was about to speak, to inquire the cause of her sudden +terror, she quickly pressed her hand to his mouth. "Silence," +whispered she softly. "I heard it distinctly. My father is coming +hither through the garden!" + +They both listened in silence. In the quiet of the night Gotzkowsky's +voice was now heard. He ordered his servants to shut the garden gates +carefully, and watch them well, as the Russians entering the town +would pass by this wall. + +"You are right," said Feodor; "it is your father. Truly this is an +unlucky accident." + +"He will kill me if he finds you here," murmured Elise, clinging, half +fainting, to her lover's arm. + +"I will protect you with my life," said he, pressing her more firmly +to him. + +"No, no!" cried she breathlessly; "he must not find you here. No one +must see you. Oh, Feodor, listen to me. He is not alone; Bertram +and his servants are with him. Oh, my God, they will kill you! Save +yourself; leave me, Feodor, and conceal yourself!" And drawing him +with irresistible strength to the door, she whispered, "In there, in +my bedroom conceal yourself." + +"Never," said he firmly and decidedly. "Never will I hide myself, or +sneak away like a coward!" + +"You must do it," entreated she; and as she saw that he hesitated and +drew back unwillingly, she continued: "Not for your sake--for the sake +of my honor, Feodor. Remember it is night, and I am alone with you." + +"Yes, you are right," said Feodor sadly. "Hide me; no spot must +tarnish your honor." + +With convulsive haste, Elise drew him to the door of her chamber. +Gotzkowsky's voice was heard just outside the window. + +"Quick! hasten, they are coming!" said she, pulling the door open, and +pushing him hurriedly on. + +"He is saved," cried her heart joyfully, as she closed the door after +him, and, sinking down, half fainting in a chair, her lips murmured, +"Have mercy, gracious God; have mercy on him and me!" + +At this moment her father, accompanied by Bertram and the factory +workman, Balthazar, entered the room through the door of the balcony. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE FUGITIVE. + + +Gotzkowsky at length returned to his home. Sad and sorrowful was his +soul, and his brow, at other times so smooth and clear, was now dark +and clouded. He mourned for his country, for the fruitless battles, +the blood shed in vain, and, in the bitter grief of his heart, he +asked himself what crime he had committed, that to him should be +assigned the painful duty of deciding to which of the enemies they +should surrender. And yet the decision was imperative, and Berlin had +to be surrendered to the Russians. + +In gloomy sadness, hardly casting a passing glance at his daughter, +whose anxiety and death-like paleness he did not even perceive, +Gotzkowsky entered the hall, Bertram carefully bolting the doors +behind him, and then in an undertone gave Balthazar and the servants +directions for the protection of the house. + +"What a dreadful night!" said Gotzkowsky, sinking down on a sofa +exhausted; "my heart aches as much as my limbs." + +For a moment he closed his eyes, and lay silent and motionless. Elise +was still leaning trembling and breathless on the chair near the door. +Gotzkowsky raised his head, and his eyes sought his daughter. As he +perceived her, a gentle and pleased expression passed over his face, +and his brow grew clearer. He hastened to her and raised her in his +arms. + +"Bless you, Elise, my child! for two days have I been nothing but +citizen and soldier; now at last I am permitted to remember that I +am a father. I had almost forgotten it during these wild sad days. +Good-evening, my darling child!" + +Elise kissed his hand respectfully, and muttered a low welcome. + +Gotzkowsky said in a gentle tone, "This is a comfort which makes me +forget all my sufferings. Come, my children, let us for one bright +hour put aside all care and trouble, and be happy and cheerful +together. Let us have breakfast. This poor, weak body needs +refreshment, for it reminds me that, for two days, I have been +living on prison fare, bread and water. Come, then, let us breakfast. +Bertram, sit by my side, and our sweet little housekeeper will help us +to coffee." + +Elise rose with difficulty and gave the necessary orders to the +servants; and while the latter were hurrying to and fro, serving +up breakfast, Gotzkowsky reclined on the sofa, half asleep from +exhaustion; and Bertram and Elise sat opposite to each other in +silence. Suddenly there were heard in the distance wild yells, and +loud noises and cries. Then hasty steps flew up the staircase; the +hall door was pulled open, and a soldier rushed in. With breathless +haste he bolted the door behind him, threw off the white cloak which +concealed his figure, and the broad-brimmed hat which covered his +head, and sank with a loud sigh into a chair. Gotzkowsky hurried up to +him and looked at him attentively. Elise, with an instinctive feeling +of the danger which threatened Feodor, turned to the door behind which +he was hidden. + +"The artilleryman, Fritz!" cried Gotzkowsky, with visible +astonishment. + +"Yes, it is me," groaned the soldier. "Save me, Gotzkowsky; do not +deliver me up to these barbarians!" + +Gotzkowsky laid his hand on his shoulder with a friendly smile. "I +would not betray the enemy himself, if he sought refuge in my house; +and you ask me not to betray the most valiant and renowned defender of +Berlin. Bertram, this man here, this simple cannoneer, has performed +miracles of valor, and earned for himself an enviable name in these +last unfortunate days. It was he who had charge of the only two cannon +Berlin possessed, and who, never tiring, without rest or relaxation, +gent death into the ranks of the enemy. Be assured, my son, you have +fought these two days like a hero, and it cannot be God's wish that, +as a reward for your bravery, you should fall into the hands of the +enemy." + +"They pursue me everywhere," said the artilleryman. "Hunted by De +Lacy's chasseurs like a wild beast, I fled down the street hither. You +told me yesterday that if ever I wanted a friend in need, you would +be one to me. Therefore have I come to you. The Austrians have +sworn vengeance on the cannoneer, whose balls swept their ranks so +murderously, and have set a large price on my head." + +"Ah!" cried Gotzkowsky, laughing, "the Austrians advertise rewards +before they have got the money to pay them. Let them set a thousand +ducats on your head, my son. They will have to do without the ducats, +and your head too, for Berlin will give them neither. If we must pay +the money, the Russian shall have it; and as for your head, well, I +will pay for that with my life. You have fought like a lion, and like +lions we will defend you." + +"What have I gained by fighting?" said Fritz, with a mournful shrug of +the shoulders. "The enemy have succeeded in getting into the town, and +their rage is tearful. They have sworn to kill me. But you will not +give me up! and should they come here and find me, then have pity on +me and kill me, but do not give me up to the enemy!" + +"To kill you, they must kill both of us first!" cried Bertram, taking +the brave cannoneer by the hand. "We will hide him in your house; +won't we, Father Gotzkowsky?" + +"Yes, and so safely that no one will be able to find him!" cried +Gotzkowsky, cheerfully, raising the soldier up by the hand. "Follow +me, my son. In my daughter's chamber is a safe hiding-place. The +mirror on the wall covers a secret door, behind which is a space just +large enough to conceal a person. Come." + +He led the artilleryman toward the door of Elise's room. But before +this door Elise had stationed herself, her cheeks burning and her eyes +flashing. The danger of her lover lent her courage and determination, +and enabled her to meet the anger of her father unflinchingly. + +"Not in there, father!" said she, in a tone almost commanding; "not +into my room!" + +Gotzkowsky stepped back in astonishment, and gazed at his daughter. +"How," asked he, "do you forbid me the entrance?" + +"Behind the picture of the Virgin in the large hall is a similar +hiding-place," said Elise, hurriedly; "carry him thither." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately. He only gazed firmly and +inquiringly into Elise's countenance. Dark and dismal misgivings, +which he had often with much difficulty suppressed, now arose again, +and filled his soul with angry, desperate thoughts. Like Virginius of +old, he would have preferred to kill his daughter to delivering her +into the hands of the enemy. + +"And why should he go there, and not remain here?" asked he at last +with an effort. + +"Remember, father," stammered she, blushing, "I--" + +She stopped as she met the look of her father, which rested on her +with penetrating power--as she read the rising anger of his soul in +the tense swollen veins of his brow, and his pale, trembling lips. + +Bertram had witnessed this short but impressive scene with increasing +terror. Elise's anxiety, her paleness and trembling, the watch which +she kept over that door, had not escaped him, even on his entrance, +and filled him with painful uneasiness. But as he now recognized in +Gotzkowsky's features the signs of an anger which was the more violent +for the very reason that he so seldom gave way to it, he felt the +necessity of coming to the assistance of his distressed sister. He +approached her father, and laid his hand lightly on his shoulder. + +"Elise is right," said he, entreatingly. "Respect her maiden +hesitation." + +Gotzkowsky turned round upon him with an impatient toss of the head, +and stared him full in the face. He then broke into a fit of wild, +derisive laughter. + +"Yes," said he, "we will respect her maiden hesitation. You have +spoken wisely, Bertram. Listen: you know the partition behind the +picture of the Madonna in the picture-gallery. Carry our brave friend +thither, and take heed that the spring is carefully closed." + +Bertram looked at him sadly and anxiously. He had never before seen +this man, usually so calm, so passionately excited. + +"You will not go with us, father?" asked he. + +"No," said Gotzkowsky, harshly; "I remain here to await the enemy." + +He cast on Elise, still leaning against the door, a threatening look, +which made her heart tremble. Bertram sighed, and had not the courage +to go and forsake Elise in this anxious and critical moment. + +"Hasten, friend," said Gotzkowsky, sternly. "The life of a brave man +is at stake. Hasten!" + +The young man dared not gainsay him, but he approached Gotzkowsky, +and whispered softly: "Be lenient, father. See how she trembles! Poor +sister!" + +And with a painful glance at Elise, he took the hand of the +artilleryman, and led him out of the room. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE EAVESDROPPER. + + +Elise was now alone with her father. She had sunk down near the fatal +door, and her colorless lips murmured faint prayers. + +Gotzkowsky stood there, still relentless; but his agitated +countenance, his lowering brow, his flashing eyes, betrayed the deep +and passionate emotion of his soul. Struck and wounded fatally in his +most sacred feelings, he felt no pity, no compassion for this poor +trembling girl, who followed his every motion with a timid, anxious +eye. His whole being was filled with burning rage against his +daughter, who, his misgiving heart told him, had trampled his honor in +the dust. + +A long and dreadful pause occurred. Nothing was heard but Gotzkowsky's +loud, heavy breathing, and Elise's low-muttered prayers. Suddenly +Gotzkowsky drew himself up, and threw his head proudly back. He then +walked to the door leading into the balcony, and to the opposite one, +and ascertained that they were both closed. No one could intrude, no +one interrupt this fearful dialogue. + +Elise was terribly conscious of this, and could only whisper, "Pity, +pity, merciful God! I shall die with terror!" + +Gotzkowsky approached her, and, seizing her hand, raised her rapidly +from the floor. "We are alone now," said he with a hoarse, harsh +voice. "Answer me, now. Who is concealed there in your room?" + +"No one, my father." + +"No one!" repeated he, sternly. "Why, then, do you tremble?" + +"I tremble because you look at me so angrily," said she, terrified. + +Her father cast her hand passionately from him. "Liar!" cried he. "Do +you wish me to kill him?" + +He took his sword from the table, and approached the door. + +"What are you going to do, my father?" cried she, throwing herself in +his way. + +"I am going to kill the thief who stole my daughter's honor," cried +Gotzkowsky, his eyes flashing with rage. + +"Father, father, by the God in heaven I am innocent!" cried she, +convulsively, striving to hold him back. + +"Then let me have the proof of this innocence," said he, pushing her +back. + +But she sprang forward with the agility of a gazelle, rushed again to +the door, and clung with both hands to the lock. + +"No, no, father, I remain here. You shall not insult yourself and me +so much as to believe what is dishonorable and unworthy of me, and to +require a proof of my innocence." + +This bold opposition of Elise only excited Gotzkowsky's anger the +more, and was to him a fresh proof of her guilt. His rage overpowered +him; with raised arm and flashing eye he strode up to Elise, and cried +out: "Away from the door, or by Heaven I will forget that I am your +father!" + +"Oh," cried she breathlessly, "you have often forgotten that, but +think now; remember that I am the daughter of the wife whom you loved! +Trust me, father. By the memory of my mother, I swear to you that +my honor is pure from any spot; and, however much appearances may be +against me, I am nevertheless innocent. I have never done any thing of +which my father would have to be ashamed. Believe me, father; give me +your hand and say to me--'I believe your innocence; I trust you even +without proof!'" + +She sank down on her knees, raising her arms imploringly to him, while +burning tears streamed down her cheeks. Gotzkowsky gazed at her long +and silently, and his child's tears touched the father's heart. + +"Perhaps I do her injustice," said he to himself, looking thoughtfully +into her weeping face. "She may be really innocent. Let us try," said +he, after a pause, pressing his hands to his burning temples. As he +let them drop, his countenance was again calm and clear, and there was +no longer visible any trace of his former anger. "I will believe you," +said he. "Here, Elise, is my hand." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, sprang up from her knees, rushed toward +her father, and pressed her burning lips on his extended hand. "My +father, I thank you. I will ever be grateful to you," cried she, +fondly. + +Gotzkowsky held her hand firmly in his own, and while speaking to her +approached, apparently by accident, the door so bravely defended by +Elise. "You are right, my child; I was a fool to doubt you, but I am +jealous of my honor, the most precious property of an honest man. Much +can be bought with gold, but not honor. True honor is bright and clear +as a mirror, and the slightest breath dims it. Oh, how would this +envious, grudging, malignant world rejoice if it could only find a +spot on my honor! But woe to him who dims it, even if it were my own +child!" + +Elise turned pale and cast down her eyes. Gotzkowsky perceived it. He +still held her hand in his, and approached the door with her, but he +compelled his voice to be gentle and mild. + +"I repeat," said he, "I wronged you, but it was a terrible suspicion +which tortured me, and I will confess it to you, my child. The Russian +flag of truce which came into town to negotiate with the authorities +was accompanied by ten soldiers and two officers. While the +commissioner was transacting business in the Council-chamber above, +they remained below in the lower story of the building. I accompanied +the commissioner, as he left the Council, down-stairs, and we found +his military escort in a state of anxiety and excitement, for one of +the officers had left them two hours before, and had not yet returned, +and they had called and hunted for him everywhere. The Russians were +furious, and cried out that we had murdered one of their officers. +I succeeded in quieting them, but my own heart I could not quiet; +it felt convulsively cramped when I heard the name of this missing +officer. Need I name him?" + +Elise did not answer. She looked at her father, with tears in her +eyes, and shook her head languidly. + +Gotzkowsky continued: "It is the name of a man to whom I formerly +showed much friendship; toward whom I exercised hospitality, and whom +I made free of my house, and who now shows his gratitude by stealing +the heart of my daughter, like a pitiful thief. Oh, do not attempt to +deny this. I know it, Elise; and if I have hitherto avoided speaking +to you about this matter, it was because I had confidence in your +sound sense, and in the purity of heart of a German girl to sustain +you in resisting a feeling which would lead you astray from the path +of duty and honor. I do not say that you loved him, but that he wished +to seduce you into loving him clandestinely, behind your father's +back. That is his gratitude for my hospitality." + +Speaking thus, Gotzkowsky pressed his daughter's hand more firmly in +his own, and continued approaching more closely to the door. "Only +think," continued he, "the mad thought crossed my mind--'How if this +man should be rash and foolhardy enough to have gone to my daughter?' +But I forgot to tell you his name. Feodor von Brenda was the name of +the treacherous guest, and Feodor von Brenda was also the name of +the officer who left the commissioner, perhaps in search of some love +adventure. But why do you tremble?" asked he in a loud tone, as her +hand quivered in his. + +"I do not tremble, father," replied she, striving for composure. + +Gotzkowsky raised his voice still higher till it sounded again. +"Forgive me this suspicion, my daughter. I should have known that, +even if this insolent Russian dared to renew a former acquaintance, my +daughter would never be so mean, never stoop so low as to welcome him, +for a German girl would never throw away her honor on a Russian boor." + +"Father," cried Elise, terrified and forgetting all her prudence, "oh, +father! do not speak so loud." + +"Not so loud? Why, then, some one can hear us?" asked Gotzkowsky, +pressing the arm of his daughter. "I will speak loud, I will declare +it aloud. He is a scoundrel who conceals himself in a dastardly and +dishonorable manner, instead of defending himself! a coward who would +put the honor of a maiden in the scale against his own miserable life. +No German would do that. Only a Russian would be base enough to hide +himself, instead of defending his life like a man!" + +At this moment the door of the bedroom was violently torn open, and +the Russian colonel appeared on the threshold, his cheeks burning and +his eyes flashing with anger. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE TWO CANNONEERS. + + +Elise uttered a cry of terror, and stared at her lover with +wide-opened eyes. But Gotzkowsky's countenance was illuminated with a +dark and savage joy. "Ah, at last, then!" said he, letting go the arm +of his daughter, and grasping his sword. + +But the colonel advanced proudly and collectedly toward him. "Here am +I, sir," said he; "here am I, to defend myself and avenge an insult." + +"I have driven you out of your hiding-place, as the fox draws the +badger out of his kennel," cried Gotzkowsky, with derisive laughter, +purposely calculated to irritate the anger of the young officer to the +highest pitch. + +The two men stood opposite to each other, and gazed at one another +with faces full of hatred and rage. Elise threw herself between them, +and falling on her knees before her father, exclaimed, "Kill me, +father; save your honor--kill me!" + +But Gotzkowsky slung her pitilessly aside. "Away!" cried he, roughly. +"What do you here? Make room for us! Here is a man with whom I can +fight for my honor." + +Feodor stepped quickly toward Elise, who was still kneeling on the +floor, wringing her hands, and sobbing from intense pain. He raised +her up, and whispering a few words in her ear, led her to the sofa. +He then turned to Gotzkowsky, and said, "Your honor is pure and +unspotted, sir! Whatever you may think of me, you must respect the +virtue of your daughter. She is innocent." + +"Innocent," cried Gotzkowsky derisively, "innocent! why, your very +presence has polluted the innocence of my daughter." + +"Father, kill me, but do not insult me!" cried she, a dark glow +suffusing her cheeks. + +"Pour out your anger on me," said Feodor ardently. "It is a piece of +barbarism to attack a defenceless girl." + +Gotzkowsky laughed out loud and scornfully: "You speak of barbarism, +and you a Russian!" + +An exclamation of rage escaped the colonel; he seized his sword and +drawing it quickly advanced toward Gotzkowsky. + +"At last!" cried Gotzkowsky, triumphantly, raising his blade. But +Elise, beside herself, and heedless of the flashing steel, threw +herself between them. With burning words she entreated Feodor to spare +her father, and not to raise his sword against him. But Gotzkowsky's +voice overpowered hers. Such wild words of contempt and insulting rage +issued from his lips, that the young officer, hurt in his military +honor, did not dare to listen to the voice of his beloved. It was +he now who pressed Elise back, and with raised arm placed himself +opposite to her father. + +"You must kill me, sir, or wash out this insult with your blood," +cried he, preparing himself for the combat. + +Both were then silent. It was a terrible, unearthly silence, only +broken by the clash of their swords or the occasional outcries of +anger or savage joy, as one or the other received or gave a blow. +Elise raised her head to heaven and prayed; every thing became +confused before her eyes, her head swam, and she felt as if she would +go crazy. She prayed God that He would release her by madness or death +from the suffering of this hour, or that He would point out to her +some way of deliverance or escape. But in the violence of their +dispute and combat, the two men had not heard that there arose +suddenly in the house a loud tumult and uproar; they had not perceived +that a guard of soldiers was drawn up in the street, and that the +commanding officer with a loud voice was demanding the delivery of the +cannoneer who had taken refuge in this house. + +As no attention was paid to the demand, the officer had ordered his +soldiers to break open the doors of the house and enter by force. But +Bertram had anticipated this proceeding by having the door opened, and +requesting the Austrian officer to search the house with his men, +and convince himself that no one was concealed in it. With most +industrious energy, and mindful of the price which had been set on the +head of the cannoneer, the soldiers searched every room in the house, +and had finally arrived at the closed door of the hall. + +Just as the combat between the two had reached its greatest violence, +it was interrupted by fierce blows at the door from butts of muskets, +and they were compelled to refrain from their imbittered struggle. +They stopped and listened, but Elise sprang from her knees, rushed +with a cry of delight to the door and threw it open. An officer of De +Lacy's chasseurs entered with some of his soldiers, while the rest of +the men filled the entrance hall and passages of the house with noise +and confusion. + +With a commanding tone the Austrian officer demanded the delivery of +the cannoneer, who, he asserted, had been seen by all to take refuge +in this house, whence it was impossible that he could have escaped, +as it had been immediately surrounded. And as no one answered his +threats, but only a sullen silence was opposed to his violently +repeated demand, he swore that he would burn down the house and let no +one escape if the refugee was not given up at once. + +Gotzkowsky had at first stood like one stunned, and scarcely heard +what the officer demanded of him. Gradually he began to recover from +his stupefaction and regain strength to turn his attention to things +around him. He raised his head from his breast, and, as if awaking +from a dream, he looked around with bewildered amazement. The Austrian +officer repeated his demand still more haughtily and threateningly. +Gotzkowsky had now recovered presence of mind and composure, and +declared with a determined voice, that no one was concealed in his +house. + +"He is here!" cried the Austrian. "Our men have followed his track +thus far, and marked this house well. Deliver him up to us, to avoid +bloodshed," and, turning to his soldiers, he continued, "Search all +the rooms-search carefully. The man is hidden here, and we--" + +Suddenly he interrupted his order, and gazed earnestly at the door +through which his soldiers were pressing in. + +"Had not this cannoneer, as he fled thither, a white cloak around him, +and did he not wear a broad-brimmed hat?" asked he. + +As the soldiers answered affirmatively, the officer stepped toward the +door, and drew from under the feet of his men the cloak and hat of the +cannoneer. A wild yell of joy broke from the soldiers. + +"Do you still persist in denying that this man is concealed here?" +asked the officer, raising the cloak. + +Gotzkowsky did not answer, but gazed on the ground absorbed in deep +thought. + +As the soldiers thronged into the room, the young Russian colonel had +withdrawn himself to a remote part of the room, and taken the most +lively interest in the scene acted before him. A word from him would +have brought the whole affair to an end, for, as an involuntary +listener, he had heard all that had transpired concerning the +cannoneer. Consequently he knew exactly the hiding-place in which the +latter had been concealed. But it had never come into his mind to +play the informer and traitor. He was only intensely interested in the +issue of the scene, and firmly determined, if the danger should grow +more urgent, to hasten with his weapon to Gotzkowsky's assistance, and +to defend him against the fury of the Austrians. + +Gotzkowsky still stood silent. He was trying to devise some plan by +which he might save the brave defender of Berlin, whose presence, +after such positive proof, he could no longer deny. + +As suddenly as lightning an idea seemed to penetrate his mind, his +countenance cleared, and he turned with a singular expression in his +eye to Colonel von Brenda. + +"Well!" asked the officer, "do you still deny it? + +"No, I cannot deny it any longer," said he, in a determined tone. "You +are right, sir; the cannoneer who shattered your ranks is here in my +house!" + +The soldiers broke out again in a triumphant roar. But Elise looked at +her father with anxious terror, and sought, trembling, to read in his +countenance the meaning of these words. "Can he possibly be capable of +betraying this man whom he has sworn to protect?" thought Feodor, and +yielding to his curiosity he approached the group in the middle of the +hall. Suddenly he felt Gotzkowsky's hand laid on his shoulder, and met +his dark eye, full of hatred. + +"Well," said Gotzkowsky, with a loud, defiant voice, "you are looking +for the artilleryman, Fritz. Here he is!" + +A scream and a burst of laughter were heard. It was Elise who uttered +the scream, and the colonel who greeted this unexpected turn with a +merry laugh. But Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be confused by +one or the other. + +He laid his arm on Feodor's neck, and forced his countenance to assume +a friendly expression. "Dear friend," said he, "you see it is vain any +longer to deny it. Our stratagem has unfortunately failed." + +"What stratagem?" asked the Austrian and Feodor, simultaneously. + +Gotzkowsky replied in a sorrowful tone to Feodor: "Do not disguise +yourself any longer, my son! you see it is useless." Then turning +to the officer, he continued: "We had hoped that he might escape +detection in this Russian uniform, left here by the adjutant of +General Sievers, who was formerly a prisoner of war in my house, but +unfortunately the hat and cloak have betrayed him." + +Feodor von Brenda looked at Gotzkowsky with admiring wonder, and this +rapidly invented _ruse de guerre_ pleased him astonishingly. + +It was a piquant adventure offered him by Gotzkowsky's hate and +cunning, and he did not feel inclined to throw away such an original +and interesting chance of excitement. He, the Russian colonel, and +Count von Brenda, the favorite of the empress, degraded to a Prussian +cannoneer, whose life was in danger! His wilful and foolhardy +imagination was pleased with the idea of playing the part of a +criminal condemned to death. + +"Well," asked the Austrian officer, "do you acknowledge the truth of +this statement, or do you deny being the cannoneer, Fritz?" + +"Why should I deny it?" answered Feodor, shrugging his shoulders. +"This gentleman, who ought to have saved me, has already betrayed me. +I am the man whom you seek!" + +With a scream of surprise, Elise threw herself toward her lover. + +"No!" cried she, loudly, "no, he is--" + +Her father's hand pressed heavily on her lips. "Another word, and you +are a murderess!" whispered he. + +The officer looked suspiciously at them. "You do not deny," asked he +of Feodor, "that you are he who directed such a murderous fire on our +lines? You do not deny that you are the artilleryman, Fritz, and that +this cloak and hat belong to you?" + +"I deny nothing!" replied Feodor, defiantly. + +The officer called to some of his men and ordered them to shoulder +arms, and take the prisoner in their midst; enjoining them to keep a +sharp watch on him, and at the first attempt to escape, to shoot +him down. But when he demanded his sword of the colonel, the latter +recoiled, shocked, and resisted. + +He now became aware of his foolhardiness and rashness, and that he +had not considered or foreseen the dangerous and perhaps dishonorable +consequences. However, as he had gone so far, he considered that it +would be disgraceful and cowardly to retreat now. He was also desirous +of pursuing to the end this adventure which he had begun with so much +boldness and daring. He drew his sword, and with considerable strength +breaking it in pieces, he threw them at the feet of the Austrian +officer. + +That officer shrugged his shoulders. "Your insolence will only make +your situation worse. Remember, you are our prisoner." + +"He must and shall die!" shouted the soldiers, thronging around +Feodor, angrily. + +The officer ordered silence. "He must die," said he, "that is true; +but we must first carry him to the general, to obtain the price +offered for him." + +The soldiers surrounded him and shoved him toward the door. But Elise +broke through the crowd. With flashing eyes, and cheeks burning with +a feverish excitement, she rushed toward Feodor. "No!" cried she, with +all the ardor of love, "no, I will not leave you. You are going to +your death!" + +Feodor kissed her lightly on the forehead, and replied with a smile, +"I fear nothing. Fortune does not forsake a brave soldier." + +He then took her by the hand and led her to her father. Gazing on him +with a long and speaking look, he continued: "Here, Father Gotzkowsky, +I bring your daughter to you: be a better father to her than you have +been a friend to me. These are my farewell words." + +He leaned forward as if to give Gotzkowsky a parting embrace, and +whispered to him: "I hope we are now quit! I have atoned for my fault. +You will no longer wish to punish your daughter for my transgression." + +He then threw the white cloak around him, and bidding Elise, who +leaned half fainting against her father, a tender farewell, he stepped +back into the ranks of the guard. + +"Attention! shoulder arms!" commanded the officer; and the Austrians +left the hall with closed ranks, the prisoner in their midst. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +FATHER GOTZKOWSKY. + + +The door had closed behind the soldiers and their prisoner. Gotzkowsky +and Elise remained behind, silent and immersed in the deep sorrows of +their souls. Neither spoke a word; both stood motionless and listened. + +They heard the soldiers hurry down the steps; they heard the house +door violently thrown open, and the officer announce in a loud voice +to those of his soldiers who were waiting in the street, the lucky +capture of the artilleryman. + +A cry of triumph from the Austrians was the answer; then was heard +the loud word of command from the officer, and the roll of the drum +gradually receding in the distance until it was no longer audible. +Every thing was silent. + +"Have mercy, Father in heaven have mercy! They are leading him to +death!" cried Elise in a heart-rending tone, and she sank on her knees +in prayer. + +"The brave cannoneer is saved!" murmured Gotzkowsky in a low voice +to himself, and he too folded his hands in prayer. Was it a prayer of +gratitude, or did it proceed from the despairing heart of a father? + +His countenance had a bright and elevated expression; but as he turned +his eyes down on his daughter, still on her knees, they darkened, +and his features twitched convulsively and painfully. His anger had +evaporated, and his heart was filled with boundless pity and love. He +felt nothing but painful, sorrowful compassion for this young girl +who lay deathly pale and trembling with suffering on the floor. His +daughter was weeping, and his heart yearned toward her to forgive her +every thing, to raise her up and comfort her. + +Suddenly Elise started up from her knees and strode toward her father. +There was something solemn and imposing in her proud bearing, her +extraordinary composure, which only imperfectly veiled her raging +grief and passionate excitement. + +"Father," said she solemnly, and her voice sounded hoarse and cold, +"may God forgive you for what you have done! At this moment, when +perhaps he is suffering death, I repeat it, I am innocent." + +This proud composure fell freezingly on Gotzkowsky's heart, and drove +back all the milder forgiving impulses. He remembered only the shame +and the injured honor of his daughter. + +"You assert your innocence, and yet you had a man concealed in the +night in your bedchamber!" + +"And yet I am innocent, father!" cried Elise vehemently. "Read it on +my forehead, see it in my eyes, which do not fear to meet yours. I am +innocent!" + +And completely overpowered by the bitter and desperate anguish of +her soul, she continued, still more excited, "But how does all this +concern you? It was not my honor that you were interested in; you did +not seek to avenge that. You only wished to punish me for daring to +assert my freedom and independence, for daring to love without having +asked your leave. The rich man to whom all bend, whom all worship as +the priest of the powerful idol which rules the world, the rich man +sees with dismay that there is one being not dazzled by his treasures +who owns an independent life, a will of her own, and a heart that he +cannot command. And because this being does not of her own accord how +down before him he treads it in the dust, whether it be his own child +or not." + +"Elise," cried Gotzkowsky, shocked, "Elise, are you mad? Do you know +that you are speaking to your father?" + +But her tortured heart did not notice this appeal; and only +remembering that perhaps at this moment her lover was suffering death +through her father's fault, she allowed herself to be carried away by +the overpowering force of her grief. She met the flashing eye of her +father with a smile of contempt, and said, coldly: "Oh yes, you may +look at me. I do not fear your angry glances. I am free; you yourself +have absolved me from any fear of you. You took from me my lover, and +at the same time deprived yourself of your child." + +"O God!" cried Gotzkowsky in an undertone, "have I deserved this, +Father in heaven?" and he regarded his daughter with a touching +expression. + +But she was inexorable; sorrow had unseated her judgment, and "Oh!" +cried she in a tone of triumph, "now I will confess every thing to +you, how I have suffered and what I have undergone." + +"Elise!" cried he painfully, "have I not given you every thing your +heart could desire?" + +"Yes!" cried she, with a cruel laugh, "you fulfilled all my wishes, +and thereby made me poor in wishes, poor in enjoyment. You deprived me +of the power of wishing, for every thing was mine even before I could +desire it. It was only necessary for me to stretch out my hand, and it +belonged to me. Cheerless and solitary I stood amidst your wealth, and +all that I touched was turned into hard gold. The rich man's daughter +envied the beggar woman in the street, for she still had wishes, +hopes, and privations." + +Gotzkowsky listened to her, without interrupting her by a word or even +a sigh. Only now and then he raised his hand to his forehead, or cast +a wandering, doubtful look at his daughter, as if to convince himself +that all that was passing was not a mad, bewildering dream, but +painful, cruel reality. + +But when Elise, breathless and trembling with excitement, stopped for +a moment, and he no longer heard her cutting accents of reproach, he +pressed both hands upon his breast, as if to suppress a wail over the +annihilation of his whole life. "O God!" muttered he in a low voice, +"this is unparalleled agony! This cuts into a father's heart!" + +After a pause, Elise continued: "I too was a beggar, and I hungered +for the bread of your love." + +"Elise, oh, my child, do you not know then that I love you +infinitely?" + +But she did not perceive the loving, almost imploring looks which her +father cast upon her. She could see and think only of herself and her +own tormented heart. + +"Yes," said she, "you love me as one loves a jewel, and has it set +in gold in order to make it more brilliant. You loved me as a costly +ornament of your rooms, as something which gave you an opportunity of +exercising the splendor of your liberality, and to be produced as an +evidence of your renowned wealth. But you did not love me as a father; +you did not perceive that I wept in secret, or if you did see it, you +consoled me with diamonds, with rich dresses, to make me smile. But +you did not give me your father's heart. At last the rich man's child +discovers a happiness not to be bought with gold or treasures, a +happiness that the millions of her father could not purchase for +her. This happiness is--love. The only possession that I have owned, +father, contrary to your will, you have deprived me of, because it was +mine against your will. Now, poor rich man, take all your gold, +and seek and buy yourself a child with it. Me you have lost!" and +staggering back with a sob, she sank fainting on the carpet. + +A dread silence now reigned in the room. Gotzkowsky stood motionless, +with his eyes directed toward heaven. The cruel, mocking words of +his daughter sounded over and over again in his ears, and seemed to +petrify the power of his will and chain him fast, as if rooted to the +floor. Gradually he recovered from this apathy of grief. The stagnant +blood revived in his veins, and shot like burning streams of fire to +his heart. He bent over his daughter, and gazing for a long time at +her, his features assumed a gentler and softer expression. Tenderly +with his hand he smoothed the tresses from her clear, high forehead; +and as he did so, he almost smiled again, so beautiful and charming +did she seem to him in her death-like repose. + +"She has fainted," whispered he, low, as if fearful of awakening +her. "So much the better for her; and when she recovers, may she have +forgotten all the cruel words that she has uttered!" + +He laid his hand on her head as if to bless her, and love and +forgiveness were expressed in his looks. A perfect peace seemed to +pervade his whole frame. In this moment he forgave her all the pain, +all the suffering she had caused him. He pardoned her those unjust +reproaches and accusations, and with lofty emotion, raising his eyes +toward heaven, he exclaimed, "O God! thou seest my heart. Thou knowest +that love alone has possession of its very depths, love to my child! +and my child has no faith in me. I have worked--I am rich--I have +amassed wealth--only for her. I thought of my child as I sat at +my desk during the long, weary nights, busied with difficult +calculations. I remembered my daughter when I was wearied out and +overcome by this laborious work. She should be happy; she should be +rich and great as any princess; for this I worked. I had no time to +toy or laugh with her, for I was working for her like a slave. And +this," continued he with a sad smile, "this is what she reproaches me +with. There is nothing in which I believe, nothing but my child, and +my child does not believe in me! The world bows down before me, and I +am the poorest and most miserable beggar." + +Overpowered by these bitter thoughts, which crowded tumultuously upon +his brain, he leaned his head upon his hand and wept bitterly. Then, +after a long pause, he drew himself up erect, and, with a determined +gesture, shook the tears from his eyes. + +"Enough!" said he, loudly and firmly, "enough; my duty shall cure me +of all this suffering. That I must not neglect." + +He rang the bell, and ordered the servant-maids, who appeared, to +raise up the insensible girl and bear her to her room. + +But when the maidens called the waiting-man to their assistance to +raise their mistress, Gotzkowsky pushed them all aside, and carried +her softly and gently, as carefully and tenderly as a mother, to a +couch, on which he placed her. He then pressed a fervent kiss upon her +brow. Elise began to move, a faint blush overspread her cheeks, she +opened her eyes. Gotzkowsky immediately stepped back, and signed to +her maids to carry her into her room. + +He looked after her until she had disappeared, his eyes dimmed with +tears. "My child," said he, in a low voice, "she is lost to me. Oh, I +am a poor, pitiable father!" With a deep groan he pressed his hands +to his face, and nothing was heard but the painful sobs wrung from the +heart of this father wrestling with his grief. + +Suddenly there arose from without loud lamentations and cries for +help. They came nearer and nearer, and at last reached Gotzkowsky's +house, and filled its halls and passages. It was not the outcry of +a single person. From many voices came the sounds of lamenting and +weeping, screams and shrieks: + +"Help! help! have pity on us, save us! The Austrians are hewing us +down--they are burning our houses--save us!" + +Gotzkowsky dropped his hands from his face and listened. "What was +that? who cries for help?" asked he, dreamingly, still occupied with +his own sorrows, scarcely conscious of the reality. But suddenly he +started, and from his eyes beamed life and courage. "Ah!" cried he +aloud, "mankind is suffering, and I am thinking of my own griefs. I +know these voices. The wives and children of my workmen, the poor +and oppressed of the city are calling me. The people need me. Up, +Gotzkowsky! give them your heart, your life. Endeavor to be a father +to the unfortunate, and you will not be poor in children!" + +Without the wailing and cries for help continued to resound, and the +voices of weeping and trembling women and plaintive children cried +aloud, "Gotzkowsky, help us! have pity on us, Father Gotzkowsky!" + +"Father!" cried he, raising his head, his countenance beaming with +delight. "They call me father, and yet I complain. Up! to my children +who love me, and who need my help!" + + * * * * * + + + + +BOOK II. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE TWO EDITORS. + + +On the morning succeeding the night of horrors and confusion in which +Berlin had surrendered to the conqueror, the vanguard of the Russians +marched into the town through the Koenig's Gate. But the commanding +general, Tottleben, wished to make his triumphal entry with his staff +and the main body of his army through the Kottbuss Gate, and had +ordered the magistracy of the town to meet him there, and to +bring with them a deputation of the merchants, to determine what +contribution should be laid upon them. But before the Russian general +could make his entry, the vanguard of De Lacy's army corps had +penetrated into the Frederick Street suburb, and were committing the +most atrocious acts of cruelty in the New Street. With wild yells they +entered the houses to rob and plunder, ill-treating those who refused +to give up their valuables, and by violent threats of incendiarism, +raising forced levies from the frightened inhabitants. + +But it was not alone this lust of plunder in the soldiers which spread +terror and dismay in each house and in every family. Count De Lacy +possessed a list of those persons who, by word, deed, or writing, had +declared against Austria or Russia, and he gave it to his officers, +with the order that they should not hesitate at any measures, any +threats or acts of violence, to obtain possession of these people. +Besides which, he promised a considerable reward for each "traitor" +brought to him; and it was therefore no wonder that these officers, +with brutal and avaricious zeal, had scarcely arrived in the city +before they commenced the pursuit of these outlaws. With fearful yells +they rushed into the houses, shouting out the names of those on the +pursuit of whom they were bent, and whose seizure would secure them a +golden reward. + +Naturally enough, the writers and journalists were the first on whom +the vengeful wrath of the conqueror was poured, for it has ever been +the lot of authors to suffer for the misfortunes of the people, to be +made responsible for the being and thinking, the will and action of +the nation to which they belong. But it is only in days of misfortune +that the responsibility of authors and poets commences. They must +answer for the ill luck, but are never rewarded for the happiness of +the nation. + +Three names, especially, did De Lacy's chasseurs cry out with a raging +howl for vengeance, through the Frederick-Stadt and down the Linden +Street, and they searched for their owners in every house. + +"De Justi! De Justi!"--with this cry one of the Austrian officers +rushed through the street, knocked with his sword violently against +the closed house doors, and demanded with savage threats the delivery +of this criminal for whose arrest a high premium had been offered. + +M. De Justi was indeed a notorious criminal. Not that he had written +much or badly, but principally because he had dared to use his sharp +pen against the Austrian empress, and her allies the Russians and +Saxons. It was especially three pamphlets which excited the wrath of +the victorious enemy. These pamphlets were called: "Proof that the +Empress should be deposed;" "Why and wherefore Certain Nations in +Europe are disposed to become Anthropophagous," and lastly, "Account +of the life of Count Bruehl." He had offended not only the Austrians, +but also the Russians and Saxons. It was therefore natural that these +three powers reigning in Berlin should wish to take their revenge on +the writer of these insulting pamphlets. + +But De Justi had been prudent enough to escape from the pursuit of +his revengeful enemies. During the siege he had betaken himself to +the house of a friend in a more secure street, and had hidden in the +cellar, where it was impossible to find him. As they could not get +possession of the writer, they were obliged to cool their wrath on his +treasonable writings. They were dragged in his stead, as prisoners of +state and dangerous criminals, to headquarters at the New Market. + +The two other writers, whom the Austrians pursued with furious zeal, +were the two newspaper editors, Kretschmer and Krause. These two +had no idea of such pursuit; indeed, they did not even know that the +Austrians had penetrated into the city. In the safe hiding-place in +which both of them had passed the night they had only learned that +Berlin had surrendered to the Russians, and that General Tottleben +had ordered the magistrates to receive him the next morning at the +Kottbuss Gate at eight o'clock. + +It was intended that the reception should be a brilliant and solemn +one, and that the general should be mollified and conciliated by +humble subjection; it was also determined to endeavor, by an +offering of money made to him individually, to induce him to make the +contribution laid on the town moderate and light. + +The news was like a thunder-clap to the two editors, for it compelled +them to leave their safe hiding-place, and to venture out into +the dangerous world. For these gentlemen, editors of such renowned +journals, who prided themselves on giving their readers the most +recent and important intelligence, would not dare to be absent at the +reception of the Russian general. For the love of their country they +had to forget their own fears, and, for the honor of their journals, +face danger like true heroes. + +Day had scarcely dawned, and deep silence and death-like stillness +reigned at the Kottbuss Gate. The wings of the gate were closed, and +the watchman had withdrawn into his little box, and was resting from +the events of the past days. Dawn still lay like a veil over poor, +anxious Berlin, and concealed her tears and bloody wounds. + +The silence was suddenly interrupted by the sound of approaching +footsteps, and around the nearest corner glided the cowering figure +of a man. He remained still for a minute and listened; then, convinced +that all around him was quiet and silent, he crept along, keeping +anxiously close to the houses, and reached unperceived the pillar on +the right side of the gate, in the dark shadow of which he concealed +himself. This man was no other than Mr. Kretschmer, the editor of the +_Vossian Gazette,_ who made himself comfortable in his hiding-place. + +"This is quite nice and right," said he, shoving a stone behind the +pillar, in order to raise himself to a higher point of view. "From +here I can hear and observe every thing." + +So, settling himself on the stone, he leaned back in the corner of the +door-pillar, as if it were the leathern arm-chair in his _sanctum_. A +comfortable smile stole over his features. + +"This time," said he, "at least, I have forestalled my rival, good +Mr. Krause. To-morrow the _Vossian Gazette_ will be the only one which +will be able to report, from actual observation, on the formal entry +of the Russian general. Oh, how vexed _Spener's_ will be! There is +seven o'clock striking. In an hour the ceremony will begin. _Spener's +Journal_ still sleeps, while the _Vossian Gazette_ wakes and works, +and is alert to satisfy the curiosity of Berlin." + +Poor, benighted editor of the _Vossian_! You, indeed, could not +see him, but the veil of the dawning day, which spread over Berlin, +concealed your rival, as well as yourself, in its folds. His drawn-up +figure was not visible to your dimmed sight, as he sneaked along the +houses, and hid himself behind the pillar on the left of the gate. +While you were rejoicing over the long sleep of _Spener's Journal_, +its editor, Mr. Krause, was standing opposite to you, behind the +pillar, whither he had come, notwithstanding his sixty-eight years, +like you, to witness the entrance of the Russians. And happy was he +in spirit at this victory obtained over his rival, the editor of the +_Vossian Gazette_, and it made him very proud indeed to think that +this once he had forestalled Mr. Kretschmer, and consequently would +have the monopoly of describing in the morning's paper, to the people +of Berlin, the magnificent and pompous entrance of the Russians! + +The editor of the _Vossian Gazette_ had no idea of the vicinity of his +rival. He continued to congratulate himself on the advantage he had +obtained, and proceeded cheerfully in his soliloquy. "It makes me +laugh to think of _Spener's Journal_. I, myself, advised Mr. Krause +to conceal himself, and the good man faithfully followed my advice. +Perhaps the little old gentleman dreams that I am at this moment +sitting by my fireside, while there is so much matter for my newspaper +here. Good matter, too, that can be moulded into an interesting +article, is not so common that it can be carelessly squandered. Sleep, +therefore, sleep, good _Spener_--the _Vossian_ wakes." + +But _Spener_ did not sleep. He was at the opposite pillar, smirking +and saying to himself, "How lucky it is that I have anticipated the +_Vossian_!" He then was silent, but his thoughts were active, and in +the bottom of his heart he instituted some very serious reflections +upon the superfluousness of a second newspaper, how perfectly +unnecessary it was in fact. + +"This _Vossian Gazette_ is perfectly intolerable," thought he. +"There ought to be a law prohibiting the publishing of more than one +newspaper in each town. Then the public would always get reliable +news, and draw its political opinions from one source, which would be +undoubted, and it would accept as true what we gave forth for truth. +If the government would follow this plan, and allow only one newspaper +to each town, and conciliate this one with money or patronage, mankind +would be much happier and more contented, and less liable to be +distracted by the most opposite political views and information. What +profits the existence of this _Vossian Gazette_? What does it do +but rob me of my subscribers? By Heavens! I wish the Russian would +exterminate it thoroughly." + +While Mr. Krause was thus speaking to himself, Mr. Kretschmer had +followed the same course of thought, and, very naturally, arrived at +a similar conclusion. He, too, had to confess that _Spener's Journal_ +was very inconvenient, and hated its editor from the bottom of his +heart. In the vehemence of his vexation, he overlooked the necessary +precaution, and cried out, "Cursed be this rival, this man who has the +presumption to imagine he can compete with me!" + +Mr. Krause shuddered at the sound of this voice, which seemed to him +as it were the echo of his own unspoken thoughts, but he mastered +his alarm, and cried aloud, "Did any one speak?" "Did any one speak?" +sounded back again, and two heads were seen protruding from the +pillars on each side of the gate, the eyes in them inquiringly peering +at each other. The morning in the mean while had become lighter, and, +with an inward shudder, the two gentlemen recognized each other. + +"It is _Spener's_! May the devil take him!" thought Mr. Kretschmer. + +"It is the _Vossian_! Damn the fellow!" thought Mr. Krause. + +But while they thought this to themselves, they rushed forward and +embraced each other, with greetings and assurances of friendship, to +all appearances warm and sincere. + +"I am not mistaken! It is my dear friend Krause." + +"Oh, what happiness! my dear Kretschmer!" + +And they shook each other's hands and repeated their asseverations of +friendship and esteem, but, at the same time, breathed in their hearts +their curses and execrations. But the two editors were not the only +persons who had sought the Kottbuss Gate at this early hour. An +Austrian officer with a guard of soldiers, in his search after the two +editors, had also reached the spot, and was marching with his men from +the corner near the gate, looking eagerly right and left and up at all +the windows. His eye fell upon these two men who were shrinking +from his sight, uttering pious ejaculations to Heaven. The officer +approached them and demanded their names. Neither answered. The +officer repeated his question, and accompanied it with such threats as +convinced Mr. Krause of the imperative necessity of answering it. He +bowed, therefore, respectfully to the officer, and pointing to his +friend, said, "This is Mr. Kretschmer, the editor of the _Vossian +Gazette_." + +Kretschmer cast upon him a look full of hatred and revenge. "And +this," said he, with a wicked smile, "is Mr. Krause, editor of +_Spener's Journal_." + +An expression of joyous triumph shone in the countenance of the +officer: "You are my prisoners, gentlemen," said he, as he beckoned to +his soldiers to arrest them. + +Pale did Mr. Krause grow as he drew back a step. "Sir, this must be a +mistake. We are quiet, peaceable citizens, who have nothing to do with +the war, but only busy ourselves with our pens." + +"Our arrest is contrary to all national law," cried Mr. Kretschmer, +at the same time endeavoring to defend himself from the weapons which +were pointed at him. + +The officer laughed. "In war we know no national law. You are my +prisoners." And disregarding their struggles and cries for help, they +dragged the two editors as prisoners to the guard-house at the New +Market. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE OF BERLIN. + + +After a short interval of quiet and lonesomeness at the Kottbuss Gate, +there appeared, first far down the street, then approaching nearer and +nearer, a solemn procession. Foremost staggered the chief burgomaster, +Von Kircheisen, in full uniform, adorned with his golden chain, which +rustled as it rose and sank with his hurried, feverish respiration. +He was followed by the second burgomaster, with the Town Council, and +deputation of merchants, headed by Gotzkowsky. With solemn, serious +air, these gentlemen took up their position at the gate. + +The chief burgomaster then beckoned Gotzkowsky to his side. "Stand +by me, my friend," said he, with a groan, and offering his hand to +Gotzkowsky with a dismal air. "I am suffering terribly, and even the +two bottles of Johannisberger are not sufficient to inspire me with +courage. Is it not terrible that the honorable Council should be +obliged to attend in person? It is an unheard-of indignity!" + +"Not only for you, but for the Berlin citizen is the insult equally +great," said Gotzkowsky. + +Herr von Kircheisen shook his head in a most melancholy manner. "Yes," +said he, "but the Berlin citizen does not feel it so deeply. It does +not affect his honor as it does that of the magistracy." + +Gotzkowsky smiled scornfully. "Do you think," asked he, "that the +magistrates possess a different kind of honor from that of any citizen +of the town? The sense of honor is keener among the people than it is +among the noblest lords." + +The chief burgomaster frowned. "These are very proud words," replied +he, with a shrug of his shoulders. + +"Pride belongs to the citizen!" cried Gotzkowsky. "But believe me, +noble sir, my heart to-day is not as proud as my words. It is sore +with pain and grief over our deep, unmerited degradation." + +"Silence, silence!" whispered the chief magistrate, leaning +tremblingly on Gotzkowsky's arm. He heard a noise behind the closed +gates, and his mind misgave him that the dreaded enemy was at hand. + +Suddenly there sounded on the other side of the walls the loud notes +of a trumpet, and the warder hastened to throw open the gate. A rare +and motley mixture of Russian uniforms now came in sight. There were +seen Cossacks, with their small horses and sharp lances; body-guards, +with their gold-adorned uniforms; hussars, in their jackets trimmed +with costly furs, all crowding in in confused tumult and with +deafening screams and yells, that contrasted strangely with the +silence inside the gates, with the noiseless, deserted streets, +the closed windows of the houses, whose inhabitants scorned to be +witnesses to the triumphal entry of the enemy. Only the ever-curious, +ever-sight-loving, always-thoughtless populace, to whom the honor has +at times been accorded of being called "the sovereign people," only +this populace had hurried hither from all the streets of Berlin to see +the entry of the Russians, and to hurrah to the conqueror, provided +he paraded right handsomely and slowly in. And now a deep silence took +place in the ranks of the enemy; the crowd opened and formed a lane, +through which rode the Russian General Bachmann and his staff. As he +reached the gate he drew in his horse and asked, in a loud, sonorous +voice, in French, whether the magistrates and deputation of merchants +were present. + +The chief magistrate felt unable to answer; his knees tottered and his +teeth chattered convulsively. He could only wag his head in silence +and point with trembling hand to his companions. + +"Is the merchant, John Gotzkowsky, one of your deputation?" asked the +general. + +Gotzkowsky stepped out of the crowd and approached the general with a +proud step. "I am he, sir." + +"I am glad to meet you," said the general, with a gracious smile. "I +bring you greetings from General Sievers. He commissioned and ordered +me to show you all possible favor. If I can be of service to you in +any possible way, pray command me. I am General von Bachmann, and +during our presence here have been appointed to the command of +Berlin." + +"Are you a friend of the noble Sievers?" cried Gotzkowsky, his +countenance beaming with pleasure. "Oh, then, I need fear nothing +for this unfortunate town, for only a noble, high-minded man can be a +friend of Sievers. You will have pity on our distress!" + +"Tell me wherein I can serve you, and how I can oblige you; my word +has much influence on our general-in-chief, Count Tottleben." + +Gotzkowsky was silent. + +"Beg him to make the contribution as small as possible," whispered +Kircheisen in Gotzkowsky's ear. + +But Gotzkowsky took no notice of him. He fixed his dark eyes on the +general, as if he wished to read his soul. + +"Speak out," said the general. "If it is possible, your wish shall be +granted." + +"Well then, general," cried Gotzkowsky, "this is my request: Spare the +poor and needy of this town. Order your soldiers to be humane, and do +not forget mercy. Let your warriors neither murder nor plunder; let +them not deride the defenceless and conquered. Give to the world the +example of a generous and noble conqueror." + +The general looked into Gotzkowsky's noble countenance with increasing +astonishment, and his features assumed a more benevolent expression. +"I give you my word that your petition shall be granted," said he; "I +will give my soldiers strict orders, and woe be to him who does not +obey them! But you have spoken for others, and I would like to oblige +you personally. Have you no request to make for yourself?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed!" cried Gotzkowsky, "I beg you to allow me to hasten +to the Council-hall to report to the elders of the citizens your kind +promise." + +General Bachmann nodded affably to him. "Hasten then, and return +soon." + +But as Gotzkowsky turned to hasten away, Herr von Kircheisen seized +him with a convulsive grasp and drew him back. "My God! you are not +going to leave me?" he whined out. "Only think--" + +"That the brave and noble citizens may lay the general's words as +a balm to their wounds--that is what I am thinking of," cried +Gotzkowsky, tearing himself loose and hurrying away with rapid +strides. + +"And now for you, most worthy burgomaster," said General Bachmann, +sternly, "your name, if you please?" + +Von Kircheisen looked at him gloomily, but made no answer. + +The general repeated his question in a louder and sterner voice, but +the burgomaster still maintained the same obstinate silence. + +"Have you, by some unlucky chance, forgotten your name, sir?" asked +the general with a lowering brow. + +The angry, piercing look he fastened on him, seemed to awaken the +burgomaster from his lethargy. + +"My name is Kircheisen, Von Kircheisen," stammered he, with a heavy +tongue. + +"We came as conquerors, sir," said General Bachmann; "and it is usual +for conquerors to dictate their terms before they enter a captured +city. In the name of our general, Count Tottleben, I have to +communicate to you what sum we demand from you as a war contribution. +This demand amounts to four millions of dollars in good money." + +The burgomaster stared at the general with glazed eyes, broke out +into a loud laugh, and staggered back on the wall of the gate-warder's +house. + +"I implore you, collect yourself," whispered the second burgomaster, +as he endeavored to support the reeling, staggering chief. "Remember +our weal or woe depends upon you!" + +Von Kircheisen grinned an idiotic laugh. "Four millions of dollars!" +screamed he aloud. "Four millions of dollars! Hurrah! hurrah for the +Russians!" + +The countenance of the general became still more threatening, and an +angry light flashed from his eye. "Do you dare to mock me?" asked +he, in a harsh tone. "Beware, sir; and remember that you are the +conquered, and in our power. I demand from you a decided answer. You +understand my demand, do you not?" + +But still he answered not. He stared at General Bachmann with a vacant +smile, and his head wagged from side to side like the pendulum of a +clock. + +"This is disgraceful conduct," cried the general, "conduct which does +little honor to the chief magistrate of Berlin. But I warn you, sir, +to beware! I have promised the poor and suffering my protection, but I +well know how to punish those who abuse our magnanimity. If you do not +answer me this time, sir, by Heaven I will have you carried off under +arrest and let a court-martial pronounce judgment on you!" + +The chief magistrate continued dumb. The pale and terror-stricken +countenances of those present were turned toward him. The members +of the Council implored and besought him to put aside this unnatural +stubbornness. + +Von Kircheisen answered their pleadings with a loud-sounding laugh. +He then stared at the general, his features worked and struggled, +writhed, and finally he opened his mouth. + +"Ah! God be praised, he is going to speak," cried the second +burgomaster. + +But no, he did not speak; he only distorted his face. A cry of dismay +sounded from the lips of the deputation, a cry of anger from the +Russian general, who, turning to his adjutant, ordered him immediately +to arrest the burgomaster and carry him off. And now there arose an +indescribable scene of confusion and terror. Pale with fright, the +Council and deputation of merchants had flocked around Von Kircheisen +to protect him from the advancing soldiers who sought to arrest him, +while he, in the midst of all the horror and tumult, continued to +giggle and make grimaces. The enraged soldiery had already commenced +to push aside Kircheisen's defenders with blows from the butts of +their muskets, when a man made his way through the crowd. It was +Gotzkowsky, who, with a loud and full voice, demanded the cause of +this singular uproar. A hundred voices were ready to answer him, and +explain the scene in confused, unintelligible jargon. + +But General Bachmann beckoned him to his side. "Tell me, sir, is this +chief burgomaster a fool or a drunkard, or is he, indeed, so demented +as to intend to mock us?" + +As Gotzkowsky looked at the deathly pale, convulsed countenance of the +magistrate, who renewed his shrill, screeching laugh, he comprehended +the racking and terrible torture which the unfortunate man was +suffering. He hastened to him, seized him by the arm, and led the +tottering figure toward the general. + +"This man is neither a fool nor a madman, your excellency; suffering +has robbed him of speech, and he laughs, not in derision, but from the +convulsion of intense sorrow." + +And as the offended and angry general would not believe him, and +commanded his soldiers anew to arrest the burgomaster, and the +soldiers with renewed rage pressed on him, Gotzkowsky placed himself +before him, and protected him with his proud and respect-inspiring +person. + +"General Bachmann," cried he, warmly, "I remind you of your oath. +You vowed to me to protect the suffering. Well, then, this man is +a sufferer, a sick man. I demand, from the noble friend of General +Sievers, that he have compassion on the sick man, and allow him to be +escorted safely and unmolested to his house." + +"Can you give me your word that this man did not act thus out of +arrogance?" asked the general, in a milder tone; "are you convinced +that he is sick?" + +"I swear to you, please your excellency, that the chief magistrate of +Berlin has never been a healthy man; that, for many years, he has been +subject to fits of convulsive laughter." + +General Bachmann smiled. "This is an unfortunate disease for the chief +magistrate of a city," said he, "and it seems to me as if the citizens +of Berlin did wrong in choosing for their burgomaster a man who +laughs and cries indifferently, and to whom the misfortunes of his +fellow-citizens apparently serves only for a joke. But you reminded me +of my promise, and you shall see that I will keep it." + +He beckoned to his soldiers, and ordered them to fetch a litter on +which to carry the sick burgomaster home. He then turned, with a +smile, to Gotzkowsky, and said: "Sir, the Council of Berlin have cause +to be grateful to you; you have saved their chief from death." + +Herr von Kircheisen did not laugh now. His features jerked and +distorted themselves still, but a stream of tears gushed from his +eyes. + +With an unspeakable expression he seized Gotzkowsky's hand, and +pressed it to his lips, then sank unconscious in the arms of his +deliverer. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE RUSSIAN, THE SAXON, AND THE AUSTRIAN, IN BERLIN. + + +Berlin was now given up to the enemy, and through the once cheerful +and pleasant streets could be heard nothing but screams and shrieks +of terror, mingled with the wild curses and boisterous laughter of the +conqueror, who, not satisfied with attacking the trembling inhabitants +to rob them of their possessions and property, ill treated them out of +sheer cruelty, and took delight in hearing their screams and looking +at the contortions caused by pain. + +And who was this enemy, who, in scorn of all humanity and +civilization, tortured the unfortunate and hunted them down? + +They were not Russians, nor wild hordes of Cossacks. They were +Austrians and Saxons, who, robbing and plundering, murdering and +destroying, violating and burning, rushed through Berlin, filling all +the inhabitants with terror and alarm. + +General Bachmann kept faithfully the promise he had made to +Gotzkowsky, and the Russian army at first not only preserved the +strictest discipline, but even protected the inhabitants against the +violence of the Austrians and Saxons. + +The terrified citizens had one powerful and beneficent friend--this +was John Gotzkowsky. Yielding to his urgent entreaty, General von +Bachmann's adjutant, Von Brinck, had taken up his quarters in his +house, and by his assistance and his own influence with the general, +Gotzkowsky was enabled to afford material aid to all Berlin. For +those citizens who were able to pay the soldiers he procured a Russian +safeguard, and more than once this latter protected the inhabitants of +the houses against the vandalism of the Austrians and Saxons. + +Contrary to the wish of the Russians, the Austrians had forced +themselves into the city, and, in spite of the terms of the +capitulation agreed upon with the Russians, had quartered themselves +upon the citizens, from whom, with the most savage cruelty and threats +of ingenious torture, they extorted all the gold and jewels they +possessed. + +Berlin was now the open camping-ground of Croats and Austrian hussars, +and Russian Cossacks, and all minds were filled with dread and +anxiety. + +It is true that even the Cossacks forgot the strict discipline +which had been commanded them, and entered the houses, robbing and +compelling the inhabitants, by blows of the knout, to give them +all they wanted. But yet they were less cruel than the Saxons, +less barbarous than the Austrians, who, with scoffing and derision, +committed the greatest atrocities. Indeed, it was only necessary +to complain to the Russian general in order to obtain justice +immediately, and have the Cossacks punished. Eight of them were +strung up in one day at the guard-house on the New Market square, as +a warning and example to the others, and expiated their robberies by +a summary death. But with the Austrians and Saxons it was the officers +themselves who instigated the soldiers to acts of revolting barbarity, +and who, forgetful of all humanity, by their laughter and applause +excited their subordinates to fresh ill-treatment of the inhabitants. +Disregarding the capitulation, and listening to their national enmity, +and their love of plunder, they pressed forward with wild screams into +the royal stables, driving away the safeguard of four-and-twenty men, +which General von Tottleben had placed there for their protection, and +with shameless insolence defiling the Prussian coat-of-arms pictured +on the royal carriages. They then drew them out into the open street, +and, after they had stripped them of their ornaments and decorations, +piled them up in a great heap and set them on fire, in order to add +to the fright and terror of the bewildered citizens by the threatening +danger of conflagration. + +High blazed the flames, consuming greedily these carriages which had +once borne kings and princes. The screams and fright of the inmates +of the nearest houses, and the crackling of the window-glass broken by +the heat were drowned by the joyous shouts of the Austrians who danced +round the fire with wild delight, and accompanied the roaring of the +flames with insulting and licentious songs. And the fire seemed only +to awaken their inventive powers, and excite them to fresh deeds of +vandalism. After the fire had burnt out, and only a heap of ashes told +of what were once magnificent royal vehicles, the Austrians rushed +back again into the building with terrific outcry, to the apartments +of the royal master of the horse, Schwerin, in order to build a new +bonfire with his furniture, and fill their pockets with his gold and +silver ware. + +In the royal stalls a great uproar arose, as they fought with each +other for the horses that were there. The strongest leaped on them and +rode off furiously, to carry into other neighborhoods the terror and +dismay which marked the track of the Austrians through Berlin. Even +the hospitals were not safe from their brutal rage. They tore the sick +from their beds, drove them with scoffs and insults into the streets, +cut up their beds, and covered them over with the feathers. And all +this was committed not by wild barbarians, but by the regular troops +of a civilized state, by Austrians, who were spurred on, by their +hatred of the Prussians, to deeds of rude cruelty and beastly +barbarity. And this unlucky national hatred, which possessed the +Austrian and made him forgetful of all humanity, was communicated, +like an infectious plague, to the Saxons, and transformed these +warriors, who were celebrated for being, next to the Prussians, +the most orderly and best disciplined, into rude Jack Ketches and +iconoclastic Vandals. + +In the royal pleasure-palace at Charlottenburg, where Bruehl's (Saxon) +dragoons had taken up their quarters by force, they set up a new +species of dragoonade, which was directed not so much against the +living as against marble statues and the sacred treasures of art. All +the articles of splendor, brilliancy, and luxury which had been +heaped up here, every thing which the royal love of the fine arts +had collected of what was beautiful and rare, was sacrificed to their +raging love of destruction. Gilded furniture, Venetian mirrors, large +porcelain vases from Japan, were smashed to pieces. The silk tapestry +was torn from the walls in shreds, the doors inlaid with beautiful +wood-mosaic were broken up with clubs, the most masterly and costly +paintings were cut in ribbons with knives. To be sure, it sometimes +happened that the officers rescued from the soldiers some costly vase, +some rare treasure or painting, and saved it from destruction, +but this was not to save the King of Prussia's property, but to +appropriate it to themselves, and carry it home with them. + +Even the art-collection of Count Polignac, embracing the most splendid +and rare treasures of art in the palace of Charlottenburg, did not +escape this mania of destruction. This collection, containing among +other things the most beautiful Greek statues, had been purchased in +Rome by Gotzkowsky, and had afforded the king peculiar gratification, +and was a source of much enjoyment to him. In the eyes of some Saxon +officers, to whom this fact was known, it was sufficient reason for +its condemnation. They themselves led the most violent and destructive +of their soldiers into the halls where these magnificent treasures +were exposed, even helped them to break the marble statues, to dash +them down from their pedestals, to hew off their heads, arms, and +legs, and even carried their systematic malice so far as to order +the soldiers to grind into powder the fragments, so as to prevent any +restoration of the statues at a subsequent period. + +The unfortunate inhabitants of Charlottenburg witnessed all this +abomination that was perpetrated in the royal palace with fear and +trembling, and in order to save their own persons and property from +similar outrage, they offered the enemy a contribution of fifteen +thousand dollars. The Saxons accepted the money, but, regardless of +every obligation usually considered sacredly binding, they only became +more savage and ferocious. With yells of rage they rushed into the +houses, and, when the money they demanded was refused them, they +stripped the men of their clothes, lashed them until the blood flowed, +or cruelly wounded or maimed them with sabre-cuts; and when the women +fled from them, they followed them up, and forced them by brutal +ill-treatment to yield themselves. No house in Charlottenburg escaped +being plundered; and so cruel were the tortures which the inhabitants +suffered, that four of the unfortunate men died a miserable death at +the hands of the Saxon soldiers. + +They were Germans who waged against their brother Germans, against +their own countrymen, a brutality and barbarous love of destruction +almost unequalled in the annals of modern history. Consequently +it seemed but natural that the Russians should be excited by such +examples of barbarity, so unstintedly set them by the Austrians and +Saxons. No wonder that they, too, at last began to rob and plunder, to +break into houses at night, and carry off women and maidens by force, +in order to have them released next day by heavy ransom; and that even +the severe punishments, inflicted on those whom the people had the +courage to complain of to the generals lost their terror, and were +no restraint on these sons of the steppes and ice-fields, led away as +they were by the other ruffians. + +Two hundred and eighty-two houses were destroyed and thoroughly +plundered in Berlin by the Austrians; the Saxons had devastated the +royal palace in Charlottenburg, and the whole town. Should not the +Russians also leave a memorial of their vandalism? They did so in +Schoenhausen, the pleasure-palace of the consort of Frederick the +Great, who had left it a few days previous, by express command of the +king, to take up her residence in Magdeburg. Eight Russian hussars +forced themselves into the palace, and, with terrible threats, +demanded the king's plate. Only the castellan and his wife, and a few +of the royal servants, had been left behind to protect the place, and +the only answer they could make to the furious soldiers was, that the +booty which they were in search of had been carried with the royal +party to Magdeburg. This information excited their fury to the highest +pitch. Like the Saxon dragoons of Charlottenburg, they devastated the +Schoenhausen palace, stripped the castellan and his wife, and, with +shouts of wild laughter, whipped them and pinched their flesh with +red-hot tongs. And, as if the sight of these bloody and torn human +bodies had only increased their desire for blood and torture, they +then attacked the two servants, stripped them of their clothes, cut +one to pieces like a beast, and threw the other on the red-hot coals, +roasting him alive, as formerly the warriors of her Most Christian +Majesty of Spain did those whom, in the pride of their civilization, +they denominated "the wild heathen."[1] + + +[Footnote 1: The account of all these cruelties and this vandalism is +verified in the original, by reference to Von Archenholz: "History of +the Seven Years' War," pp.194-198.--TRANSLATOR.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CADETS. + + +The day following the occupation of Berlin, a strange and singular +procession moved down the Linden Street through the Brandenburg Gate, +and took the road to Charlottenburg. Bruehl's dragoons and De Lacy's +chasseurs rode on each side of the line, which would have excited +laughter, if pity and sorrow had not overcome the comical element. +It was a procession of children decked in uniform, and having +nothing military about them but their apparel, nothing manly but the +dress-sword at their side. + +This singular little regiment was the "Corps of Cadets," which had +been made prisoners of war by the Austrians and Saxons. + +The commandant, Von Rochow, did not imagine that the enemy would carry +his hard-heartedness to such an extent as to consider these lads of +tender age as part of the garrison, and make them prisoners of war in +consequence. None of these boys exceeded the age of twelve years (the +larger and older ones having been drafted into the army to supply the +want of officers), and he presumed that their very helplessness and +weakness would be their security, and therefore had omitted to mention +them specially in the surrender. But the conqueror had no compassion +on these little children in uniform, and pronounced them prisoners of +war. Even Liliputian warriors might be dangerous! Remember the pangs +suffered by Gulliver, as, lying quietly on the ground, he was suddenly +awakened by a violent discharge poured into him from behind the high +grass by the Liliputians. To be sure their weapons were only armed +with needles--whence we may infer that the Liliputians are the +original inventors of the modern Prussian needle-percussion +rifles--but, one can be killed by needle-pricks. Count De Lacy feared, +perhaps, the needle weapons of the little Liliputian cadets, and +treated the poor, delicate, tender children as if they were tough old +veterans, accustomed to all the hardships and privations of war. With +coarse abuse and blows from the butt of the musket, they were driven +out into the highway, and compelled to travel on the soft, muddy roads +without cloaks, notwithstanding the severe weather, and only the short +jackets of their uniforms. Heart-rending was the wail of the poor +little ones from whom the war had taken their fathers, and poverty +their mothers--torn from their home, the refuge of their orphaned +childhood, to be driven like a flock of bleating lambs out into the +desert wilderness of life. + +And when their feet grew weary, when their little bodies, unaccustomed +to fatigue, gave way, they were driven on with blows from sabres and +the butts of muskets. When they begged for a piece of bread, or a drop +of water for their parched lips, they were laughed at, and, instead of +water, were told to drink their own tears, which ran in streams down +their childish cheeks. They had already marched the whole day without +food or refreshment of any kind, and they could hardly drag their +bleeding feet along. With eyes bright with fever, and parched tongues, +they still wandered on, looking in the distance for some friendly +shelter, some refreshing spring. + +At nightfall the little cadets were camped in an open field, on the +wet ground. At first, they begged for a little food, a crust of bread; +but when they saw that their sufferings gave pleasure to the dragoons, +and that their groans were to them like a pleasant song, they were +silent, and the spirit of their fathers reigned uppermost in the +breasts of these little, forsaken, trembling lads. They dried their +eyes, and kept their complaints in their little trembling hearts. + +"We will not cry any more," said little Ramin, who though only twelve +years of age, was yet the oldest of the captives, and recognized as +their captain and leader. "We will not cry any more, for our tears +give pleasure to our enemies. Let us be cheerful, and that perhaps +will vex them. To spite them, and show how little we think of our +hunger, let us sing a jolly song." + +"Come on, let us do it!" cried the boys. "What song shall we sing?" + +"_Prince Eugene_," cried young Ramin; and immediately with his +childish treble struck up "Prince Eugene, the noble knight." + +And all the lads joined in with a sort of desperate enthusiasm, and +the song of the noble knight rose from their young lips like a peal of +rejoicing. + +But gradually one little trembling voice after another fell, by +degrees the song grew lower and shriller, and became lost in a +trembling whisper; then it would rise into an unnatural and terrified +scream, or sink into a whining sob or trembling wail. + +Suddenly little Ramin stopped, and a cry of pain, like the sound of +a snapped string, burst from his breast. "I cannot sing any more," +sighed he. "Hunger is killing me." And he sank down on his knees, and +raised his little arms beseechingly to one of the Austrian soldiers, +who was marching beside him, comfortably consuming a roast chicken. + +"Oh! give me a bit of bread, only a mouthful, to keep me from starving +to death." + +"Have pity on us, do not let us starve!" + +With similar piteous lamentations, the whole corps of trembling, +weeping, starving little cadets threw themselves on their knees, and +filled the air with their cries and prayers. + +"Well, if you positively insist upon eating, you shall have something +to appease your hunger," said the officer who commanded the chasseurs, +and he whispered a few words to his corporal, who received them with a +loud laugh, and then rode off. + +"Now, be quiet, and wait," commanded the Austrian officer. "I have +sent the corporal and some soldiers into the village to get food for +you. Only wait now, and be satisfied." And the children dried their +eyes, and comforted each other with encouraging words. + +With what impatience, what painful longing, did they look forward +to the promised food! How they thanked God, in the gladness of their +hearts, that He had had pity on them, and had not allowed them to die +of hunger! + +They all seemed revived, and strained their hopeful eyes toward the +quarter whence the corporal was to return. And now, with one voice, +they broke out into a cry of joy; they had espied him returning, +accompanied by soldiers who seemed to be bringing a heavy load. + +They approached nearer and nearer. "Form a ring," commanded the +officer, and they obeyed in expectant gladness; and around the thickly +crowded ring the Austrian officers and the troop of soldiers took +their stand. In silent waiting stood the cadets, and their hearts +leaped for joy. + + +"Attention! your dinner is coming," cried the officer. + +The ring opened. Ah! now the corporal and the soldiers are going to +bring in the dinner. + +But no! The dinner came walking along by itself. With a dignified +step it marched in and gave utterance to an expressive bleat. It was +a _live_ sheep, which was to be given to the poor lads who were faint +from hunger. An outburst of boisterous laughter from the Austrians +greeted the dignified wether, and drowned the cries of the bitterly +disappointed cadets. + +"A sheep!" they cried, "and what are we to do with it?"--and they +began to weep afresh. + +"Kill him and roast him!" jeered the officer. "You are brave soldiers. +Well, you will only have to do what we often do in camp. Be your own +cook and butler; none of us will help you. We want to see what sort of +practical soldiers you will make, and whether you are as good hands at +cooking as at crying and blubbering." + +And the Austrians folded their arms, and looked on idly and with +derisive satisfaction at these poor children who stood there with +their heads bowed down with helplessness and grief. + +At length little Ramin arose. His eyes glistened with fierce defiance, +and an expression of noble courage illuminated his pale countenance. + +"If the sheep belongs to us," said he, "we will eat him." + +"But he's alive," cried the boys. + +"We will kill him," answered the little fellow. + +"We? we ourselves? We are no butchers. We have never done such a +thing!" + +"Have we ever killed a man?" asked Ramin, rolling his large bright +eyes around the circle of his comrades. "Have we ever deprived a man +of his life?" + +"No!" + +"Well, then, we will have it yet to do! We hope to be able to kill +many an enemy, and to do that we will have to begin with some one. Let +us make believe, then, that this wether is the enemy, and that we have +to attack him. Now, then, down upon him!" + +"Ramin is right," cried the boys; "let us attack the enemy." + +"Attention!" commanded Ramin. + +The boys drew themselves up in military order right opposite the +bleating sheep. + +"Draw swords!" + +In the twinkling of an eye they had drawn their little rapiers, which +looked more like penknives than swords, and which the Austrians had +left to their little prisoners of war. + +"One, two, three!" commanded the little Ramin. "Attention! Forward!" + +Down they charged upon the enemy, who was standing motionless, with +staring eyes, bleating loudly. The Austrian soldiers roared and +screamed with delight, and confessed, with tears in their eyes, that +it was the best joke in the world, and no end of fun to see these poor +boys made desperate by hunger. + +The first feat of arms of the little cadets was completed, the wether +was slain. But now came the question how to dress him, how to convert +the dead beast into nice warm roast meat. + +They were well aware that none of the laughing, mocking soldiers +would help them, and therefore they disdained to ask for help. Wood, a +roasting-pit, and a kettle were given them--means enough to prepare a +good soup and roast. But how to begin and set about it they themselves +hardly knew. But gnawing hunger made them inventive. Had they not +often at home skinned many a cunningly caught mole--had they not often +killed and drawn a rabbit? The only difference was that the sheep was +somewhat larger than a mole or a rabbit. + +Finally, after much toil and trouble, and under the approving laughter +of the spectators, they accomplished it. The meat simmered in the +kettle, watched by two cadets, two others turning the spit. The work +was done; the sheep was converted into soup and roast. + +And because they showed themselves so industrious and cheerful, one +and another of the soldiers softened their hearts and threw them a +piece of bread or a canteen; and the poor boys accepted these alms +thrown at them with humble gratitude, and no feeling of resentment +or defiance remained in their hearts, for hunger was appeased; but +appeased only for the moment--only to encounter new sufferings, +renewed hunger, fresh mockeries. For onward, farther onward must they +wander. Every now and then one of them sank down, begging for pity and +compassion. But what cared the soldiers, who only saw in the children +the impersonation of the hated enemy, to be tortured and worried to +death as a sport? + +More than twenty of these little cadets succumbed to the sufferings +of this journey, and died miserably, forsaken and alone, on the high +road; and no mother was there to close their eyes, no father to +lean over them and bless them with a tear. But over these poor +martyr-children watched the love of God, and lulled them to sleep +with happy dreams and gentle fancies about their distant homes, their +little sister there, or the beautiful garden in which they had so +often chased butterflies together. And amidst such fancies and smiling +memories they dreamed away their childish souls, beyond the grave, to +a holy and happy reawakening. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE EXPLOSION. + + +General von Tottleben was alone in his chamber--at least he had no +visible company; but two invisible companions were there--Care and +Sorrow. They whispered to him uncomfortable and melancholy thoughts, +making his countenance serious and sad, and drawing deep and dark +lines across his brow. He was a German, and was fighting in the ranks +of the enemy against his German fatherland. Therein lay the secret +of his care-worn features, the reading of the suppressed sighs; the +broken, sorrowful words which he uttered, as with folded arms and +bowed head he paced up and down his room. He was a German, and +loved his country, which had repaid his love with that apathy and +non-appreciation that have destroyed and killed some of the greatest +and noblest men of Germany; while others have taken refuge in foreign +countries, to find there that recognition which was denied them at +home. General von Tottleben was only a German--why, then, should +Germany take notice of him? Because he possessed information, talent, +genius. Germany would have appreciated these if Von Tottleben had been +a foreigner; but, as unfortunately he was only a German, Germany took +no notice of him, and compelled him to seek in a foreign country the +road to fame and distinction. He had gone to Russia. There his talents +had been prized and employed. He was now a general in the Russian +army, and the alliance between Russia and Austria compelled him to +fight against his own country. + +But the Russian general still preserved his German heart, this heart +so strong in suffering, so unfaltering in its faith, so faithful in +its love, so great in hope, humble in its obedience, modest in its +desires; this German heart of his was the cause of much suffering to +him, for it could not adapt itself to his Russian instructions, +and despite his efforts to render it callous, would insist upon +overflowing with pity and sympathy. He loved Berlin, for in this city +he had passed the best years of his youth. And now he was called on to +act as a cruel tyrant, an unfeeling barbarian, to sow broadcast death +and destruction in this city, from which he yearned so to win a little +love, a little sympathy for her rejected son. + +But now his German heart was forced into silence by the exigencies +of Russian discipline, and the general had to obey the orders of his +superior officer, General von Fermore. His chief had ordered him to +exercise the utmost severity and harshness, and imposed upon him the +task of scourging Berlin like a demon of vengeance. And yet Berlin had +committed no other crime than that of remaining faithful to her king, +and of not wishing to surrender to the enemy. + +A fresh dispatch had just arrived from General von Fermore, and its +contents had darkened the brow of Tottleben with anxious care. He +had received orders to blow up the arsenal in Berlin. This noble and +handsome building, which rose in proud splendor in the midst of a +populous town, was to be destroyed without reference to the fact that +the blowing up of this colossal edifice would scatter death and ruin +throughout unfortunate Berlin. + +"I will not do it," said he, pacing up and down the room, and crushing +the accursed paper which brought the cruel order in his clinched hand. +"I cannot be such a barbarian. Fermore may command me to do barbarous +actions, but I will not accept such commands! I will not obey! No +one but myself knows of this order. I will ignore it. The Empress +Elizabeth has always been very gracious toward me, and will forgive +me for not executing an order which certainly never proceeded from +her own kind heart." At this moment the door opened, and the adjutant +entering, announced Count de Lacy. + +Tottleben's countenance assumed a gloomy expression, and, as with +hasty step he advanced toward the Austrian general, he muttered to +himself, "I perceive the bloodhounds have got the scent, and are +eager for blood." In the mean time Count de Lacy approached him with +a friendly and gracious smile. He seemed not to be at all aware that +Tottleben did not accept the hand which the Austrian general held out +to him with a hearty greeting. + +"I come to chat for a short quarter of an hour with your excellency," +said Count de Lacy, in very fluent German, but with the hard foreign +accent of a Hungarian. "After a battle won, I know nothing pleasanter +than to recall with a comrade the past danger, and to revel again in +memory the excitement of the fight." + +"May I request your excellency to remember that the Austrians cannot +count the conquest of Berlin in the list of their victories," cried +Count Tottleben, with a sarcastic smile. "It was the Russian army +which besieged Berlin, and Berlin surrendered _to us_." + +"You are very kind to remind me of it," said Count de Lacy, with his +unchangeable, pleasant smile. "In the mean time may I request a more +particular explanation than this polite reminder?" + +"You shall have it, sir," cried Tottleben, passionately. "I mean +to say that Berlin is not Charlottenburg, and to request that the +vandalism which the Austrian troops practised there, may not be +transferred to Berlin. Be satisfied with the booty which your soldiers +stowed away in their knapsacks at that place, and have the kindness to +order the Austrian army to learn a little discipline and humanity from +the Russians." + +"From the Russians?" asked Count de Lacy, with ironical astonishment. +"Truly one is not accustomed to learn humanity from that quarter. +Does your excellency mean to say that the Austrians are to learn good +manners from the Russians?" + +"Yes, from the Russians," replied Tottleben--"from my soldiers, who +neither plunder nor rob, but bear in mind that they are soldiers, and +not thieves!" + +"Sir," cried De Lacy, "what do these words mean?" + +"They mean that I have promised my protection to the people of Berlin, +and that I am prepared to afford it to them, even against our own +allies. They mean that I have made myself sufficiently strong to +bid you defiance, sir, and to defend Berlin against the cruelty and +inhumanity of the Austrian army. The Russian army will compel it to be +humane, and to pause in the cruel rage with which they have desolated +unhappy Germany." + +Count de Lacy shrugged his shoulders. "What is Germany to you, and why +do you feel for her?" asked he jeeringly. "I beg you, count, let us +not speak of Germany. What to us is this lachrymose, fantastic female +Germania, which has been betrothed to so many lords and wooers, that +she can remain faithful and true to none? Germania will then only be +happy when one of her lovers has the boldness to kill off and tread +under foot all his rivals and so build himself up an undisputed +throne. That is Austria's mission, and our duty is to fulfil it. We +are the heralds who go before Germania's Austrian bridegroom, and +everywhere illuminate the heavens with the torches of our triumphs. If +the torches now and then come too near some piece of humanity and set +it on fire, what is that to us? Germany is our enemy, and if we have +a puling compassion on our enemy, we become traitors to our own +cause. That's all. But what is the use of this strife and these +recriminations?" asked he, suddenly breaking into a smile. "I have +only come to ask your excellency when you intend to light these new +wedding-torches which are to redden the sky of Berlin?" + +"What wedding-torches?" inquired Tottleben, turning pale. + +"Well, those which are to burst out from the mint and factory +buildings," said De Lacy, with a smile of indifference. "I anticipate +with extraordinary pleasure this exhibition of fireworks which the +town of Berlin is going to give in honor of our presence." + +"You mean to say in disgrace of our presence," exclaimed Tottleben, +ardently. + +Count de Lacy looked at him with a compassionate shrug of the +shoulders. "My dear count," said he, with cutting coldness, "when a +man becomes a Russian general, he must have a Russian heart, and not +allow himself to be influenced by any German softness or sympathy. +Otherwise it might happen that they might make a mistake, and not +being able to deprive you of your German heart, might take your German +head instead." + +General Tottleben drew back with astonishment, and stared at him. + +Count de Lacy continued, smiling, and in a quiet tone: "I warn you to +guard against your own mildness and your German heart. General Fermore +is my friend, and often consults me about the meaning of German words. +How would you like it if I should explain the word _treason_ in a +manner dangerous to yourself, and if this explanation should result in +translating your excellency into Siberia?" + +"General Fermore is neither my commander nor my master," cried +Tottleben, proudly. + +"But the lord and master of your lady and mistress, the high and +mighty Empress Elizabeth--remember that. Will your excellency now +condescend to inform me at what time the Berlin armory shall rise +fluttering in the air like a bird?" + +"And do you know that, too?" asked Tottleben, with painful +astonishment. + +"I have already told you that the Russians and Austrians are faithful +allies, and have no secrets from each other, as far as their designs +upon Germany are concerned. Oh, it will be a splendid _feu de joie_ +for the house of Austria, when the Prussian armory is blown into the +air! When are we to enjoy this spectacle, general?" + +General von Tottleben sank his head in silence on his breast. Count de +Lacy regarded him with a cold and piercing glance. Tottleben felt +this look, and understood its important significance. He knew that +his whole future, his freedom, perhaps even his life, hung upon this +moment. + +"In three hours from now the spectacle will take place," said he, with +a forced laugh. "In three hours the wedding-torches shall be lighted, +and in order to make it the pleasanter, we will have the wails of the +people of Berlin as a musical accompaniment." + +"In three hours, then," said Count de Lacy, bowing low; "I hasten to +announce it to my officers. I am burning with impatience to witness +this rare spectacle." + +Count de Lacy departed, and General Tottleben was again alone. + +For a long time did he pace his room in abstract meditation, anger and +pity, fear and terror struggling in his soul. He was perfectly aware +of the danger which threatened him. He knew that Count Fermore hated +him as a dangerous rival for the smiles of the empress, and only +waited for a favorable opportunity to overthrow him. He was therefore +obliged to yield to this cruel necessity; the Berlin armory must be +sacrificed. + +Suddenly his countenance lighted up, and his features assumed an +expression of joy. He hastened rapidly to the door and summoned his +body servant and slave, Ivan Petrowitsch. "Ivan," said he, with the +stern and cold composure of a Russian--"Ivan, I have a commission for +you, and if you are successful in its execution, I will not have your +son Feodor hung, although I know that yesterday, contrary to my order, +he was present at the plundering of a house." + +"Speak, master, what am I to do? I will save my son, even if it cost +my own life." + +"It will cost your life, Ivan." + +"I am your property, master, and my life belongs to you," said the +serf, sadly. "You can have me whipped to death any time it pleases +you. Say, then, what I must do to save my son." + +"Fifty Cossacks are to ride immediately to the powder-mills to bring +powder. You will accompany them." + +Ivan looked at him with astonishment. "Is that all I have to do?" +asked he. + +Tottleben was not yet sufficiently Russian. His German heart would +assert its rights. As he met the inquiring look of Ivan, he turned his +eye away. He forgot that it was only a serf he was speaking to, and +not a human being. + +But he soon recalled it. "You will accompany these Cossacks to the +powder-mills, I say, and as you do so you will smoke your pipe, and +see that the tobacco burns well, and that you are burning tinder on +top of it." + +An expression of comprehension shone in Ivan's eyes. "I will smoke, +master," said he, sadly. + +"When you are in the powder-mills, and the Cossacks are loading the +powder, you will help them, and in doing so you will let the pipe fall +out of your mouth," said Tottleben, in an undertone, and his voice +trembled ever so little. There was a pause--Ivan leaned, pale and +trembling, against the wall. General Tottleben had turned away, as if +afraid to encounter the pallid, terrified countenance of his slave. + +"If you do not execute my command," said he, finally, "I will have +your only son hung, as he deserves to be. If you betray to any one +soever a word of my order, I will have your wife whipped to death. Now +think of it." + +Ivan shook as if in an ague. His teeth chattered together. "I will +smoke, master," said he, at last, with an effort, "and I will drop my +pipe in the powder-mills. Have pity on my son, master, and spare my +wife!" + +"I will do so, Ivan," said Tottleben. "I will give them both their +freedom, and a pension." + +Ivan dropped his head, and a convulsive groan burst from his breast. + +"Time passes; make haste!" cried the general, with assumed harshness. + +"I go, master," sighed Ivan. "You will not, then, string up my poor +Feodor, nor have my wife whipped?" + +"If you execute my order strictly and punctually, I will care for +them." + +Two tears coursed slowly down Ivan's brown cheek. "I will carry out +your orders, master; I will smoke, and I will drop my pipe. Farewell, +master!" + +He approached his master with slavish humility, and kissed the seam of +his garment. "Farewell, master. I thank you, for you have always been +a kind master to me," said he, and his tears moistened the general's +coat. + +General Tottleben was as yet unable completely to convert his German +heart into a Russian one. He felt himself touched by this humble and +heroic submission of his slave. He felt as if he must give him some +comfort on his fatal road. + +"Ivan," said he, softly, "your death will save, perhaps, not only the +property, but also the lives of many hundred other men." + +Ivan kissed passionately his proffered hand. "I thank you, master. +Farewell, and think sometimes of your poor Ivan." + +A quarter of an hour afterward was seen a troop of fifty Cossacks, on +their swift-footed little horses, racing down Frederick Street. +Each man had a powder-sack with him, and seeing them ride by, people +whispered to each other, "They are riding to the powder-mills. They +have shot away all their own powder, and now, in true Cossack style, +they are going to take our Prussian powder." At that time Frederick +Street did not reach beyond the river Spree. On the other bank began +the faubourgs and the gardens. Even Monbijou was then only a royal +country seat, situated in the Oranienburg suburb. The powder-mills, +which lay beyond the gardens, with a large sandy plain intervening, +were sufficiently remote from the town to prevent all danger from +their possible explosion. + +Ivan, the serf of Count von Tottleben, rode by the side of the officer +of the Cossacks. He pranced his pony about, and was cheerful and jolly +like his comrades, the merry sons of the steppe. As they reached the +gate they halted their horses, and gazed with evident pleasure on the +desert, wild, sandy plain, which stretched out before them. + +"How beautiful that is!" exclaimed Petrowitsch, the hetman of the +Cossacks. "Just look--what a handsome steppe!" + +"Just such a fine sand steppe as at home in our own country!" sighed +one of the Cossacks, beginning to hum a song of his home. + +"This is the finest scenery I have seen in Germany," cried another. +"What a pleasure it would be to race over this steppe!" + +"Come on, then, let us get up a race over this splendid steppe," said +a fourth, "and let us sing one of the songs we are used to at home." + +"Yes, agreed! let us!" cried all, ranging quickly their horses in +line. + +"Wait a moment," cried Ivan; "I can't sing, you all know, and I've +only one sweetheart, and that's my pipe. Let me then light my pipe +so that I can smoke." He struck fire with his steel, and lighting +the tinder, placed it in the bowl of his pipe. No one saw the +sad, shuddering look which he cast at the glowing tinder and his +spark-scattering pipe. "Now forward, boys, and sing us a lively song +from home," said Ivan. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" + +They charge over the beautiful plain, and sing in a pealing chorus, +the favorite song of the Cossack, at once so soft and sad: + + "Lovely Minka! must I leave thee?" + +Big tears ran down poor Ivan's cheek. No one saw them, no one observed +him. He charged with the others over the Berlin steppe, and blew the +smoke out of his pipe. No one heard the sad sighs which he uttered as +he drew nearer and nearer to the powder-mills. No one heard the sad +words of parting which he muttered to himself as his comrades sang: + + "Lovely Minka! must I leave thee, + Leave my happy, heather plains? + Ah! this parting does not grieve thee, + Though still true my heart remains. + Far from thee I roam, + Sadly see the sunbeams shining, + Lonely all the night I'm pining + Far from thee alone." + +They reach the powder-mills; the Cossacks halt their horses and spring +from their saddles. + +Slowly and hesitatingly does Ivan proceed; he passes about his pipe; +he puffs at the tobacco to make it burn, and smoke more freely. + +And now all's right. The pipe is alight. Like brilliant eyes of fire +the burning tobacco shines out of the bowl. Ivan puts it back in his +mouth and blows great clouds of smoke, as he and the Cossacks approach +the gates of the powder-mills. + +The Russian sentinels let them pass, and, joking and laughing merrily, +the Cossacks carry their bags into the building to fill them with +powder for the blowing up of the arsenal. How joyous and careless they +are, these sons of the steppe! How calmly does Ivan continue to smoke +his pipe, although they are now in the large hall, where casks of +powder are ranged in endless rows! + +And now a cask is opened, and merrily and jestingly the Cossacks begin +to load the powder into their sacks. + +What art thou staring at so wildly, Ivan Petrowitsch? Why do the big +drops of sweat run down thy forehead? Why do thy limbs tremble, and +why dost thou look so sadly and mournfully at thy comrades? + +They sing so merrily, they chatter so gayly, all the while pouring the +powder into their sacks nimbly and actively! + +Ivan keeps on blowing furious clouds of smoke out of his pipe. + +Suddenly he utters a cry, a heart-rending, pitiful cry. The burning +pipe drops from his mouth! + +Then rises a wild yell--an awful, horrible report! + +The earth quakes and trembles, as if about to open, to vomit forth the +burning stream of a thundering crater. The sky seems blackened by the +fearful smoke which fills the air far and wide. Everywhere may be seen +human bodies, single shattered limbs, ruins of the exploded building, +flying through the air, and covering the groaning, trembling earth. +But no syllable or sound of complaint, no death-rattle is now heard. +All is over. + +The powder-mills have flown into the air, and, though far distant +from Berlin, yet this terrible explosion was felt in every part of +the city.[1] In the Frederick Street the houses shook as if from an +earthquake, and countless panes of glass were shattered. + +With darkened brow and a burst of anger did General von Tottleben +receive the news that the powder-mills had blown up, and fifty +Cossacks had lost their lives thereby. He mourned for the unfortunate +Cossacks and his poor serf, Ivan Petrowitsch. Still more did he lament +that it was now impossible to blow up the arsenal in Berlin. But +it was not his fault that the commands of his empress could not be +executed. The Russians had shot away all their powder, and the stock +in the powder-mills having been destroyed, there was none left to +carry into execution this grand undertaking. + + +[Footnote 1: Archenholz: "History of the Seven Years' War," p. 194.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +JOHN GOTZKOWSKY. + + +A sad and anxious period had the unfortunate city of Berlin yet to +pass through. With fear and trembling did the inhabitants await the +approach of each morning, and in spiritless despondency they seemed to +have lost all capacity for helping themselves. + +There was but one man who, unterrified and unwavering, with the +cheerful courage of a noble soul, exposed himself to danger, to +suffering and grief, who proposed to himself but one object--to help +others as far as lay in his power, and to avert fresh misfortune, +additional care and anxiety from the too heavily laden inhabitants of +Berlin. + +This one man was John Gotzkowsky, the Merchant of Berlin. In this +day of their trouble the inhabitants looked up to him as to a helping +angel; the poor prayed to him, the rich fled to him with their +treasures; with him the persecuted found refuge, the hungry shelter +and food. + +For Gotzkowsky there was no rest or leisure, nor did he feel care or +sorrow. The tears he had shed about Elise he had buried in his heart, +overcoming a father's grief by the power of his will. At this time he +only remembered that he was called to the sacred duty of succoring +his fellow-men, his suffering brothers--to be a father to the needy, a +deliverer to the oppressed. + +The doors of his house were open to all who sought refuge with him. +The wives and children and aged parents of his workmen rushed there +with screams and loud lamentations, and he received them all, and +gave them beds in his splendid halls, and his gilt and silken ottomans +served for refreshing places to hungry and freezing poverty. + +But not the poor alone, the wealthy also found refuge in his house. +They knew that Gotzkowsky's word had much influence, not only with +General Bachmann, but also with General von Tottleben, and that this +latter had ordered that Gotzkowsky should always have free admission +to him. In their anxiety and need they put aside the proud bearing +of their rank and dignity, and hastened to him to plead for help and +rest, to hide their treasures and place their lives and fortunes under +his guardianship. + +But while hundreds sought refuge and safety there, Gotzkowsky himself +was like a stranger in his own house. Day and night was he seen on +the streets; where-ever danger and alarm prevailed, he appeared like a +rescuing angel; he brought help when all else despaired, and the +power of his eloquence and his pleading words silenced even the rough +insolence of the enemy's soldiers. A hundred times did he expose his +own life to save some unfortunate. In the New Frederick Street he +rushed through the flames into a burning house to save a child which +had been forgotten. + +Elsewhere he fought singly against twenty Austrian soldiers, who were +about to carry off two young girls in spite of their heart-rending +shrieks and entreaties. The rescued maidens sank at his feet, and +bathed his hand with their tears. + +Gotzkowsky raised them to his heart, and said, with an indescribable +expression: "Should I not have compassion on you? Am not I a father? +Thank my daughter, for it was she who saved you." + +But now, at last, exhausted Nature demanded her rights. After two days +and nights without rest, Gotzkowsky tottered toward his own house. As +he crossed the threshold he asked himself with an anxious heart--"Will +Elise come to meet me? Has she cared for me?" And trembling with care +and love, he went in. + +Elise did not come to meet him. No one bade him welcome but his +servant Peter. Gently at last, indeed almost timidly, he ventured to +inquire after his daughter. + +"She is in the large hall, busy nursing the wounded who have been +carried there." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance expressed great delight and relief at this +report. Elise had not, then, buried herself in the solitude of her +room in idle complaint, but had sought, like himself, comfort for her +suffering in helping and sympathizing with others. In this moment he +appreciated the infinity of his love. He yearned to take her to his +heart, and pour out to her all his unappreciated, doubted love, and +convince her that she, his daughter, the only child of his wife, was +the true end and object of his life. But unhappy, oppressed Berlin +left him no time to attend to the soft and gentle dictates of +his father's heart. He had scarcely got into his house, when two +messengers arrived from the town Council, bringing him six thousand +dollars in cash, with the urgent request that he would take charge of +this sum, which would be safe only with him. The town messengers had +scarcely left him, when there arrived the rich manufacturers, Wegeli +and Wuerst, with a wagon-load of gold and silver bars which Gotzkowsky +had promised to keep in his fire-proof cellars. + +His house had become the treasury of the whole of Berlin; and if +it had been destroyed, with all these gold and silver ingots, these +diamonds and silver ware, money and papers, all the Exchanges of +Europe would have felt the disastrous consequences. + +At last, all these treasures were stowed away, and Gotzkowsky +addressed himself to rest, when the door of his room was suddenly +opened, and General von Bachmann entered hastily. + +"Gotzkowsky," said he, "I have come with important intelligence, and +to redeem the promise I made to my friend Sievers." Approaching more +closely to Gotzkowsky, he said to him in an undertone: "General von +Tottleben has just received orders to destroy and burn all royal +factories and mills." + +Gotzkowsky turned pale, and inquired with horror, "Why this barbarous +proceeding?" + +General Bachmann shrugged his shoulders. "It is the order of the +commander-in-chief, Count von Fermore," said he; "and Tottleben will +have to be all the more particular from the fact that, instead of the +arsenal, fifty of our soldiers were blown into the air. Here, in the +mean while, take this paper, and see whether, among the factories to +be destroyed, one of yours has been included by mistake." + +Gotzkowsky looked over the list with dismay. "Did not your excellency +say that only royal factories were to be destroyed?" + +"Yes, so runs the order." + +"But the factories that stand on this list are not royal institutions. +The brass-works in Eberwalde, the gold and silver factories, and the +warehouse in Berlin, do not belong to the king, and are they going to +be so barbarous as to destroy them? That cannot be. I will hasten to +General Tottleben, and entreat him to revoke this cruel order." + +General Bachmann shook his head sadly. "I am afraid it will be in +vain," said he. "Besides, you incur great risk in your undertaking. +The general is in a very angry, excited mood, and your intercession +will only increase his bitterness and anger." + +"I fear not his anger," cried Gotzkowsky boldly. "If no one else dares +to tell him the truth, I will do it; and with argument and entreaty +compel him to be humane, and to respect the property of others. Come, +sir, let us go to General Tottleben!" + +"No, sir. I am not going with you," said Bachmann, laughing. "I am +not a man to tremble on the eve of battle, and yet I fear to meet +Tottleben's angry looks. In his wrath he is like a Jupiter Tonans, +ready to launch his thunderbolts, and dash to pieces all who approach +him." + +"I am not afraid of his thunder!" cried Gotzkowsky, fervently. +"The property and welfare of Berlin are in danger. I must go to the +general!" + +"Then go along," said Bachmann, "and may God give power to your words! +I have warned you, and that is all I can do." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer him. Trembling with eagerness and +impatience, he dressed himself, and throwing his cloak around him, he +once more left his house, with the alacrity of a young man. + +General Bachmann looked after him, smiling thoughtfully. "He is a +noble fellow," said he, "and Berlin has good reason to be grateful to +him, and to love him. But who knows? perhaps, for that very reason, +she will one day hate him. Noble-mindedness is so soon forgotten! It +is the solid weight that sinks to the bottom, while light deeds float +on top. Mankind is not fond of being grateful. I would like to know +whether Berlin will ever show a due appreciation of this noble man?" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE HORRORS OF WAR. + + +The Russians had at last allowed themselves to be carried away by the +example set them by the Austrians and Saxons. Like them, they roamed +through Berlin, robbing and plundering, unmindful of discipline, and +forgetting the severe punishments which Tottleben inflicted on those +whose misdeeds reached his ear. + +Like the Austrians, the Cossacks entered houses with wanton arrogance, +and, under the pretext of being Russian safeguards, they stole, and +robbed, and ill-treated in the rudest manner those who opposed their +demands. They had even managed to reduce their robbery and extortion +to a kind of system, and to value the human person after a new +fashion. It was a sort of mercantile transaction, and the Cossacks +were the brokers in this new-fashioned business. Stealthily and +unheard, they slipped into houses, fell upon the unsuspecting women +and children, and dragged them out, not to capture them as the Romans +did the Sabine women, but to hold them as so much merchandise, to be +redeemed by their friends and relatives at high and often enormous +ransoms. + +But the Cossacks drew but small profit from this hunt after noble +human game. They were only servants, acting under orders from their +officers. These latter divided the booty, throwing to the Cossacks a +small reward for their skill in robbing. + +Thus, for some days, Berlin was not only subjugated by the enemy, but +a prey to robbers and slave-dealers, and moans and lamentations were +heard in every house. All the more merrily did the enemy's soldiers +carouse and enjoy themselves, laugh and joke. For them Berlin was +nothing more than an orange to be squeezed dry, whose life-blood was +to be drawn out to add new zest to their own draught of life. + +The young Russian officers were sitting together in the large room +of their barracks. They were drinking and making merry, and striking +their glasses noisily together; draining them to the health of the +popular, handsome, and brilliant comrade who had just entered their +circle, and who was no other than he whom Gotzkowsky's daughter, in +the sorrow of her heart, was mourning as dead!--no one else than the +Russian colonel, Count Feodor von Brenda. + +He had been right, therefore, in trusting to Fortune. Fortune had +favored him, as she always does those who boldly venture all to +win all, and who sport with danger as with a toy. Indeed, it was +an original and piquant adventure which the Russian colonel had +experienced, the more piquant because it had threatened him with +death, and at one moment his life had been in extreme danger. It had +delighted him for once to experience all the horrors of death, the +palpitation, the despair of a condemned culprit; to acquire in his own +person a knowledge of the great and overpowering feelings, which he +had read so much about in books, and which he had not felt in reality +even in the midst of battle. But yet this bold playing with death had, +toward the last, lost a little of its charm, and a moment arrived when +his courage failed him, and his daring spirit was overpowered by +his awed physical nature. There was not, as there is in battle, the +excitement which conquers the fear of death, and drunk with victory, +mocks one to his face; there was not the wild delight which possesses +the soldier in the midst of a shower of balls, and makes him, as it +were, rush toward eternity with a shout. No, indeed! It was something +quite different which Colonel von Brenda, otherwise so brave and +valiant, now felt. + +When the Austrian soldiers had pronounced his sentence of death, when +they formed a ring around him at the Gens-d'Armes Market, and loaded +their pieces for his execution, then the haughty Russian colonel felt +a sudden change take place; his blood curdled in his veins, and +he felt as if thousands of small worms were creeping through them, +gliding slowly, horribly to his heart. At length, in the very despair +which oppressed him, he found strength to cast his incubus from his +breast, and with a voice loud and powerful as thunder to cry out for +help and succor. His voice was heard; it reached the ear of General +Bachmann, who came in person to set free the wild young officer, the +favorite of his empress, from the hands of the Austrians. + +This adventure, which had terminated so famously, Count Brenda now +related to his friends and comrades. To be sure, the general had +punished the mad freak with an arrest of four-and-twenty hours. But +after undergoing this punishment, he was more than ever the hero of +the day, the idol of his comrades, who now celebrated his release +from arrest with loud rejoicing and the cracking of champagne bottles. +After they had laughed and joked to their satisfaction, they resorted +to the dice. + +"And what stake shall we play for?" asked Feodor, as he cast a look +of ill-concealed contempt on his young companions, who so little +understood the art of drinking the cup of pleasure with decency, and +rolled about on their seats with lolling tongues and leering eyes. + +Feodor alone had preserved the power of his mind; his brain alone +was unclouded by the fumes of champagne, and that which had made the +others mad had only served to make him sad and gloomy. The drunkenness +of his comrades had sobered him, and, feeling satiated with all the +so-called joys and delights of life, he asked himself, with a smile of +contempt, whether the stammering, staggering fellows, who sat next to +him, were fit and suitable companions and associates of a man who had +made pleasure a study, and who considered enjoyment as a philosophical +problem, difficult of solution. + +"And for what stake shall we play?" he asked again, as with a powerful +grip he woke his neighbor, Lieutenant von Matusch, out of the half +sleep which had crept over him. + +"For our share of the booty!" stammered the lieutenant. + +Feodor looked at him with surprise. "What booty? Have we, then, become +robbers and plunderers, that you speak of booty?" + +His comrades burst into a wild laugh. + +"Just listen to the sentimental dreamer, the cosmopolite," cried Major +von Fritsch. "He looks upon it as dishonorable to take booty. I for +my part maintain that there is no greater pleasure, and certainly none +which is more profitable. Fill your glasses, friends, and let us drink +to our hunting. 'Hurrah! hurrah for human game!'" + +They struck their glasses together, and emptied them amidst an uproar +of laughter. + +"Colonel, you shall have your share of the booty!" said Lieutenant von +Matusch, laying his heavy, shaky hand on Feodor's shoulder. "We never +intended to cheat you out of your portion, but you were not here, and +therefore up to this time you could have no share in it." + +As Feodor pressed him with questions, he related how they had formed +a compact, and pledged themselves to have their booty and captives in +common. + +"We have caught more than a dozen head, and they have ransomed +themselves handsomely," cried Major von Fritsch. "We have just sent +out ten of our men again on the chase." + +"Oh! I hope they will bring in just such another handsome young girl +as they did yesterday," cried Matusch, rubbing his hands with delight. +"Ah, that was a pleasant evening! She offered us treasures, diamonds, +and money; she promised us thousands if we would only release her at +once! She wept like a Madonna, and wrung her snow-white hands, and all +that only made her prettier still." + +Colonel Feodor looked at him in anger. In contact with such coarse and +debauched companions his more refined self rose powerful within him, +and his originally noble nature turned with loathing from this barren +waste of vulgarity and infamy. + +"I hope," said he, warmly, "that you have behaved as becomes noble +gentlemen." + +Matusch shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "I do not know what you +call so, colonel. She was very pretty, and she pleased me. I promised +to set her free to-day, for the ransom agreed on, and I have kept my +word." + +As he spoke thus, he burst into a loud laugh, in which his friends +joined with glee. + +But Feodor von Brenda did not laugh. An inexplicable, prophetic dread +overpowered him. What if this young girl, described to him with so +much gusto, and who had been so shamefully ill-treated, should prove +to be his Elise, his beloved! + +At this thought, anger and distress took possession of him, and he +never loved Elise more ardently and truly than he did at this moment +when he trembled for her. "And was there no one," cried he, with +flashing eyes, "no one knightly and manly enough to take her part? +How! even you, Major von Fritsch, allowed this thing to happen?" + +"I was obliged to do so," replied the major. "We have made a law among +ourselves, which we have all sworn to obey. It is established that the +dice shall determine to which of the officers the booty shall belong; +and he who throws the highest number becomes the owner of the person. +He has to negotiate about the ransom. This, however, of course is +divided among his comrades." + +"But if the person is poor?" asked Feodor, indignantly, "if she cannot +pay?" + +"Then she belongs to him who has won her; he must decide on her fate. +He is--" + +The major stopped suddenly. The other officers raised themselves in +their seats, and listened with breathless attention. + +"I think I hear the signal," whispered the major. He had not deceived +himself. A shrill, piercing whistle sounded a second time. The +officers sprang from their seats, and broke into a loud cry of +triumph: + +"Our Cossacks are coming. They have caught something! Come, come, let +us throw the dice." + +With fierce eagerness, they all rushed to the table, and stretched +out their hands for the bones. Immediately a deep, expectant silence +ensued. Nothing was heard but the rattling of the dice, and the +monotonous calling of the numbers thrown. Feodor alone remained at his +place, lost in deep thought, and his tortured heart kept asking itself +the question, "Could it be her whom the barbarians had captured and +ill-used?" This question burnt in his brain like a red-hot dagger, +upsetting his reason, and driving him almost mad with anger and grief. +Still the rattling of the noisy dice went on--the calling of the +numbers. No one took notice of the young man, who, in desperate +distress, his clinched fist pressed against his breast, paced up and +down the farther end of the room, uttering broken words of anger and +grief. No one, as has been said, noticed him, nor did any one remark +that at this moment the door in the background of the hall was opened, +and six Cossacks entered, bearing a litter on their shoulders. + +Feodor von Brenda saw them, and, with deep compassion, he regarded the +veiled, inanimate figure lying on the litter, which was set down by +the Cossacks. + +"Colonel von Brenda," cried Major von Fritsch at this moment, "it is +your turn." + +"Oh, he is too sentimental!" laughed out Matusch. "Is not that the +fact, colonel?" + +Feodor remained musing and pensive. "It is a woman," said he to +himself--"perhaps a young and handsome woman like Elise. How if I +should try to save her? I have luck at the dice. Well, I will try." +And with a firm step he approached the table. "Give me the bones," +cried he. "I will throw with you for my share of the booty." + +The dice rattled and tumbled merrily on the table. + +"Eighteen spots!" + +"The highest throw!" + +"Colonel von Brenda has won!" + +"The woman is mine!" cried Feodor, his countenance beaming with joy. + +His comrades looked at him with astonishment. "A woman! How do you +know beforehand that it is a woman?" + +Feodor pointed silently to the back part of the room. There stood the +Cossacks, next to the litter, waiting in solemn silence to be noticed. + +"A woman! Yes, by Heavens! it is a woman," cried the officers. And, +with boisterous laughter, they rushed toward the Cossacks. + +"And where did you pick her up?" asked Major von Fritsch. + +"Don't know," answered one of the Cossacks. "We crept along a wall, +and when we had climbed to the top, we saw a garden. We got down +slowly and carefully, and waited behind the trees, to see if any one +would come down the long avenue. We did not have long to wait before +this lady came by herself. We rushed on her, and all her struggles, of +course, went for nothing. Luckily for her and us, she fainted, for +if she had cried out, some one, perhaps, might have come, and then we +would have been obliged to gag her." + +The officers laughed. "Well," said the major, "Colonel Feodor can +stop her mouth now with kisses." In the mean while, Lieutenant Matusch +threw the Cossacks a few copper coins, and drove them out of the room, +with scornful words of abuse. + +"And now let us see what we have won," cried the officers, rushing to +the litter. They were in the act of raising the cloth which concealed +the figure, but Feodor stepped forward with determined countenance and +flashing eyes. + +"Let no one dare to raise this veil," said he haughtily. His comrades +rushed, with easily aroused anger, on him, and attempted again to +approach the veiled woman. "Be on your guard!" cried Feodor, and, +drawing his sword from its scabbard, he placed himself before the +litter, ready for the combat. The officers drew back. The determined, +defiant countenance of the young warrior, his raised and ready sword, +made them hesitate and yield. + +"Feodor is right," said the major, after a pause; "he has fairly won +the woman, and it is his business now to settle about the ransom." + +The others cast their eyes down, perhaps ashamed of their own +rudeness. "He is right, she belongs to him," murmured they, as they +drew back and approached the door. + +"Go, my friends, go," said Feodor. "I promise you that I will settle +with her about her ransom, and give up beforehand all claim to my +share!" + +The countenances of the Russian officers brightened up. They nodded +and smiled toward him as they left the room. Count Feodor von Brenda +was now alone with the veiled and insensible woman. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BY CHANCE. + + +As soon as the officers had left the room, Feodor hastened to close +the door after them carefully, to prevent any importunate intrusion. +He then searched thoroughly all the corners of the room, and behind +the window-curtains, to make sure that no one was concealed there. He +wished to be entirely undisturbed with the poor woman whose face he +had not yet beheld, but toward whom he felt himself attracted by a +singular, inexplicable sensation. As soon as he was convinced that +he was quite alone, he went to her with flushed cheeks and a beating +heart, and unveiled her. + +But scarcely had he cast his eyes on her, when he uttered a cry, +and staggered back with horror. This woman who lay there before him, +lifeless and motionless, pale and beautiful as a broken flower, was +none other than Elise Gotzkowsky, his beloved! He stood and stared at +her; he pressed his hands to his forehead as if to rouse himself from +this spell which had hold of him, as if to open his eyes to truth and +reality. But it was no dream, no illusion. It was herself, his own +Elise. He approached her, seized her hand, passed his hands over her +glossy hair, and looked at her long and anxiously. His blood rushed +like a stream of fire to his heart, it seethed and burned in his head, +in his veins; and, quite overcome, he sank down before her. + +"It is she," murmured he softly, "it is Elise. Now she is mine, and no +one can take her from me. She belongs to me, my wife, my beloved. +Fate itself bears her to my arms, and I were a fool to let her escape +again." + +With passionate impetuosity he pressed her to his heart, and covered +her lips and face with his kisses. But the violence of his affection +aroused Elise. Slowly and stunned she raised herself in his arms, and +looked around, as if awakened from a dream. "Where am I?" asked she, +languidly. + +Feodor, still kneeling before her, drew her more closely to his heart. +"You are with me," said he, passionately, and as he felt her trembling +in his arms, he continued still more warmly: "Fear nothing; my Elise, +look not so timidly and anxiously about you. Look upon me, me, who am +lying at your feet, and who ask nothing more from Fortune than that +this moment should last an eternity." + +Elise scarcely understood him. She was still stunned--still confused +by the dreams of her swoon. She passed her hand over her forehead, and +let it drop again list-less and powerless. "My senses are confused," +whispered she in a low voice, "I do not hear; what has happened to +me?" + +"Do not ask, do not inquire," cried Feodor, ardently. "Think only that +love has sent an angel to you, on whose wings you have reposed on +your passage hither to me. Why will you ask after the nature of +the miracle, when the miracle itself brings delight to our eyes and +hearts? Therefore, fear nothing, gentle, pure being. Like an angel do +you come to me through the deluge of sin. You bear the olive-branch of +peace, and love and happiness are before us." + +But as he was about to press her still more closely to his heart, a +shudder pervaded her whole frame. "Oh, now, I recollect," she cried, +vehemently; "now I know all! I was alone in the garden. There came +those terrible men. They seized me with their rude hands. They wounded +my heart with their horrible looks, which made me shudder. Whither +have they brought me? where am I?" + +"You are with me," said Feodor, carrying her hand to his lips. + +For the first time, then, she looked at him--for the first time, +she recognized him. A deep blush of joy suffused her cheeks, and an +angelic smile beamed on her lips. She felt, she knew nothing further +than that her lover was at her side, that he was not dead--that he was +not lost to her. With an outcry of delight she threw herself into his +arms, and greeted the lost, the found one, with warm and happy words +of love. She raised her eyes and hands to heaven. "Oh, my God, he +lives!" cried she, exultingly. "I thank Thee, God, I thank Thee. Thou +hadst pity on my sufferings." + +"Love protected me," said Feodor, gazing at her passionately. "Love +saved me by a miracle. Still more miraculously, it brings you to my +arms. Fear not, Elise. No other eye than mine has seen you. No +one knows your name. That sweet secret, is only known to Love and +ourselves." + +Elise trembled. This imprudent speech woke her out of the stupor which +had so long had possession of her; it recalled her to the world, and +dispelled the charm which his presence, his looks, and his words had +thrown around her. She was now aroused, and hurried from a state of +dreamy delight to one of cruel and dread reality. The ray of joy faded +from her cheek, the smile died on her lips, and, extricating herself +forcibly from his arms, she stood before him in her pride and anger. +"Feodor," said she, terrified, "you sent those fearful men! You caused +me to be kidnapped!" With an angry, penetrating glance, she looked at +Feodor, who sank his eyes in confusion to the ground. + +As she saw this, she smiled contemptuously, and her injured maiden +honor overcame her love and tenderness. "Ah! now I understand!" said +she, with cutting scorn. "I have been told of the hunt after human +beings which is carried on in the town. Colonel Feodor von Brenda +plays a worthy part in this game!" + +Feodor wished to approach her and take her hand, but she repulsed him +sternly. "Do not touch me," cried she, haughtily; "do not seek to take +my hand. You are no longer he whom I love. You are a kidnapper. But +let me tell you, though you have compelled my body to suffer this +dishonorable deed, yet my soul remains free, and that despises you!" + +It was a splendid sight to see her in her noble wrath, which seemed to +elevate her whole frame, and drive a deep glow to her cheeks. + +Feodor looked at her with ardent gaze. Never had he seen her so +fascinating, so charmingly beautiful. Even her wrath delighted him, +for it was a token of her purity and innocence. + +He wanted again to draw near to her, to take her to his heart, but she +drew back in pride and anger. "Go," said she, "I have nothing to do +with a man who violates the most sacred laws of human honor, and like +a vile thief sneaks in to destroy innocence." Her voice failed her, +her eyes filled with tears, but she shook them from her. "I weep," +said she, "but not for grief, nor yet for love; anger it is alone +which extorts tears from me, and they are bitter--far more bitter than +death." And as she thus spoke, she pressed her hands to her face, and +wept bitterly. + +Feodor passed his arm gently around her trembling form. In the excess +of her grief she did not feel it. "No, Elise," said he, "you weep +because you love me. You weep because you think me unworthy of your +love. But before you condemn me, listen to me. I swear to you by the +memory of my mother, the only woman in whom, besides yourself, I +ever believed, that I had no part in this treachery which has been +committed toward you. You must believe me, Elise! Look at me, beloved +one--I can bear your looks. I dare raise my eyes to you. I am not +guilty of this crime." + +Her hands glided slowly from her face, and she looked at him. Their +looks met, and rested for a long time on each other. She read in his +eyes that he was innocent, for love is confiding, and she loved him. +With a charming smile she extended both hands toward him, and he read +in her looks the words of love and tenderness which her timid lips did +not dare give expression to. + +Feodor drew her warmly to his heart. "You believe me," cried he, +passionately; and as he raised her with irresistible strength in his +arms, he murmured low, "Now let us enjoy the sacred hour of happiness +without inquiring what divinity we have to thank for it." + +But the instinct of modesty prevailed over love. "No," cried she, as +she struggled out of his arms, trembling with excitement--"no, Feodor, +it is no hour of happiness in which my honor and good name are to be +buried--no hour of happiness when scandal can tell from mouth to mouth +how a German maiden let herself be carried into the Russian camp, and +shamelessly rushed into the arms of dishonor; for so will they tell +it, Feodor. No one will believe that you had no hand in this outrage. +The world never believes in innocence. Whoever is accused is already +condemned, even if the judge's sentence should a thousand times +pronounce him innocent, No, they will point at me with the finger of +scorn, and with an exultant laugh will say to each other, 'Behold the +barefaced woman who deserted to the Russians, and revelled with her +lover, while her native town was groaning amidst blood and tears. Look +at the rich man's child, who is so poor in honor!'" + +Deeply moved by her own words, she drew herself up still more in the +power of her dignity and innocence, and gazed at Feodor with flashing +eyes. "Count Feodor von Brenda," cried she, firmly, "will you allow +your bride to be suspected and defamed? that a stain should be allowed +to rest upon the name of her who is to become your wife?" + +In her proud excitement she did not perceive the rapid motion of his +lips, nor the blush of shame which suffused his cheeks; she remarked +not that he cast down his eyes and spoke to her with broken and +trembling voice. + +"Elise," said he, "you are beside yourself. Your excited fancy paints +every thing to you in sombre colors. Who will dare to defame you? Who +knows that you are here?" + +"But the whole world will know it. Scandal has a thousand tongues to +spread evil reports. Feodor, let me go. You say that no one knows that +I am here; then no one will know that I go. Be merciful with me, let +me go!" + +"No," cried he, almost rudely. "I will not let you. You ask what is +impossible. I were a fool if I were thus madly to cast the happiness +away which I would fain purchase with my heart's blood. Twice have +I risked my life to see you, to be able to kneel for one happy, +undisturbed hour at your feet, and gaze on you, and intoxicate myself +with that gaze. And now you ask that I shall voluntarily give up my +happiness and you!" + +"My happiness! my happiness! yes, even my life I ask you to preserve +by letting me go hence, and return to my father's house," cried Elise, +eagerly. + +As she perceived that he shook his head in refusal, and met his wild, +passionate looks, reading in them that she might expect no mercy +from him, her anger flashed forth. Imploringly she raised her arms to +heaven, and her voice sounded full and powerful: "Feodor, I swear to +you by God in heaven, and the memory of my mother, that I will only +become the wife of that man whom I follow of my free will out of the +house of my father. I am capable of leaving my father's house; but it +must be my own free choice, my free determination." + +"No," said Feodor, wildly; "I will not let you go. You are mine, and +you shall remain." + +Elise drew nearer to him with bashful tenderness. "You must let me go +now, in order one of these days to demand your pure wife from out +her father's house," said she. There was something so touching, so +confiding in her manner that Feodor, against his will, felt himself +overcome by it; but even while submitting to this fascination he was +almost ashamed of himself, and deep sadness filled his soul. + +Silently they stood opposite to each other, Elise looking at him with +tenderness, yet with fear--he his head bowed, wrestling with his own +heart. Suddenly this silence was interrupted by a loud and violent +knocking at the door. The voices of his wild companions and mad +comrades were calling out loudly Feodor's name, and demanding, with +vehement impetuosity, the opening of the closed door. Feodor turned +pale. The thought that his Elise, this young, innocent, and +modest girl, should be exposed to the insolent gaze of his riotous +companions, irritated him. + +Casting his angry glances around the room to seek for a hiding-place +in which to conceal Elise, he perceived that this was in vain, that +no escape was possible. Sadly he sank his head upon his breast, and +sighed. Elise understood him; she comprehended her disconsolate and +Desperate position. + +"There is then no place where I can hide myself?" said she in despair. +"Shame awaits me. The whole world will know that I am here!" + +Outside the officers raged still louder, and demanded with more +violent cries the opening of the door. Feodor still looked around him +for a secret place. Nowhere was there a possibility of hiding her, or +letting her escape unnoticed. His infuriated companions threatened to +break the door in. + +Feodor now with determination seized the large shawl which had +previously enveloped Elise's form, and threw it over her face. "Well +then," said he, "let them come; but woe to him who touches this +cloth!" + +He pressed the veiled maiden down in a chair, and, hastening to the +door, drew back the bolt. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MISTRESS OR MAID. + + +As Feodor opened the door, his comrades rushed screaming and laughing +uproariously into the room, spying round eagerly for the poor woman, +the noble game which they had hunted down. + +When they perceived Elise seated in a chair, veiled and motionless +just as they had left her, they gave vent to a cry of delight, and +began to explain to the colonel in a most confused jumble, often +interrupted by bursts of laughter and merry ejaculations, the cause +of their stormy interruption. A young man, they said, had just come +inquiring after a young lady who had been carried off by the Cossacks. +He had insisted upon seeing Colonel Feodor von Brenda, in order to +offer a ransom for the captive lady. + +"We have come to inform you of this," said Lieutenant von Matusch, +"so that you may not let her go too cheap. This is the richest haul we +have made yet." + +"The daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky!" cried another officer. + +"She'll have to pay a tremendous ransom," shouted Major von Fritsch. + +Feodor exclaimed, with assumed astonishment, "That woman there the +daughter of Gotzkowsky! Why, don't you know, my friends, that I lived +for a long time in Berlin, and am intimately acquainted with the +beautiful and brilliant daughter of the rich Gotzkowsky? I can assure +you that they do not resemble each other in a single feature." + +The officers looked at one another with amazement and incredulity. +"She is not Gotzkowsky's daughter? But the young man told us that he +came from Mr. Gotzkowsky." + +"And from that you draw the conclusion that this is his daughter whom +you have caught," cried Feodor, laughing. "Where is this man?" + +Lieutenant von Matusch opened the door, and on the threshold appeared +the serious figure of Bertram. He had fulfilled the vow which he had +made to himself, and carefully and attentively watched and guarded +every step of Elise; and while Gotzkowsky was absent from home night +and day faithfully serving his country, Bertram had been a vigilant +sentinel over his daughter. Indeed, Gotzkowsky's house had been, to +all appearance, perfectly safe; it was the sanctuary and refuge of all +the unfortunate, the only secure place where they could bestow their +valuables. Russian sentinels stood before the house, and Tottleben's +adjutant had his residence in it. But this security only applied to +the _house_. As long as Elise kept herself within-doors, Bertram had +no fear. But there was the large garden in which she loved to roam for +hours together, and especially her favorite resort at the extreme end +of the same, not far from the wall, which was so easy to climb. + +Bertram had not ventured to restrain Elise from visiting this solitary +and secluded spot, but he had followed her on her visits to it. There, +hidden behind some tree he had, with the patience and perseverance of +which love alone is capable, watched the young girl, who was neither +desirous of nor grateful for guardianship. This very day he had +followed her softly and unperceived into the garden. Then, when he had +ascertained whither she directed her steps, he had returned into the +house to complete some important business of Gotzkowsky. But impelled +by anxious and unaccountable restlessness, he had hastened back into +the garden; at a distance he heard Elise's cry for help, and, rushing +forward, had come up just in time to see her raised over the wall by +the Cossacks. + +Stunned by horror at this sight, Bertram stood for a moment +motionless. He then felt but one desire, one resolve, and that was--to +rescue her. He hurried to the house for the purpose of proceeding +to General Tottleben and invoking his assistance and support. But a +sudden and painful thought arrested his steps. + +Suppose that Elise had not gone against her will? Suppose that this +had been a preconcerted abduction to which the semblance of violence +had only been given in order, in case of failure, to maintain Elise's +reputation free from stain? + +With a sigh of anguish he recalled to mind when Elise had hidden +her lover in her bedchamber that night when Gotzkowsky had delivered +Feodor over to the Austrians. Since then father and daughter had not +met, and no word of reproach had passed Elise's lips. But Bertram +understood that Gotzkowsky's cruel and relentless sacrifice of her +lover had forever estranged the heart of his daughter from him; that +this hard though just deed had torn asunder the last link which bound +her to him. + +Elise could have learned just as well as Bertram had that Feodor had +been accidentally saved. Her lover himself could have sent her this +information, and she, who in the bitterness of her grief had torn +herself loose from her father, might not have had the strength to +withstand his ardent prayers. Perhaps in her sense of bereavement, +trusting to her love, she might have found the sad courage to brave +not only her father, but the judgment and scorn of the world, in order +to be united to her lover. + +Such thoughts as these arrested Bertram's steps, and compelled him +to reflection. Only one thing was positive--he must save her at every +hazard, even against her will, even if he should reap, as the sole +reward of his devoted love, her aversion; he must save her from +her own passionate, foolish heart, or from the wild lust of the +unprincipled man to whom she trusted her innocence, her youth, and +beauty. + +But this duty he had to perform alone; he dared not trust any one with +his secret, for fear of thereby defeating the object he had in view, +and, instead of saving, bringing disgrace upon her. His resolve was +formed. He must seek her out. He must penetrate to where she was, even +if hid behind a wall of Russian soldiers. Faithful and unselfish as +ever, she should find him at her side, ready to protect her against +every attack, every danger, even from her own inexperience or the +reckless passion of her lover. Especially above all things, her +abduction must remain a secret. To her maidens, therefore, Bertram +said, that their young mistress had withdrawn into her room, and +shut herself in, in order, after so many sleepless nights, to enjoy a +little rest. The same information he left behind for Gotzkowsky, and, +providing himself with weapons, he betook himself to the search for +Elise. In the first place, he naturally directed his steps to the +dwelling of Colonel von Brenda. Here he learned that the latter was +not at home, but had gone to an entertainment at the mess-room of +his regiment. Thither he hastened, firmly resolved to overcome all +obstacles, and in spite of every refusal to see the colonel, and +read in his countenance whether he were an accomplice of the crime +committed, or whether Elise had followed him of her own free will. + +At first, he had been obstinately refused admittance; then in his +despair and anguish he had made use of Gotzkowsky's name, a golden +key to open the doors, as he well knew. In fact, scarcely had the +gold-greedy Russian officers ascertained that the young stranger came +as a messenger from Gotzkowsky and wished to inquire of Count von +Brenda, after a young lady who had been carried off by the Cossacks, +than with a yell of delight they rushed toward the door of the room in +which were Feodor and the captured maiden. Bertram had, therefore, to +thank the avarice of the Russian officers that the door was opened and +he was allowed to enter. + +As Bertram appeared on the threshold of the room a scream escaped +the lips of the female, and he was enabled, notwithstanding the +concealment, to recognize her whom he sought. His heart was convulsed +with pain, and his impulse for a moment was, to rush upon this +audacious, dissolute young man who stood next to Elise, to murder him, +and revenge in his blood the disgrace he had brought upon her. But +remembering the sacred duty he had undertaken of protecting Elise and +concealing her flight as far as possible, he controlled his anger and +grief, and forced himself to appear calm and collected. + +Elise, in the mean while, with joyful emotion recognized Bertram. His +unexpected and unlooked-for appearance did not surprise her, it seemed +so natural to her that whenever danger threatened he should appear +as her protector and savior. She had such confidence in Bertram's +appearance whenever she stood in need of him, that when she saw him, +she looked upon herself as saved, and protected from every danger +which threatened her. She motioned Feodor to her side, and with a +touch of triumphant pride, said to him, "It is Bertram, the friend +of my youth. He has risked his life to save me from dishonor." Feodor +felt the reproof which lay in the intonation of these words, and his +brow grew dark. But he overcame this momentary irritation, and turning +to Bertram, who was approaching him with a firm and determined step, +asked him, "Well, sir, whom do you seek?" + +"A young girl who has been carried off by force," replied Bertram, and +he regarded the young man with angry looks. But Feodor met his glance +with firmness and composure. "It is true," said he, "such an outrage +has been committed; some Cossacks kidnapped a young girl in a garden +and brought her here. I myself will inform the general of this +dishonorable deed, for you understand, sir, that this outrage is an +insult to us as well as to yourself. I have promised my protection to +this young person, and I am ready to defend her against any one who +dares to touch her honor or to doubt her virtue. Come, now, sir, and +see whether this he the same young girl whom you seek." + +He stepped toward Bertram, and as he led him to Elise, he whispered +rapidly in a low tone. "Be silent, and do not betray her name, for +Elise's honor is at stake." + +He raised the veil, and, pointing to Elise's abashed and blushing +countenance, he asked, with a derisive laugh, "Well, now, do you +recognize her? Will you swear that this is Gotzkowsky's daughter?" + +Bertram looked at him with assumed surprise. "Gotzkowsky's daughter?" +asked he, shrugging his shoulders. "Why, it is the young lady herself +who sent me, and no one is looking for her." + +Colonel Feodor turned with a laugh of triumph toward his comrades. +"Did I not tell you so?" cried he. "You credulous fools were hoping to +get half a million ransom, and I have been bargaining with her for the +last hour for a hundred dollars. She swears, with tears in her eyes, +that she is not worth a hundred pence. Gotzkowsky's daughter, indeed! +Do you imagine that she goes about in a plain white dress, without any +ornament or any thing elegant about her? She is just as fond of dress +as our own princesses and pretty women, and, like them, the daughter +of the rich Gotzkowsky is never visible except in silk and +velvet, with pearls diamonds. Oh! I would like myself to catch the +millionnaire's daughter, for then we might bargain for a decent +ransom." + +"But who, then, is this woman?" roared the disappointed officers. "Why +does the rich Gotzkowsky send after her, if she is not his daughter?" + +"Who is she?" cried Feodor, laughing. "Well, I will tell you, as you +attack so much importance to it. You have been served like the seekers +after hidden treasure. You have been seeking for gold, and, instead, +you have only found coals to burn your fingers. You sought after the +millionnaire, the rich heiress, and, instead of her, you have only +caught her--chambermaid." + +"A chambermaid!" growled out his comrades, and turning their dark, +lowering looks on Bertram, they inquired of him whether this woman +were only a chambermaid in Gotzkowsky's house, and assailed him with +reproaches and curses because he had deluded them into the belief that +Gotzkowsky's daughter had been captured. + +"If we had not thought so, we would not have let you in," cried +Lieutenant von Matusch. "It was not worth while making so much fuss +about a little chambermaid." + +"It was just for that very reason," replied Bertram, "and because I +knew that you would not otherwise help me, that I let you believe it +was Gotzkowsky's daughter whom you had captured; otherwise you would +never have let me come near Colonel von Brenda. And Mademoiselle +Gotzkowsky had expressly directed me to apply to that gentleman, and +I did so. You can understand my doing so, when I inform you that this +young girl is my sister!" + +Feodor turned himself to Elise with an expression of anger on his +countenance. "Is this true?" + +"It is true!" cried she, reaching her hand out to Bertram, with a look +of heartfelt gratitude. "He is my brother, my faithful brother!" + +But, as she read in Feeder's darkened countenance the marks of +ill-concealed anger and jealousy, she turned toward her lover with a +rare, sweet smile. "Oh," said she, "there is nothing nobler, nothing +more sacred and unselfish, than the love of a brother." + +Feodor's searching look seemed to penetrate into the inmost recesses +of her heart. Perhaps he read all the love, innocence, and strength +that lay therein, for his brow cleared up, and his looks resumed +their open cheerfulness. Quickly he took Bertram's hand and laid it +in Elise's. "Well, then," said he, "you happy pair, take each other's +hands, and thank God that the danger is over. We have nothing to do +with young and pretty girls--we only want rich ones. Go!" + +"No, no," cried the officers, "not at all, not without ransom!" Saying +which, they pressed noisily and angrily nearer, raising their clinched +fists. "She must pay, or we will keep her!" + +"Dare one of you touch her?" cried Feodor, drawing his sword, and +placing himself in front of Elise. + +"I have come to fetch my sister," said Bertram, turning to the +officers, "but I knew very well that you would not let her go unless +her ransom were paid. I therefore brought all my little portion with +me. Take this purse full of ducats, and let it pay for her." + +A cry of triumph was the answer from the soldiers as they drew Bertram +toward the table that he might count out the money. While they were +dividing it among themselves, talking loudly and laughing merrily, +Feodor remained standing at Elise's side, neither daring to break the +impressive silence. Their souls communed with each other, and they +needed not words nor outward signs. At last, after a long pause, +Feodor asked-- + +"Are you satisfied now, Elise?" + +She answered him with a sweet smile, "I am thine forever!" + +"And will you never forget this hour?" + +"I will not forget it. I will remember that I have sworn to follow +you voluntarily from my father's house, even against his will." And +letting her blushing face droop upon her breast, she whispered, in a +voice scarcely audible--"I await you!" + +But these words, low as they had been spoken, reached the ears of two +men at the same time. Not only Colonel Feodor, but also Bertram, who +had drawn close up to Elise again, had overheard them. The first +they filled with emotions of delight, the other with painful anguish. +Bertram, however, was accustomed to wrestle with his love, and smother +the expression of his pain, under the appearance of quiet composure. +He approached Elise, and offered her his hand, said, "Come sister, let +us go." + +"Yes, go," said the colonel, with the proud superiority of a preferred +rival. He extended his hand to Bertram, and continued, "Be a good +brother to her, and conduct her safely home." + +Bertram's countenance, usually so quiet and calm, assumed for an +instant an offended and almost contemptuous air, and bitter words were +on his tongue; but his angry eye accidentally met Elise's, anxiously +and imploringly directed toward him. He could not master himself +sufficiently to accept Feodor's hand, but at least he could control +his anger. "Come, sister," said he, gently leading Elise toward the +door which the colonel indicated to him by a silent nod. + +Elise had not the courage to leave her lover without a word of +farewell; or rather, she was cruel enough to inflict this torture on +Bertram. Stretching both hands toward him, she said softly, "I thank +you, Feodor; God and love will reward you for having greatly and nobly +conquered yourself." + +Feodor whispered to her, "And will you remember your vow?" + +"Ever and always!" + +In bending over to kiss her hand, he murmured, "Expect me, then, +to-morrow." + +"I will expect you," said she, as she passed him on her way to the +door. + +No word of their whispered conversation escaped the attentive ear of +Bertram; and he understood it, for he loved her, and knew how to read +her thoughts in her looks and her eyes. As he followed her through the +long corridor, and her light, graceful figure floated before him like +a vision, a deep, despairing melancholy settled on his heart, and he +murmured to himself, "To-morrow she expects him!" But with desperate +determination he continued to himself, "Well, then, woe to him if I +find him going astray!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AN UNEXPECTED ALLY. + + +Thanks to Bertram's forethought and caution, he had succeeded in +restoring Elise to her father's house, without her absence having been +remarked, or having occasioned any surmise. In the close carriage in +which they performed the journey home, they had not exchanged a word; +but leaning hack on the cushions, each had rest and repose after the +stormy and exciting scenes they had just passed through. Elise's hand +still rested on Bertram's, perhaps unconsciously, perhaps because she +had not the courage to withdraw it from him to whom she owed so much +gratitude. + +Bertram felt the feverish warmth of this trembling hand, and as he +looked at her and remarked the paleness of her cheeks, the painful +twitching of her lips, he was overcome by a feeling of deep +wretchedness, of pitying sadness, and was obliged to turn his head +away to conceal his tears from her. + +When the carriage stopped, and he accompanied her into the house, +Elise pressed his hand more firmly, and turned her gaze upon him +with a look of deep gratitude, which made his heart palpitate with a +mixture of delight and anguish. He wished to withdraw, he wished to +let her hand go, but she held his still more firmly clasped, and drew +him gently up the steps. Powerless with emotion, he followed her. + +As they entered the hall which led to her room, she cast a searching +look around to see if any one were present, and perceiving that +they two were alone, she turned toward Bertram with an indescribable +expression. She tried to speak, but the words died on her lips, a deep +glow suffused her cheeks, and completely overpowered, and giddy +from the tumult of her feelings, she leaned her head on her friend's +shoulder. + +Gently he passed his arm around her delicate, trembling figure, and +his eyes beamed with a pure emotion. In the depth of his heart he +renewed to God and himself his vow of fidelity and self-sacrificing +love to this poor girl who lay on his bosom like a drooping flower. + +Suddenly she raised her head, her face wet with tears and convulsed +with deep feeling. "Bertram," she said, "I know that I am not worthy +of your noble, generous love, but yet, in my crushed heart, I thank +God that I possess it. A time may come when all the thoughts and +feelings which now fill my soul will appear as vain dreams and +illusions. It may be that some day I will look upon life as a grand +delusion, a fruitless striving after happiness and repose. But never, +my brother, never will that time come when I can doubt your faithful, +pure affection. No power, no other feeling, will ever succeed in +supplanting the deep and boundless gratitude which pervades my whole +soul and binds me to you forever." + +And then it seemed to him as if he felt the breath of an angel wave +over his face; as if the dream and desire of his whole life had closed +his lips in unexpected bliss; as if the wishes and hopes of his +ardent but resigned heart had been fulfilled, and become a delightful +reality. + +When he recovered from this sweet dream, which for a moment robbed him +of his consciousness, Elise had disappeared. But her kiss still glowed +on his lips, and seemed to bless and sanctify his whole life. + +This stream of happiness lasted but for a short time, and Bertram soon +awoke, with a sad sigh, from his delightful fancies, to recall the +painful hours he had just gone through, and to say to himself that +Elise was lost to him forever, that he never could hope to rescue that +heart from the lover to whom she had yielded it with all the devotion +of her ardent nature. With a sorrowing heart did he remember the +last words of the lovers. She had appointed a meeting for him on the +morrow, she expected him, and, braving the anger of her father, had +giving him a rendezvous in his house. + +As Bertram thought over this, he paced the room up and down, panting +with excitement, and wringing his hands. "If Gotzkowsky knew this, he +would kill her, or die himself of grief. Die of grief!" continued he, +after a pause, completely buried in his sad and bitter thoughts--"it +is not so easy to die of grief. The sad heart is tenacious of life, +and sorrow is but a slow grave-digger. I have heard that one could die +of joy, and it seemed to me just now, when Elise rewarded me with a +kiss, that I could understand this. If she only loved me, it were a +blessing of God to die, conscious of her love." + +Completely overcome by his painful thoughts, he remained for a while +motionless and sad. But he soon recovered himself, and shook off the +dark cloud which overshadowed his soul. "I am not born to die such +a death. It is my destiny not to be happy myself, but to save others +from unhappiness. I feel and know that Elise cannot be happy in this +love. A loving heart is gifted with prophetic second sight to read the +future. Elise can never be happy without her father's blessing, and +Gotzkowsky will never give his sanction to this love. How can I lead +her past this abyss which threatens to engulf her? May God, who sees +my heart, help me! He knows how hopeless and disinterested it is. Help +me, Father in heaven! show me some way of saving her noble father from +the grief which lies before him." + +It seemed as if God had heard his prayer, and taken compassion on his +pure, unselfish spirit, and sent him assistance. A loud knocking +at the door aroused him suddenly from his gloomy thoughts, and he +hastened to open it. + +A veiled lady stood there, wrapped in furs, and attended by a servant +in rich livery. In fluent French, which it could be perceived, +however, was not her native tongue, she inquired whether, as she had +been told, Herr von Brink, Tottleben's adjutant, resided there. As +Bertram answered this question in the affirmative, but added, that +Herr von Brink was in the habit of not returning from the general's +quarters before evening, she added, in a decided tone, "Well, then, I +will wait for him." + +Without deeming Bertram's consent necessary, she entered the hall and +motioned to her servant to remain at the door. + +After a pause, there ensued between the two one of those superficial, +ceremonious conversations, the usual refuge of those who have nothing +to say to each other; but the evident uneasiness and confusion of the +young lady prevented her from joining freely in it. Her large, bright +eyes strayed restlessly around the room. A hectic flush alternated +on her cheeks with deathly pallor, and the smile, which occasionally +played around her lips, seemed but a painful expression of mental +suffering. Suddenly she raised her head, as if determined no longer to +bear this constraint, or submit to the fetters of conventionality. + +"Sir," said she, in a tone vibrating with excitement and anxiety, "you +will excuse my asking you a question, on the answer to which depends +my future happiness, my life, indeed--to obtain which I have travelled +from St. Petersburg here. I have just left my carriage in which I +performed the journey from that city. You can therefore judge +how important the cause of this undertaking is to me, and what an +influence it may have on my whole existence. Its object lies in the +question I am about to put to you." + +Bertram took pity on her painful agitation. "Ask" he said, "and, on +the honor of a gentleman, I assure you that your question shall be +answered truly, and that I am ready to serve you as far as it lies in +my power." + +"Are you acquainted with General Bachmann's adjutant?" asked she, +shortly and hurriedly. + +"I am," replied Bertram. + +She trembled as in an ague. "I am come to inquire after a man of whom +I have not heard for six months. I wish to know whether he is alive, +or only dead to me." + +"His name?" asked Bertram, with painful misgiving. + +Her voice was scarcely audible as she replied: "Colonel Count Feodor +von Brenda, of the regiment Bachmann." + +Bertram was quite taken aback by this unexpected turn of the +conversation, and she continued with great excitement, "You do not +answer! oh, have compassion on me, and speak! Is he alive?" + +"He is alive, and is here," answered Bertram sadly. + +A cry of delight escaped the lips of the lady. "He lives," she +exclaimed loudly. "God has then heard my prayer, and preserved him to +me." + +But suddenly the cheerful smile on her lips died away, and, dropping +her head on her breast, she cried, "He is alive, and only dead to me. +He is alive, and did not write me!" For a moment she stood in this +position, silent and depressed; then drawing herself up erect, her +eyes sparkling with passionate warmth, she said: "Sir, I crave your +pardon for a poor stranger, who hardly knows what she is doing or +saying. I am not acquainted with you, or even your name, but there is +something in your noble, calm countenance which inspires confidence." + +Bertram smiled sadly. "Fellow-sufferers always feel attracted to each +other by a community of feeling. I, too am a sufferer, and it is God's +will that our sorrows should spring from a common source. The name you +have uttered is but too well known to me." + +"You know Colonel Brenda?" she asked. + +"I do know him," answered Bertram. + +"The count was at one time a prisoner of war," continued the lady. "He +visited this house frequently, for I have been told that it belongs to +Mr. Gotzkowsky, of whom the colonel wrote me, in the commencement of +his captivity, that he received him most hospitably." + +"Did he write you any word of Gotzkowsky's handsome daughter?" asked +Bertram, looking inquiringly into the countenance of the stranger. + +She shuddered, and turned pale. "O Heaven!" she murmured low, "I have +betrayed myself!" + +Bertram seized her hand, his features evincing deep emotion. "Will +you answer me one question?" he asked, and as she bowed her head in +silence, he proceeded--"is the Count von Brenda your brother?" + +"Oh, sir," she said, with a faint smile, "one does not suffer for a +brother as I have suffered for Feodor. I am the Countess Sandomir, +and Count Feodor is my betrothed. The good empress herself joined our +hands, and blessed our union. A short time after our marriage the war +broke out, and deprived me of my lover and husband. For six months I +have had no tidings of him, and, tortured by anxiety and apprehension, +I resolved to come myself to Germany to seek my betrothed, either to +bury or nurse him, for I believed he must be sick or dead, as he did +not return to me." + +Bertram offered in his heart a prayer of gratitude to God. With +feelings of sympathy, he then turned his eyes on the quivering +features of the stranger. "Listen to me," said he, gently. "As you +entered, I had just prayed to God, in the suffering and sadness of my +heart, to show me some way and means of escape from the labyrinth +in which Count Brenda has placed us. It would seem as if He has +had compassion on us all, for at the very moment he sends you, the +affianced bride of the count, and through you alone can we be saved. +We must be open and candid toward each other. Therefore, listen to me. +I love Gotzkowsky's daughter--I love her without hope, for she loves +another." + +"And this other?" asked she breathlessly. + +"She loves Count Feodor von Brenda, and is about to escape with him." + +"Escape!" cried the lady, and her voice sounded threatening and angry, +and her eyes flashed. "Oh!" said she, gnashing her teeth, "I will +prevent this, even if I kill this girl!" + +Bertram shook his head sadly. "Let us rather try to kill this love in +her heart. Let us contrive some means of bringing your lover back to +you." + +"Are there any such means?" asked she, anxiously. + +Bertram did not answer immediately. His brow was clouded with deep +thought, and a heavy sigh escaped him. He then asked quickly, "Will +you follow me and enter into my plot?" + +"I will," she said firmly. + +"Above all things, then, let us be cautious. Count Feodor must have no +suspicion that you are here, for your presence would drive him to some +desperate resolve, and I fear Elise loves him sufficiently not to draw +back from any thing." + +"You are very cruel," murmured the lady. "You know not what torture +you are preparing for me." + +"If I did not know it, I would not undertake the enterprise that is to +serve us both. I have told you that I love Elise, but I have not told +you how deep and sacred this love is. I would cheerfully venture my +life for her, but now I dare to interfere with her love, and earn her +hatred." + +"You have, then, already made your plan?" + +"I have made my plan, and if you will allow me to escort you to +your hotel, I will disclose it to you, so that we may arrange the +particulars together." + +"Come, then," said she, grasping his hand warmly, "and may God assist +us, and restore to you your bride, and to me my lover!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE JEW EPHRAIM. + + +Much sorrow and tribulation were suffered during this time by the +inhabitants of Berlin. But the saddest lot of all fell to the Jews, +who were threatened with the greatest danger. In Berlin, as everywhere +else, they only led a tolerated, reviled, and derided existence. +They possessed no rights, only duties; no honor, only insults; no +dignities, but humiliation and disgrace. Now they were called on to +give up the last and only thing which shed some gleam of brightness on +their poor, down-trodden existence--their gold and their treasures. + +The Russian commander had imposed upon the Jewish community in Berlin +a special tax; and as they hesitated about paying it, and declared +themselves incapable of raising such a large sum, General von +Tottleben had the three elders of the Jews arrested and strictly +guarded in the Vincenti House in Brueder Street. + +But who could despise or blame the poor Jews for not wishing to +give up their gold? Gold was to them a condition of existence, their +future, their happiness, their family. Gold enabled some of them to +raise themselves from the dust and degradation to which the cruel +severity of _Christian charity_ had condemned them, and to indulge +in human aspirations, human happiness, and human feelings. Only those +among them who possessed wealth were tolerated, and dared hope by +strenuous industry, ceaseless activity, and fortunate speculation, +to amass sufficient fortune to found a family or beget children. The +happiness of domestic life was only allowed to them on condition of +their being rich. + +Frederick the Great had learned with indignation that the Jewish +families in Berlin far exceeded the number of one hundred and +fifty-two allowed by law, and that there were fifty-one too many. +Consequently a stringent decree was issued that they should no longer +be counted by families, but by heads, and that when the poll exceeded +the permitted number, the poorest and lowest of them should be +shipped off.[1] Gold was therefore to the rich Jew a certificate of +naturalization, while the poorer ones had no certainty of a home. They +could at any moment be turned off, driven out of Berlin, if a richer +one should by his wealth and trading acquire the right to take to +himself a wife, and by her have a child. But even he, the rich one, +could only have one child; only one child was allowed to him by law. +For one child only could he obtain legal protection, and only in +exceptional cases, as when their factories and firms succeeded +remarkably well, did the king, in the fulness of his grace, allow a +second child to inherit its guardianship.[2] + +Of what avail, then, was it to the poor Jews to have toiled and +worked so hard, driven by the necessity of paying the hateful +_Jewish poll-tax,_ and thereby procuring for themselves a temporary +toleration? At any moment they could be driven off in case the rich +Ephraim or the rich David Itzig, in the arrogance of their wealth, +should venture to give to the world more than one child, and +purchase for the sum of three thousand dollars another certificate of +protection for the second! Of what avail was their wealth even to the +rich Jews Ephraim and Itzig? They were nevertheless under the ban of +their proscribed race. No privileges, no offices existed for them. +They could only build factories or carry on commerce. All other paths +of life, even agriculture and horticulture, were forbidden to them. +And now they were called on to give up to the Russians their very +life, the nerve of their existence, the heart which carried blood and +warmth to their entire organization--their money. + +Ephraim and Itzig were rich and powerful in Berlin; they could build +houses, found factories, and even determine the value of money, for +the mint was in their hands. They had farmed it from the king, and +paid him an enormous rent for the same, which had increased each year, +and in 1760 amounted to seven millions. But, thanks to this farming, +the value of money had increased exorbitantly. Twenty dollars were +paid for a Frederick d'or, and five-and-thirty for the mark of fine +silver. Owing to the labors of these Jewish lessees, there were many +millions of light money, many millions of bad eight-groschen pieces, +which, to this day, are known by the name of _Ephraimites_, and whose +repudiation at a later period ruined many thousands of honest, +worthy tradesmen, while Ephraim and Itzig became wealthy and powerful +thereby. Yet it was now this same money which brought misfortune to +them, and was the cause of their suffering and mortal anxiety; for +General Tottleben had threatened that if the Jews could not pay +the tax imposed on them, he would take the mint farmers with him as +hostages, and destroy their factories. Besides this, he had, as we +said before, arrested their elders and sworn to send them to Siberia, +if the Jews did not pay. + +The payment was to be made in three days. But the three days had +elapsed, and they had not been able to raise the money which was +demanded of them. In this dire extremity, the two mint-contractors +remembered the man whom they had hitherto most cordially hated, and +whose ruin was the cherished wish of their life. They now recollected +that John Gotzkowsky was the only man who, in the generosity and +kindness of his heart, was capable of forgetting their former insults +and injuries, and of remembering only their need and misery. They +determined, therefore, to apply to him, and request his intercession +and assistance, but they did this with a bitter sigh, for they felt +the hatred and grudge which they nursed in their hearts toward him +become only more intense and stronger. + +"Who would have thought it?" said Ephraim, as, by the side of Itzig, +and accompanied by some of the most wealthy Jewish merchants, he took +the road to Gotzkowsky's dwelling--"who would have thought it? The +powerful Russian General von Tottleben is the friend of Gotzkowsky, +and the greatest men among our people are now obliged to go to +Gotzkowsky's house to implore his influence and protection." + +"Yes," sighed the rich merchant David, "we are obliged to apply to +him to befriend us, and yet what is he compared to you? You are much +richer than he is." + +"Silence, unfortunate man!" cried Ephraim with a shudder, as he looked +shyly around. "I am poor, and for that reason can pay nothing. I am +poor, as all of us wretched Jews are. Have we not to contribute the +greater portion of the war-tax? Are not all our means exhausted? Is +that not enough?" + +"Too much!" groaned Itzig, who till now had walked in melancholy +contemplation at Ephraim's other side. "It is too much. Are we then +treated like human beings? Have we any rights? Only when we have +to pay, do they remember that we have the right of giving up our +hard-earned property. If the Jew has no money, is he not at least a +man, say I?" + +"Pshaw! a man!" cried Ephraim. "Whoever is without money is no man, be +he Jew or Christian. If Gotzkowsky had no money, he would be no better +than we are. Why does the Russian general have any thing to do with +him? Because he is rich. Why do the counts and lords pay court to him? +For the same reason. Why do they call his daughter an angel, and +swear she is the handsomest woman in Berlin? Because her father is +the richest Christian merchant in the town. The whole world knows and +admires him. And why? Because he is rich." + +"No one is rich," said Itzig, shaking his head. "He who has not every +thing is not rich. There is no such thing as riches, for he who has +much has to give much." + +"God knows we will have to give much!" whimpered Ephraim, and all his +companions joined in with groans and sighs as a chorus to his speech. +"They mean to take every thing from us that we own, and Itzig is +right; if the Jew has not money, he is nobody. Have we not suffered as +much as others? Have we not protected our people, and fed and housed +our poor? No one talks about these things, but the whole town talks +about Gotzkowsky. They praise him, they exalt him; they cry out his +name everywhere, so that one's heart actually burns for vexation. And +yet at the highest calculation he is not worth more than a million." + +"He is worth more than ourselves; he is worth much more, for he has +the favor of the Russian general. For this reason we must bow down +before him, and flatter him, and assure him of our eternal gratitude, +for it is a question not of life, but what is more precious than +life--money." + +With deep-drawn sighs they whined out, "Yes, we must bow to him, and +flatter him, and yet we are richer than he is." + +As long as they were on the street they maintained an air of pride and +vexation; but as soon as they entered Gotzkowsky's house and stood in +his presence, they were all gentleness, humility, and friendliness. +With tears they implored Gotzkowsky to have pity, and to beg General +Tottleben to have compassion on them. They vowed eternal gratitude to +him, and swore with solemn oaths that if he succeeded in relieving +the Jews from the special impost, they would love him forever, and be +everlastingly thankful to him. + +Gotzkowsky smiled in pity. "That means that you would feel yourselves +under obligations to me, and, if ever you got me in your power, you +would take the opportunity to ruin me. But that is of no consequence +to me. This impost is a crying injustice, and therefore will I plead +for you, for it never shall be said that Gotzkowsky suffered an +injustice to be done when he could prevent it. Go home in peace, for, +if I can, I will help you." + +"How arrogant this man is!" said Itzig, when they had left the house. +"One would suppose that he had all virtue and honor on lease, just as +we have the mint." + +"And if he has," said Ephraim with a laugh, "if he has the monopoly +of virtue and honor, it is only to trade on. No doubt his speculation +will turn out just as profitably as ours with the mint. No doubt he +will coin it into light eight-groschen pieces, cheat the people with +them, and make more than his expenses, as we have done." + +"But woe be unto him," growled Itzig, "if any light coin of his virtue +come into my hands! I will throw them back into his face till blood +flows, and I will never forgive him that this day we have had to stand +before him begging and pleading. If he ever comes to grief, I will +remember it. If the Jew has no money, he is nobody. Well, we will see +what Gotzkowsky is worth without money. Let me tell you we will all of +us live to see that day. He has too much stupid generosity, which some +day or other will run away with his purse, and then there will be a +grand blow-up, honor and virtue and all, sky high. Then there will be +no more talk about the great Gotzkowsky and his virtue and all that. +Oh! I do so rejoice over that time a-coming. But in the mean time I am +so very glad that Gotzkowsky can be of some service to us!" + + +[Footnote 1: Buesching's Travels, 1780.] + +[Footnote 2: "Annals of the Jews in the Prussian States," +Berlin.--UNGER.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE RUSSIAN GENERAL AND THE GERMAN MAN. + + +Scarcely had the Jewish deputation left Gotzkowsky's house, before +he betook himself, full of the important information received from +General Bachmann, to General Tottleben's residence, fully determined +to venture every thing to prevent the execution of the cruel order +which threatened the factories and other branches of industry. But +this was not the sole object which led him there. He went there as +a representative of the whole town. Every one who needed assistance +applied to him, and to each one he had promised to intercede for +him. Laden with petitions and commissions from the magistracy, +the merchants, and the citizens of Berlin, he entered the Russian +general's quarters. Deeply inspired with the importance of his +commission, he traversed the halls which led to the general's private +apartments, saying to himself, "This is the most important mission I +have ever undertaken, for the welfare of the whole town depends upon +it--a million dollars depend upon every word I may utter. Many a +struggle have I had in these days, but this is the hardest of them +all, and victory hangs on my tongue." + +With beaming countenance and sparkling eyes, with his whole being +animated with the sacredness of his office, he entered the cabinet +of the Russian general. Tottleben did not offer him, as heretofore, a +friendly welcome. He did not even raise his eyes from the dispatches +which he was in the act of reading, and his contracted brows and the +whole expression of his countenance was such as to discourage any +petition or pleading. At this moment General von Tottleben was a true +Russian, and, thanks to General Fermore's dispatches, he had succeeded +in suppressing his German sympathy. At least he flattered himself that +he had, and for that reason he avoided meeting Gotzkowsky's clear, +bright eye. + +Without taking any notice, he finished reading the papers, and then +rose and walked about the room. After a while he seemed as if by +accident to perceive Gotzkowsky's presence, and stopped short. "Have +you come back already?" he asked in a sullen, grumbling tone. "I +know very well that you have returned to beg for all sorts of useless +trash; I can't bear such eternal begging and whining--a pitiful rabble +that is all the time creeping to our feet." + +"Yes, your excellency, it is nothing but a poor, pitiful rabble," said +Gotzkowsky with a smile; "and for this very reason the Russians are +despised all over Europe. Toward the high and mighty they behave +like fawning hounds, and toward the low and humble they are rude and +arrogant." + +"I am not speaking of the Russians," cried the general, as he turned +his lowering countenance toward Gotzkowsky, "I am speaking of _you_. +All day long you have done nothing but beg and demand." + +But Gotzkowsky met him with quiet and smiling composure. "Pardon, your +excellency, it is you who demand; and because you are all the time +demanding, I must all the time be begging. And, in fact, I am only +begging for yourself." + +Tottleben looked at him in inquiring astonishment, but in silence. "I +am not begging for favor," continued Gotzkowsky, "but for justice; and +if you grant this, why, it is so much gained for you. Then, indeed, +the world will esteem you as not only brave, but just; and then +only will history honor you as truly great--the equitable and humane +conqueror. The Vandals, too conquered by the sword; and if it only +depended on mere brute strength, wild bulls would be the greatest +generals." + +Tottleben cast a fierce, angry look toward him "For that reason," +cried he, threateningly, "he is a fool who irritates a wild bull." + +Gotzkowsky bowed and smiled. "It is true one should never show him +a red cloak. A firm, unterrified countenance is the only way to tame +him. The bull is powerless against the mind which beams out of the +human eye." + +It was very probably the very boldness of this answer which pleased +the general, accustomed as he was to Russian servility. His features +assumed a softer expression, and he said, in a milder tone: "You are +an extraordinary man, and there is no use in contending with you. +One is obliged to do whatever you wish. Well, now--quick, out with +it--what do you want of me?" + +"Justice," said Gotzkowsky. "You gave me your word that your soldiers +should not rob nor plunder, and, notwithstanding, they do it." + +"That is not true!" thundered the general. + +"It is true," replied Gotzkowsky, calmly. + +"Who dares to contradict me?" cried Tottleben, trembling with rage, +and striding toward Gotzkowsky. + +"I dare," answered the latter, "if you call that 'to dare' which is +only convincing you of your error. I, myself, have seen your soldiers +striking down the flying women with the butts of their muskets, +robbing and plundering the houses. Your orders have been but poorly +obeyed; and your soldiers _almost_ equal the Austrians in rudeness and +violence." + +A light smile played over Tottleben's countenance. Gotzkowsky had +understood how to soften his anger. "_Almost_--only," said he, "woe +be to my soldiers if they equal the Austrians in rudeness!" With +hasty steps he traversed the apartment, and called his adjutant. "Send +patrols through the whole town," was his order to the officer as +he entered, "and give orders to all the soldiers to maintain strict +discipline. Whoever dares to plunder, is guilty of disobedience to +military orders, and shall be tried by military law. The gallows +for thieves and marauders--say so to my men; they know that General +Tottleben keeps his word. Are you satisfied now?" he asked Gotzkowsky, +as the adjutant left the room. + +"I thank your excellency," said Gotzkowsky, hesitating. + +"Thank God that at last you are satisfied, and have nothing more to +ask!" cried Tottleben, almost cheerfully. + +"But indeed I have a great deal yet to ask, and if you allow me I will +ask your excellency a question. You have just issued an order. How +high up does this order reach?" + +"How high up?" asked the general, surprised. + +"I mean does this order which forbids the soldiers from robbing and +plundering under pain of death, affect only the common private, or +must the higher officers also obey it?" + +"I would advise every one to do so," cried Tottleben, with a harsh +laugh. "The order is for all." + +"Even the highest officers?" + +"Not even the generals are excepted." "Then, sir," said Gotzkowsky, +drawing himself up and advancing a step toward the general, "I accuse +before you an officer who has had the presumption to disobey +your general order. You forbid, under severe penalty, robbery and +plundering, and yet he is intent on them. You have strictly ordered +the army to preserve discipline, and not to ill-treat nor abuse the +defenceless, and yet a general is about to do it." + +"Who dares that? Give me the name of this general!" + +"It is General von Tottleben," answered Gotzkowsky, quietly. + +Count Tottleben stepped back and gazed at him in amazement. + +Gotzkowsky did not lower his eyes, but met his flashing glance firmly. +"Are you beside yourself?" asked the general, after a long pause. "Is +your life such a burden to you that you are determined to lose it?" + +"If my head were to fall, it would only be a confirmation of what I +have asserted--that General von Tottleben issues an order, and does +not respect it himself; that while he forbids his soldiers to rob and +steal, under penalty of death, even _he_ commits those very offences." + +The excess of this boldness had the effect upon the general on which +Gotzkowsky had calculated. He had speculated somewhat on the leonine +nature of Tottleben's character. + +The general, instead of annihilating his foolhardy antagonist, found +pleasure in his presumption, and it flattered him that he was esteemed +too magnanimous to revenge himself for a few words of insult. + +"Look here, my friend, you are so outrageously bold that you make me +laugh. For the sake of its rarity, I will hear you out, and try to +remain cool. Speak on, then. Accuse me--but woe to you if I justify +myself! Fail not to prove what you say." + +"The proverb says, 'Small thieves are hung, while great ones go +free,'" replied Gotzkowsky, shrugging his shoulders. "You wish to +prove the truth of this proverb. The soldier who enters the house +for theft and plunder, you condemn; but you acquit the general who +devastates a whole town, and in the arrogance of his victory wishes to +make himself, like Erostratos, immortal by incendiarism and arson." + +"Do not presume too much on my forbearance," interrupted Tottleben, +stretching his arm out threateningly toward the bold speaker. +"Erostratos was a violator of temples." + +"You are not less one!" cried Gotzkowsky; "you mean, with impious +hand, to cast a firebrand into the holy temple of labor. Erostratos +only destroyed the temple of an imaginary deity; but you, sir, are +worse--you wish to destroy factories!" + +"Do you know what that means?" + +"It means to deprive the poor man of the morsel of bread which, by the +sweat of his brow, he has earned for his wife and children! It means +to rob him who possesses nothing but the craft of his hands and his +body, of his only right--the right to work. You are going to destroy +the gold and silver manufactories, to burn the warehouse, to tear down +the brass works in the New Town Eberswald! And why all this? Why +do you intend to leave behind you this memorial of your vandalism? +Because your empress is angry with our king!" + +"Because enemies wish to revenge themselves on enemies," interrupted +the general. + +"Do that!" cried Gotzkowsky, warmly. "Revenge yourself on your enemy, +if you consider the destruction of his property a noble revenge. +Destroy the king's palaces; rob him, if you choose, of his most +ennobling enjoyment! Rob him of his pictures; do like the Saxons, who +yesterday destroyed Charlottenburg. Send your soldiers to my house; +there hang splendid paintings bought by me in Italy by the king's +order. I know that our noble king anticipates much pleasure in +carrying them some day to Sans Souci. But revenge yourself, take these +pictures, set fire to these noble works of art, but spare what belongs +to the poor man!" + +He spoke with noble warmth, with glowing eloquence, and against his +will Tottleben's German heart was touched, and moved him to clemency +and compassion. But he would not listen to it. General Fermore's +dispatches lay before him, and compelled him to be harsh. + +"You think you speak wisely, and yet you talk nothing but impudent +nonsense," said he, with assumed severity. "Who thinks of destroying +the poor man's property? The royal property shall be destroyed, and +nothing else." + +"But the gold and silver manufactories and the warehouse are not the +property of the king," said Gotzkowsky quickly. "Not a penny goes +thence into the king's treasury." + +The general's countenance brightened up considerably. "Not into the +king's treasury?" said he; "where, then, does it go?" + +"The money, your excellency, which is earned at the gold and silver +factories and at the warehouse is devoted to a praiseworthy and +touching purpose. Perhaps you are a father--have children; and when +you go into battle you think of them, and utter a silent prayer, +intrusting them to God's care, and praying that they may not be left +orphans." + +Count Tottleben muttered some untelligible words, and stretched +out his hand deprecatingly. His lips trembled, and to conceal his +agitation he turned away. + +Gotzkowsky cried out joyously: "Oh, I see in your eyes that you are +vainly trying to compel yourself to look at me in anger. Yes, you are +a father. Well, then, father, spare the orphans! From the proceeds +of the gold and silver factories, and the warehouse, the new, large +orphan-house in Potsdam is supported. Oh, you cannot be so cruel as +to deprive the poor children, whom the pitiless war has rendered +fatherless, of their last support, of their last refuge!" + +The general stepped up to him, and grasped his hand. "God be my +witness that I will not! But is this so certainly? Do you speak the +truth?" + +"Yes, it is the truth!" + +"Can you swear to it?" + +"Yes, with the most sacred oath." + +The general paced the room in silence several times, and then, pausing +before Gotzkowsky, laid his hand on his shoulder. "Listen," said he. +"I have often been reproached at home for being too soft and pitiful. +But never mind! I will once more follow my own inclination, and act in +spite of the orders which I have received. You must help me. Put +all that you have just stated down on paper. Write down that these +buildings are not the property of the king, but of the orphan-house. +Swear to it with a sacred oath, and affix your signature and seal. +Will you do this?" + +"Gladly will I do it," cried Gotzkowsky, his face radiant. "Never have +I signed my name with a happier heart than I will have when I sign +it to this affidavit, which will procure for us both the heart-felt +blessings of so many children." + +He stepped to the general's writing-table, and, following his +direction, seated himself and wrote. + +Tottleben in the mean while walked up and down pensively, his arms +folded. His features wore a thoughtful and mild expression. No trace +of the late angry storm was visible. Once he stopped, and murmured +in a low voice: "Orphans one dare not plunder. Elizabeth has a tender +heart, and if she learns the reason of my disobedience, she will be +content. Yes, my course is the right one." + +"I have finished, sir," said Gotzkowsky, standing up and handing him +the paper on which he had written. + +Tottleben read it over carefully, and laid it alongside of the +dispatches to his empress. He then called to his adjutant and ordered +him immediately to place strong safeguards over the gold and silver +manufactories and the warehouse, and to protect these against any +attack. + +Gotzkowsky clasped his hands, and directed his eyes to heaven with +joyful gratitude, and in the deep emotion of his heart he did not +perceive that the general again stood before him, and was looking at +him with inquiring sympathy. His voice first awakened him from his +reverie. "Are you contented now?" asked Tottleben, in a friendly tone. + +"Content, general," said Gotzkowsky, shaking his head, "only belongs +to him who lies in his coffin." + +Again the general's brow grew dark. "What is troubling you now? Don't +hesitate--" + +"To speak on, your excellency?" inquired Gotzkowsky, with a gentle +smile. + +"No--to put yourself in your coffin," answered the other, rudely. + +"I have not time for that, as yet," replied Gotzkowsky, sadly. "Both +of us, general, have still too much to do. You have to add fresh +laurels to your old ones--I have to clear thistles and thorns from the +path of my fellow-men." + +"Ah! there are more thorns, then?" asked Tottleben, as he sank down +into a chair, and regarded Gotzkowsky with evident benevolence. + +"A great many yet, sir," answered Gotzkowsky, sighing. "Our whole body +is bloody from them." + +"Then call on the regimental surgeon to cure you," said Tottleben, +with a coarse laugh. + +"You only can cure us," said Gotzkowsky, seriously, "for only you are +able to inflict such severe wounds. You are not satisfied with having +conquered and humiliated us, but you wish to tread us in the dust, and +make our cheeks, which were pale with sadness, now redden with shame. +You have ordered that the citizens of Berlin should be disarmed. You +are a brave soldier, sir, and honor courage above all things. Now, +let me ask you, how could you bear to exhibit the certificate of your +cowardice? Could you survive it? You look at me in anger--the very +question makes you indignant; and if that is your feeling, why would +you subject the citizens of Berlin to such disgrace? With our weapons +we have fought for our just rights and our liberty. God has willed +it that we should be subdued nevertheless, and that you should be the +conquerors. But methinks it would redound more to your honor to be +the conquerors of honorable men than of cowardly slaves! And when you +require of us, the conquered, that we shall give up our manly +honor, our weapons, you convert us into abject cowards, and deprive +yourselves of all honor in having conquered us. Let us then, sir, keep +our weapons; leave us this one consolation, that on our tombstones +can be inscribed: 'Freedom died, but with arms in her hand!'" and +Gotzkowsky, quite overcome by his painful emotions, leaned back +against the wall, breathless, his imploring looks fixed upon the +general. + +But the latter avoided meeting his eyes, and directed his own darkly +toward the ground. + +Gotzkowsky perceived the indecision, the wavering of the general, and +he felt that he must now risk every thing to overcome his resistance. +"Leave us our weapons. Oh, you are a German! spare your German +brethren." + +Tottleben sprang from his seat as if a venomous snake had stung +him. Dark and terrible were his features, his eyes flashed fire, and +raising his right hand threateningly, he cried out: "You remind me +in an evil hour that I am a German. Germany drove me out to find in a +foreign land the appreciation which my own country refused me! Had I +been a foreigner, Germany would long ago have proclaimed my fame; +but, being the son of the family, the mother drives me out among +strangers--and that they call German good-nature!" and he broke out +into a bitter, scornful laugh. + +"It is but too true," said Gotzkowsky, sadly. "Our mother Germany is +fond of sending her greatest sons out from home on their pilgrimage to +fame. For her great men she has but the cradle and the grave. But show +your unfeeling mother that you are better than she is; prove to her +how unjust she has been. Be magnanimous, and leave us our weapons!" + +"I cannot, by Heaven! I cannot do it," said Tottleben, sadly, in a low +tone. "I must obey the higher authorities above me--the empress and +the commander-in-chief, General Fermore. My orders are very strict, +and I have already yielded too much. It is written in these dispatches +that the arms must be given up." + +"The arms?" said Gotzkowsky, hastily. "Yes, but not _all_ arms. Take +some of them--we have three hundred inferior rifles--take them, sir, +and fulfil the letter of your orders, and save our honor." + +General von Tottleben did not answer immediately. Again he paced the +room, from time to time casting sharp, piercing glances at Gotzkowsky, +whose firmness and animation seemed to please him. He stopped +suddenly, and asked in a voice so low that Gotzkowsky was scarcely +able to distinguish the words--"Do you think the Germans will praise +me, if I do this thing?" + +"All Germany will say, 'He was great in victory, still greater in his +clemency toward the conquered,'" cried Gotzkowsky, warmly. + +The general dropped his head upon his breast in deep meditation. When +he raised it again, there was a pleasant smile upon his face. "Well, +then, I will do it. I will once more remember that I am a German. +Where are the three hundred rifles?" + +"In the armory, sir." + +The general made no reply, but stepped toward his writing-table +hastily. He wrote off a few lines, and then with a loud voice called +his adjutant again to him. As the latter entered, he handed him the +writing. "Let the disarming take place. There are not more than three +hundred muskets. Let the citizens bring them to the Palace Square. +There they will be broken up, and thrown into the river." + +"O general!" cried Gotzkowsky, his countenance radiant with delight, +when the adjutant had left the room, "how I do wish at this moment +that you were a woman!" + +"I a woman!" cried Count Tottleben, laughing, "why should I be a +woman?" + +"That I might kiss your hand. Believe me, I never thanked any man so +truly and sincerely as I now do you! I am so proud to be able to say, +'Berlin is conquered, but not dishonored!'" + +Tottleben bowed amicably toward him. "Now, after this proof of my +generosity, the town will hasten to pay its war-tax, will it not?" +Then seeing the dark cloud which gathered on Gotzkowsky's brow, he +continued with more vehemence, "You are very dilatory in paying. Be +careful how you exhaust my patience." + +"Pray let me know, sir, when it is exhausted," said Gotzkowsky. "It +is cruel to drive an exhausted animal beyond his strength. Do you not +think so?" + +The general nodded his assent in silence. + +"You are of my opinion," cried Gotzkowsky. "Well, then, you will be +just, and not exact of this exhausted city, wearied unto death, more +than she can perform." + +With glowing words and persuasive eloquence he explained to the +general how impossible it was for the city to pay the demanded war +contribution of four millions. + +Tottleben let himself again be persuaded. In the presence of this +ardent, eloquent German patriot, his German heart resumed its power, +and compelled him to mercy and charitableness. He consented to reduce +the tax to two millions of dollars, if Gotzkowsky would guarantee the +punctual payment of the bonds given by the body of merchants, and +give two hundred thousand of it in cash down, as hush-money to the +Austrians. + +The latter declared himself gladly willing to accept the orders, and +to stand security with his whole fortune for their payment. Both then +remained silent, as if fatigued by the long and severe war of words, +from which Gotzkowsky had always come out victorious. + +The general stood at the window, looking into the street. Perhaps +he was waiting for Gotzkowsky to give vent to his warm and delighted +gratitude before he took leave. But Gotzkowsky did neither the one +nor the other. He remained with folded arms, his countenance full of +earnest courage and bold determination. + +"I will finish what I have commenced," said he to himself. "I will +keep my word, and not move from the spot before I have pleaded for all +those to whom I promised my assistance. The general is at liberty to +curse my importunity, if I only do my duty toward my fellow-citizens." +As he still remained silent, Tottleben turned toward him laughingly. + +"What," said he, "are you dumb? Is your eloquence exhausted? Indeed, +when I think of all that you have got out of me to-day, it almost +makes me smile." And he broke out into a merry, good-natured laugh. + +"Well, laugh, sir," said Gotzkowsky, "I know you are fond of a laugh. +For example, you have just played a little joke on the Jews, and made +them believe that they have to pay an imposition--" + +"Made believe?" interrupted Tottleben, hastily. "Man! be satisfied +that I have remitted two millions to the citizens. Don't speak up now +for the Jews." + +"But the Jews are a part of the citizens." + +"Are you crazy, man?" cried Tottleben, violently. "Is the Jew a +citizen with you?" + +"Yes," answered Gotzkowsky, "as far as paying goes. The Jew is obliged +honestly to contribute his proportion of the war-tax. How can you, +with any semblance of justice, require of him another further tax, +when he has already, in common with us, given up all he possesses?" + +"Sir," cried Tottleben, with suppressed vexation "this is enough, and +more than enough!" + +"No," said Gotzkowsky, smiling. "It is too much. The Jews are not able +to pay it--" + +"I will remit their contribution," cried the general, stamping +violently on the floor, "to please you--just to get rid of you--but +now--" + +"But now," interrupted Gotzkowsky, insinuatingly, "one more favor." + +The general stepped back astounded, and looked at Gotzkowsky with a +species of comical terror. "Do you know that I am almost afraid of +you, and will thank God when you are gone?" + +"Then you think of me as the whole town of Berlin thinks of you," said +Gotzkowsky. + +The general laughed. "Your impudence is astonishing. Well, quick, what +is your last request?" + +"They are preparing at the New Market a rare and unheard-of +spectacle--a spectacle, general, as yet unknown in Germany. You have +brought it with you from Russia. You are going to make two men run the +gantlet of rods--not two soldiers convicted of crime, but two writers, +who have only sinned in spirit against you, who have only exercised +the free and highest right of man--_the right to say what they think_. +You are going to have two newspaper writers scourged, because they +drew their quills against you. Is not that taking a barbarous revenge +for a small offence?" + +"A small offence," cried the general, whose countenance had resumed +its dark, fierce expression. "Come, that's enough. Stop, if you do not +wish me to take back all that I have granted you. Do you call that a +small offence? Why, sir, the editor of _Spener's Journal_ called me +an adventurer, a renegade. Ah! he at least shall feel that I have the +power of punishing." + +"Why," said Gotzkowsky calmly, "that would only prove to him that he +had hit you on a tender spot." + +"And the scribbler of the _Vossian Gazette_, did he not venture even +to attack my gracious empress?" continued Tottleben, perfectly carried +away by his indignation. "He wrote a conversation between peasants, +and in it he made fun of the empress. He even went so far as to make +his own king join in the dirty talk, in the character of a peasant. +Sir, I am very much surprised that you should defend a man who carries +his impudence so far as to canvass and scandalize the conduct of his +own king in such a disrespectful and audacious manner." + +"The king is great enough to be able to bear this calumny of little +minds. Whosoever is truly great, is not afraid of free speaking nor of +calumny. Have you never heard the story of how the king was riding by, +where the people were collected at the corner of a street, stretching +out their necks to read a pasquinade which had been hung on the wall, +and was directed against the king himself? The king reigned in his +horse, and read the hand-bill. The people stood in silent terror, for +the paper contained a sharp abuse of the king, and a libel on him in +verse. What does your excellency think the king did when he had read +this most treasonable placard?" + +"He had the mob cut it down, as it deserved to be, and the author +strung up on the gallows," cried Tottleben. + +"Not at all, sir," replied Gotzkowsky. "He said, 'Let the paper be +hung lower; the people can't see to read it up so high.' He then +saluted the crowd, and rode off, laughing." + +"Did the _great Fritz_ do that?" said Tottleben, unconsciously using +the epithet which the Prussian people had applied to their king. + +"He did it _because_ he is great," replied Gotzkowsky. + +"Strange, hard to believe," muttered the general, folding his arms, +and striding up and down. After a pause, Gotzkowsky inquired, "Would +you not like to emulate the great king, general?" + +Count Tottleben awoke from his reverie. Approaching Gotzkowsky, he +laid his hand upon his shoulder; his expression was indescribably mild +and gentle, and a melancholy smile played around his lips. "Hark'ee, I +believe it would do me good if we could be always together. Come with +me. Settle in Russia. The empress has heard of you, and I know that +she would be rejoiced if you came to Petersburg. Do it. You can make +a large fortune there. The empress's favor will elevate you, and she +will not let you want for orders or a title." + +Gotzkowsky could hardly suppress a smile of contempt. "Orders for me! +A title! What would I do with them? Sir, I am more powerful than all +your counts, for the greatness of the nobility lies in the past, in +mouldering ancestors; but the greatness of the manufacturer lies in +the future, and the future belongs to industry. I founded the first +large factories here in Berlin, and the manufacturers who come after +me can call me their ancestor. No other nobility do I desire, count." + +"You would then be capable of refusing a count's title?" asked +Tottleben, in astonishment. + +Gotzkowsky shrugged his shoulders. "If I had wished for nobility I +could long ago have bought a countship of the holy German empire, for +such things are for sale, and thirty thousand ducats is the +highest price for a count's title; and as for the orders, my own +ribbon-factory turns out the ribbons for them." + +General Tottleben looked at him for a long time in mild astonishment. +"You are a wonderful man, and I wish I were like you. If I had thought +as you do, my life would have been a less stormy one, and less tossed +by care and restlessness. I would have--" + +The general was interrupted by the hasty entrance of the adjutant. +He was the bearer of dispatches brought by a courier who had just +arrived. The courier, he said, had ridden so hard, that his horse had +fallen dead on his arrival. + +Tottleben tore open the dispatches and read them rapidly. His +countenance immediately lost its former expression of mildness and +gentleness. His German heart was silenced by the will of the Russian +general. + +He seemed to forget Gotzkowsky's presence, and turning to his +adjutant, with proud military bearing, he said: "These dispatches +contain important and surprising information. They announce that the +Prussian army is drawing on in forced marches, with the king at +its head. We cannot give him battle here, and must, in consequence, +arrange for a rapid retreat from Berlin. Call all the generals and +staff-officers together. Let the alarm be sounded. In three hours +the whole army must have left the city. And, further, summon the Town +Council to the New Market, that we may take our leave, for we must not +leave Berlin as fugitives, but as conquerors, who are proceeding on +their march." + +"And the poor editors who are to be flogged?" asked Gotzkowsky, when +the adjutant had left. + +The general smiled, as he took Gotzkowsky amicably by the hand. +"We will hang them a little lower," said he, significantly. "Come, +accompany us to the market-place!" + +NOTE.--Count von Tottleben expiated his clemency toward Berlin very +dearly. A few months later he was sent to Petersburg under arrest, +accused principally of having behaved too leniently and too much in +the German interest for a Russian general. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE EXECUTION. + + +The morning was cold and rainy, the wind howled down the empty +streets, rattling the windows, and slamming the open house-doors. +Surely the weather was but little suited for going out, and yet the +Berlin citizens were to be seen flocking toward the New Market in +crowds, regardless of wind and rain. + +The Berliners have, from time immemorial, been an inquisitive race, +and where any thing is to be seen, there they rush. But this day there +was to be a rare spectacle at the New Market. + +The editors of the two newspapers were to run the gantlet; and +besides, General von Tottleben had summoned the Town Council and Jews +thither, to receive his last orders and resolutions before he left +Berlin. People were, therefore, very much excited, and curious to +witness this double show, and in their eagerness they forgave the +hostile general, who had prepared such a delightful entertainment for +them, all the terrors of the last few days. Two gentlemen--two learned +men--were to be flogged. That was, indeed, a precious and delightful +sight for cold, hungry, ragged poverty, which always takes delight in +seeing those whom fortune has favored, suffer and smart. + +How often had these shoemakers and tailors worried and fretted +themselves over their pot of beer, that the newspaper writers should +have had the hardihood and stupidity to write so violently against the +Russians, without taking into account that the Russians would one day +occupy Berlin, and take revenge on its innocent citizens! It served +these newspaper writers quite right that they should be punished for +their arrogance. And, besides, the good people would see the Russian +general and his staff, and the grand Town Council and the chief +magistrate, who, in his golden chain and his robes of office, was to +hand over to the hostile general a present of ten thousand ducats. +The Berliners were, therefore, quite happy, and delighted to hear the +hollow sound of the drum, and the Russian word of command. + +A regiment of Russian soldiers marched past the corner of the Bishop +Street, toward the market-place. They ranged themselves in two long +lines, leaving a lane between them, just wide enough for a man to pass +through. Then came two provost-marshals, and walked slowly down the +lane, delivering to each soldier one of the long slender rods they +carried under their arms. + +The Russian soldiers were now armed, and awaited the victims they were +to chastise. These were dragged out of the guard-house. First came +tottering the gray-headed Mr. Krause, slowly and sadly; then came Mr. +Kretschmer, formerly the brave, undaunted hero of the quill--now a +poor, trembling, crushed piece of humanity. They stood in the middle +of the square, and, bewildered with terror, their help-imploring looks +swept over the gaping, silent multitude, who gazed at them with eager +countenances and malicious joy, and would have been outrageously +mad if they had been denied the enjoyment of seeing two of their +brother-citizens scourged by the enemy's soldiers. + +"I cannot believe it!" whimpered Mr. Krause; "it is impossible that +this is meant in earnest. They cannot intend to execute so cruel a +sentence. What would the world, what would mankind say, if two writers +were scourged for the articles they had written? Will the town of +Berlin suffer it? Will no one take pity on our distress?" + +"No one," said Mr. Kretschmer, mournfully. "Look at the crowd which is +staring at us with pitiless curiosity. They would sooner have pity on +a murderer than on a writer who is going to be flogged. The whole town +has enjoyed and laughed over our articles, and now there is not one +who would dare to beg for us." + +At this moment another solemn procession came down the Bishop Street +toward the square. This was the Town Council of Berlin. Foremost came +the chief burgomaster Von Kircheisen, who had recovered his speech and +his mind, and was memorizing the well-set speech in which he was +to offer to the general the thanks of the town and the ten thousand +ducats, which a page bore alongside of him on a silken pillow. + +Behind the Council tottered trembling and broken-hearted the elders of +the Jews, including those of the mint, in order to receive their final +condemnation or release from General Tottleben. + +The people took no notice of the Council or of the Jews. They were +busy staring with cruel delight at the journalists, who were being +stripped by the provost-marshals of their outer clothing, and prepared +for the bloody exhibition. With a species of barbarous pleasure they +listened to the loud wailing of the trembling, weeping Krause, who was +wringing his hands and imploring the Russian officer who had charge of +the execution, for pity, for mercy. + +The Russian officer was touched by the tears of sorrow of the editor; +he did have pity on the gray hairs and bowed form of the old man, or +perhaps he only acted on instructions received from General Tottleben. +He motioned to the provosts to lead the other editor to the lane +first, and to spare Mr. Krause until Mr. Kretschmer had been +chastised. The provost seized hold of Mr. Kretschmer and dragged him +to the terrible lane; they pushed him in between the rows of soldiers, +who, with rude laughter, were flourishing the rods in their hands. + +Already the first, the second, the third blow has fallen on the back +of the editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, when suddenly there sounds +a powerful "Halt!" and General Count von Tottleben appears, with +Gotzkowsky at his side, and followed by his brilliant staff. + +With a wild scream Kretschmer tears himself loose from the hands of +the provost-marshals, and rushes toward the general, crying out aloud; +Mr. Krause awakens from his heavy, despairing brooding, and both +editors sink down before the Russian general. + +With a mischievous smile, Tottleben looked at Mr. Kretschmer's +bleeding back, and asked, "Who are you?" + +"I am the _Vossian Gazette_" whined out Mr. Kretschmer, "whom you have +accused of such cruel things. Ah! we have suffered great injustice, +and we have been represented as worse than we really are. Oh, believe +me, your excellency, I have been belied. I never hated Russia!" + +"You are both of you accused of libel," said Tottleben, sternly. + +"If we are guilty of libel, it is without our knowledge," said Mr. +Krause. "Besides, we are very willing to recall every thing. I confess +we were in error. We did not know you and your army, and we spoke +ignorantly, as the blind man does about colors. Now we are better able +to judge. You are the noblest among noble men, and finer soldiers than +the Russians, and a chaster woman than the Empress Elizabeth, are not +to be found anywhere. Oh, yes, your excellency, _Spener's Journal_ is +ready to eat its words. Only don't let me be flogged, sir, and I will +sing your praises everlastingly, and proclaim to all the world that +the Prussian has no better friend than the Russian, and that God has +ordained them to be brothers." + +"Only don't let us be flogged," implored Mr. Kretschmer, rubbing his +sore back, "I promise your excellency that the _Vossian Gazette_ +shall be as tame as a new-born infant. It shall never indulge in bold, +outspoken language; never have any decided color. I swear for myself +and my heirs, that we will draw its fangs. Have, therefore, mercy on +us!" + +The general turned away with a smile of contempt. "Enough, gentlemen," +said he, roughly, and laying his hand on Gotzkowsky's shoulder, he +continued: "I pardon you, not in consequence of your idle talk, but +for the sake of this noble gentleman, who has begged for you. You +are free, sirs!" As the two editors were about to break out into +expressions of gratefulness, Tottleben said to them, "It is Gotzkowsky +alone that you have to thank for your liberty." + +They threw themselves into Gotzkowsky's arms; with solemn oaths they +vowed him eternal, inviolable gratitude; they called him their savior, +their liberator from shame and disgrace. + +Gotzkowsky smiled at their glowing protestations of friendship, and +withdrew himself gently from their ardent embraces. "I did not do it +for the sake of your thanks, and personally you owe me therefore no +gratitude." + +"Gotzkowsky, have you entirely forgotten us?" said a plaintive voice +near him. It was Itzig, one of the rich Jews of the mint, to whom +Gotzkowsky had promised assistance. + +"Ask the general," said the latter, smiling. + +"He has spoken for you, and his intercession has freed you from the +special tax," said Count Tottleben. + +"He has saved us, the great Gotzkowsky has had pity on our +wretchedness," cried the Jews, crowding around Gotzkowsky to press his +hand, to embrace him, and with tears of grateful emotion to promise +him their unalterable attachment. + +"You have saved my life," said Itzig, "for I had determined to die +rather than pay any more money. For what is life to me without money? +If the Jew has not money, he is nobody. In saving my money you saved +my life. If ever you should be without money, Gotzkowsky, come to me; +I will lend you some at very low interest." + +"I will lend it to you gratis," said Ephraim, pressing his hand +affectionately in his own. + +Gotzkowsky answered sadly: "If it ever came to pass that I were +obliged to borrow, you would not remember this day, and I would not be +the man to remind you of it." + +"Remind us of it," protested Ephraim, "and you shall see that we +keep our word. Come to us and say, 'Remember the tax that I freed you +from,' and you shall see all that you desire shall be fulfilled." + +"God grant that I may never have need to remind you of it!" said +Gotzkowsky, pressing back the excited Jews, and approaching General +Tottleben. + +"You forget, sir, that you summoned the honorable Council of Berlin +hither, and that these gentlemen are awaiting your orders." + +The general seemed to awaken out of a deep reverie. "Yes," said he, +as if to himself, "the German dream is finished, and now I must be a +Russian again." He then turned quickly to Gotzkowsky and offered him +his hand. "Gotzkowsky," said he, gently and persuasively, "consider it +once more--come with me and be my teacher." + +"What I can teach you is but little. It is an easy lesson for him who +has a heart, an impossible one for him who has none. Learn to love +mankind. That is all my wisdom, and my farewell." + +The general sighed. "You will not go with me? Well, then, farewell!" +And as if to disperse the painful and bitter feelings which assailed +his German heart, he turned away and called, in Russian, to his +adjutant: "Let us break up, gentlemen. To horse, to horse!" + +But in the midst of the confusion of the soldiers, and the tramping +of horses, the chief burgomaster made a way for himself. He had to +sustain the honor of the Council, and pronounce the beautifully worded +oration which had cost him two sleepless nights to compose; he had to +place in the hands of the general the offering of Berlin gratitude. + +At last he succeeded in reaching the general, and he began his speech. +Full and powerful did his voice sound through the New Market, and the +delighted people rejoiced over the oratorical talent of their chief +magistrate, and gazed with pride and admiration at his golden chain +of office--that chain which had gone through so much, had endured so +much, without growing pale or dim. + +But General Tottleben did not accept the present which the city of +Berlin offered him. He said: "If the town believed that its fate was +rendered more tolerable by my discipline than it otherwise would have +been, let it thank the express orders of my empress. The honor of +having been commander of Berlin for three days is sufficient reward +for me." + +Three hours later Berlin was freed from Russians and Austrians. +Gotzkowsky, who had finally succeeded in freeing himself from the +tumultuous expressions of gratitude of the Council, the editors, and +the Jews, returned to his home, of which he himself says: "My house +resembled more a cow-house than a dwelling, having been filled for a +while, night and day, with Russians." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BRIDE AND DAUGHTER. + + +At the mere announcement of the approach of the king toward Berlin, +the Russian army had left the city and withdrawn to Frankfort. But no +inconsiderable number of officers had stayed behind; some of them +to organize the withdrawal of the troops, while others, detained by +personal affairs, had merely obtained short leave of absence. To the +latter belonged Colonel Feodor von Brenda. General Bachmann had given +him two days' leave, under the impression that he would avail himself +of the time to enjoy, undisturbed, the society of his bride, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir. + +The general knew nothing of the difference between the colonel and +his betrothed. He did not know that, according to her agreement with +Bertram, Lodoiska had not informed Feodor of her arrival in Berlin. +But, nevertheless, Feeder had heard of it. The countess's own +chambermaid, knowing the liberality of the young count, had gone to +him, and for a golden bribe had betrayed to him her presence, and +communicated all that she knew of her plans and intentions. + +This news detained the colonel in Berlin. The unexpected arrival of +his affianced pressed upon him the necessity of a decision, for he was +aware of the impossibility of tearing asunder the firm and heart-felt +bond which attached him to Elise, to unite himself to a wife to whom +he was only engaged by a given promise, a pledged word. + +Feodor would probably have given up his whole fortune to pay a debt of +honor; would have unhesitatingly thrown his life into the scale if it +had been necessary to redeem his word. But he was not ashamed to break +the vow of fidelity which he had made to a woman, and to desert her to +whom he had promised eternal love. Besides, his pride was wounded by +the advent of the countess, which appeared to him as a restraint on +his liberty and an espionage on his actions. + +She had concealed her arrival from him, and he consequently concluded +that she was acquainted with his faithlessness, and nursed some plan +of removing the obstacles which lay between her and her lover. His +pride was irritated by the thought that he should be compelled to +maintain an engagement which he could no longer fulfil from love, but +only from a sense of duty. Such a restraint on his free will seemed +to him an unparalleled hardship. He felt a burning hatred toward the +woman who thus forcibly insisted on fastening herself upon him, and +an equally ardent love toward the young girl of whom they wished to +deprive him. + +Doubly charming and desirable did this young, innocent, lovely girl +appear to him when he compared her with the mature, self-possessed, +worldly woman of whom he could only hope that he might be her last +love, while he knew that he was Elise's first. + +"If I must positively be chained, and my hands bound," said he to +himself, "let it be at least with this fresh young girl, who can +conceal the thorny crown of wedlock under freshly-blown rosebuds. My +heart has nothing more to do with this old love; it has grown young +again under the influence of new feelings, and I will not let this +youthfulness be destroyed by the icy-cold smiles of duty. Elise has +promised to be mine, and she must redeem her promise." + +Still full of the passionate and defiant thoughts which the vicinity +of his affianced bride had provoked, he had gone out to seek Elise. +But to find her had become not only difficult, but almost impossible. + +Bertram, who had not thought fit to reveal to Gotzkowsky the forcible +abduction of his daughter, had yet quietly arranged his precautions +that a repetition of the attempt from any quarter, or at any time, +should be impossible. + +Under the pretence that the withdrawal of the troops rendered the +city unsafe, and filled it with marauders and plundering stragglers, +Bertram, secure of Gotzkowsky's approval beforehand, had armed a +number of the factory workmen, and placed them as sentinels on the +wall, in the court, and on the ground-floor. These had orders not to +let any one enter who was not able to tell the object and purpose of +his coming. By this precaution Bertram prevented any attempt of Feodor +to climb the wall; and, furthermore he obtained the advantage that +Elise, to whom the presence of the sentinels was unpleasant and +objectionable, not only did not visit the dangerous, solitary parts of +the garden, but withdrew into her own room. In this manner Bertram had +rendered any meeting between Feodor and Elise impossible, but he could +not prevent his servant, Petrowitsch, from meeting his sweetheart, +Elise's chambermaid, on the street. + +By means of these a letter of Feodor reached Elise's hand. In this +Feodor reminded her solemnly and earnestly of her promise; he now +called upon her to fulfil her vow, and to follow him from the house of +her father. He adjured her to unite herself to him at the altar as his +wife, and to give him the right to carry her abroad with him as his +own. + +Elise received this letter of her beloved, and her heart during +its perusal was moved by unfamiliar emotions. She could not herself +determine whether it was joy or dread which caused it to beat so +convulsively, and almost deprived her of consciousness. She could +have screamed aloud with joy, that at last she would be united to her +lover, wholly, sacredly as his own; and yet she was filled with deep +grief that the path to the altar would not be hallowed by her father's +blessing. Even love, which spoke so loudly and powerfully in her +heart, could not silence the warning voice of conscience--that voice +which again and again threatened her with sin and sorrow, disgrace and +shame. Yet Elise, in the warmth and passion of her heart, sought to +excuse herself, and in the pride of her wounded filial love said to +herself: "My father does not regard me; he will not weep for my loss, +for I am superfluous here, and he will hardly perceive that I am gone. +He has his millions and his friends, and the whole multitude of those +to whom he does good. He is so rich--he has much on which his heart +hangs! But I am quite poor; I have nothing but the heart of my +beloved. His love is my only possession. Would it not be wicked in me +to cast this away, and lead here a lonesome, desolate life, without +pity or sympathy? If my father loved me, would he have left me during +these days so full of danger? After the terrible scene in which I, +in the desperation of my heart, offended him, he would at least have +given me some opportunity of asking his pardon, of begging him for +forbearance and pity. But he seems purposely to have secluded himself, +and avoided any meeting with me. He has shut me out from his heart, +and withdrawn his love from me forever. And so I am forced to carry +my heart full of boundless affection over to my lover. He will never +repulse, neglect, or forget me; he will adore me, and I will be his +most cherished possession." + +As these thoughts passed through her mind, she pressed his note to +her lips, each word seeming to greet her, and with Feodor's imploring +looks to entreat her to fulfil the vow she had made him. There was +no longer any hesitation or wavering in her, for she had come to a +determined resolution, and with glowing cheeks and panting breast she +hastened to the writing-table, in order to clothe it in words, and +answer Feodor's note. + +"You remind me of my pledged word," she wrote. "I am ready to redeem +it. Come, then, and lead me from my father's house to the altar, and I +will be your wife; and wherever you go I will be with you. Hence-forth +I will have no other home than your heart. But while I cheerfully +elect this home, at the same time I am shutting myself out from my +father's heart forever. May God forgive the sins that love causes me +to commit!" + +But when this note had been sent, when she knew that her lover had +received it, and that her decision was irrevocable, she was seized +with trembling faintness, with the oppression of conscious guilt; and +it seemed to her as if a new spring of love had suddenly burst forth +in her heart, and as if she had never loved her father so sincerely, +so devotedly, so tenderly, as now that she was on the point of leaving +him. + +But it was too late to draw back; for in the mean, time she had +received a second letter from Feodor, imparting the details of a plan +for their joint flight, and she had approved of this plan. + +Every thing was prepared, and all that she had to do was to remain +in her room, and await the concerted signal with which Feodor was to +summon her. + +As soon as she heard this signal she was to leave the house with her +maid, who had determined to accompany her, come out into the street, +where Feodor would be in waiting with his carriage, and drive in the +first place to the church. There a priest, heavily bribed, would meet +them, and, with the blessing of the Church, justify Feodor in carrying +his young wife out into the world, and Elise in "leaving father and +home, and clinging only unto her husband." + +Some hours were yet wanting to the appointed time. Elise, condemned to +the idleness of waiting, experienced all the anxiety and pains which +the expectation of the decisive moment usually carries with it. + +With painful desire she thought of her father, and, although she +repeated to herself that he would not miss her, that her absence +would not be noticed, yet her excited imagination kept painting to +her melancholy fancy, pictures of his astonishment, his anxiety, his +painful search after her. + +She seemed, for the first time, to remember that she was about to +leave him, without having been reconciled to him; that she was to part +from him forever, without having begged his forgiveness, without even +having felt his fatherly kiss on her brow. At least she would write to +him, at least send him one loving word of farewell. This determination +she now carried out, and poured out all her love, her suffering, her +suppressed tenderness, the reproaches of her conscience, in burning +and eloquent words, on the paper which she offered to her father as +the olive-branch of peace. + +When she had written this letter, she folded it, and hid it carefully +in her bosom, in order to carry it unnoticed to her father's room. He +would not be there--for two days he had not been at home; she could, +therefore, venture to go there without fear of meeting him. She felt +as if she would not be able to bear his gaze--the full, bright look of +his eye. + +Carefully and softly, with the secret fear of meeting Bertram, whose +sad, reproachful looks she dreaded even more, perhaps, than the eye +of her father, she crept along the corridor, and finally reached the +antechamber, breathing more freely, and glad to have met no one. Every +thing here was quiet and silent; her father, therefore, had not yet +returned, and she was quite safe from any surprise by him. + +She now entered his private room, and crossing this, was in the act of +opening the desk of his writing-table in order to deposit the letter +therein, when she heard the door of the antechamber open. It was too +late for flight, and she had only time to conceal the letter in her +bosom, when the door of the room itself was opened. + +It was her father who now entered the apartment. Speechless and +motionless they both stood, confounded at this unexpected meeting, +each waiting for a word of greeting of reconciliation from the other. +But however earnestly their hearts yearned toward each other, their +lips remained silent, and their looks avoided one another. + +"She shuns me. This is my reception after so many toilsome days of +absence," thought Gotzkowsky, and his heart was full of sadness and +sorrow. + +"He will not look at me, his eye avoids me, he has not yet forgiven +me," thought Elise, as she regarded her father's pale, care-worn +countenance. "No, he does not wish to see me. For the last time, +therefore, I will show him obedience, and leave the room." Sadly and +softly, with her looks cast on the ground, she took her way to the +door on the opposite side. + +Gotzkowsky followed her with his eyes. If she had only ventured to +raise her looks once more to him, she would have perceived all his +love, all the forgiving affection of a father, in his face. But she +did not, and Gotzkowsky said to himself, in the bitterness of his +heart, "Why should I speak to her?--she would only misunderstand me. I +will lie down and sleep, to forget my cares and my sorrows. I will not +speak to her, for I am exhausted, and tired to death. I must have rest +and composure, to be able to come to an understanding with her." + +And yet he regarded her with longing looks as she directed her sad +steps toward the door. Now she stands on the threshold; now her +trembling hand clasps the bright handle of the lock, but still she +hesitates to open it; she still hopes for a word, if even an angry +one, from her father. + +And now she hears it. Like an angel's voice does it sound in her +ear. He calls her name, he reaches his hand out to her, and says with +infinite, touching gentleness, "Give me your hand, Elise. Come here to +me, my child--it is so long since I have seen you!" + +She turned to him, and yet she dared not look upon him. Seizing his +offered hand, she pressed it to her lips. "And do you remember that +you have been so long absent? You have not then forgotten me?" + +"Forgot you!" cried her father tenderly; and then immediately, as if +ashamed of this outburst of fatherly love, he added calmly and almost +sternly--"I have much to talk with you, Elise. You have accused me." + +Elise interrupted him with anxious haste: "I was beside myself," said +she, confused and bashfully. "Forgive me, my father; passion made me +unjust." + +"No, it only developed what lay hidden in your heart," said +Gotzkowsky; and the recollection of that unhappy hour roughened his +voice, and filled his heart with sadness. "For the first time, you +were candid with me. I may have been guilty of it all, but still it +hurts!" For a moment he was silent, and sank his head on his breast, +completely overpowered by painful reminiscences. + +Elise answered nothing, but the sight of his pale and visibly +exhausted countenance moved her to tears. + +When Gotzkowsky raised his head again, his face had resumed its usual +determination and energy. "We will talk over these things another +time," said he seriously. "Only this one thing, remember. I will not +restrain you in any way, and I have never done so. You are mistress +of every thing that belongs to me except my honor. This I myself must +keep unsullied. As a German gentleman I cannot bring the dishonor upon +me of seeing my daughter unite herself to the enemy of my country--to +a Russian. Choose some German man: whoever he may he, I will welcome +him whom you love as my son, and renounce the wishes and plans I have +so long entertained. But never will I give my consent to the union of +my only child with a Russian." + +While he spoke the expression of the countenance of both changed +surprisingly. Both evinced determination, defiance, and anger, and the +charm which love had laid for a moment on their antagonistic souls was +destroyed. Gotzkowsky was no longer the tender father, easily appeased +by a word, but the patriot injured in his holiest right, his most +delicate sense of honor. Elise was no longer the humble, penitent +daughter, but a bride threatened with the loss of her lover. + +"You would, then, never give your consent?" asked she, passionately. +"But if this war were ended, if Russia were no longer the enemy of +Germany; if--" + +"Russia remains ever the enemy of Germany, even if she does not appear +against her in the open field. It is the antagonism of despotic power +against culture and civilization. Never can the free German be the +friend of the barbarous Sclavonian. Let us hear nothing more of +this--you know my mind; I cannot change it, even if you should, +for that reason, doubt my love. True love does not consist only in +granting, but still more in denying." + +Elise stood with bowed head, and murmured some low, unintelligible +words. Gotzkowsky felt that it would be better for both to break off +this conversation before it had reached a point of bitterness and +irritation. At the same time he felt that, after so much excitement, +his body needed rest. He, therefore, approached his daughter and +extended his hand toward her for a friendly farewell. Elise seized +it, and pressed it with passionate feeling to her lips. He then turned +round and traversed the room on the way to his bedchamber. + +Elise looked after him with painful longing, which increased with +each step he took. As he was in the act of leaving the room she rushed +after him, and uttered in a tone of gentle pleading, the single word, +"Father!" + +Gotzkowsky felt the innermost chord of his heart touched. He turned +round and opened his arms to her. With a loud cry of joy she threw +herself on his breast, and rested there for a moment in happy, +self-forgetting delight. They looked at one another, and smilingly +bade each other good-by. Again Gotzkowsky turned his steps toward his +bedroom. And now he was gone; she saw him no more. Father and daughter +were separated. + +But Elise felt an unutterable grief in her heart, a boundless terror +seized her. It seemed as if she could not leave her father; as if it +would be a disgrace for her, so secretly, like a criminal, to sneak +out of her father's house, were it even to follow her lover to the +altar. She felt as if she must call her father back, cling to his +knees, and implore him to save her, to save her from her own desires. +Already had she opened her lips, and stretched forth her arms, when +she suddenly let them fall, with a shudder. + +She had heard the loud rolling of a carriage, and she knew what it +meant. This carriage which stopped at her door--could it be the one in +which Feodor had come to take her? "It is too late--I cannot go back," +muttered she low, and with drooping head she slowly left her father's +room in order to repair to her own chamber. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE RIVALS. + + +Elise, immediately on reaching her room, hurried to the window and +looked into the street, already darkened by the shades of evening. She +was not mistaken--a carriage stood at the door; but to her surprise, +she did not perceive the signal agreed on, she did not hear the +post-horn blow the Russian air, "Lovely Minka, I must leave thee." Nor +was it the appointed hour; neither did her chambermaid, who waited in +the lower story, come to seek her. She still stood at the window, +and involuntarily she felt herself worried by this equipage. A sharp +knocking at the door was heard. Before she had time to come to any +determination, it was hastily opened, and Bertram entered with a lady, +deeply veiled, on his arm. + +"Bertram!" cried Elise, drawing back shyly. "What do you wish here?" + +"What do I wish here?" answered Bertram, earnestly. "I come to ask a +favor of my sister. I have promised this lady that she shall see and +speak with you. Will my sister fulfil her brother's promise?" + +"What does the lady wish with me?" asked Elise, casting a timid look +toward the mysterious veiled figure. + +"She will herself tell you. She requested me, with tears, to bring her +to Elise Gotzkowsky, for, she assured me, the happiness of her life +depended on it." + +Elise felt an icy shudder run through her. She laid her hand on her +heart, as if to protect it against the terrible danger which she felt +threatened her, and with trembling lip she repeated, "What does the +lady wish with me?" + +Bertram did not answer her, but letting go the arm of the unknown, +he bowed low. "Countess," said he, "this is Mademoiselle Elise +Gotzkowsky. I have fulfilled my promise: allow me now to leave you, +and may God impart convincing power to your words!" + +He greeted the ladies respectfully, and left the room quickly. The +two ladies were now alone together. A pause ensued. Both trembled, and +neither ventured to break the silence. + +"You desired to speak to me," said Elise, finally, in a low, languid +voice. "May I now beg of you--" + +The lady threw back her veil, and allowed Elise to see a handsome +countenance, moistened with tears. "It is I who have to beg," said +she, with a touching foreign accent, while seizing Elise's hand, she +pressed it warmly to her breast. "Forgive me; since I have seen you, +I have forgotten what I had to say. At sight of you, all my words, and +even my anger have left me. You are very beautiful. Be as noble as +you are beautiful. My fate lies in your hands. You can restore me to +happiness." + +"God alone can do that," said Elise, solemnly. + +"At this moment you are the divinity who has the disposal of my fate. +You alone can restore me to happiness, for you have deprived me of +it--yes, you, so young, so handsome, and apparently so innocent. You +are the murderess of my happiness." Her eyes sparkled, and a bright +blush suffused her hitherto pale cheeks. "Yes," cried she, with a +triumphant laugh, "now I am myself again. My hesitation has vanished, +and anger is again supreme. I am once more the lioness, and ready to +defend the happiness of my life." + +Elise drew herself up, and she, too, felt a change in her heart. With +the instinct of love, she felt that this handsome woman who stood +opposite to her was her rival, her enemy with whom she had to struggle +for her most precious property. Passion filled her whole being, and +she vowed to herself not to yield a single step to this proud beauty. +With an expression of unspeakable disdain, she fixed her eyes upon +the countess. Their flashing looks crossed each other like the bright +blades of two combatants in a duel. + +"I do not understand you," said Elise, with angry coldness. "You must +speak more plainly, if you wish to be understood." + +"You do not wish to understand me," cried the countess. "You wish to +avoid me, but I will not let you. I have suffered so much that I will +not suffer any longer. We stand here opposite each other as two women +engaged in a combat for life and death." + +Elise suppressed the cry of pain which rose in her breast, and +compelled herself to assume a proud and impassible composure. "I still +do not understand you, nor do I desire to contend with an unknown +person. But if you will not leave my room, you will allow me to do +so." + +She turned to go, but the countess seized her hand, and held her back. +"No! you cannot go!" cried she, passionately. "You cannot go, for +I know that you are going to him, to him whom I love, and I come to +demand this man of you." + +These half-threatening, half-commanding words, at last drove Elise +from the assumed tranquillity she had maintained with so much +difficulty. "I know not of whom you speak," cried she, in a loud +voice. + +But the countess was tired of dealing in these half-concealed +meanings, these mysterious allusions. "You know of whom I speak," +cried she, vehemently. "You know that I have come to demand the +restoration of my holiest possession, the heart of my beloved. Oh! +give him back to me, give me back my betrothed, for he belongs to me, +and cannot be another's. Let my tears persuade you. You are young, +rich, handsome; you have every thing that makes life happy. I have +nothing but him. Leave him to me." + +Elise felt furious. Like a tigress, she could have strangled this +woman, who came to destroy her happiness. A wild, angry laugh rang +from her lips: "You say that you love him," exclaimed she. "Well, +then, go to him and ask him for his heart. Why do you demand it of +_me_? Win it from him, if you can." + +"In order to be able to win it, you must first release him from the +fetters with which you have bound him." + +An angry flush overspread Elise's pale face. "You become insulting," +she said. + +The countess paid no attention to these words, but continued still +more vehemently: "Make him free. Loose the bands which fetter him, and +then, I am sure, he will return to me and be mine again." + +Elise stared terrified at the face of the countess, excited and +streaming with tears. She had heard but one little word, but this word +had pierced her heart like a dagger. + +"_Return_ to you?" asked she, breathlessly. "Be yours _again_? He was +then _once_ yours?" + +"I yielded to him what is most sacred in life, and yet you ask if he +was mine!" said the countess, smiling sadly. + +Elise uttered a loud, piercing shriek, and covered her face with her +hands. Her emotion was so expressive and painful that it touched the +heart even of her rival. Almost lovingly she passed her arm around +Elise's waist and drew her down gently to her on the sofa. "Come," +said she, "let us sit by each other like two sisters. Come, and listen +to me. I will disclose a picture which will make your soul shudder!" + +Elise yielded to her mechanically. She let herself involuntarily glide +down on the sofa, and suffered the countess to take her hand. "Feodor +once belonged to her," she murmured. "His heart was once given to +another." + +"Will you listen to me?" asked the countess; and, seeing Elise still +lost in silent reverie, she continued: "I will relate to you the +history of Feodor von Brenda, and his unhappy, forsaken bride." Elise +shuddered, and cast a wandering, despairing look around. + +"Will you listen to me?" repeated the countess. + +"Speak--I am listening," whispered Elise, languidly. And then, the +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, often interrupted by Elise's plaintive +sighs, her outbursts of heartfelt sympathy, related to the young girl +the sad and painful story of her love and her betrayal. + +She was a young girl, scarcely sixteen, the daughter of a prince, +impoverished by his own fault and prodigality, when she became the +victim of her father's avarice. Without compassion for her tears, her +timid youth, he had sold her for a million. With the cruel selfishness +of a spendthrift miser, he had sold his young, fresh, beautiful +daughter for dead, shining metal, to a man of sixty years, fit to be +her grandfather, and who persecuted the innocent girl with the ardent +passion of a stripling. She had been dragged to the altar, and the +priest had been deaf to the "No!" she had uttered, when falling +unconscious at his feet. Thus she had become the wife of the rich +Count Sandomir--a miserable woman who stood, amidst the splendor of +life, without hope, without joy, as in a desert. + +But one day this desert had changed, and spring bloomed in her soul, +for love had come to warm her chilled heart with the sunbeam of +happiness. She did not reproach herself, nor did she feel any scruples +of conscience, that it was not her husband whom she loved. What +respect could she have for marriage, when for her it had been only a +matter of sale and purchase? She had been traded off like a slave, and +with happy exultation she said to herself, "Love has come to make me +free, and, as a free and happy woman, I will tear this contract +by which I have been sold." And she had torn it. She had had no +compassion on the gray hairs and devoted heart of her noble husband. +She had been sacrificed, and now pitilessly did she sacrifice her +husband to her lover. She saw but one duty before her--to reward the +love of the man she adored with boundless devotion. No concealment, no +disguise would she allow. Any attempt at equivocation she regarded as +an act of treason to the great and holy feeling which possessed her +whole soul. + +Usually all the world is acquainted with the treachery and infidelity +of a woman, while it is yet a secret to her husband. But the countess +took care that her husband should be the first to learn of his injured +honor, her broken faith. She had hoped that he would turn from her in +anger, and break the marriage-bond which united her to him. But her +husband did not liberate her. He challenged the betrayer of his +honor, whose treachery was the blacker, because the count himself had +introduced him into his house, as the son of the friend of his youth. +They fought. It was a deadly combat, and the old man of sixty, already +bowed down by rage and grief, could not stand against the strength of +his young and practised adversary. He was overcome. The dying husband +had been brought to Countess Lodoiska, his head supported by his +murderer, her lover. Even in this terrible moment she felt no anger +against him, and as the eyes of her husband grew dull in death, she +could only remember that she was now free to become his wife. She had +thrown herself at the feet of the empress to implore her consent to +this marriage, on which depended the hope and happiness, the honor and +atonement of her life. The empress had not refused her consent, had +herself appointed the wedding day which should unite her favorite with +the young countess. + +But a short time before the arrival of this day, so ardently longed +for, looked forward to with so many prayers, such secret anxiety and +gnawing self-reproaches, the war broke out, and Lodoiska did not +dare to keep back her lover, as with glowing zeal he hastened to his +colors. He had sworn to her never to forget her; to return faithful to +her, and she had believed him. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE PUNISHMENT. + + +Elise had followed the countess in her narration with intense +attention and warm sympathy. Her face had become pale as marble, +her countenance sad, and her eyes filled with tears. A fearful +anticipation dawned in her heart, but she turned away from it. She +would not listen to this secret voice which whispered to her that this +sad tale of the countess had reference to her own fate. + +"Your lover did not deceive your trust?" asked she. "With such a +bloody seal upon your love he dare not break his faith." + +"He did break it," answered the countess, painfully. "I was nothing +more to him than a guilty woman, and he went forth to seek an angel. +He forgot his vows, his obligations, and cast me away, for I was a +burden to him." + +Both were silent in the bitterness of their sorrow. The countess +fastened her large, bright eyes upon the young girl, who stared before +her, pale, motionless, absorbed in her own grief. + +This anxious silence was finally broken by the countess. "I have not +yet told you the name of my lover. Shall I name him to you?" + +Elise awoke as if from a heavy dream. "No," cried she, eagerly, "no, +do not name him. What have I to do with him? I do not know him. What +do I care to hear the name of a man who has committed so great a +crime?" + +"You must hear it," said the countess, solemnly. "You must learn the +name of the man who chained me to him by a bloody, guilt-stained past, +and then deserted me. It is Colonel Count Feodor von Brenda!" + +Elise uttered a cry, and sank, half fainting, back on the cushions of +the sofa. But this dejection did not last long. Her heart, which for a +moment seemed to stop, resumed again its tumultuous beating; her blood +coursed wildly through her veins, and her soul, unused to the despair +of sorrow, resolved to make one last effort to free itself from the +fetters with which her evil fate wished to encompass her. She drew +herself up with glowing cheeks and flashing eyes. "This is false," she +cried; "a miserable invention, concocted to separate me from Feodor. +Oh! I see through it all. I understand now my father's solemn +asseverations, and why Bertram brought you to me. But you are all +mistaken in me. Go, countess, and tell your friends, 'Elise offers up +every thing and gives every thing to him whom she loves, in whom she +believes, even if the whole world testifies against him.'" And with a +triumphant smile, throwing back her head, she stood up and was about +to leave the room. + +The countess shrugged her shoulders as if in pity. "You do not believe +me, then?" said she; "but you will believe this witness?" and she drew +a letter from her bosom and handed it to Elise. + +"It is his handwriting," cried the young girl, terrified, as she took +the letter. + +"Ah! you know his handwriting, then? He has written to you, too?" +sighed the countess. "Well, then, read it. It is a letter he wrote me +from Berlin at the commencement of his captivity. Read it!" + +"Yes, I will read it," murmured Elise. "These written words pierce my +eyes like daggers, but I will not mind the pain. I will read it." + +She read the letter, which annihilated her whole happiness, slowly and +with terrible composure. Drop by drop did she let the poison of these +words of love, directed to another, fall into her soul. When she had +finished reading it, she repeated to herself the last cruel words, +the warm protestations, with which Feodor assured his bride of his +unalterable love and fidelity, with which he swore to her that he +looked upon his love to her not only as a happiness, but as a sacred +obligation; that he owed her not only his heart but his honor. Then +long and carefully she considered the signature of his name, and +folding up the paper, she handed it back, with a slight inclination to +the countess. + +"Oh, my God! I have loved him beyond bounds," muttered she, low; and +then, unable to restrain her tears, she put her hands to her face and +wept aloud. + +"Poor, unhappy girl!" exclaimed the countess, laying her arm tenderly +around her neck. + +Elise drew back violently and regarded her almost in anger. "Do not +commiserate me. I will not be pitied by you! I--" + +She suddenly stopped, and an electric shock passed through her whole +frame. She heard the concerted signal; and the tones of the post-horn, +which slowly and heavily sounded the notes of the sad Russian melody, +grated on her ear like a terrible message of misfortune. + +The two women stood for a moment silent and motionless. They both +listened to the dirge of their love and their happiness, and this +simple, hearty song sounded to them horrible and awful in the +boundless desolation of their hearts. At last the song ceased, and a +voice, too well known and loved, cried, "Elise! Elise!" + +The maiden started up, shuddering and terrified. "His voice frightens +me." + +But still she seemed not to be able to withstand the call; for she +approached the window, and looked down hesitatingly. + +The countess observed her jealously, and a fearful thought suddenly +entered her mind. How, if this young girl loved him as much as she +did? If she were ready to forgive him every thing, to blot out the +whole past with the hand of love and commence a new existence with +him? If she felt no compassion for Feodor's forsaken bride, and were +willing to trample triumphantly on her broken heart at the call of her +lover, and follow him to the altar? Her whole soul writhed in pain, +"Follow his call," cried she, with a derisive smile. "Leave your +father, whom you have betrayed, for the sake of a traitor! You have +vowed to love him. Go and keep your vow." + +Outside Feodor's voice called Elise's name louder and more pressingly. +A moment she listened, then rushed to the window, threw it open, and +called out, "I come, I come!" + +Lodoiska flew to her; drew back the young girl violently from the +window, and throwing both arms firmly around her, said, almost +breathlessly, "Traitress! You shall not cross this threshold! I will +call your father. I will call the whole household together! I will--" + +"You will call no one," interrupted Elise, and her proud, cold +composure awed even the countess. "You will call no one, for I stay, +and you--you go in my stead." + +"What say you?" asked Lodoiska. + +Elise raised her arm and pointed solemnly to the window. "I say," +cried she, "that your bridegroom is waiting down there for you. Go, +then." + +With an exclamation of joy the countess pressed her in her arms. "You +renounce him, then?" + +"I have no part in him," said Elise coldly. "He belongs to you; he +is bound to you by your disgrace and his crime. Go to him," cried she +more violently, as she saw that the countess looked at her doubtingly. +"Hasten, for he is waiting for you." + +"But he will recognize me; he will drive me from him." + +Elise pointed to her clothes, which were placed ready for her +departure. "There lie my hat and cloak," said she haughtily. "Take +them; drop the veil. He knows this dress, and he will think it is me." + +At this moment the door was torn open, and Bertram burst in. "Make +haste," he cried, "or all is lost. Count Feodor is becoming impatient, +and may himself venture to come for Elise. Gotzkowsky, too, has been +awakened by the unaccustomed sound of the post-horn." + +"Help the countess to prepare for the journey," cried Elise, standing +still, motionless, and as if paralyzed. + +Bertram looked at her, astonished and inquiringly; but in a few +rapid words the countess explained to him Elise's intention and +determination, to allow her to take the journey in her stead, and with +her clothes. + +Bertram cast on Elise a look which mirrored forth the admiration he +felt for this young girl, who had so heroically gained the victory +over herself. His reliance on her maiden pride, her sense of right and +honor, had not been deceived. + +The countess had now finished her toilet, and donned Elise's hat and +cloak. + +Bertram called on her to hasten, and she approached Elise to bid her +farewell, and express her gratitude for the sacrifice she had made +for her. But Elise waved her back proudly and coldly, and seemed to +shudder at her touch. + +"Go to your husband, countess," cried she, and her voice was hoarse +and cold. + +Lodoiska's eyes filled with tears. Once more she attempted to take +Elise's hand, but the latter firmly crossed her arms and looked at her +almost threateningly. "Go!" said she, in a loud, commanding voice. + +Bertram took the arm of the countess and drew her to the door. +"Hasten!" said he; "there is no time to lose." + +The door closed behind them. Elise was alone. She stood and listened +to their departing steps; she heard the house door open; she heard the +post-horn once more sound out merrily, and then cease. "I am alone!" +she screamed, with a heart-rending cry. "They are gone; I am alone!" +And stretching her arms despairingly to heaven, and almost beside +herself, she cried out, "O God! will no one have compassion on me? +will no one pity me?" + +"Elise," said her father, opening the room door. + +She sprang toward him with a loud exclamation, she rushed into his +arms, embraced him, and, nestling in his bosom, she exclaimed faintly, +"Have pity on me, my father; do not drive me from you! You are my only +refuge in this world." + +Gotzkowsky pressed her firmly to his breast and looked gratefully +to heaven. "Oh! I well knew my daughter's heart would return to her +father." + +He kissed ardently her beautiful, glossy hair, and her head that was +resting on his breast. "Do not weep, my child, do not weep," whispered +he, tenderly. + +"Let me weep," she answered, languidly; "you do no know how much +sorrow and grief pass off with these tears." + +The sound of the post-horn was now heard from the street below and +then the rapid rolling of a carriage. + +Elise clung still more closely to her father. "Save me," she cried. +"Press me firmly to your heart. I am quite forsaken in this world." + +The door was thrown open and Bertram rushed in, out of breath, +exclaiming: "She is gone! he did not recognize her, and took her for +you. The countess--" + +He stopped suddenly and looked at Gotzkowsky, of whose presence he had +just become aware. + +Gotzkowsky inquired in astonishment, "Who is gone? What does all this +mean?" + +Elise raised herself from his arms and gazed at him with flashing +eyes. "It means," she answered, "that the happiness of my life is +broken, that all is deception and falsehood where I looked for love, +and faith, and happiness!" With a touching cry of suffering, she fell +fainting in her father's arms. + +"Do not rouse her, father," said Bertram, bending over her; "grant her +this short respite, for she has a great sorrow to overcome. When she +comes to herself again, she will love none but you, her father." + +Gotzkowsky pressed his lips on her brow, and blessed her in his +thoughts. "She will find in me a father," said he, with deep emotion, +"who, if necessary, can weep with her. My eyes are unused to tears, +but a father may be allowed to weep with his daughter when she is +suffering." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE BANQUET OF GRATITUDE. + + +Berlin had recovered from the terrors it had undergone. It was eight +days since the enemy had left, and every thing was quiet and calm. But +on this day the quiet was to be interrupted by a public merry-making. +Berlin, which had suffered so much, was to rejoice again. + +The festival which was to be celebrated, was intended for none else +than John Gotzkowsky, the Merchant of Berlin, the man whom all looked +upon as their guardian angel and savior. He had cheerfully borne +hardship and toil, danger and injustice, for the good of his +fellow-men; he had always been found helping and ready to serve, +unselfish and considerate. The whole town was under obligation to him; +he had served all classes of society, and they all wished to evince +their gratitude to him. + +Gotzkowsky had been requested to remain at home on the morning of +the festal day, but to hold himself in readiness to receive several +deputations. They were to be succeeded by a grand dinner, given by the +citizens of Berlin in his honor. They were to eat and drink, be merry, +and enjoy themselves to his glorification; they were to drink his +health in foaming glasses of champagne, and Gotzkowsky was to look +upon it all as a grand festival with which the good citizens of Berlin +were glorifying him, while they themselves were enjoying the luscious +viands and fragrant wines. + +In vain did Gotzkowsky refuse to accept the proffered festival. +At first he tried to excuse himself on the plea of his daughter's +illness, alleging that he could not leave her bedside. But information +had been obtained from her physician, who reported her out of danger, +and that Gotzkowsky might leave her for several hours without risk. +Gotzkowsky being able to find no other excuse, was obliged to accept. +Elise was indeed sick. The grief and despair of her betrayed and +deceived heart had prostrated her; and her wild, fever-dreams, her +desponding complaints, the reproachful conversations she carried on +with her lover--unseen but nevertheless present in her delirium--had +betrayed her secret to her father. Full of emotion, he thanked God for +her happy escape, and felt no resentment against this poor, misguided +child, who had taken refuge from the loneliness of her heart, in his +love, as in a haven of shelter. He only reproached his own want of +discernment, as he said to himself: "Elise had cause to be angry +with me and to doubt my affection. I bore solitude and the constant +separation from my daughter because I thought I was working for her, +but I forgot that at the same time she was solitary and alone, that +she missed a father's tenderness as I did my child's love. I wished to +make her rich, and I have only made her poor and wretched." + +He kissed her burning, feverish forehead, he bedewed it with tears, +and forgave her, from the bottom of his heart, her misplaced love, her +errors and transgressions. She was with him; she had returned to his +heart. In her despair she had fled to the bosom of her father, and +sought support and assistance from him. + +The dark clouds had all rolled over, and the heavens were again bright +and clear. Berlin was freed from the enemy. Elise was convalescent, +and the town of Berlin, was preparing for her noblest citizen a +banquet of gratitude. + +The appointed hour had arrived for Gotzkowsky to receive the +deputations, and he betook himself to the hall next the garden. A +thundering hurrah received him. It proceeded from his workmen, who had +come in procession through the garden, and were waving their hats and +caps. They were followed by a multitude of women in black. This day +they had laid aside the tears and griefs for their husbands and sons +fallen in battle, in order to thank Gotzkowsky with a smile for the +magnanimous kindness with which he had taken their part and secured +their future. + +Following these women came the poor orphans, with mourning-crape on +their arms. They rushed forward joyously toward Gotzkowsky, stretching +out their little hands to him, and, at a word from the head operative, +Balthazar, they stretched open their small mouths, and gave out such a +shrill and crashing hurrah that the windows rattled, and many a stout +workman stopped his ears and felt a ringing in his head. + +"One more hurrah!" cried the enthusiastic Balthazar; and "hurrah!" +screamed and squeaked the children. + +"And now for a third--" + +But Gotzkowsky seized hold of Balthazar's arm which he was about to +move again, and with a look of comical terror, exclaimed: "But, man, +don't you know that I have further use for my ears to-day? You deafen +me with your screaming. That's enough." + +Balthazar struggled himself free from the strong grasp of his master, +and placed himself in a theatrical position opposite to him. He was +able this day to indulge in his passion for eloquence, for the workmen +had chosen him for their orator, and he had a right to speak. As +he spoke, it could be seen by his sparkling eyes, and by his fiery +enthusiasm, that his words had not been learned by rote, but proceeded +from his heart. + +"Sir, allow me to speak and express my joy, for it is a joy to have a +noble master. Look at these children, dear master. Three days ago they +had fathers who could work and care for them. But the cannon-balls +deprived them of their fathers, and God sent them a father, and you +are he. You adopted these children when they were forsaken by all +else. You said: 'God forbid that the children of these brave men, who +had fallen in defence of the liberty of Berlin, should be orphans! I +will be their father.' Yes, sir, that is what you said, and all the +weeping mothers and all your workmen heard it and wrote it down in +their hearts. Ask these widows for whom they pray to God. Ask the poor +who were without bread and whom you fed. Ask the whole town who it is +whom they bless and praise. They will all name the name of Gotzkowsky; +with one voice they will all cry out: "Long live our friend and +father! Long live Gotzkowsky!" + +Unanimously did all join in this cry, shouting out, "Long live +Gotzkowsky!" + +Deeply moved, Gotzkowsky stretched out his hands to the workmen, +and accepted, with cordial gratification, the flowers offered by +the children. "Thank you, thank you," cried he, in a voice of deep +emotion. "You have richly recompensed me, for I perceive that you love +me, and nothing can be more beautiful than love." + +"Diamonds!" cried out Ephraim, as he made his way through the crowd +with Itzig and a deputation of the Jews, toward the hero of the +day--"diamonds are more valuable than love, Gotzkowsky. Look at this +brilliant, which sparkles and shines more brightly than ever did a +look of love from any human eye." + +He presented to Gotzkowsky a costly _solitaire_ diamond, and +continued: "Be so kind and grant us the favor of accepting this +present. It is a diamond of the first water." + +"It is a petrified tear of joy," interrupted Itzig, "shed by us on our +delivery by you from taxation. You are our greatest benefactor, our +best friend. You have proved yourself the savior of the Jews, for you +freed us from the tax, and saved us what is more precious than honor, +and rank, and happiness--our money; for, without money, the Jew is +nobody. Accept, therefore, the ring, and wear it for our sakes." + +"Accept it, we pray you," cried Ephraim, and the Jews took up the cry. + +Gotzkowsky took the ring, and placed it on his finger, thanking the +givers for the costly present, and assuring them he would wear it with +pleasure in honor of them. + +Itzig's brow was clouded with a slight frown, and stepping back to +Ephraim and his friends, he muttered, "He accepts it. I was in hopes +he would refuse it, for it cost much money, and we could have made +very good use of it." + +The solemn advance of the honorable gentlemen of the Berlin Town +Council interrupted Itzig's private soliloquy, and drew his attention +toward the chief burgomaster, Herr von Kircheisen, who, in all +the splendor and dignity of his golden chain and of his office, +accompanied by the senators and town officers, strode pompously +through the crowd, and presented his hand to Gotzkowsky, who was +respectfully advancing to meet him. + +"The Council of Berlin has come to thank you. For it is an +unparalleled example for a man to undertake and go through what you +have done for us, without any interest, without any ulterior object." + +"You make me out better than I am," replied Gotzkowsky, smiling at +Herr von Kircheisen's pompous words. "I had an ulterior object. I +wished to gain the love of my fellow-citizens. If I have succeeded, I +am more than rewarded, and I pray you say no more on the subject." + +The chief burgomaster shook his head majestically. "You have exercised +toward us the virtue of philanthropy. Allow us to exercise toward +you in return the virtue of gratitude." He took from the hands of the +assistant burgomaster a dark-red _etui_, from which he a wreath of +oak-leaves, worked in silver, which he presented to Gotzkowsky. "John +Gotzkowsky," said he, solemnly, "the Council and citizens of Berlin +request you, through me, to accept this memorial of their love and +gratitude. It is the civic crown of your magnanimity. Receive it from +our hands, and accept also our vow that we will never forget what you +have done for the town of Berlin." + +Tears of delight, of heart-felt joy stood in Gotzkowsky's eyes as he +took the oaken crown from his hands, and glowing words of gratitude +poured from his lips. + +Not far off, in a niche of a window of the hall, stood Messrs. Krause +and Kretschmer, with sullen looks, witnessing the homage paid to +Gotzkowsky, their souls filled with envy and rage. They, too, had come +to thank him, but with unwilling hearts, because they could not be +well absent from the festivities which the whole town offered him. But +they were vexed to see this man, whom they hated from the bottom of +their hearts, because of their obligations to him, so universally +honored and beloved. It annoyed them to see the pleasant and affable +smile with which the otherwise proud burgomaster conversed with +him; to see with what cordial friendship the senators and councilmen +surrounded him. + +"I came hither," said Mr. Krause, softly, "to thank Gotzkowsky for +saving us, but I must confess it worries me to see him so glorified." + +Mr. Kretschmer shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. "Let them praise +him," said he; "the _Vossian Gazette_ will not notice it, and I will +not write the smallest article on this occasion. As for the service +he rendered us--well, certainly, it would have been unpleasant to +have been flogged, but then we would have been martyrs to our liberal +opinions; the whole world would have admired and pitied us, and the +king would not have refused us a pension." + +"Certainly," whispered Mr. Krause, "he would have granted us a +pension, and the whipping would have made us famous. It has never been +forgotten of the English poet, Payne, that King Charles the First had +his ears cut off, because he wrote against him. He is not celebrated +for his writings, but for his chopped ears. We, too, might have +become famous if this Gotzkowsky had not, in the most uncalled-for +manner, interfered, and--but look!" cried he, interrupting himself, +"the interview with the Council is finished, and it is now our turn to +thank him." + +The two editors hastened toward him in order, in well-arranged speech, +and with assurances of eternal gratitude, to offer their thanks. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A ROYAL LETTER. + + +Mr. Krause had not yet finished the declamation of the poem which his +inspiration had produced in honor of Gotzkowsky, when a loud noise was +heard at the door of the hall, and Gotzkowsky's body-servant rushed +in. A messenger of the Council was without, he announced; a letter +had just arrived from the king, and, as he was to deliver it to the +burgomaster in person, the messenger had brought him here. He handed +Herr von Kircheisen a letter, and the latter broke the seal with +majestic composure. + +A pause of anxious expectation ensued. Each one inquired of himself +with trembling heart what could be the meaning of this royal letter. + +The countenance of the chief magistrate grew more and more cheerful, +and suddenly he called aloud: "This is indeed a message of gladness +for our poor town. The king, our gracious lord, releases us from our +obligation to pay the promised war-tax of a million and a half. He +wishes to retaliate for the Wurzburg and Bamberg bonds captured from +the Aulic Council. For which reason his majesty's order is that we do +not pay." + +A single cry of joy sounded from the lips of all present. Gotzkowsky +alone was silent, with downcast eyes, and his earnest, pensive +expression contrasted strongly with the bright, joyous countenances +which were illuminated by the order of the king to keep their money. + +Among the happiest and most radiant, however, were the rich mint +farmers Ephraim and Itzig, and the chief burgomaster. + +"The royal decree relieves our town of a horrible burden," said Herr +von Kircheisen, with a happy smile. + +"The whole mercantile community must be grateful to the king," cried +Ephraim. "Berlin saves a million and a half, and the Russian is sold." + +Suddenly Gotzkowsky drew himself up erect, and his eagle eye ran over +the whole assembly with a bold, beaming glance. "The Russian is not +sold," cried he, "for Berlin will pay him the balance of a million and +a half. Berlin has pledged her word, and she will redeem it." + +The countenances of those around grew dark again, and here and there +were heard words of anger and wild resentment. + +"How!" cried Itzig, "do you require of the merchants to pay what they +can keep for themselves? The king has said, 'You shall not pay!'" + +"And I say, we will pay," cried Gotzkowsky. "What is written is +written, and what is promised must be performed, for this our honor +requires. The king possesses not the power of annulling a promise or +revoking an oath! He who does not fulfil his word of honor is not a +man of honor, were he even a king." + +"But," said Herr von Kircheisen, pathetically, "there are nevertheless +circumstances which render impossible the fulfilment of an +obligation." + +Gotzkowsky answered ardently: "If such do occur, the man of honor dies +when he cannot fulfil his word. But you--you do not wish to die. Oh +no! You wish to break your word in order to live pleasantly. You wish +to profit by your breach of promise. You wish to declare yourselves +insolvent and cheat your creditors of their money, and thereby amass +wealth." + +A general storm of indignation interrupted Gotzkowsky, and the very +men who had come for the purpose of making a formal demonstration of +their gratitude now approached him with angry gestures and threatening +words. + +"A million and a half is no child's play," screamed Ephraim. "Money is +more precious than honor." + +"I say money is honor," cried Itzig. "As long as we keep our millions, +we keep our honor." + +"You are very generous," sneered Kretschmer. "Like a gentleman, you +pay your debts out of other people's pockets, and the citizens will +have to pay millions to enable you to keep your word." + +Gotzkowsky cast one look of contemptuous pity on him, and replied: +"You forget, sir, that I did not act in my own name, but in that of +the magistracy and merchants of Berlin. Not I alone would be faithless +to my word, but the whole town of Berlin." + +"But I repeat," said the chief burgomaster, "that the king has +released us from the obligation of keeping our word." + +"No king can do that," interrupted Gotzkowsky. "A man of honor must +keep his word, and no one, not even a king, can absolve him from it." + +"Let us not quarrel about matters of opinion," said Kircheisen, +shrugging his shoulders. "My opinion is, that we do not pay this sum." + +"No, we will not pay it!" cried all in tumultuous excitement, as they +surrounded the burgomaster, discussing in cheerful conversation the +advantages of non-payment. + +Gotzkowsky stood listening to them alone, unobserved, and forgotten. +His heart was heavy with sadness, and painfully did he reflect: "This +is the unholy influence of money, hardening the heart and silencing +the voice of honor. For a few millions of dollars do they sell their +good name. One final attempt let me make. I will see what their +cowardice will do." + +Again did he enter their midst, and with convincing words and ardent +eloquence portray the danger which would ensue from the non-payment of +the bonds. + +The Russian was not very far from Berlin: if he had retired in forced +marches he could return thither with equal rapidity in order, in the +wantonness of his wrath, to take vengeance on the faithless town. + +"In an unlucky moment," said he, "the Russians might gain a victory +over our king. He would then return and rend us like a tiger. I +would then no longer have the power of protecting you, for General +Tottleben's anger would be turned principally against me, who +guaranteed the payment of the contribution. God himself does not +protect him who breaks his word. He is an outlaw." + +A deep silence followed Gotzkowsky's speech. All the faces were again +overcast, and in the contracted brow and anxious countenances could be +read the fact that his words had painfully convinced them that it was +necessary to pay. + +Even Herr von Kircheisen in his fear of the return of the Russians, +forgot the enormous amount of the sums to be paid, and said, with a +melancholy sigh: "Gotzkowsky is, I am afraid, right. It is very hard +to pay the money, but it is very dangerous not to do it." + +"It might cost us our heads," confirmed the first councilman. + +Ephraim stood with his head cast down, and muttered to himself, "Money +is very dear, but life is still dearer." + +Itzig cried out in despair: "Let us keep our money. Without money the +Jew is nobody." + +But the chief burgomaster, who had consulted the councilmen, now +approached Gotzkowsky, and, with a smile, offered him his hand. "We +thank you," said he, "for you have spoken wisely, and your advice +shall be followed. We will pay, for we cannot help ourselves. But we +must beg you to do us another important service. Go to the king and +beg him not to be angry with us if we do not obey his order." + +"Yes, do so, do so, Gotzkowsky!" cried all the others. "Go to the +king, he is friendly toward you--beg for us." + +Gotzkowsky's countenance beamed with generous satisfaction. "Very +well," said he; "I will go to the king and beg him to allow the town +of Berlin to preserve its honor immaculate, and pay the promised sum." + +"Use all your eloquence, that the king may remain favorably inclined +toward us, and not become angry with us for acting this once against +his orders," admonished the chief burgomaster. + +"The king is a high-minded and noble man," said Gotzkowsky, +enthusiastically. "He looks upon a man's word as sacred, and will +understand us and honor us for not wishing to break ours." + +An hour later the chief citizens and merchants of Berlin repaired to +the spacious town-hall, where an elegant banquet had been prepared, +and merriment prevailed, and glasses sounded; and Berlin, rescued, +celebrated the first day of joy and happiness. + +But John Gotzkowsky, to whom this feast was given, whom Berlin called +her deliverer and benefactor, was not present at this banquet. Deeply +buried in furs he had just entered his carriage, and braving danger +and toil, in the cold and darkness he drove away toward Meissen, where +the king had established his headquarters. + + * * * * * + + + + +BOOK III. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FREDERICK THE GREAT AT MEISSEN. + + +The great battle of Torgau had been fought, and the Prussian army, +after so many combats and such a bloody victory, was contemplating +with lively satisfaction the going into winter quarters, which, it +hoped, this time would be in Saxony. The Prussian headquarters were, +for the time being, in Meissen, and in the palace there, for a short +resting-spell, dwelt the king, who for many years had only experienced +the troubles and dangers of his position; the king who had often +struggled with hunger and care, daily privation and mortal danger, +and who one day, wearied out by sleeping night after night on the cold +ground, commissioned his adjutant to provide a bundle of straw for +the comfort of his royal person. The king had for a long time spared +Saxony. He was sorry for this beautiful, afflicted land. But Saxony +was finally to be treated as an enemy's country, as she would not +appreciate Frederick's noble forbearance and clemency, and had allied +herself to his enemies with fanatical zeal. And now her devastated +fields, her paralyzed factories, her impoverished towns and deserted +villages, testified to her distress and the calamities of war. But at +this time quiet and tranquillity reigned in the hostile camps. On both +sides they were too tired to be able to carry on a fresh conflict, +and the strength of both parties being exhausted, they were obliged to +allow each other time for rest. Besides, the winter had set in early +with unusual severity, and, to all appearances, put an end to the +campaign of 1760. + +The only contest now was for winter quarters; and it had been, +therefore, after the victory of Torgau, the king's first endeavor to +cut off the retreat of the Austrians to Dresden, or at least to drive +them out of this town. But, as the king wrote to Countess Camas, "They +laughed at us from the top of the hills--I withdrew immediately, and, +like a little boy, have stuck myself down in pure disgust in one of +the accursed Saxon villages. I assure you I lead a perfect dog's life, +such as no one else, except Don Quixote, has ever led." + +In the mean while Frederick had left this "accursed Saxon village" +(Neustadt) and had gone to Meissen, and his "dog's life" had given +place to ease and comfort. He had, therefore, for some quiet weeks +laid aside the sword, and the gentleman had become again the royal +poet and _savant_, who divided his time between music and poetry, +between serious studies and writing to his friends, to whom he sent +letters, in which his great and elevated manner of thinking, his soul +above prejudice, were displayed in all their beauty and power. + +The king was alone in his study. He had just finished a letter to the +Marquis d'Argens, calling upon him to give some news of his gallery at +Sans-Souci, and to inform him of its progress. The king laid down his +pen, and leaned back in his chair for a moment. His usually sharp, +bright eye had now a soft, gentle expression, and a light smile played +around his thin, nobly-formed lips. He has forgotten for the time the +care and bustle of war, and fancied himself in his beloved paradise, +his Sans-Souci, where it was allowed the hero to be a poet, and where +he could for some genial hours put aside his dignity, and, instead +of the enthroned ruler, be the cheerful sage, the smiling son of the +Muses. + +The king, pleased by these memories of happy days, rose and seized his +flute, which, by his express orders, always lay on his writing-table. +He put it to his lips, and began an _adagio_, in the execution of +which he was acknowledged to be one of the first _virtuosos_ of his +day, and the sounds, as they poured forth, rose plaintively, and +floated around him in bewitching melody. No one could listen to +this beautifully-executed, deeply-felt music of the royal performer, +without being impressed in his inmost soul, and feeling his heart +swell with powerful emotions. Outside, in the antechamber, were +standing the stern generals, the heroic warriors, Zeithen, and the +brave Schwerin, and General von Saldern, and their scarred, austere +features assumed a soft, touching expression, as they leaned against +the wall and listened in breathless silence to the performance of the +king. But suddenly the playing ceased. + +To these brave warriors, unaccustomed to music, the execution had +seemed superb; but the king was not satisfied with it. He, who had +in his memory the royal _artiste_ of Sans-Souci, exacted of the king, +driven about by the hardships and necessities of war, that he should +have lost nothing of the fulness of tone or the power and energy of +execution. It worried him that the notes no longer flowed so clearly; +it vexed him to hear a sharp, whistling sound, that seemed to +accompany the melody as with a painful sigh. He threw the flute +aside, and stepped to a looking-glass, which he took up with evident +unwillingness. + +It was very seldom that the king held it worth his while to consult +the mirror about his personal appearance, and when he did so, it +was usually to inquire for some failing or evidence of frailty which +restricted him in the freedom of his being. And while he thus looked +at himself, his features assumed a sad expression, and his eyebrows +became contracted. + +What was it, which thus put out of humor the brave hero, the +victory-crowned king? + +He became aware that his second front tooth had broken off. The gap +thus caused was the natural explanation of the want of clearness in +his playing. He threw the mirror angrily aside, and with a frown on +his brow paced rapidly up and down the room two or three times. + +But gradually another expression succeeded, and a sarcastic smile +played around his mouth. Again he stepped to the writing-table, on +which lay several unfinished letters. Looking for the one he had +commenced to the Countess Camas, he said to himself: "The good +countess inquires after my personal appearance. Well, now that I am in +the humor, I will draw my portrait for her." + +Again he took up the hand-glass and regarded himself long and +attentively; but this time not with vexation or ill-humor, but with +the cheerful smile and dignified calm of a philosopher. He then +applied himself to his writing: "You ask how I look, dear mother. The +disorder of war has made me so old, that you would hardly recognize +me. My hair is quite gray on the right side of my head; my teeth break +off and fall out; my face is as full of wrinkles as the furbelow of a +woman's frock; my back as bent as that of a monk of La Trappe. Only +my heart is unchanged; and, as long as I have breath, will preserve +feelings of esteem and the most tender friendship toward you, good +mamma."[1] + +As the king read over this description of his appearance once more, he +broke into a loud, merry laugh. He then pushed the letter aside, and +took up another piece of paper, and a drawing-pencil. + +Silence prevailed now in the cabinet of the king. Outside was heard +the monotonous tread of the sentinel, sometimes the sound of a +trumpet, the neighing of a horse, or the order of some officer. The +king paid no attention to all this. His ear was so accustomed to these +noises, that it seemed like perfect silence to him. He was so buried +in his work, that even the unwonted tumult which now arose was +unperceived by him; nor did he notice that a carriage drove into the +palace-yard, its post-horn sounding loud and merrily. The generals +and courtiers, who were in the antechamber, noticed it all the +more, because any thing was welcome to them which broke in upon the +prevailing quiet; for so accustomed were they to the varied business +of war, that any thing which departed from it was insupportably +tedious. They drew to the window and looked with pleasure on the +dusty, dirty travelling carriage, which, with its four panting +post-horses, had drawn up at the entrance to the palace, and out of +which descended a tall, manly figure, who went in at the palace door. + +The gentlemen in the antechamber amused themselves guessing who the +stranger who had just arrived could be; and they had all arrived at +the unanimous conclusion that it must be the Marquis d'Argens, as the +door opened, and the stranger entered. He asked for the adjutant on +duty, and, as the latter was pointed out to him, he stepped toward him +with an air of quiet dignity. + +"I pray you announce me immediately to his majesty. Have the kindness +to say to him, that I have not come hither on my private affairs, +but as a delegate from the city of Berlin, with full powers from the +Council and citizens, to request the honor of an audience with the +king, and that I am obliged to return as speedily as possible to the +capital." + +"Your name, sir?" + +"I am the merchant, John Gotzkowsky." + +The serious and proud features of the aristocratic adjutant +immediately relaxed, and assumed a more polite and obliging +expression. + +"Ah! Gotzkowsky, the rich and magnanimous merchant of Berlin--the +special _protege_ of the king. I will announce you immediately to his +majesty." And the adjutant hurried through the halls and entered the +boudoir of the king. + +In the mean while, the generals drew near Gotzkowsky, who related +to them all about the siege of Berlin, and the cruel and relentless +conduct of the enemy; pressing him with questions, whether on his +journey thither he had encountered or come into the vicinity of any +portion of the enemy. + +"You will find the king very much out of humor," said General von +Saldern; "he has not left his study to-day, and doubtless he is +occupied with very serious plans." + +"Perhaps even with the plan of a battle," said another of the +gentlemen, "for it is said that Lacy has advanced his army, and even +that Landon has left Dresden. A battle is therefore imminent, and the +king is evidently drawing up his plan." + +At this moment the door of the study was opened, and the adjutant +motioned to Gotzkowsky to enter. As the latter was traversing the +hall, the generals cast an eager glance through the open door, anxious +to see the countenance of the king, and find out from its expression +whether this intolerable armistice was to be interrupted by the +violent clash of arms. + +In the mean time, Gotzkowsky entered the chamber of the king, and +the door closed after him. He was now alone in the presence of the +monarch, who was still sitting at his writing-table, making rapid +strokes with his drawing-pencil on the paper before him. + +"He is writing," said Gotzkowsky to himself, "and is perhaps in the +act of drawing out the plan of the battle which the generals out there +are awaiting with such joyous impatience. Yes, he is writing, and +perhaps each stroke of the pen may cost the lives of hundreds of human +beings." And he did not venture by a single word or a loud breath to +draw attention to his presence. On his entrance, the king had cast +on him one of his sharp, penetrating glances, before whose commanding +power many a general and many a brave man had quailed, and had then +bent his head again over the paper. + +Absolute silence prevailed for a while. Suddenly the king interrupted +it, and motioned to Gotzkowsky with his hand to draw near. "Just look +and see whether that pleases you," said he, in a friendly tone. "You +are known as a connoisseur in art, and you have proved to me that you +understand painting. Look at that, and tell me whether you like it." + +What was it that the king had drawn on the paper? Was it really, as +his brave generals wished, the plan of a battle soon to be fought, +was it a philosophical treatise, or one of those witty and piquant +epistles to which the king treated his friends? None of all these. + +"A nosegay!" cried Gotzkowsky, as with unconcealed astonishment he +looked now on the paper, now on the king. "Your majesty is drawing a +bouquet of flowers, and out there the gentlemen have just told me in +confidence that you were busied with a plan of battle, and that the +Austrians were approaching." + +"Nonsense!" said the king, shrugging his shoulders, "that rough set +out there are always anxious for war, and to be cutting and slashing +at each other. Don't you listen to them, but rather tell me how you +like this drawing. Don't you think these roses mixed with lilies look +well? But I see you wish to know what it is intended for. Well, it is +for a set of porcelain which I wish to have painted for the Marquis +d'Argens." And, as he met Gotzkowsky's looks, he continued with a +friendly smile: "Yes, you see, you are rich; you can make others +presents. But the king of Prussia is a poor man; he has only his coat, +his sword, and his porcelain. And this last even," continued he, with +a slight frown, "I am obliged to get from Meissen." + +"That your majesty need not do in future. Please God, your majesty +shall make your porcelain in your own dominions!" + +"Will you guarantee that? Will you undertake it?" asked the king, +kindly. + +"I will." + +"And look ye, you are just the man to carry out what you wish. I am +well satisfied with you. You have justified the confidence I placed +in you when I was crown prince. You have redeemed the vow you made me +then." + +"I swore to your majesty that I would be faithful to the fatherland +with life and property," cried Gotzkowsky, with noble ardor. + +"And you have kept your word. It is not difficult in easy and +prosperous times to find people to serve the state. Those are good +citizens who serve her when she is in difficulty and danger.[2] You +are a good citizen." And handing Gotzkowsky an open letter which lay +on the writing-table, he said: "Read, it is a letter from the Marquis +d'Argens. Read it aloud, I would like to hear it again." + +And Gotzkowsky read with a trembling voice, and cheeks reddened with +noble modesty, the following passage from a letter of the marquis, +which the king pointed out to him with his finger: "Gotzkowsky is, +indeed, an excellent man and a worthy citizen. I wish you had many +such as he. The greatest gift which fortune can make a state is a +citizen full of zeal for the welfare of his country and his prince. +And in this respect I must say, to the credit of Berlin, that in these +trying times I have met many of her citizens, Gotzkowsky the foremost +among them, whose virtues, the old historians of Rome, had they lived +at the present day, would have immortalized!"[3] + +"Are you satisfied?" asked the king, as Gotzkowsky, having finished, +handed him the paper. "Oh, I see you are a modest man, and blush like +a young girl. But tell me, now, what brings you here? What does the +city of Berlin wish?" + +"Her rights, your majesty," said Gotzkowsky, seriously. + +"And who is troubling her rights?" + +"Your majesty." + +The king frowned, and cast an angry glance on the bold jester. + +Gotzkowsky continued, calmly: "Your majesty is depriving us of our +good rights, in so far as you wish to prevent us from being honest +people, and keeping our word sacred." + +"Oh, now I understand you," said the king, laughing. "You are speaking +of the Russian war-tax. Berlin shall not pay it." + +"Berlin will pay it, in order that your majesty may retain her in +your gracious favor; in order that the great Frederick may not have +to blush for his faithless and dishonest town, which would not then +deserve to be the residence of a king. How! would your majesty trust +the men who refused to redeem their openly-pledged word? who look upon +sworn contracts as a mouse-trap, to be escaped from as soon as the +opportunity offers, and when the dangerous cat is no longer sitting +at the door? Berlin will pay--that our sons may not have to blush +for their fathers; that posterity may not say that Berlin had stamped +herself with the brand of dishonor. We have pledged our word, and we +must keep it." + +"You must not, for I do not wish you to do so," cried Frederick, with +anger-flashing eyes. "I will institute reprisals. The imperial court +has refused the payment of the Bamberg and Wurzburg bonds." + +"And your majesty considers that proceeding highly dishonest and +unjust," interrupted Gotzkowsky; "and while you wish to punish the +empire for its breach of faith, you punish doubly the town of Berlin +by depriving her of the last thing that remained to her in her day +of need and misfortune--her honorable name. You cannot be in earnest, +sire? Punish, if you choose, the imperial judge, but do not make +Berlin the dishonored Jack Ketch to carry out your sentence." + +"But are you so anxious to get rid of your money? What is the amount +that you still owe?" + +"A million and a half, sire." + +The king stepped back and looked at Gotzkowsky with astonishment. "And +the people of Berlin insist upon paying it?" + +"Yes, because their word is pledged." + +The king shook his head thoughtfully. "Hark ye," said he, "you seem to +me to be a dangerous agitator, who wishes to turn my peaceful citizens +of Berlin into true children of Haman. Some weeks ago, after the +unfortunate fight of Kunnersdorf, when I sent an express courier to +Berlin and ordered the Town Council to advise the rich and +well-to-do to retire from the city with their portable property, my +recommendation was not followed: you yourself excited the Council +to disobedience. In your self-willed obstinacy you had the impudent +assurance to make your way through a country infested by the enemy; +and if my colonel, Von Prittwitz, had not found you in those woods, +and brought you to me in the village, your obstinate head would have +adorned the lance of some Cossack or other. And what did you come for +but to assure me that the well-to-do citizens of Berlin would prefer +staying at home, and did not wish to run away? Yes, truly you are a +queer diplomatist, and rush headlong into danger and trouble only to +assure your king that his citizens will not obey him!" + +The king had spoken with apparent displeasure, but around his lips +there played a slight smile, and his large blue eyes were directed +toward Gotzkowsky with an expression of indescribable kindness. + +"In this case they do not wish to obey your majesty, because they wish +to remain worthy of the name of your majesty's citizens and subjects." + +The king paced up and down several times, with folded arms, and then +stopped before Gotzkowsky, looking steadily in his eyes. "Now tell me, +how did you manage to make the Berliners so obstinate and so lavish of +their means?" + +Gotzkowsky smiled. "Please your majesty, the Berliners prize their +honor above their life." + +The king shook his head impatiently. "You may tell that to some one +else. Tell _me_, how did you bring my Berliners up to that? But the +truth--mind, you tell me the truth." + +"Well, then, your majesty shall know the truth," said Gotzkowsky, +after a pause. + +"Yes, yes, the truth," cried the king, nodding his head violently. "I +wish to know how you inspired the citizens of Berlin with such bold +assurance." + +"The truth is, sire, that this was only the courage of cowardice, and +that the prudent magistracy and merchants were perfectly delighted +with your majesty's orders not to pay these bonds, and that I gave +myself an immense amount of trouble in vain to remind them of their +pledged word and their compromised honor." + +"Oh! I know it," said the king. "My good Berliners love money as well +as any other of the good-for-nothing children of men. Proceed!" + +"Well, when I found them deaf to the voice of honor, I let them hear +the words of cowardly prudence. I painted to them the horrors awaiting +them if the enemy perchance should return as conquerors, and what a +fearful revenge they would take on the perjured city. I reminded them +that the enemy would immediately attack all our property in Courland, +Dantzic, and Livonia, and that at the Russian headquarters they had +threatened me that they would publish, us in all the open commercial +marts as issuers of false bonds." + +"You were then in the Russian camp?" + +"A fortnight ago, sire. The Council of Berlin requested me to +undertake this journey to complete the transactions left unfinished by +the rapid retreat of General von Tottleben." + +"And did you finish them?" + +"I was obliged to give General Tottleben a written agreement that +I would return in four weeks to the Russian camp to carry out the +transactions in the name of these merchants." + +"I have been told that the Russian general would not accept the bonds +for the war-tax unless you indorsed them. Is that true, too?" + +"It is true." + +"And what did you do?" + +"I indorsed them." + +The king's eye lighted up with friendship and kindness. "D'Argens is +right," said he. "Cornelius Nepos and Livy would have mentioned you in +their writings." And he paced up and down the room in deep thought. + +A long pause ensued. Finally, Gotzkowsky was bold enough to break it. +"And the tax, your majesty, may we pay it?" + +The king stopped in front of him. "The tax shall be paid," said he +curtly; but, as Gotzkowsky was about to break out in loud expressions +of gratitude, the king waved him off with his hand. "That is," said +he, "I myself will pay it, if it cannot be otherwise. Go back into the +Russian camp, as you have promised. Endeavor to get some abatement of +the amount, or some other profitable terms; but if you do not succeed, +well, I will have to pay this million and a half for Berlin. But in +return you must grant me a favor." + +"What, sire? Whatever it may be," cried Gotzkowsky, ardently, "I am +ready to perform any service for your majesty, even to the sacrifice +of my life." + +The king smiled. "Oh, no! not quite so bad as that, although the +service I ask of you is more difficult to most men than dying--I +mean _keeping silence_." And as he laid his hand affectionately on +Gotzkowsky's shoulder, he continued: "Betray to no one what I have +said to you, and only at the very last moment, if it is absolutely +necessary, take the Council into your confidence." + +"How, sire?" said Gotzkowsky, painfully. "You wish to deprive your +Berlin citizens of the gratification of expressing to you their +gratitude, their infinite affection. Berlin may not even know how +kind, how gracious your majesty has been to her!" + +"I don't like the jingling of words, nor the throwing of wreaths. The +very people who throw laurel-wreaths would be only too glad if the +laurels were hard enough to break our heads. You pay the contribution, +that is to say, you advance it, and I'll return it to you.[4] That's +all, and now don't say another word about it." At the same time, as +if fearful that Gotzkowsky might yet venture to act contrary to his +wishes, he continued more rapidly: "Now tell me a little about Berlin, +and above all things about our gallery at Sans-Souci. How does it +fare?" + +"It is finished, sire, and the people flock to see it." + +"I only, like a fugitive or a Don Quixote, am driven about," said the +king to himself, "and cannot even enter my own house, and they call +that royal happiness!" Turning to Gotzkowsky, he remarked aloud: "Have +you seen the gallery since the enemy took up his quarters in it?" + +"Yes, sire! Prince Esterhazy was this noble enemy. He protected +Sans-Souci like something sacred. When he left he only took one single +small picture with him, as a souvenir." + +The king gave a friendly nod. "I know it," said he, "and that is the +only pleasure I have had for a long time. Once more I will see my +Titians and Correggios, my Rubenses and Vandycks, which you bought for +me. Now tell me about Charlottenburg. But mind, give me the truth. I +have noticed that no one will speak out about it, nobody will tell the +truth. They are afraid of my anger. But you are a brave man, you are +not even afraid of the Cossacks. You will have the courage to let your +king know the facts. How is it with Charlottenburg? The Saxons have +quartered there--what did they do?" + +And now Gotzkowsky, often interrupted by the violent and angry +exclamations of the king, told of the barbarous and cruel vandalism +committed by the Saxons at Charlottenburg, their unbridled +destructiveness and unsparing barbarity. + +"And the Polignac collection?" asked the king, breathlessly. + +"Almost entirely destroyed." + +The king started up from his easy-chair, his eyes flashing with rage. +He was no longer the philosopher of Sans-Souci, no longer the poet; he +was now the warrior panting for battle and bloody vengeance. "Tell me, +tell me! I wish to know all," said the king, laboring out each word, +and taking long strides up and down. + +But as Gotzkowsky gave him a more detailed account, and related +the sacrilegious barbarity which did not spare even the sacred +art-treasures, the king's brow became more darkened, and for a moment +a burning flush of anger shot across his pale cheek. At one time +he raised his arm threateningly, as if he would bring down the +thunderbolts of heaven upon such wickedness and ruthlessness. + +As Gotzkowsky finished, the king said, curtly and vehemently, "Good, +very good!" and traversing the room with hasty steps, he threw open +the door which led into the antechamber, and called out, "Saldern!" + +Immediately General von Saldern appeared at the open door. The king +commanded him to enter and shut the door; then, addressing him in a +short, decisive tone: "Go to-morrow, quietly, with a detachment of +infantry and cavalry, to Hubertsburg, take possession of the castle, +and have all the valuable furniture carefully inventoried and packed +up. I will have none of it. The money obtained from its ransom will be +turned over to the Lazaretto, and I will not forget you." + +There was a pause. General von Saldern remained at the door +motionless, in stiff military attitude. + +The king looked at him with astonishment. "Well! did you hear?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I heard. But, may it please your majesty, this is +against my honor and my oath." + +The king compelled himself to be composed, for he loved General +Saldern as a brave and noble officer. "You would be right," said he, +"if I did not use this desperate means to a good object. But let me +tell you, the head of the great lord does not feel it if you tear out +the hair of his subjects. You must hit, then, where it hurts him; and +that I intend to do. The Elector of Saxony shall find out how it feels +when one's most cherished possession is destroyed. We will teach him +to be humane, and behave himself. Go, therefore, to Hubertsburg, and +do as I told you." + +General von Saldern turned pale, and his countenance was expressive of +deep suffering, as he answered gravely and firmly: "Your majesty may +send me right off to attack the enemy and his batteries, and I will +obey with my whole heart; but against my honor, my oath, and my duty, +I cannot, dare not act." + +The king stamped with his foot, and his eye flashed with threatening +anger. + +"You must obey, as is your duty; you are bound to obey no other voice +than that of your king who commands you," said he with a voice of +thunder. + +General Saldern answered, calmly: "But, sire, I must obey the voice +of my honor! Your majesty can easily transfer this commission to +another." + +The king turned from him with an involuntary frown, and, walking up +and down hastily, he stopped near Saldern, and laid his hand gently on +his shoulder. "Look ye, Saldern, obey--go to Hubertsburg." + +"I cannot, sire!" + +"You do not desire to enrich yourself?" said the king, as he turned +away. "Do you wish your discharge? I have no use for soldiers who do +not consider obedience their first duty." + +"I herewith ask for my discharge, sire!" + +"You have it--go!"[5] + +Without saying a word, General von Saldern made a military obeisance, +and left the room. + +"You go too!" said the king to Gotzkowsky, who had been a silent, +involuntary spectator of this scene--"go and tell my adjutant to send +Quintus Icilius to me." + +In a few minutes Major Quintus Icilius entered. "Go to Hubertsburg +with a detachment of infantry and cavalry, and clear out the castle." + +Major Quintus Icilius took good heed not to contradict the king. He +had already, in the antechamber, heard of General von Saldern's fate, +and he was not indisposed to execute the king's commission. + +"Only a hundred thousand dollars you hand over to the Lazaretto, the +rest you can keep for yourself." + +"As you command, sire! Shall I proceed at once?" + +The king cast a look of disgust on him. "Are you in such a hurry to +be rich?" said he. "Go--I will appoint the time and the hour more +particularly."[6] + +When the king was alone again, he paced up and down the room in deep +thought. At one time he stopped at the window, and his bright blue +eyes were turned mournfully toward heaven. "Poor fools that we are!" +said he, with a sigh. "We have only a moment to live, and we make +this moment as bitter as possible to each other. We take pleasure in +destroying the master-pieces of industry and art, at the same time +we are erecting an accursed monument to our own devastation and our +cruelty."[7] + + +[Footnote 1: "Lettres inedites, ou Correspondance de Frederic II.," +&c., p. 120.] + +[Footnote 2: The king's own words.] + +[Footnote 3: "Correspondance entre Fred. et M. d'Argens," vi., p. +228.] + +[Footnote 4: "Life of a Patriotic Merchant," pp. 85-254. "The king +paid the contribution in fact so quietly, one hardly knew when, where, +or how."--_Preuss's History of Frederick_.] + +[Footnote 5: This interview is historical and literal. General von +Saldern left the army, but after the peace entered it again, with high +honor and distinction.--KUSTRE, "Traits of Saldern," p. 39.] + +[Footnote 6: Not till May, 1761, was the king's order carried into +execution by Major Q. Icilius, in a most barbarous manner. The king +was apparently satisfied; but when Q. Icilius in 1764 applied for +repayment of moneys spent in executing the royal command, the king +indorsed on the application--"My officers steal like crows. They get +nothing."] + +[Footnote 7: His own words.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE WINTER-QUARTERS IN LEIPSIC. + + +The king of Prussia had left Meissen, and taken up his winter-quarters +in Leipsic. The choice of this town arose from a particular need of +the king. He wished to pass the winter in a university town, and, +instead of the rough companions of war, to surround himself with +learned men and artists, poets and musicians. He had his band brought +from Berlin, and invited the professors of the Leipsic University to +his table. Thus Leipsic, the rich and luxurious commercial town, found +itself, for a few months, converted into a royal residence. But not +willingly did she undergo this transformation; and it was against her +wish that she received the Prussian king, in lieu of the troops of the +allies, within her walls. Frederick knew this, and therefore exercised +no mercy on this city, so rich in money and professions, whose +unwelcome guest he was. + +Had Leipsic welcomed the Prussian army in a ready and friendly manner, +she would certainly have met with indulgence; but her defiant and +sullen behavior, her warm partisanship of Austria, whose ally Saxony +was, naturally only tended to increase the animosity of the king, +and aggravate his ill-humor. If Leipsic insisted upon regarding the +Prussians as enemies, his duty was to consider her as an enemy, and +treat her as such. + +Enormous contributions were laid upon the town, and in spite of the +previous written promise of the king that her assessment should not, +at the utmost, exceed five hundred thousand dollars, new demands were +now constantly being made, and new contributions levied. In vain +did the Council beg and plead for mercy and justice; in vain did the +merchants protest that their means were exhausted, and that they were +not able to meet any further payments. The enormous demands determined +on were firmly and with iron obstinacy insisted upon; and as the +refractory town did not cease to oppose them, recourse was had to +threats to intimidate her. Tarred rings were hung against the +houses, and it was sworn to lay the town in ashes if Leipsic did not +immediately pay the million of dollars demanded. But the unfortunate +inhabitants had already reached that pitch of desperation at which +people are prepared for any thing, and fear nothing further because +there is nothing more to lose. They declared that they could pay no +more, and offered to seal their word with their death. + +The tarred rings were indeed taken down from the houses, but the +richest and most respectable inhabitants were seized and incarcerated. +Even the authorities were not spared, and the officers of the Council +were thrown into the prisons of the towns. In the most degrading +manner, like a flock of sheep, they were shut up in spaces hardly able +to contain them; damp straw was their bed, bread and water their only +nourishment, and this was brought to them with words of cruel insult +by their Prussian jailers. But to these latter the burden soon became +too heavy; they were weary of their cruel service, and sought to +lighten it. + +At first they had one hundred and twenty prisoners, but, after a +fortnight of useless torment, the greater number had been set free, +and only seventeen retained. To be sure, these consisted of +the richest and most respectable citizens of Leipsic. And these +unfortunate hostages, these spoilt sons of wealth and luxury, were now +forced to bear the whole weight of misfortune, the entire anger of the +victorious enemy. They, whose whole life had been one of indulgence +and effeminacy, had now to undergo the greatest privations, the +hardest sufferings. The cold earth was their bed, a piece of bread +thrown to them their nourishment; and it was a feast to them when one +of the gentlewomen of Leipsic succeeded in obtaining permission to +visit a brother or husband, and was able to smuggle in under her silk +dress a piece of meat or a little bowl of soup for the martyrs. These +cruelties would doubtless have been lessened or abolished if the king +had had positive knowledge of them, or if he had believed that the +city's inability to pay was real, and not a mere pretext. But the +king, vexed by the continually repeated complaints, out of humor at +the obstinate conduct of Leipsic, and mindful of the vandal conduct of +the Saxons at Charlottenburg, had issued strict orders not to trouble +him with this business, and not to report to him about them until they +could at the same time show that the sum demanded had been paid. And +therewith sentence had been passed upon the unfortunate citizens of +Leipsic. No one dared to mention to the king the torments and tortures +to which the hostages of the pitiable town were subjected. No one +had the courage to beg for mercy for those whose only crime was, that +their riches were exhausted, their coffers empty, and that they did +not possess the means to pay the inordinate sums demanded of them. + +But while the population of Leipsic was undergoing this grief, +this hard time of trial, an uninterrupted quiet and precious peace +prevailed in the house inhabited by the King of Prussia. Music was +performed, readings were held, and in the midst of these gentle +diversions and this pleasant rest Frederick drew up the plans of +fresh, battles and new and great undertakings. Fasch and Quanz had +been brought from Berlin to play music for him, the Marquis d'Argens +to philosophize for him, his dogs to amuse him. The king, who knew +enough of men to despise the wavering, erring, sinful creatures, was +also a sufficient connoisseur of dogs to love the faithful, obedient, +submissive animals with his whole heart, and devoted a great part of +his time to them. He who was deaf to the wailing and lamentations of +a whole city, had his ears open to the least whine of Biche, or his +favorite Psyche, and never would have forgiven him who had dared +to treat one of his dogs as so many of the noble and distinguished +citizens of Leipsic were being treated in his name. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FRIEND IN NEED. + + +No one would have dared to speak a word for the refractory +citizens and authorities of Leipsic to the king, nor act in direct +contravention to his express orders. Even the Marquis d'Argens, his +intimate friend and confidant, had refused to be the advocate of the +unfortunate town. It seemed to be lost, without hope of redemption, +and already it had been threatened with the extreme of severity. It +had been announced to the chief men, the fathers and heads of families +who were pining in the prisons, that they would be transported on foot +to Magdeburg as recruits, with knapsacks on their backs. But at +this moment the rescuer in need, of the afflicted city, made his +appearance. + +A tall, proud, manly form crossed the antechamber of the king. Power +and energy were visible in his countenance, and his eyes sparkled +with noble excitement. He was going to perform that duty from which +courtiers and flatterers shrank with trembling; and what the bravest +generals did not dare, he was going to undertake. John Gotzkowsky was +going to tell the king the truth. John Gotzkowsky was not afraid to +rouse the anger of a king, when it came to helping the unfortunate or +protecting the oppressed. He had a more noble mission to perform than +to sue for the smiles of a king, or the favor of the great. It was +the higher mission of humanity which impelled him, and, as usual, his +resolution was firm and unwavering. With bold decision he reached +the door which led into the king's chamber. He had the privilege of +entering unannounced, for the king expected him. + +He had summoned Gotzkowsky from Berlin, to obtain information as to +the progress of the Berlin industrial works, and the faithful patriot +had, in obedience to the call of his king, come to Leipsic. He had +seen the misery and suffering on this poor, down-trodden town, and, +as he traversed the antechamber, he said to himself, with an +imperceptible smile, "I brought the Russian general to clemency, and +the king will not be harder than he was." + +But before he threw off his cloak, he drew out of it a small package, +which he examined carefully. Being satisfied with its appearance, he +took it with him to the cabinet of the king. Frederick did not look at +him at first. He was reclining on the floor, and around him, on silken +cushions, lay his dogs, their bright eyes fixed on a dish which +was placed in the midst of them. The king, with an ivory stick, was +carefully dividing the portion for each dog, ordering the growling, +discontented ones to be quiet, and comforting the patiently waiting +ones with a light jest concerning the next piece. Suddenly he raised +his eyes, and his quick glance rested on Gotzkowsky's smiling, placid +face. "Ah, you laugh," said he, "and in your human conceit you find it +quite beneath one's dignity to occupy one's self with dogs, when there +are so many human beings. Let me tell you, you don't understand any +thing about it! You don't know dogs at all, and perhaps you don't know +men.--Quiet, Biche! leave that piece for Apollo. I gave it to him, and +therefore it belongs to him. One would suppose you had been learning +from men, and in the true spirit of Christian and brotherly love, +grudged each other a piece of bread. Quiet, Biche, and don't be vexed +that I compared you to human beings. I did not mean you were quite as +bad as that." + +And gently stroking and caressing the offended Biche, he rose and +seated himself in his velvet-covered _fauteuil_. His bright eye turned +toward Gotzkowsky, and rested on the package the latter had in his +hand. "What have you there?" + +"A plate and a cup," said Gotzkowsky, seriously--"the first two pieces +from my porcelain factory in Berlin." + +The king now rose from his seat and strode hastily toward Gotzkowsky. +"Give them here. I want to see what sort of potters'-ware you are +going to impose upon me for porcelain." With impatient hands he tore +off the paper coverings, and so eagerly was he engaged with them, that +he did not perceive that Biche and Apollo were already fighting for a +scrap of paper which he had thrown directly on Biche's nose, and which +she consequently mistook for a delicate morsel, a prize worth a fight +with Apollo. "Forsooth, it is porcelain!" cried the king, as he drew +out the gold-rimmed plate and the beautifully painted cup from their +wrappings, and looked at them attentively; and as his eye rested +on the painting of the cup, his features assumed a soft and +sad expression. "My house in Rheinsberg," muttered he softly to +himself--"a greeting from my happy days." + +"In the castle Rheinsberg, I first enjoyed the favor of being +presented to your majesty," said Gotzkowsky. "Castle Rheinsberg is, +therefore, to me a happy recollection, and it was for that reason +selected to adorn the proof pieces of my porcelain factory." + +The king fastened a penetrating look upon him. "You are playing me +a trick--I don't like tricks, you must know. Therefore tell me the +truth. Where did you get this porcelain? It is not from Meissen. The +mark is wanting, and it is whiter and stronger. Where did you get it?" + +"From Berlin, sire. I promised you, when you were in Meissen, that in +future you should procure your porcelain from your own dominions, and +I dare not forfeit my word." + +"And so you imitated the Almighty, and created a porcelain factory +with the breath of your mouth?" + +"Not with the breath of my mouth, but the breath of my money." + +"Tell me about it, and all the particulars," said the king, still +holding the cup in his hand, and looking at it attentively. + +And Gotzkowsky related how, on his return from Meissen, he had +accidentally made the acquaintance of a young man, who was passing +through Berlin on his way to Gotha, the duke having offered to +advance him the capital necessary to found a factory for the making of +porcelain according to a process of his own invention. The specimens +exhibited convinced Gotzkowsky that this young man was fully +acquainted with the secret of porcelain-making, and he had therefore +immediately determined to forestall the Duke of Gotha. + +Money had in this instance, as usual, exercised its charm, and nothing +more was necessary than to outbid the terms agreed on with the duke. +A few thousand dollars more offered, and double purchase-money, had +secured the secret of porcelain-making to Gotzkowsky, and bound the +inventor down in Berlin for life.[1] + +The arrangements necessary for the first attempts were made in one of +the out-buildings of his house, and the articles offered to the king +were the first-fruits of his factory. The king listened to him with +intense interest, and when Gotzkowsky had finished, he nodded to him +with a smile. + +"The Marquis d'Argens is right. I wish myself I had many such citizens +as you are. It would be a fine thing to be a king if all one's +subjects were true men, and made it worth one's while to be to them a +kind father and lord. You have fulfilled a favorite wish of mine; and +let me tell you, I do not think you will call the porcelain factory +yours long. I think it will soon be a royal factory." + +"I founded it for your majesty." + +"Good, good! you have given me a pleasure, I will give you one in +return. Ask some favor for yourself. You are silent. Do you know of +nothing to ask for?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed," said Gotzkowsky, ardently, "I have a great favor to +ask--have pity on the poor inhabitants of this town!" + +The king frowned and pressed his lips angrily together. "Do you know +that I have generally forbidden any one to trouble me with these +Leipsic jeremiades?" + +"I know it, sire." + +The king looked at him with astonishment. "And yet you do it?" + +"Yes, sire, I do it because I relied on the kind, noble heart of my +king, and because humanity bade me not to fear your majesty's anger, +when it became a question of mercy to the oppressed." + +"And for this reason you wanted to bribe me with your bits of +porcelain. Oh, you are a reckoner, but this time you have reckoned +without your host. No pity for these obstinate Leipsigers. They must +pay the eleven hundred thousand dollars, or--" + +"Or what?" asked Gotzkowsky, as he hesitated. + +The king looked angrily at him. "You are very bold," said he, "to +interrupt me. The Leipsigers must pay, for I need the money for my +soldiers, and they are rich; they are able to pay!" + +"They are not able to pay, sire! They are as little able to pay as +Berlin is if Russia insists upon her demands, and her magnanimous king +does not come to her assistance. But your majesty certainly does not +wish that the world and history shall say that Russia acted with +more forbearance and clemency toward Berlin than Prussia did toward +Leipsic? To be sure, the Russians carried off the Jewish elders into +captivity because they could not pay, but then they treated these poor +victims of their avarice like human beings. They did not make them +sleep on rotten straw; they did not let them starve, and die of misery +and filth; they did not have them scourged and tortured until they wet +with their tears the bit of bread thrown to them." + +"Who does that?" cried the king, with thundering voice and flashing +eye. + +Gotzkowsky bowed low. "Your majesty, the King of Prussia does that!" + +Frederick uttered a cry of anger, and advanced with his arm raised on +Gotzkowsky, who looked at him quietly and firmly. "You lie! retract!" +thundered the king. + +"I have, as long as I have lived, spoken the truth, sire--the truth, +without fear or dread of man. Your majesty is the first man who has +accused me of a lie. I have seen with my own eyes your majesty's +officials treating the poor captive Leipsic merchants like dogs. What +do I say--like dogs? Oh, how would the poor down-trodden men envy +those dogs the delicacies contained in that dish! It may be right to +compel and humble the refractory, but it is not right to tread out the +human soul, and even in the conquered you should honor God's image." + +The king looked at him with ludicrous surprise. "Do you wish to give +me a lesson? Well, I will forgive you this time, and, as you express +it, honor God's image in the owner of the Berlin porcelain factory. +But hush about these hard-headed Leipsigers. They must pay. My +soldiers cannot live on air, and my coffers are empty." + +"The Leipsigers are very willing to contribute, but the demand must +not exceed their powers." + +"How do you know that?" + +"The magistracy and merchant guild of Leipsic sent a deputation to me, +and entreated my mediation." + +"You have then already the reputation of one who knows how to use his +tongue well, and goes about tattling with it." + +"Sire," said Gotzkowsky, smiling, "we only follow the example of our +hero-king. We all are anxious to fight, and those who have no swords +must fight with the tongue. I have latterly been compelled to fight a +great deal with it, and the Leipsic merchants may have heard something +about that. They knew that I had some exercise with my tongue, and +gained a little victory with it over the Russians in Berlin." + +"How much do you think the city of Leipsic can pay?" asked the king +after a pause. + +"If your majesty will remit them a few hundred thousand dollars, and +allow the merchants time, they are willing to bind themselves in joint +bonds." + +"_Parbleu_! are they willing to do that?" asked the king, derisively. +"The bonds of the Leipsic merchants would be no security to me." +And turning quickly on Gotzkowsky, he asked him, "Are you willing to +guarantee the payment?" + +"If your majesty orders it, the bonds shall be drawn out with my +guaranty." + +"I look to you, then, for their payment." + +"At your orders, sire." + +"Well, then, for your sake I will remit the Leipsigers three hundred +thousand dollars; but for the rest of the million you are answerable." + +"I will be answerable for it." + +"I will let these gentlemen of Leipsic know that it is to your +intercession and your guaranty that they are indebted for the +mitigation of their contributions; and then you can, if it gives you +pleasure, bargain with the rich town for some reward for your services +rendered." + +"That would give me no pleasure, sire!" cried Gotzkowsky, with noble +indignation. "Your majesty must not think so meanly of me as to +suppose that I would make a profit out of the misfortunes of others, +and that I have interceded for the poor Leipsigers in order to make a +trade out of them!" + +"I think that you are a hard-headed, obstinate fellow, who must be +allowed to have his own way," said the king, with an affable smile. +"But I must bear you witness that, in your own way, you have rendered +me many a good service. For that reason, you will always find me well +affected toward you, and in the Sans-Souci gallery you have created a +beautiful memorial to yourself." + +"If your majesty would come there now, you would find the Correggio +about which you wrote to the Marquis d'Argens." + +The king's eyes sparkled. "The Correggio is mine!" said he, walking up +and down slowly, with his hands behind his back. "Ah," added he, after +a long pause, in a low tone, as if speaking to himself, "when will +this nomadic life cease, and the world be at peace, to allow this +poor, badgered king a few hours of leisure and recreation, to enjoy +the contemplation of his house and his pictures? The wandering Jew, if +he ever existed, did not lead such a rambling life as I do. We get at +last to be like the roving play-actors, who have neither hearth +nor home, and thus we pass through the world, playing our bloody +tragedies, with the wailings of our subjects for chorus.[2] When will +it end?" + +"When your majesty has subdued all your enemies." + +The king looked around with surprise--he had quite forgotten +Gotzkowsky. "Ah! are you still there? and you prophesy me victory? +Well, that will be as good to me as the Leipsic money. Go back home, +and tell the Leipsigers to hurry with the money. And hark ye! when you +get to Potsdam, greet the Correggio, and tell him I yearn for him as a +lover does for his mistress Adieu!" + + +[Footnote 1: Porcelain-making was then a great secret in Germany, only +known in Meissen; the process being conducted with closed doors, and +the foreman bound by oath. Gotzkowsky paid ten thousand dollars +down, a life income of a thousand dollars, and house and firewood +free.--"Life of a Patriotic Merchant," p. 87.] + +[Footnote 2: "Correspondance de Frederic II. avec le Comte +Algarottis."] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GRATITUDE AND RECOMPENSE. + + +Thus did Gotzkowsky save unfortunate Leipsic from the heavy burden +which weighed her down. The prisoners were released, and the merchants +gave a bond, for whose punctual and prompt payment Gotzkowsky +guaranteed with his signature. + +He did not do this from a selfish or vain ambition to have the praise +of his name sounded, nor to increase the number of his addresses of +gratitude, or written asseverations of affection. He did it from love +of mankind; because he desired to fulfil the vow he had made to God +and himself on the highway as a shivering, starving lad: that if he +should ever become rich, he would be to every unfortunate and needy +one the hand which had appeared out of the dust-cloud to his relief. +He did it because, as he tells us naively and simply in his Life, "I +knew from my own experience how difficult it was for a community +to collect such a sum, and because the idea of profiting by such +misfortune was abhorrent to me." + +And now there was a brilliant banquet, and no end to the words of +gratitude and tears of emotion. This banquet was given by the Leipsic +merchants in honor of him who had so magnanimously taken their part, +saved them three hundred thousand dollars, and guaranteed their bonds. +And they devoured the delicate viands and emptied the beakers to his +honor, and praised him in high-sounding speeches. + +When Gotzkowsky, wearied and bored by this festival, returned home, he +found on his table three letters. The one which bore on its seal the +arms of Prussia he opened first. It was a cabinet order from the +king to his private secretary, Leinning, to pay to the merchant, John +Gotzkowsky, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. "Ah," said he, +smiling, "payment on account; I bought a hundred thousand ducats' +worth of paintings for the king, and he does not wish to remain always +in my debt." With a slight shrug of the shoulders he opened +the second letter. Suddenly he burst into a loud laugh, and his +countenance assumed an expression of derisive mirth. "The Elector of +Saxony, in consideration of services rendered to the town of Leipsic, +appoints me his commercial privy councillor!" cried he, waving the +paper in the air; "that is a good joke! The little elector, who has +been my debtor for many long years, is gracious enough to throw me a +bit of rank--a title! Much obliged! My name sounds well enough. It is +not necessary to have a title to be a man of honor. Throw titles to +numskulls, not to me--away with it!" + +He then threw the paper aside with scorn, and took up the third +letter. As he read it his noble countenance brightened up with proud +pleasure, and his eyes sparkled. It was a document from the town of +Leipsic, an address of thanks from the magistracy, the concluding +words of which ran thus: + +"In our extreme need we had recourse to Herr Gotzkowsky, the respected +merchant and banker of Berlin, imploring the same to intercede for +this town and its merchants with the king of Prussia; affording +them his credit and valuable assistance, to accord to said town +some reasonable respite for payment, with security. To this earnest +pleading Herr Gotzkowsky yielded, and, as a true philanthropist, +without any ulterior views of profit to himself, did in the most +praiseworthy manner assist us, and averted this misfortune from the +town. These services we are compelled to acknowledge. We therefore +offer our services in return on all possible occasions, not doubting +that the mercantile community of this place entertain the same +sentiments, and feel themselves equally bound to all imaginable +reciprocity. + +[SIGNED] "The Council of Leipsic. + +"Leipsic, _February_ 26, 1761." + +"This paper I will carry to my daughter, as a souvenir," said +Gotzkowsky, folding it up carefully, and then added thoughtfully: "Who +knows but what the time may come when it will be necessary to remind +the merchants of Leipsic of this document? The opinions and destinies +of men are very variable." + +But Gotzkowsky himself was to have occasion to remind unthankful +Leipsic of her professions of gratitude--not to call on her to +perform reciprocal favors, but to protect himself against calumny +and unfriendly suspicions. For a day came, when Leipsic forgot the +affliction and grief she had suffered, and only remembered that John +Gotzkowsky was her creditor, and that she owed him large sums of +money. So, when at last, weary of long waiting, he pressed for +payment, they accused him of self-interest, and said that he had +unnecessarily mixed himself up in their affairs, and that it would +have been better if he had left them to their captivity; for although +they might have had much to suffer, they would have had but little to +pay. + +Gotzkowsky answered these accusations in a manner characteristic of +his noble, proud self--he was silent about them. But hard times and +oppression came again upon the rich town of Leipsic. + +The Prussian king exacted fresh contributions--and now they recalled +to mind the services of Gotzkowsky; again they sent him humble +letters, begging him to have pity on them; and now the cunning, +calculating magistracy of Leipsic saw fit to take notice of these +calumnies, which they had shortly before so industriously circulated +through the public newspapers, and solemnly to declare in all the +journals: "We hereby certify, in compliance with truth, through these +writings, that the worshipful Herr Gotzkowsky, as well in past years, +as at the late Leipsic fair, out of unchanged and innate love and +friendly kindness to us, this town, and its inhabitants, has given +just cause for gratitude." + +Gotzkowsky forgot the insults, and was again of assistance to them. A +second time he persuaded the king to mitigate their contribution, and +guaranteed the new bonds issued by them. A second time the magistrates +and merchants thanked him in the most touching words for his noble +and disinterested assistance, and a second time were they destined to +forget their vows of gratitude. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FOUR YEARS' LABOR. + + +Four years of work, of industry, of productive activity, had passed +away since the stormy year of 1760. They had produced but little +alteration in the life of Gotzkowsky and his daughter. + +Gotzkowsky toiled and worked as he always had done; his factories +were enlarged, his wealth increased and his fame as a merchant sounded +through the whole world. + +But all this would he have given, if he could have seen the light on +the lips, the rosy glow on the cheek of his daughter, as in bygone +days. But the beautiful and impassioned young girl had altered into +the pale, serious, silent young woman, who had learned to throw +the veil of quiet resignation over the secret of her heart, and to +suppress any manifestation of pain. + +Elise had grown old _internally_--old, despite her two-and-twenty +years; she looked upon the life before her as a joyless, desert waste, +which she had to traverse with bleeding feet and broken heart; and in +the desolation of her soul, she sometimes shuddered at the death-like +apathy and quiet of her feelings, broken by no sound, no note, not +even the wail of woe. + +She was without a wish, without a hope. Grief had spent itself on her. +She wept no more--she wrestled no longer with her love, for she +had conquered it. But she could not rise again to any new joys of +life--she could only be resigned. She had accepted life, and she bore +it as does the bird shut up in a gilded cage, robbed of freedom and +fresh air, and given in return a brilliant prison. She, too, was an +imprisoned bird; and her wounded heart lay in the cage of her breast, +sorrowful and infinitely wretched. She prayed to God for peace, +for resignation, no longer for happiness, for she did not believe +happiness any more possible. She had sunk into that apathy which +desires nothing more than a quiet, dreamy fading away. Her grief was +deficient in the animating consolation of the thought that "it came +from God." Real and sacred suffering, which does come from God, and +is imposed upon us by fate, always carries with it the divine power +of healing; and at the same time that it casts us down and humbles us, +raises us again, steels our courage, and makes us strong and proud +to suffer and to bear. Quite different is that misfortune which comes +from man--which is laid upon us by the envy, hatred, and malice of +mankind. This carries with it no consolation, no comfort--a misfortune +full of bitterness and murmuring--a misfortune which abases us without +elevating us again, which casts us down in the mire, from the soil of +which not all the hot streams of our tears can purify and cleanse us. +Had she lost her lover, had he been snatched away from her by death, +Elise, while she gave him back to God, would have regarded this heavy +and sacred affliction as her great and holy happiness; she would have +accepted it as a precious promise which elevated her, and inspired her +with a blissful hope. + +But she had lost him by his own treachery, by worldly sin, and she +had given him up, not to God, but to his own unrighteousness and +disloyalty. She had therefore lost him irretrievably, and for +always--not for a short space of time, but for all eternity; and she +dared not even weep for him, for her misfortune was at the same time +her disgrace, and even her tears filled her with humiliation and +shame. For that reason she never spoke, either with her father or +with Bertram, about the sad and painful past, about the errors and +disappointments of her youth; and neither of them in their pure and +indulgent love ever trespassed on the silence which Elise had spread +over her sorrow. Toward her father she was a careful, attentive, and +submissive daughter; toward Bertram a confiding and loving sister; but +to both she felt as if she were only giving what was saved from the +shipwreck of her affections. They both knew that Elise could no longer +offer them an entire, unbroken heart. But they were both content to +rest on the embers of this ruined edifice, to gather the leaves of +this rose, broken by the tempest, and to remember how beautiful it was +in its bloom. + +Gotzkowsky only asked of his daughter that she should live, that she +should become again healthy and strong for new happiness. + +Bertram, in the strength and fidelity of his affections, had no other +wish than that he should some day see her cheerful and content again, +and once more brightened by the beams which only love and +happiness can spread over a human countenance; and in his great and +self-sacrificing love he said to himself: "If I only knew that her +happiness lay in the remotest corner of the world, thither would I go +to fetch it for her, even if she thereby were lost to me forever!" + +And thus did four years pass away--externally, bright and clear, +surrounded by all the brilliancy of wealth and happiness--inwardly, +silent and desolate, full of privation and deep-rooted sorrow. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +DAYS OF MISFORTUNE. + + +Gotzkowsky was alone in his room. It was an elegant, brilliantly +ornamented apartment, which the greatest prince might have envied. +The most select pictures by celebrated old masters hung around on the +walls; the most costly Chinese vases stood on gilt tables; and between +the windows, instead of mirrors, were placed the most exquisite Greek +marble statues. The furniture of the room was simple. Gotzkowsky had +but one passion, on which he spent yearly many thousands, and that +was for art-treasures, paintings, and antiques. His house resembled +a temple of art; it contained the rarest and choicest treasures; and +when Gotzkowsky passed through the rooms on the arm of his daughter, +and contemplated the pictures, or dwelt with her on one of the sublime +statues of the gods, his eye beamed with blissful satisfaction, and +his whole being breathed cheerfulness and calm. But at this moment +his countenance was care-worn and anxious, and however pleasantly and +cheerfully the pictures looked down upon him from the walls, his +eye remained sad and clouded, and deep grief was expressed in his +features. + +He sat at his writing-table, and turned over the papers which lay +piled up high before him. At times he looked deeply shocked and +anxious, and his whole frame trembled, as with hasty hand he +transcribed some notes from another sheet. Suddenly he let the pen +drop, and sank his head on his breast. + +"It is in vain," he muttered in a low voice--"yes, it is in vain. If +I were to exert all my power, if I were to collect all my means +together, they would not be sufficient to pay these enormous sums." + +Again he turned over the papers, and pointing with his finger to +one of them, he continued: "Yes, there it stands. I am a rich man +on paper. Leipsic owes me more than a million. If she pays, and De +Neufville comes, I am saved. But if not--if Leipsic once more, as she +has already done three times, protests her inability to pay--if De +Neufville does not come, what shall I do? How can I save myself from +ruin and shame?" + +Deeper and deeper did he bury himself silently in the papers. A +terrible anxiety oppressed him, and sent his blood rushing to his +heart and head. He arose and paced up and down the room, muttering +occasionally a few words, betraying the anguish and terror which +possessed him. Then standing still, he pressed his hands to his +temples, as if to crowd back the pain which throbbed and ached there. + +"Oh, it is terrible!" he uttered in a subdued voice; "with my eyes +open I stand on the brink of a precipice. I see it, and cannot draw +back. If no helping hand is stretched out to save me, I must fall in, +and my good name must perish with me. And to be obliged to confess +that not my own want of judgment, no rashness nor presumption on my +part, but only love of mankind, love of my brethren, has brought me +to this! To each one who held out his hand to me, I gave the hand of a +friend, every one in need I helped. And for that reason, for the good +I have done, I stand on the verge of an abyss." + +He cast his looks toward heaven, and tears shone in his eyes. "Was it, +then, wrong? O my God! was it, then, culpable to trust men, and must I +atone with my honor for what I did from love?" + +But this compunction, this depression, did not last long. Gotzkowsky +soon arose above his grief, and bearing his head aloft as if to shake +off the cares which lowered around it, he said in a determined tone: +"I must not lose my courage. This day requires all my presence +of mind, and the decisive moment shall not find me cowed and +pusillanimous." + +He was about to set himself to work again, when a repeated knocking +at the door interrupted him. At his reluctant bidding it opened, +and Bertram appeared on the threshold. "Pardon me," he said, almost +timidly; "I knew that you wished to be alone, but I could not bear +it any longer. I must see you. Only think, Father Gotzkowsky, it is a +fortnight since I arrived, and I have scarcely seen you in this time; +therefore do not be angry with me if I disobey your orders, and come +to you, although I know that you are busy." + +Gotzkowsky nodded to him with a sad smile. "I thank you for it," said +he. "I had ordered Peter not to admit any one. You are an exception, +as you know, my son." + +A pause ensued, during which Bertram examined Gotzkowsky with +a searching look. The latter had seated himself again at his +writing-table, and with troubled looks was examining his papers. + +Bertram had been absent for nearly a year. The silent grief which day +and night gnawed at his heart had undermined his health and exhausted +his physical strength. The physicians had deemed a prolonged residence +in Nice necessary. If Bertram yielded to their judgment and repaired +to Nice, it was because he thought, "Perhaps Elise will think of me +when I am no longer near her. Perchance absence may warm her heart, +and she may forget the brother, some day to welcome the husband." + +Returning after a year's absence, strengthened and restored to health, +he found Elise as he had left her. She received him with the same +quiet, calm look with which she had bid him farewell. She placed +her hand as coolly and as friendly in his, and although she inquired +cordially and sympathizingly after his welfare, Bertram still felt +that her heart and her inmost soul had not part in her questioning. + +Elise had not altered--but how little was Gotzkowsky like himself! +Where was the ardent man, powerful of will, whom Bertram had embraced +at his departure? where was his clear, ringing voice, his proud +bearing, his energy, his burning eloquence--what had become of all +these? What diabolical, dismal influence had succeeded in breaking +this iron will, in subduing this vital power? + +Bertram felt that a deep grief was corroding Gotzkowsky's life--a +grief whose destructive influence was greater because he avoided +the expression of it, and sought no relief nor consolation by +communicating it to others. "He shall, at least, speak to me," said +Bertram. "I will compel him to make me the confidant of his grief, and +to lighten his heart by imparting a portion of his burden to mine." +With this determination he had entered Gotzkowsky's room; he now +stood opposite to him, and with gentle sympathy looked into his pale, +sorrow-worn countenance. + +But Gotzkowsky avoided his eye. He seemed entirely occupied with his +papers, and turned them over again and again. Bertram could bear it +no longer; he hastened to him, and taking his hand pressed it +affectionately to his lips. "My father," said he, "forgive me; but +when I look at you, I am possessed by a vague fear which I cannot +explain to myself. You know that I love you as my father, and for that +reason can read your thoughts. Gotzkowsky, since my return I have read +much care and sorrow in your face." + +"Have you?" said Gotzkowsky, painfully; "yes, yes, sorrow does not +write in hieroglyphics. It is a writing which he who runs can read." + +"You confess, then, that you have sorrow, and yet you hide it from +me. You do not let me share your cares. Have I deserved that of you, +father?" + +Gotzkowsky arose and paced the room, thoughtful and excited. For +the first time he felt that the sympathy of a loving heart did good. +Involuntarily the crust which surrounded his heart gave way, and he +became gentle and eager for sympathy. He held out his hand to Bertram +and nodded to him. "You are right, my son," said he, gently, "I +should not have kept my sorrows from you. It is a comfort, perhaps, to +unbosom one's self. Listen, then--but no! first tell me what is said +of me in the city, and, above all, what is said of me at the Bourse? +Ah? you cast your eyes down--Bertram, I must and will know all. Speak +out freely. I have courage to hear the utmost." But yet his voice +trembled as he spoke, and his lips twitched convulsively. + +Bertram answered sadly: "What do you care about the street gossip of +envious people? You know that you have enemies, because you are rich +and high-minded. You have long been envied because your house is the +most extensive and solid in all Europe, and because your drafts stand +at par in all the markets. They are jealous of the fame of your firm, +and for that very reason they whisper all sorts of things that they do +not dare to say aloud. But why should you let such miserable scandal +worry you?" + +Bertram tried to smile, but it was a sorrowful, anxious one, which +did not escape Gotzkowsky. "Ah!" said he, "these light whisperings of +calumny are like the single snow-flakes which finally collect together +and roll on and on, and at last become an avalanche which buries up +our honor and our good name. Tell me, then, Bertram, what do they +whisper?" + +Bertram answered in a low, timid voice: "They pretend to know that +your house has suffered immense losses; that you were not able to +meet your drafts; that all your wealth is unfounded; and that--but why +should I repeat all the old women's and newspaper stories?" + +"Even the newspapers talk about it, then?" muttered Gotzkowsky to +himself. + +"Yes, the _Vossian Gazette_," continued Bertram, "has an article +in which it speaks mysteriously and sympathizingly of the impending +failure of one of our most eminent houses. This is said to aim at you, +father." + +"And the other paper, _Spener's Journal_?" + +"Is sorry to join in the statement, and confirms it to-day." + +Gotzkowsky broke out into a mocking laugh, his countenance brightened +with indignation, and his features expressed their former energy and +decision. "O world! O men!" he exclaimed, "how pitiful, how mean you +are! You know, Bertram, how much good I have done these men. I have +protected them as a friend in the time of their need and affliction. I +saved them from punishment and shame. In return they trumpet forth my +misfortunes, and that which might have been altered by the considerate +silence of my friends, they cry aloud to all the world, and thereby +precipitate my fall." + +"It is, then, really true?" asked Bertram, turning pale. "You are in +danger?" + +"To-day is the last term for the payment of the five hundred thousand +dollars, which I have to pay our king, for the town of Leipsic. Our +largest banking-houses have bought up these claims of the king against +me." + +"But that is not your own debt. You only stood good for Leipsic." + +"That I did; and as Leipsic cannot pay, I must." + +"But Leipsic can assume a portion of the debt least." + +"Perhaps so," said Gotzkowsky. "I have sent a courier to Leipsic, +and look for his return every hour. But it is not that alone which +troubles me," continued he, after a pause. "It would be easy to +collect the five hundred thousand dollars. The new and unexpected +ordinance from the mint, which renders uncurrent the light money, +deprives me of another half million. When I foresaw Leipsic's +insolvency, I had negotiated alone with Hamburg for half a million of +light money. But the spies of the Jews of the mint discovered this, +and when my money was in the course of transmission from Hamburg they +managed to obtain a decree from the king forbidding immediately the +circulation of this coin. In this way my five hundred thousand dollars +became good for nothing." + +"Horrible!" cried Bertram; "have you, then, not endeavored to save a +portion of this money?" + +"Yes, indeed," cried Gotzkowsky, with a bitter laugh, "I have tried. +I wished to send fifty thousand dollars of my money to the army of the +allies, to see if it would be current there; but Ephraim had foreseen +this, too, and obtained a decree forbidding even the transit of this +money through the Prussian dominions. This new and arbitrary law was +only published after my money had left Hamburg, and I had grounds +to hope that I would not be prevented from bringing it through the +Prussian dominions, for it was concealed in the double bottom of a +wagon. But avarice has sharp eyes, and the spies who were set upon all +my actions succeeded in discovering this too. The wagon was stopped at +the gates of Berlin, and the money was discovered where they knew it +was beforehand, under this false bottom. But who do you think it +was, Bertram, who denounced me in this affair? You would never guess +it--the chief burgomaster, President von Kircheisen! He stood himself +at the gate, watched for the wagon, and searched until he found the +money." + +"Kircheisen! The same, father, whom you saved from death when the +Russians were here?" + +"The same, my son; you shake your head incredulously. Read for +yourself." He took from his writing-table a large paper provided with +the official seal, and handed it to Bertram. "Read for yourself, my +son. It is an order from the minister Von Finkenstein." + +It was written thus: "The half of the sum is awarded by the king to +President von Kircheisen, as detective and informer." + +"A worthy title, 'detective and informer,'" continued Gotzkowsky. "By +Heaven, I do not envy him it! But now you shall know all. It does me +good to confide to you my sorrows--it lightens my poor heart. And now +I have another fear. You have heard of my speculation in the Russian +magazines?" + +"Of the magazines which you, with De Neufville and the bankers Moses +and Samuel, bought?" asked Bertram. + +"Yes, that is it. But Russia would not enter into the bargain unless I +made myself responsible for the whole sum." + +"And you did so?" asked Bertram, trembling. + +"I did. The purchase-money has been due for four months. My +fellow-contractors have not paid. If Russia insists upon the payment +of this debt, I am ruined." + +"And why do not Samuel and Moses pay their part?" + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately, but when he did, his features +expressed scorn and contempt: "Moses and Samuel are no longer obliged +to pay, because yesterday they declared themselves insolvent." + +Bertram suppressed with effort a cry of anger, and covered his face +with his hands. "He is lost," he muttered to himself, "lost beyond +redemption, for he founds his hopes on De Neufville, and he knows +nothing of his unfortunate fate." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CONFESSIONS. + + +Bertram raised his head again, Gotzkowsky was standing near him, +looking brightly and lovingly into his sorrowful, twitching face. It +was now Gotzkowsky who had to console Bertram, and, smiling quietly +and gently, he told him of the hopes which still remained to him. + +"De Neufville may return," he said. "He has only gone to the opening +of the bank at Amsterdam, and if he succeeds in collecting the +necessary sum there, and returns with it as rapidly as possible to +Berlin, I am saved." + +"But if he does not come?" asked Bertram with a trembling voice, +fixing his sad looks penetratingly on Gotzkowsky. + +"Then I am irretrievably lost," answered Gotzkowsky, in a loud, firm +voice. + +Bertram stepped quickly up to him, and threw himself in his arms, +folding him to his breast as if to protect him against all the danger +which threatened him. "You must be saved!" cried he, eagerly; "it +is not possible that you should fall. You have never deserved such a +misfortune." + +"For that very reason I fear that I must suffer it. If I deserved this +disgrace, perhaps it never would have happened to me. The world is so +fashioned, that what we deserve of good or evil never happens to us." + +"But you have friends; thousands are indebted to your generosity, +and to your ever-ready, helping hand. There is scarcely a merchant in +Berlin to whom, some time or other, you have not been of assistance in +his need!" + +Gotzkowsky laid his hand on his shoulder, and replied with a proud +air: "My friend, it is precisely those who owe me gratitude, who are +now trying to ruin me. The very fact of having obliged them, makes +them my bitter enemies. Gratitude is so disagreeable a virtue, that +men become implacably hostile to those who impose it on them." + +"When you speak thus, my father," said Bertram, glowing with noble +indignation, "you condemn me, too. You have bound me to everlasting +gratitude, and yet I love you inexpressibly for it." + +"You are a rare exception, my son," replied Gotzkowsky, sadly, "and I +thank God, who has taught me to know you." + +"You believe, then, in me?" asked Bertram, looking earnestly in his +eyes. + +"I believe in you," said Gotzkowsky, solemnly, offering him his hand. + +"Well, then, my father," cried Bertram, quickly and gladly, "in this +important moment let me make an urgent request of you. You call me +your son; give me, then, the rights of a son. Allow me the happiness +of offering you the little that I can call mine. My fortune is not, to +be sure, sufficient to save you, but it can at least be of service to +you. Father, I owe you every thing. It is yours--take it back." + +"Never!" interrupted Gotzkowsky. + +But Bertram continued more urgently: "At least consider of it. When +you founded the porcelain factory, you made me a partner in this +business, and I accepted it, although I had nothing but what belonged +to you. When the king, a year ago, bought the factory from you, you +paid me a fourth of the purchase-money, and gave me thirty thousand +dollars. I accepted it, although I had not contributed any part of the +capital." + +"You are mistaken, my son. You forget that you contributed the capital +of your knowledge and genius." + +"One cannot live on genius," cried Bertram, impatiently; "and with +all my knowledge I might have starved, if you had not taken me by the +hand." + +Gotzkowsky would have denied this, but Bertram continued still more +pressingly: "Father, if I were, indeed, your son, could you then deny +me the right of falling and being ruined with you? Can you deny your +son the right of dividing with you what is his?" + +"No!" cried Gotzkowsky, "from my son I could demand the sacrifice, but +it is not only a question of earthly possessions, it is a question +of my most sacred spiritual good, it is the honor of my name. Had I a +son, I would exact of him that he should follow me unto death, so that +the honor of my name might be saved." + +"Well, then, let me be, indeed, your son. Give me your daughter!" + +Gotzkowsky stepped back in astonishment and gazed at Bertram's noble, +excited countenance. "Ah!" cried he, "I thank you, Bertram; you are a +noble man! I understand you. You have found out the sorrow which +gnaws most painfully at my heart; that Elise, by my failure, becomes a +beggar. You wish most nobly to assist her and protect her from want." + +"No, father, I desire her for her own sake--because I love her! I +would wish to be your son, in order to have the right to give up all +for you, and to work for you. During your whole life you have done +so much for others; now grant me the privilege of doing something for +you. Give me your daughter; let me be your son." + +Gotzkowsky was silent for some minutes, then looked at Bertram sadly +and sorrowfully. "You know that this has always been the wish of my +heart. But what I have longed for, for so many years, that I must now +refuse. I dare not drag you down in my misfortune, and even if I were +weak enough to yield to your request, I cannot sacrifice the happiness +of my daughter to my welfare. Do you believe, Bertram, that Elise +loves you?" + +"She is kind to me, and is anxious for my welfare--that is enough," +said Bertram, sadly. "I have learned for many a long year to renounce +all claim to her love." + +"But if she loves another? I fear her heart is but too true, and has +not forgotten the trifler who destroyed her happiness. Ah! when I +think of this man, my heart trembles with anger and grief. In the hour +of death I could forgive all my enemies, but the hatred toward this +man, who has so wantonly trifled with the faith and love of my child, +that hatred I will take with me into the grave--and yet, I fear, Elise +has not forgotten him." + +"This dead love does not give me any uneasiness," said Bertram. "Four +years have passed since that unlucky day." + +"And for four years have I been faithful in my hatred to him. May not +Elise have been as constant in her love?" + +Bertram sighed and drooped his head. "It is too true, love does not +die so easily." Then after a pause he added in a determined voice: "I +repeat my request--give me your daughter!" + +"You know that she does not love you, and yet you still desire her +hand?" + +"I do. I have confidence enough in her and in myself to believe Elise +will not refuse it to me, but will freely make this sacrifice, when +she learns that you will only allow me, as your son, the privilege of +sharing my little fortune with you. For her love to you, she will give +me her hand, and invest me with the rights of a son toward you." + +"Never!" cried Gotzkowsky, vehemently. "She must never be informed +of that of which we have been speaking. She does not forebode the +misfortune which threatens her. I have not the courage to tell her, +and why should I? When the terrible event happens, she will learn it +soon enough, and if it can be averted, why then I can spare her this +unhappiness. For my child I wish a clear, unclouded sky; let _me_ bear +the clouds and storms. That has always been the object of my life, and +I will remain faithful to it to the last." + +"You refuse me, then?" asked Bertram, pained. + +"No, my son. I accept you, and that which you have given me in this +hour, the treasure of your love; that I can never lose. That remains +mine, even if they deprive me of all else." + +He opened his arms, and Bertram threw himself weeping on his breast. +Long did they thus remain, heart to heart, in silence; but soul spoke +to soul without words and without expressions of love. + +When Gotzkowsky raised himself from Bertram's embrace, his countenance +was calm, and almost cheerful. "I thank you, my son; you have given me +new courage and strength. Now I will preserve all my composure. I +will humble my pride, and apply to those who in former times professed +gratitude toward me. The Council of Berlin have owed me twenty +thousand ducats since the time that the Russians were here, and I had +to travel twice in the service of the town to Petersburg and Warsaw. +These accounts have never been asked for. I will make it my business +to remind the Council of them, as in the days of their need they +swore eternal gratitude to me. Come, Bertram, let us see whether these +worshipful magistrates are any better than other men, and whether they +have any recollection of those sacred promises which they made me in +the days when they needed help, and when misfortune threatened them." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE RUSSIAN PRINCE. + + +Before the door of the first hotel in Berlin stood a +travelling-carriage covered with dust. The team of six post-horses, +and the two servants on the coach-box, showed that it was a personage +of quality who now honored the hotel with a visit; and it was +therefore very natural that the host should hurry out and open the +carriage door with a most respectful bow. + +A very tall, thin man descended from the carriage with slow and solemn +dignity, and as he entered the house gravely and in silence, his +French valet asked the host whether he had rooms elegant enough to +suit the Prince Stratimojeff. + +The countenance of the host expanded into a glowing smile; he snatched +the candlestick hastily from the hands of the head butler, and flew up +the steps himself to prepare the room of state for the prince. + +The French valet examined the rooms with a critical eye, and declared +that, though they were not worthy of his highness, yet he would +condescend to occupy them. + +The prince still remained silent, his travelling-cap drawn deep down +over his face, and his whole figure concealed in the ample robe of +sable fur, which reached to his feet. He motioned to the host with +his hand to leave the room; then, in a few short words, he ordered his +valet to see to supper, and to have it served up in an adjoining +room, and as at that moment a carriage drove up to the house, he +commissioned him to see whether it was his suite. The valet stated +that it was his highness's private secretary, his man of business, and +his chaplain. + +"I will not see them to-day--they may seek their own pleasure," said +the prince, authoritatively. "Tell them that our business begins +to-morrow. But for you, Guillaume, I have an important commission. Go +to the host and inquire for the rich banker, John Gotzkowsky; and when +you have found where he lives, enter into further conversation, and +get some information about the circumstances of this gentleman. I wish +to learn, too, about his family; ask about his daughter--if she be +still unmarried, and whether she is now in Berlin. In short, find out +all you can." + +The courteous and obedient valet had left the room some time, but +Prince Stratimojeff still stood motionless, his eyes cast on the +ground, and muttering some unintelligible words. Suddenly, with an +impatient movement, he threw his furred robe from his shoulders, and +cast his head-gear far into the room. + +"Air! air! I suffocate!" cried he. "I feel as if this town lay on my +chest like a hundred-pound weight, and that I have to conceal myself +like a criminal from the eyes of men." + +He threw his cloak open, and took a long and deep breath. + +What was it, then, that so strangely excited Prince Stratimojeff, +and shook his very bones as with an ague? It was the memory of +former days; it was the painful and damning voice of Conscience which +tormented him. What reason had he to inquire after Gotzkowsky the +banker, and his daughter? How! Had the heart of Count Feodor von +Brenda become so hardened, that when he returned to Berlin he should +not long to hear of her whom he had once so shamefully betrayed? + +It was indeed himself. Colonel Count Feodor von Brenda had become +transformed into the Prince Stratimojeff. Four short years had passed, +but what desolation had they not caused in his inner life!--four years +of dissolute pleasure, of mad, enervating enjoyment; four bacchanalian +years of sensual dissipation and extravagance; four years passed at +the court of two Russian empresses! In these four years Elizabeth +had died; and for a few days the unfortunate Peter III. had worn the +imperial crown. But it had proved too heavy for him; and his great +consort, Catharine, full of compassion and Russian humanity for him, +had sought to lighten his load! Only, in her too great zeal, she had +taken not only his crown, but his head, and changed his prison for a +grave. + +The Guards shouted for the new empress as they had done for the old. +In the presence of their beautiful young sovereign they remembered +with delight the graciousness of her predecessor, who, in the fulness +of her kindness and power, had made princes of the subalterns, and +great lords of the privates. + +Why should not Catharine resemble Elizabeth in that respect, and show +favor to the splendid soldiers of the Guards? She was merciful. She +was a gracious mistress to all her subjects, but especially so to +the handsome men of her empire. And the Count von Brenda was a very +handsome man. He had been the favorite of Elizabeth, why should he +not also be the favorite of Catharine? The former had treated him with +motherly kindness, for she was old; but Catharine was young, and +in her proud breast there beat an ardent heart--a heart that was so +powerful and large, that it had room for more than one lover. + +The young count had been for some short months the declared darling of +the empress, and the whole world did homage to him, and looked upon +it as a matter of course that Catharine should make him Prince +Stratimojeff, and bestow on him not only orders and titles, but lands +and thousands of slaves. + +What a mad, intoxicating, joyous life was his! How all the world +envied the handsome, rich prince, surrounded by the halo of imperial +favor! But nevertheless a cloud lay always on his brow, and he plunged +into the sea of pleasure like one ill of fever, who seeks something to +cool the heat which is consuming him. He threw himself into the arms +of dissipation, as the criminal condemned to execution, who in the +intoxication of champagne revels away the last hours of life in order +to banish the thought that Death stands behind him, reaching forth his +hand to seize him. + +Thus did the prince strive in the wild excitement of pleasure to kill +thought and deaden his heart. But there would come quiet hours to +remind him of the past, and, at times, in the middle of the night, he +would start up from his couch, as if he had heard a scream, a single +heart-piercing cry, which rang through his very soul. + +But this scream existed only in his dreams, those dreams in which +Elise's pale, sad face appeared, and made him tremble before her +indignant and despairing grief. Near this light figure of his beloved +appeared another pallid woman, whose sorrowful looks tortured him, +and struck his soul with anguish. He thought he saw his wife, the late +Countess Lodoiska von Sandomir, who, with weeping eyes, demanded of +him her murdered happiness, her youth, her life. + +She was dead; she had died of grief, for she had felt that the man +for whom she had sacrificed every thing--her youth, her honor, and her +duty--despised her, and could never forgive her for having cheated him +into taking her for his wife. She died the victim of his contempt and +hatred. Not suddenly, not as with a lightning-stroke, did his contempt +kill, but slowly and steadily did it pierce her heart. She bore +the torture for one desolate, disconsolate year, and then she died +solitary and forsaken. No loving hand dried the death-sweat on her +cold forehead; no pitying lips whispered words of love and hope +to her; yet on her death-bed, her heart was still warm toward her +husband, and even then she blessed him. + +A letter written by her trembling hand in her last hours, full of +humble, earnest love, of forgiving gentleness, which her husband the +prince found on his writing-table, as well as another, directed to +Elise Gotzkowsky, and enclosed in the first, bore witness to this +fact. + +Lodoiska had loved her husband sufficiently to be aware of the cause +of his wild and extravagant life, to know that in the bottom of his +heart he was suffering from the only true love of his life--his love +for Elise; and that all the rest was only a mad and desperate effort +to deaden his feelings and smother his desire. + +Elise's image followed him everywhere; and his love for her, which +might have been the blessing of a good man's life, had been a cruel +curse to that of a guilty one. In the midst of the wild routs, the +private orgies of the imperial court, her image rose before him from +these waves of maddening pleasure as a guardian angel, hushing him +often into silence, and stopping the wanton jest on his quivering +lips. + +At times during these feasts and dances, he was seized with +a boundless, unspeakable dread, a torturing anxiety. He felt +inexpressibly desolate, and the consciousness of his lost, his wasted +existence haunted him, while it seemed as if an inner voice was +whispering--"Go, flee to her! with Elise is peace and innocence. If +you are to be saved, Elise will save you." + +But he had not the strength to obey the warning voice of his heart; he +was bound in gilded fetters, and, even if love were absent, pride and +vanity prevented him from breaking these bonds. He was the favorite of +the young empress, and the great of the empire bowed down before him, +and felt themselves happy in his smile, and honored by the pressure of +his hand. But every thing is changeable. Even the heart of the Empress +Catharine was fickle. + +One day the Prince Stratimojeff received a note from his imperial +mistress, in which she intrusted him with a diplomatic mission to +Germany, and requested him, on account of the urgency of the occasion, +to start immediately. + +Feodor understood the hidden meaning of this apparently gracious and +loving letter; he understood that he had fallen into disgrace--not +that he had committed any error or crime. It was only that Count +Orloff was handsomer and more amiable than himself, or at least +that he seemed so to the empress. Therefore Feodor's presence was +inconvenient to her; for at that time in the commencement of her +reign, Catharine had still some modesty left, and the place of +favorite had not yet become an official position at court, but only a +public secret. As yet, she avoided bringing the discharged favorite in +contact with the newly appointed one, and therefore Feodor had to be +removed before Count Alexis Orloff could enter on his duties. + +Prince Feodor Stratimojeff crushed the perfumed imperial note in his +hand, and muttered through his set teeth: "She has sacrificed me to +an Orloff! She wishes to send me away, that she may more securely play +this new farce of love. Very well; I will go, but not to return to be +deceived anew by her vows of love and glances of favor. No! let this +breach be eternal. Catharine shall feel that, although an empress, she +is a woman whom I despise. Therefore let there be no word of farewell, +not even the smallest request. She bids me go, and I go. And would it +not seem as if Fate pointed out to me the way I am to go? Is it not +a strange chance that Catharine should choose me for this mission to +Germany?" + +It was indeed a singular accident that the empress unintentionally +should have sent back her discharged favorite to the only woman whom +he had ever loved. He was sent as ambassador extraordinary to Berlin, +to press more urgently her claims on a Prussian banker, to bring up +before the Prussian department for foreign affairs the merchant John +Gotzkowsky with regard to her demand for two millions of dollars; +and, in case he refused to pay it, to try in a diplomatic way whether +Prussia could not he induced to support this demand of the empress, +and procure immediate payment. + +This was the mission which Catharine had confided to Prince +Stratimojeff, who, when he determined to undertake it, said to +himself: "I will take vengeance on this proud woman who thinks to +cast me off like a toy of which she has tired; I will show her that +my heart is unmoved by her infidelity; I will present to her my young +wife, whose beauty, youth, and innocence will cause her to blush for +shame." + +Never had he been so fascinating and lively, so brilliant and +sparkling with wit, as on the evening preceding his departure. His +jests were the boldest and freest; they made even the empress blush, +and sent her blood hot and bounding through her veins. The court, +that would have been delighted to have seen the long-envied and hated +favorite now abashed and humbled before his newly-declared successor, +remarked with astonishment and bitter mortification that the +humiliation was changed into a triumph; for the empress, charmed by +his amiability and wit, seemed to turn her heart again toward him, and +to entreat him with the tenderest looks to forgive her faithlessness. +She had already forgotten the unfortunate embassy which was to remove +Feodor from her court, when he himself came to remind her of it. + +While all countenances were still beaming with delight over a precious +_bon mot_ which Feodor had just perpetrated, and at which the empress +herself had laughed aloud, he stepped up to her and requested her +blessing on his voyage to Germany, which he was going to commence that +night. + +Catharine felt almost inclined to withdraw her orders and request +him to remain, but she was woman enough to be able to read pride and +defiance in his face. She therefore contented herself with wishing him +a speedy return to his duty. Publicly, in the presence of the whole +court and her new favorite, she afforded Prince Stratimojeff a fresh +triumph: she bade him kneel, and taking a golden chain to which her +portrait was attached, she threw the links around his neck. Kissing +him gently on the forehead, with a gracious smile full of promise, she +said to him only, "_Au revoir_!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OLD LOVE--NEW SORROW. + + +Elise was in her room. Her face expressed a quiet, silent resignation, +and her large dark eyes had a dreamy but bright look. She sat in an +easy-chair, reading, and whoever had seen her with her high, open +forehead and calm looks, would have thought her one of those happy +and fortunate beings whom Heaven had blessed with eternal rest and +cheerful composure, who was unacquainted with the corroding poison of +passionate grief. No trace of the storm which had raged through her +life could be seen on her countenance. Her grief had eaten inwardly, +and only her heart and the spirit of her youth had died; her face had +remained young and handsome. The vigor of her youth had overcome +the grief of her spirit, and her cheeks, although colorless and +transparent in their paleness, were still free from that sallow, +sickly pallor, which is the herald of approaching dissolution. She was +apparently healthy and young, and only sick and cold at heart. Perhaps +she only needed some sunbeams to warm up again her chilled heart, only +some gleam of hope to make her soul young again, and strong and ready +once more to love and to suffer. She had never forgotten, never ceased +to think of the past, nor of him whom she had loved so unspeakably, +whom her soul could not let go. + +The memories of the past were the life of the present to her. The tree +in the garden which he had admired, the flowers he had loved and which +since then had four times renewed their bloom, the rustling of the +fir-trees which sounded from the wall, all spoke of him, and caused +her heart to beat, she knew not whether with anger or with pain. Even +now, as she sat in her room, her thoughts and fancies were busy with +him. She had been reading, but the book dropped from her hand. From +the love-scenes which were described in it her thoughts roamed far and +wide, and awakened the dreams and hopes of the past. + +But Elise did not like to give herself up to these reveries, and at +times had a silent horror even of her own thoughts. She did not like +to confess to herself that she still hoped in the man who had betrayed +her. She had, as it were, a sympathizing pity with herself; she threw +a veil over her heart, to hide from herself that it still quivered +with pain and love. Only at times, in the quiet and solitude of her +chamber, she ventured to draw aside the veil, to look down into the +depths of her soul, and, in agonizing delight, in one dream blend +together the present and the past. She leaned back in her chair, +her large dark eyes fixed on vacancy. Some passage in the book had +reminded her of her own sad love, had struck on her heart like the +hammer of a bell, and in response it had returned but one single note, +the word "Feodor." + +"Ah, Feodor!" she whispered to herself, but with a shudder at the +name, and a blush suffused her otherwise pale cheeks for a moment. +"It is the first time my lips have spoken his name, but my heart is +constantly repeating it in hopeless grief, and in my dreams he still +lives. I have accepted my fate; to the world I have separated from +him; to myself, never! Oh, how mysterious is the heart! I hate and yet +I love him." She covered her face with her hands, and sat long silent +and motionless. A noise at the door aroused her. It was only Marianne, +her maid, who came to announce that a strange gentleman was outside, +who earnestly requested to speak to her. Elise trembled, she knew +not why. A prophetic dread seized her soul, and in a voice scarcely +audible she asked the name of her visitor. + +"He will not give his name," answered the maid. "He says the name +is of no consequence. He had a letter to deliver from the Countess +Lodoiska, of St. Petersburg." + +Elise uttered a cry, and sprang from her seat--she knew all. Her heart +told her that he was near. It must be himself. She felt as if she must +hasten to her father for protection and safety; but her feet refused +to carry her. She trembled so, that she was obliged to hold on to the +arm of a chair to keep herself from falling. She motioned with her +hand to deny him admittance, but Marianne did not understand her; for, +opening the door, she invited the stranger in, and then left him. + +And now they stood in presence of each other, silent and +breathless--Elise trembling with excitement and bitter feeling, +wrestling with her own emotion, and deeply abashed by the meeting. +Both uttered an inward prayer--but how different were their two +aspirations! + +"Now, God or devil!" thought Feodor, "give my words power, lend +enchantment to my tongue, that I may win Elise!" + +Elise prayed to herself: "Have mercy on me, O God! Take this love from +me, or let me die." + +In sad silence these two, so long separated, stood opposite to each +other--both hesitating, he knowing that he was guilty, she ashamed of +the consciousness of her love. But finally he succeeded in breaking +the silence. He whispered her name, and as she, alarmed and +shuddering, looked up at him, he stretched out his arms imploringly +toward her. And then she felt, thought, knew nothing but him. She +uttered a cry, and rushed forward to throw herself in his arms. But +suddenly she stopped. Her dream was at an end, and now awaking from +the first ecstasy of seeing him again, she collected herself, and +stood before him in the whole pride and dignity of her offended +honor. She found courage to sacrifice her own heart, and, with cold, +constrained manner, bowing to him, she asked, "Colonel von Brenda, +whom do you wish to see?" + +The prince sighed deeply, and let his arms drop. "It is over," said +he; "she no longer loves me!" + +Low as these words had been spoken, Elise had seized their purport, +and they touched her to the quick. "What do you wish?" she continued. + +"Nothing!" said he, despondently. "I have made a mistake. I expected +to find a faithful heart, a woman like an angel, ready in the hour of +meeting to forget all else, and take refuge in this heart; to forgive, +and, with her blessing, to wipe out the curse of my existence. This is +what I sought. But God is just, and I did not deserve such happiness. +I submit." + +"Oh, my God!" said Elise to herself, "it is the same voice which once +charmed me." She no longer found strength in herself to bid him go. +She would have given her life blood to be able always to be thus near +him. + +"This time, young lady," said Feodor, "I come only as a messenger, the +executor of the will of one who is dead." He took a letter from his +bosom and handed it to Elise. "I bring you," he said solemnly, "the +last will of my wife, Countess Lodoiska." + +"She is no longer alive?" cried Elise, and involuntarily an almost +joyful tone pervaded her voice. + +This did not escape the prince. "I will win her," said he to himself. +His eyes shone brighter, his countenance looked prouder, and his heart +beat higher with triumphant joy. Elise had taken the letter, and still +held it in her hand. "Will you not read it?" asked he, gently, and +her heart trembled at the pleading tone of his voice. + +"Yes, I will read it," she answered, as if awaking from a dream, and +breaking the seal hastily. + +The prince fixed his sharp, piercing eyes on her, and seemed to wish +to read in her looks her inmost thoughts, and feeling them favorable +to him, he approached still closer to her. + +The letter was short and hastily written, but every word entered her +soul and brought tears to her eyes. It ran thus: + +"My dear Elise, when you receive this letter I shall be no more, and +the heart which has suffered so much will be at rest. But when I have +found repose in the grave, do you fulfil my trust. I leave you the +dearest legacy that I possess. I give you back your property, the +heart and love of Feodor, which never ceased to belong to you. I never +have been able to win this love to myself. He gave me his hand, his +heart remains yours, and that is killing me. Take it then, it is my +legacy to you; and if you accept it my purified spirit will bless your +reunion. + +LODOISKA." + + +The letter dropped from her hand; completely overpowered by deep and +solemn emotions, she sank in her chair, and hid her tears with her +hands. Feodor felt that she was again his, that he had regained +his sway over her. He rushed toward her, falling at her feet, and +passionately snatching her hands from her face, he exclaimed, "Elise! +in this moment her spirit is hovering over us. She blesses this love +which she has already forgiven. Oh, if you only knew what I have +suffered for you, you would, at least, not be angry with me. You would +pardon me for the sake of what I have undergone." + +"Have I then not suffered also?" she asked, turning her face, covered +with tears, toward him. + +"Oh! leave me here at your feet," he continued. "Look upon me as +a poor pilgrim who has wandered to the holy Sepulchre in order to +cleanse his heart of its sins at the sanctuary by sincere repentance +and prayers for forgiveness. You are my sanctuary, to you my heart +bends; the poor pilgrim has come to you to confess and be shrived +before he dies. Will you, my Madonna, hear him? May I tell you what I +have endured, how much I have suffered?" + +"Speak," she said, half conscious, but eagerly listening to the music +of his voice. "Tell me what you have suffered, that I may forget my +own sufferings when I gave you up." + +"Oh!" he continued, with a shudder, "I shall never forget that fearful +moment when I became aware of the deception, and discovered that it +was not you, but Lodoiska, whom I held in my arms. A raving madness +seized me, which threatened my own life. Lodoiska turned aside the +dagger, and pronounced your name. That name recalled me to life, to +the knowledge of my crime. I submitted to the punishment which I had +merited, and which you had imposed upon me. I led Lodoiska to the +altar, at which I had hoped to see you. I made her my wife, and my +heart pronounced _your_ name, while my lips bound me to _her_. It was +a terrible hour, a fearful agony raged within me, and it has never +left me since. It was there, when Lodoiska pressed me to her heart. It +was present in the tumult of battle. Then, however, when death raged +around me, when destruction thundered from the enemy's cannon, then +I became cheerful, and the pang left me as I rushed amid the enemy's +ranks. But even death itself retreated before me--I found on the +battle-field only honor and fame, but not the object for which I +fought, not death. I lived to suffer and to expiate my crime toward +you, Elise. But one hope sustained me, the hope one day to fall at +your feet, to clasp your knees, and to sue for forgiveness." + +Completely overcome by his own passionate description, he bowed his +head on her knees, and wept aloud. He had succeeded in rousing his own +sympathy; he believed in his own grief. He had so feelingly played +the part of a repentant sinner, an ardent lover, that for a moment +probability and reality had become blended in one, and he felt himself +thoroughly possessed by crushing repentance. + +But Elise believed in him. His voice sounded like music in her ear, +and every fibre of her heart thrilled and quivered. The past with its +griefs and sorrows was gone forever, he was once more there, with no +stranger to come between them, and she only felt that she loved him +without bounds. + +He embraced her knees, looking pleadingly up in her face. "Elise, +forgive me," cried he; "say but one word, 'Pardon,' and I will go away +in silence, and never again dare to approach you." + +Elise had no longer power to withstand him. She opened her arms, and +threw them with passionate tenderness around his neck. "Feodor, love +does not forgive, it loves," she cried with unspeakable rapture, and +tears of delight burst from her eyes. + +Feodor uttered a cry of joy, and sprang up to draw her to his breast, +to cover her face with kisses, to whisper words of delight, of +tenderness, of passionate love, in her listening ear. "Oh! now all is +right again--now you are again mine. These four years are as if they +had not been. It was all a mournful dream--and we are now awake. +Now we know that we love each other, that we belong to each other, +forever. Come, Elise, it is the same hour which then called us to the +altar. Come, the priest waits. For four long years have I hoped for +this hour. Come, my beloved." + +He threw his strong arm around her and raised her to his breast +to draw her forth with him. As Elise drew herself gently back, he +continued still more passionately: "I will not let you go, for you are +mine. You have betrothed yourself to me for life or death. Come, +the priest is waiting, and to-day shall you be my wife. This time no +unfriendly hand shall impose itself between us, and Lodoiska no longer +lives." + +"But my father lives," said Elise, as earnestly and proudly she freed +herself from Feodor's arms. "Without his consent I do not leave this +threshold. It was for that the Lord punished us. My father's blessing +was not upon our love, and I had sinned grievously against him. Now, +it is expiated, and Fate is appeased. Let us go hand in hand to my +father, and ask his blessing on our love, that love which has remained +undiminished through so many years of grief." + +"I submit to you. I will obey your will in every thing. But will not +your father reject me? I feel that he must hate me for the tears I +have caused you to shed." + +"He will love you when he sees that you have taught me to smile once +more," said she gently. "Come to my father." + +She wished to draw him along with her. But his consciousness of guilt +held him back. He wanted the daring courage to face this man whom he +had been sent to ruin; and involuntarily he shrank back from his own +deeds. "I dare not go before him so suddenly and unprepared," said he +hesitatingly. + +"Then allow me to prepare him for your presence." + +"And if he denies his sanction?" + +"He will not do it." + +"He has sworn never to allow you to marry a Russian." + +"Oh, that was long ago," said she, smiling, "when Russia was our +enemy. Now we are at peace. The bloody streams of discord are dried +up, and an angel of peace rules over all countries. Even my father +will feel his influence, and make peace with you and me." + +Feodor did not answer immediately. He stood thoughtful and +contemplative, weighing the necessary and unavoidable, and considering +what he should do. One thing only was clear. Neither Elise nor +Gotzkowsky must be allowed to suspect on what extraordinary mission +his empress had sent him thither. Only when Elise was irrevocably +bound to him, when she was his without recall, when Gotzkowsky had +given his consent to their union, then would he dare to disclose it to +him. It was necessary, above all, to postpone the negotiations about +the Russian demands for a day, and therefore he only gave his agents +his instructions, and imposed on them silence and inactivity for a day +longer. The principal thing, however, was to convince Elise and her +father that their union should suffer no delay, because he was only +allowed to remain a few hours. He put his arm around Elise's slender +waist and pressed her to his heart. "Listen to me, my beloved; my time +has been but sparingly dealt out to me. I have come on with courier +horses, so as to allow me more leisure on my return with you. But +to-day we must leave, for the army is on the frontier, equipped and +ready for war. Only out of special favor did the empress allow me a +short leave of absence, to fetch my wife. In her clemency she has +done what she was able to do, and I must now obey her orders to return +speedily, if I do not wish to bring her anger down upon me. That +nothing might prevent or delay us, I have brought a chaplain of our +Church with me, to bless our union. You see, my beloved, that every +thing is ready, and all that is wanting is the wreath of myrtle in +your hair." + +"And the blessing of my father," she replied solemnly. + +Feeder's brow darkened and an angry expression flashed across +his countenance. Elise did not perceive it, for, in her noble +forgetfulness of self, she had leaned her head on his breast, and all +doubt and distrust were alien to her free and confiding love. The love +of a woman is of divine nature; it forgives all, it suffers all; it is +as strong in giving as in forgiving. Every woman when she loves is +an inspired poetess; the divine frenzy has seized her, and poetic +utterances of ecstasy issue from her trembling lips. This poor girl, +too, had become inspired. Confidingly happy, she reposed on the breast +of the man whom she had never ceased to love, whom she had blest in +the midst of her bitterest tears, whom she had prayed for, earnestly +entreating God to have mercy on him. + +"Do you go to your father," said Feodor, after a pause. "Pray for +his consent and his blessing on both of us--I hasten to prepare every +thing. Tell your father that my whole life shall be spent in the +endeavor to redeem every tear you have shed for me with a smile; that +I will love him as a son to whom he has given the dearest treasure of +life, his Elise." + +He pressed her to his heart and kissed her forehead. Elise raised her +face from his breast, and smiled on him with loving emotion. But he +placed his hands over her eyes; he was not callous enough to be able +to bear those innocent, yielding, tender looks. + +"I must be gone," he said. "But this shall be our last separation, +and when I return, it shall be to lead you to the altar. In an hour, +dearest, you must be ready. At the end of that time, I will come to +take you to St. Petersburg, and present you at the empress's court as +my bride, the Princess Stratimojeff." + +He looked down at her with an air of triumph, to see what impression +his words would have on her. He had expected to prepare a pleasurable +surprise for her with the princely title--to see her blush with proud +satisfaction. But Elise felt neither elevated nor honored by the high +rank. What did she care whether Feodor was a prince or a poor officer, +so that he only loved her, and would never again forsake her? + +She replied, with some surprise, "Princess Stratimojeff! What does +that mean?" + +"For three months," said he with a proud smile, "I have been Prince +Stratimojeff. The empress gave me this title. The world calls me +prince, but you--you will call me your Feodor?" + +"Oh," said she feelingly, "my heart called you so when you did not +hear me." + +"Well, then, go wind the wreath of myrtle in your hair, and wait for +me. In an hour I will return." + +He hastened to the door, but on the threshold he turned to send a +farewell greeting to her. Their eyes met and rested on each other, +and suddenly a deep, indescribable feeling of grief came over him. It +seemed to him as if he would never see her again; as if the threshold +once crossed, Elise was lost to him forever. Once again he returned, +and folded her passionately in his arms, and, completely overpowered +by his painful presentiments, he bowed his head on her shoulder, and +wept bitterly. He then tore himself loose. "Farewell!" he cried, +but his voice sounded hoarse and rough--"farewell! in an hour I +will return for you. Be prepared, do not keep me waiting in vain. +Farewell!" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE MAGISTRACY OF BERLIN. + + +Gotzkowsky had conquered his proud heart; he had left his house to +apply to those whom he had benefited and saved in the days of their +need and distress, and who had then avowed him everlasting gratitude. +He resolved now, reluctantly and with deep humiliation, rather to +remind them of those days than to ask of them any favors or assistance +beyond the payment of their debts to him. + +First he went to the ober-burgomaster, President Kircheisen; to the +man whom he had saved from death, who had clung to him, and, when +he had found his speech again, had vowed with tears that he would be +forever grateful to him, and would bless the arrival of the hour in +which he could prove it to him by deeds. + +This hour had now arrived, but Herr von Kircheisen did not bless it; +on the contrary, he cursed it. He was standing at the window of his +ground floor when Gotzkowsky passed by. Their eyes met. Gotzkowsky's +were clear and penetrating; Kircheisen's were cast down, as he stepped +back from the window. He only had time to tell the servants that he +was not at home for any one, whoever it might be, when the bell rang, +and Gotzkowsky inquired for Herr von Kircheisen. + +"Not at home, sir." + +"Not at home! but I saw him just this moment standing at the window." + +"It must have been a mistake, sir. The president has just gone to the +Council-chamber." + +"Very well. I will go to the town-hall," said Gotzkowsky, as he left +the house. + +Passing by the window he looked in again. This time, however, +Kircheisen was not standing before the sashes, but at the side, +ensconced behind the curtain, he was spying Gotzkowsky through the +window. As he saw him passing by, pale of countenance, but erect and +unbent, he felt involuntarily a feeling of remorse, and his conscience +warned him of his unpaid debt toward the only man who came to his +rescue. But he would not listen to his conscience, and with a dark +frown he threw back his head with contempt. + +"He is a bankrupt--I have nothing to do with him!" So saying, he +retired to his study, and in obedience to a natural instinct, he +opened his strong box, and refreshed himself with a look at the +thousands which he had earned from Gotzkowsky as "detective and +informer." And now his conscience no longer reproached him; the sight +of the shining money lulled it into a gentle slumber. + +In the meanwhile Gotzkowsky continued his toilsome and humiliating +journey. He met men who formerly bent humbly to the earth before him, +yet who scarcely greeted him now. Others, again, as they passed him, +whispered, with a malicious smile, "Bankrupt!" As he came to the corner +of a street, he met the valiant editor of the _Vossian Gazette_, +who was coming round from the other side. As they met, he jostled +Gotzkowsky rather roughly, yet Mr. Kretschmer did not think it worth +while to excuse himself, but pulling his hat over his face he walked +on with a dark and scornful look. As Gotzkowsky passed the houses, he +could hear the windows rattle, and he knew that it was his former +good friends, who were drawing back when they saw him coming, and who, +after he had passed, opened the windows again to look after him, to +laugh at and mock him. It was an intellectual running of the gantlet, +and Gotzkowsky's heart bled from the blows, and his feet were tired +to death. What had he then done to burden himself with the cruelty and +contumely of the world? Had he not been benevolent and kind, full +of pity and humanity, obliging to every one? Had he not always shown +himself ready to serve every one, and never requested nor desired +services in return? Therein lay his fault and his crime. + +He had been independent. He had never sought the favor of any +man, but, trusting solely to himself, had always relied on his +own strength. And now mankind wished to make him feel that he had +mortified them by his self-sufficiency--for small natures never +forgive one who dares to be independent of others, and finds his +source of honor in himself. And this crime Gotzkowsky had been +guilty of. What he was, he had made himself. He had owed nothing +to protection, nothing to hypocrisy or flattery, eye-service, or +cringing. Only by the strength and power of his own genius had he +elevated himself above the world which he ruled. + +And now that he was down, it was but natural that the world should +fall upon him, tear him to pieces with its venomous fangs, to enjoy +his torture, and joyfully to witness the lowering of pride and +independence. Gotzkowsky arrived at the town-hall and slowly ascended +the steps. How often had he gone this same road in answer to the +pressing cry for help which the magistrate would utter in his +distress! How often had he mounted those steps to give his advice, to +lend his energy, his money, and his credit to these gentlemen of the +Council! + +This day the doors were not thrown open to him the beadle did not bow +down to the earth before him, but proudly and with erect head stepped +up to him and bade him wait in the antechamber until he had announced +him to the assembled Council. He had to wait long, but finally +the doors opened and he was admitted. There sat the aldermen and +councillors, and the burgomaster, just as they had when, in their +need and distress, they had appealed to Gotzkowsky for advice and +assistance--just as they had when, in solemn session, they +determined to present him with a silver laurel-wreath as an honorable +testimonial. + +Only the chief burgomaster was absent. Herr von Kircheisen was at +home, enjoying the sight of the money he had won from Gotzkowsky. This +day they did not receive him as a counsellor or friend, but more like +a delinquent. No one rose to greet him--no one offered him a seat! +They knew that he came to ask for something. Why, then, should they be +polite to him, as he was only a petitioner like all other poor +people? In the mean time Gotzkowsky did not seem to be aware of the +alteration. Smiling, and with a firm, proud step he walked to a chair +and sat down. + +After a pause the burgomaster asked him churlishly what his business +was. He drew out a parcel of papers, and laying them on the table, +said, "I have brought my accounts." + +A panic seized the worshipful gentlemen of the Council, and they sat +petrified in their seats. + +"Your worships have forgotten my claims," said Gotzkowsky quickly. +"However, that I can easily understand, as the accounts are somewhat +old. It is now four years since I have had the honor of having the +Council of Berlin as my debtor; since I thrice performed the perilous +journey to Koenigsberg and Warsaw in order to negotiate the war +contribution in the name of the town. At that time, too, I was +obliged, in the service of the Council, to take with me many valuable +presents. I may enumerate among them the diamond-set staff for General +von Fermore, and the snuff-box, with the portrait of the empress, +surrounded by brilliants, which I delivered to the General +Field-Marshal Count Butterlin, in the name of the magistracy and town +of Berlin. But, gentlemen, you will find the accounts of all these +things here." + +The gentlemen of the Council did not answer him; they seized upon the +papers hastily, and turned them over, and looked into them with stern +and sullen eyes. Not a word was said, and nothing was heard but the +rustling of the papers, and the low muttering of one of the senators +adding the numbers, and verifying the calculation. Gotzkowsky rose, +and walked to the window. Raising his looks to heaven, his countenance +expressed all the pain and bitterness to which his soul almost +succumbed. Ah! he could have torn the papers out of the hand of this +miserable, calculating, reckoning senator, and with pride and contempt +have thrown them in his face. But he thought of his daughter, and +the honor of his name. He had to wait it out, and bend his head in +submission. + +At last the burgomaster laid the papers aside, and turned scowlingly +toward Gotzkowsky. The latter stepped up to the table with a smile, +making a vow to himself that he would remain quiet and patient. + +"Have you read them, gentlemen?" he asked. + +"We have read them," answered the burgomaster roughly, "but the +Council cannot admit that it owes you any thing." + +"No?" cried Gotzkowsky; and then, allowing himself to be overcome by a +feeling of bitterness--"I believe you. Those in authority seldom take +cognizance of what they owe, only what is owing to them." + +"Oh, yes, indeed," said the first councillor with solemn dignity, "we +know very well that we owe you thanks for the great services you have +rendered the town." + +Gotzkowsky broke out into a loud, ironical laugh. "Do you remember +that? I am glad that you have not forgotten it." + +"It is true," continued the councillor, in a tone of conciliation, "at +the request of the magistracy you took charge of the affairs of the +town. You travelled to St. Petersburg to see the empress; twice did +you go to Warsaw to see General Fermore, and twice to Saxony to visit +the king. You see the Council knows how much it is indebted to you." + +"And we are cheerfully willing to be grateful to you," interrupted +the burgomaster, "and to serve you when and in what manner we can, but +these debts we cannot acknowledge." + +Gotzkowsky looked at him in dismay, and a deep glow suffused his +cheek. "You refuse to pay them?" he asked, faintly. + +"It pains us deeply that we cannot recognize these claims. You +must abate somewhat from them if we are to pay them," answered the +burgomaster rudely. + +"Do you dare to propose this to me?" cried Gotzkowsky, his eyes +flashing, his countenance burning with anger and indignation. "Is +this the way you insult the man to whom four years ago on this very +spot you swore eternal gratitude? In those days I sacrificed to you my +repose, the sleep of my nights; for, when the town was threatened with +danger and alarm, there was no Council, no authority in existence, for +you were base cowards, and abjectly begged for my good offices. With +tears did you entreat me to save you. I left my house, my family, +my business, to serve you. At the risk of my life, in the depth of +winter, I undertook these journeys. You did not consider that Russian +bayonets threatened me, that I risked health and life. You thought +only of yourselves. I have not put down in the account the sleepless +nights, the trouble and anxiety, the privation and hardships which I +suffered. I do not ask any money or recompense for my services. I only +ask that I may be paid back what I actually expended; and you have the +assurance to refuse it?" + +"No, we do not," said the burgomaster, quite unmoved by Gotzkowsky's +noble excitement. "We do not refuse payment; we only desire a +reduction of the amounts." + +"You wish to cheapen and bargain with me," said Gotzkowsky with a +hoarse laugh. "You take me for a chapman, who measures out his life +and services by the yard; and you wish to pay me for mine by the same +measure. Go, most sapient gentlemen; I carry on a wholesale trade, +and do not cut off yards. That I leave to shopkeepers, to souls like +yours." + +The burgomaster rose up proud and threateningly from his seat. "Do you +dare to insult the Council?" + +"No, the Council of Berlin insult themselves by their own deeds. They +dare to chaffer with me!" + +"And they have a right to do so," cried the burgomaster, quite beside +himself with rage. "Who asked you to play the great lord in our name, +and distribute royal presents--diamonds and gold snuff-boxes? +You could have done it much more cheaply. The Russian is not so +high-priced. But it was your pleasure to be magnificent at our +expense, and to strut about as a bountiful gentleman." + +"Silence!" cried Gotzkowsky, in such a commanding tone that the +burgomaster was struck dumb, and sank back in his chair. Gotzkowsky +said no more. He took the accounts from the table, and, casting a +look of anger and contempt on the worthy gentlemen, tore the papers +in pieces, and threw the scraps at their feet. "I am paid!" he said, +proudly, and turned to leave the room. + +One of the town councillors hastened after him, and held him back. +"You are too hasty: we may yet agree." + +"No!" said Gotzkowsky, striving to free himself. "I do not chaffer and +bargain for my right." + +The other held him tight. "But the Council are not averse to paying +you, if you--" + +"If I will only traffic with you, is it not so?" interrupted +Gotzkowsky. "Let me go; we have done with each other." + +"You will regret having repulsed the Council," said the burgomaster, +threateningly. + +"I never regret an action when my honor is satisfied," said +Gotzkowsky, with proud contempt; and then, without honoring the worthy +gentlemen with another look, he left the hall, and returned into the +street. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE JEWS OF THE MINT. + + +Herr Itzig was a very pious and devout Jew. He kept the Sabbath +strictly after the custom of his ancestors. He was charitable to the +poor; and no Jew beggar ever left his door without a gift. + +He sat in his room, performing his morning devotions, and so deeply +was he immersed therein, that he did not hear a repeated knocking +at the door until a low, gentle voice whispered, "Good-morning, Herr +Itzig!" + +Itzig first finished his prayer; for all the world he would not have +broken off before the end of it: "Be gracious and merciful to us, +Jehovah, and incline us to be compassionate and helpful to all who +approach us with supplication, even as we desire that thou shouldst +be to us." And now the pious Jew closed his prayer-book, and turned +slowly around. + +That pale, bent man, who greeted him with a sorrowful smile--could it +possibly be--could it be John Gotzkowsky, the celebrated banker, the +honored and bright hero of the Exchange, the money-king before whom +all Europe bowed down? + +An expression of malicious joy stole over Itzig's face; but he +suppressed it immediately, for the last words of his prayer still +floated around his lips, and somewhat purified them. "Ah!" said he, in +a friendly tone, as he stepped toward Gotzkowsky, stretching out both +his hands to him, "the great and powerful John Gotzkowsky does me the +honor to visit me. What joy for my humble house!" + +Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be misled by this seeming +politeness. He observed him with sharp and penetrating eyes, and then +proudly said: "Listen, Itzig; let us be candid with each other. You +know the reports which are current about me in the city and on the +Bourse." + +"I know them, but do not believe them," cried Itzig, with an altered, +earnest mien. "Yes, I know these reports, and I know too what they +are worth. They are a speculation of Ephraim, that your notes may +be depreciated, that he may buy them in at a low rate. I know that +Gotzkowsky is a rich man; and a rich man has judgment, and whoever +has judgment is prudent--does not venture much, nor stand security for +other people." + +"I have perhaps less of this judgment than you think," said +Gotzkowsky. "It may be that I have stood security." + +"Then you will certainly know how to pay?" said Itzig, with a forced +laugh. + +"But how if I cannot pay?" said Gotzkowsky, sadly. + +Itzig stepped back, and gazed at him horrified. + +"If I cannot pay," continued Gotzkowsky, impressively; "if I am +unable to pay half a million for Leipsic, another half million for the +Russian claims, after having lost the same amount yesterday by the new +treasury ordinance--what would you say to that, Itzig?" + +Itzig listened to him with increasing terror, and gradually his +features assumed an expression of hatred and savage rage. When +Gotzkowsky had finished, he raised his clasped hands to heaven, as if +imploring the wrath of God on the head of the sinner. "My God! sir, +are you, then, going to fail?" + +Gotzkowsky seized his hand, and looked into his quivering face with +an expression of intense anxiety. "Listen to me, Itzig. I may yet be +saved; every thing depends upon my obtaining a delay, that my credit +may not be shaken. You are rich--" + +"No, I am poor," interrupted Itzig, vehemently. "I am perfectly poor; +I have nothing but what I earn." + +"But you can earn a great deal," said Gotzkowsky, with a faint smile. +"I wish to effect a loan from you. Take my word of honor as security." + +"Your word of honor!" cried Itzig, thrusting back his hand. "What can +I do with your word of honor? I cannot advance any money on it." + +"Consider! the honor of my name is concerned--and this, till now, +I have kept unsullied before God and man!" cried Gotzkowsky, +imploringly. + +"And if my own honor was concerned," exclaimed Itzig, "I would rather +part with it than my money. Money makes me a man. I am a Jew. I have +nothing but money--it is my life, my honor! I cannot part with any of +it." + +But Gotzkowsky did not allow himself to be repulsed. It seemed to him +that his future, his honor, his whole life hung upon this moment. He +felt like a gambler who has staked his last hope upon one throw of +the dice. If this fails, all hope is gone; no future, no life is left, +nothing but the grave awaits him. With impetuous violence he seized +the hand of the rich Itzig. "Oh!" said he, "remember the time when you +swore eternal gratitude to me." + +"I never would have sworn it," cried Itzig--"no, by the Eternal, I +never would have done it, if I had thought you would ever have needed +it!" + +"The honor of my name is at stake!" cried Gotzkowsky, in a tone of +heart-rending agony. "Do you not understand that this is to me my +life? Remember your vow! Let your heart for once feel sympathy--act as +a man toward his fellow-man. Advance me money upon my word of honor. +No, not on that alone--on my house, on all that belongs to me. Lend me +the sum I need. Oh! I will repay it in a princely manner. Help me over +only these shoals, and my gratitude to you will be without bounds. You +have a heart--take pity on me!" + +Itzig looked with a malicious smile into his pale, agitated face. +"So the rich, the great Christian banker, in the hour of his trouble, +thinks that the poor derided Jew has a heart; I admit that I have a +heart--but what has that to do with money? When business begins, there +the heart stops. No, I have no heart to lend you money!" + +Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately. He stood for an instant +motionless, as if paralyzed in his inmost being. His soul was crushed, +and he scarcely felt his grief. He only felt and knew that he was +a lost man, and that the proud edifice of his fortune was crumbling +under him, and would bury him in its ruins. He folded his hands +and raised his disconsolate looks on high; he murmured: You see my +suffering, O God! I have done my utmost! I have humbled myself to +begging--to pitiful complaining. My God! my God! will no helping hand +stretch itself once more to me out of the cloud?" + +"You should have prayed before to God," said Itzig, with cruel +mockery. "You should have begged Him for prudence and foresight." + +Gotzkowsky did not heed him. He fought and struggled with his immense +suffering, and, being a noble and a brave man, he at length conquered +it. For a moment he had been cowed and downcast, but now he recovered +all the power of his energetic nature. He raised again his bowed head, +and his look was once more determined and defiant. "Well, then, I have +tried every thing; now I accept my fate. Listen, then, Herr Itzig, I +am going to suspend payment; my house must fail!" + +Itzig shuddered with a sudden terror. "My God!" cried he, "only +yesterday I bought a draft of yours. You will not pay it?" + +"I will not do it, because I cannot; and I would not do it, if I +could. I have humbled myself before you in the dust, and you have +stretched out no hand to raise me. Farewell, and may that now happen +which you would not prevent when you could! You punish yourself. +Farewell!" + +Itzig held him convulsively back, and cried, in a voice drowned by +rage, "You will pay my draft?" + +"I will not," said Gotzkowsky. "You have judged; take now your +reward." He threw Itzig's hands from him, and hastened from the spot. + +Behind him sounded the wailing and raging of Itzig, who implored +Heaven and hell to punish the criminal who had cheated him of his +money. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE LEIPSIC MERCHANT. + + +Exhausted and weary, Gotzkowsky returned to his house, and retired to +his room, to give himself up to the sad and terrible thoughts which +tortured him. He could not conceal from himself that the sword above +his head was only suspended by two thin threads. If De Neufville did +not return from Amsterdam, and if the courier did not bring a relief +from Leipsic, then was he lost without redemption, and the deadly +sword must fall. For the first time did he think of death; for the +first time did the thought of it flash like lightning through his +brain, and make him almost cheerful and happy. + +He could die; it was not necessary that he should bear the pain and +humiliation of life. He could take refuge in the quiet, silent grave +under the turf, which would soon be decked with flowers over his +agonized breast. He had worked much; his feet were sore, and his heart +weary, from his walk through life. Why should he not lay himself down +in the grave to rest, to dream, or to sink in the arms of eternal, +dreamless sleep? + +But this enticing thought he cast forcibly from him. He had not yet +lost all hope. His anticipations rose as the door opened, and the +servant handed him a large sealed letter, which the courier from +Leipsic had just brought. With hasty hand he seized the letter, and +motioned to Peter to retire. But as soon as he was alone, and was +about to break the seal, he drew back and hesitated. This letter +might, indeed, contain his salvation; but it might also contain his +death-sentence. He weighed it in his hand thoughtfully, and muttered +to himself: "It is as light as a feather, and yet its contents may +be heavy enough to hurl me down the abyss. But this is foolish," he +exclaimed aloud, drawing himself up proudly. "At least I will know my +fate, and see clearly into the future." + +With a firm hand he broke the seal. But as he read, horror and dismay +were depicted in his countenance, and his whole frame shook. +Violently he flung the paper on the ground. "This, then, this is my +reward--reproaches, accusations, instead of thanks; scorn and +malice, instead of compassion. Reproaches, because I assisted them; +accusations, that I had offered to help them; only because without me +it would have been impossible for the King of Prussia to raise so much +money. Without my mediation, they say, they would not have paid, but +at the utmost would have had to endure a somewhat longer imprisonment, +which would have been more tolerable than the loss of such immense +sums." + +He paced impatiently up and down, and as he came to the letter he +spurned it with his foot, like a poisonous adder, too loathsome to +touch. "I have deserved this punishment," cried he, laughing aloud +from inward pain. + +"Who bade me love mankind? who bade me help them, instead of like +a highwayman falling upon and plundering them, when they were +defenceless? Fool that I was to give to life any other interpretation, +any other end!" He threw himself in a chair, and was soon buried in +thought. Once more he reviewed his whole past, and as he made up the +accounts of his life, he had to confess that the total of his hours +of happiness was but small, while that of his years of misery and toil +was heavy enough to bear him down. But there was still one hope, and +as long as he could expect De Neufville's arrival all was not lost, +and he must still wait in patience, still struggle with the worm that +gnawed at his heart. With such painful thoughts as these was he busied +when the door opened, and Elise entered with a glowing countenance. + +She was so happy, that in her selfishness she did not perceived his +troubled and care-worn looks. "Oh" said she, kissing his hand, "I +am so happy at last to find you alone at home. Several times have I +sought you here." + + +"With letters for me?" asked he, hurriedly, for he had not observed +Elise's excited countenance. Both were so occupied with their own +thoughts and feelings, that they took note of nothing else. "Have not +letters arrived?" asked he once more. + +"No letters have arrived," said she, smiling joyously, "but happiness +has come." + +"De Neufville is here, then!" cried Gotzkowsky, anxiously, hurrying +toward the door. + +"What has De Neufville to do with it?" asked Elise, with surprise +holding him back. + +Gotzkowsky stared for a moment, terrified at her bright face, and then +a sad smile stole across his own. "Poor fool that I am!" he muttered; +"I complain of the egotism of men, while I am selfish enough to think +only of myself." He drew Elise toward him, and looking at her with +infinite tenderness, said, "Well, my child, speak: what happiness has +arrived?" + +"Look at me," said she, playfully; "can you read nothing in my looks?" + +Sadly he looked down deep into her large bright eyes. "Oh, your eyes +shine as bright as two stars of hope, the last that are left me!" + +Elise threw both her arms around his neck, and kissed him, then drew +him with gentle force toward the ottoman, and, as she forced him down +on the cushions, she took her own seat, smiling, on the stool at his +feet. "How often, my father, have you sat here and cared for me! Ah! +I know well how much sorrow I have caused you in these last four sad +years, I could not command my heart to forget. You knew this, and yet +you have been considerate and gentle as a mother, and kind as the best +of fathers. You were never angry with me on account of my grief; you +knew of it, and yet you allowed me to weep." She took his hand in +hers, and for a moment covered her hot, burning face with it, then +looked cheerfully up in his face. "See," she said, "I do not shed any +more tears, or, if I do, they are tears of joy. My father, I come to +ask your blessing. Feodor is again here; he has come to ask me of you +for his wife. Oh, forgive him, and grant your blessing to a love which +till now has been the anguish of my life, but which hereafter will be +its chief happiness!" + +Blushing and with maiden modesty she nestled in her father's breast. +Gotzkowsky felt himself paralyzed with terror. He pressed his child's +head warmly to his breast, saying to himself, "And this, too, my God! +you try me sorely. This is the greatest sacrifice you have demanded of +me yet; but my pride is gone. This offering, too, will I make." + +"Well, my father, you do not answer?" asked Elise, still leaning +on his breast. "All is right, is it not? and you will give us your +fatherly blessing, and forgive Feodor the errors of former years, and +receive him as a son?" + +Gotzkowsky, with his eyes still raised to heaven, moved his lips in +silent prayer. At last, after a long, painful pause, he said solemnly: +"Well, let it be so; I give my consent." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, and, amidst tears of unalloyed delight, +kissed him, as smiling, and often interrupted by her own deep emotion, +she narrated her meeting with Feodor, Lodoiska's death, and the letter +she had written to her. "Oh, how delightful this hour would be," +continued she, after finishing her narrative, "if I could only remain +with you! Love bids me go, and yet it keeps me here! I have promised +Feodor to go with him, but I did it in my haste, seeing only him and +listening only to his prayers. Now I see you, my father, and it seems +to me as if I could not leave you to-day." + +"To-day!" cried Gotzkowsky, and a ray of joy shone from his face. He +arose, and, with folded arms, paced the room. His soul was full of +gratitude to God, to whom he had prayed in his despair. Was this not +a sign that God was with him, even if men forsook him?--that God had +pity on him, even if all others were pitiless. This day his child +wished to leave him, to enter on a brilliant destiny. He had, +therefore, no longer any need to be anxious about her fate; and, as +she was going to leave at once, he would be spared the torture of +having her as a witness to his disgrace and degradation. He took her +to his breast, and kissed her with heartfelt fervor. "Farewell, my +child, my only happiness; you wish to leave me. I will be alone, but +I will have time to think of and pray for you." He then cast her from +him almost roughly, for he felt as if his grief would unman him. "Go," +he cried, "your bridegroom is waiting for you; go, then, and order +your bridal ornaments." + +Elise smiled. "Yes, I will adorn myself; but you, father, will place +the wreath of myrtle on my head, will you not? That is the sacred +and last office of love with which a mother sends a daughter from her +arms. I have no mother. You are both father and mother to me. Will you +not crown me with the myrtle-wreath?" + +"Yes," said he, with a sigh, "I will place the myrtle on your brow, +and God grant it may not turn to a crown of thorns! Go now, my child, +adorn thyself, and leave me alone to pray for you." + +He greeted her smilingly, and accompanied her to the door. But when +she had left the room he felt indescribably lonesome, and, pressing +his hands against his breast to suppress the cry which choked him, he +muttered in a low tone, "I have lost her--she is mine no longer. Every +thing forsakes me. The unfortunate is ever alone!" + +Once more a knocking, repeated at his door, awakened him from his +reverie. Peter his servant entered, and announced Herr Ephraim. + +A ray of joyful astonishment flashed across him, and, as he stepped +hastily toward the rich Jew of the mint, he said to himself: "Is it +possible that this man comes to have pity on me in my distress? Will +he be more magnanimous than Itzig? Will he assist me?" + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +EPHRAIM THE TEMPTER. + + +"You seek me?" asked Gotzkowsky, as Ephraim entered and saluted him in +silence. + +Gotzkowsky's sharp glance had detected in his insolent hearing and +contracted features that it was not pity or sympathy which had brought +the Jew to him, but only a desire to gloat over the sufferings of his +victim. "He shall not enjoy his triumph. He shall find me collected +and determined, and shall not suspect my grief." Thus thinking, he +forced his features into a cheerful expression, and handing a chair +to the still silent Ephraim, said laughingly: "Indeed, I must be in a +dangerous plight, if the birds of prey are already settling around me. +Do you already scent my death, Herr Ephraim? By Heaven! that would be +a dainty morsel for you!" + +"You are angry with me," said Ephraim, shaking his head slowly; "but +you shall know how much injustice you do me. I bring you an important +and fearful piece of news." + +"It must be fearful, indeed," interrupted Gotzkowsky, "as you do +yourself the pleasure of bringing it to me in person." + +Ephraim shrugged his shoulders and abruptly replied, "De Neufville has +failed!" + +A cry of horror escaped Gotzkowsky's lips; he staggered, and was +obliged to support himself by a chair to keep himself from falling. +This was the last, decisive blow, and it had wounded him mortally. "De +Neufville has failed!" he muttered low to himself. + +"Yes, he is bankrupt!" said Ephraim with scarcely suppressed malice. +"The proud Christian merchant, whose greatest pleasure it was to +look down with contempt upon the Jew Ephraim, he is bankrupt. The Jew +stands firm, but the Christian merchant is broken." And as he spoke, +he broke into a scornful laugh, which brought back to Gotzkowsky his +composure and self-possession. + +"You triumph!" he said, "and on your brow is marked your rejoicing +over our fall. Yes! you have conquered, for De Neufville's failure +is your deed. It was you who persecuted him so long, and by cunning +suspicions and calumny undermined his credit until it was destroyed, +and the whole edifice of his honorable industry fell together." + +"It _is_ my work," cried Ephraim exultingly, "for he stood in my way, +and I have pushed him out of it--what more? Life is but a combat; +whoever is the strongest--that is, has the most money--is conqueror." + +"De Neufville has fallen--that is a hard blow," muttered Gotzkowsky; +and as his wandering eye met Ephraim's, he added with an expression +of complete prostration: "Enjoy my suffering; you have succeeded--I am +hurt unto death!" + +"Listen to me, Gotzkowsky," said Ephraim, approaching nearer to him; +"I mean well by you." + +"Oh, yes!" said Gotzkowsky, bitterly; "after you have hastened my +downfall, you condescend to love me. Yes, indeed! I believe in your +friendship; for none but a friend would have had the heart to bring +such a Job's message." + +Ephraim shook his head. "Listen to me," said he; "I will be quite +candid with you. Formerly I hated you, it is true, for you were more +powerful and richer than I was; you were renowned for being honest and +punctual, and that hurt me. If a large bargain was to be made, they +were not satisfied unless Gotzkowsky was concerned in it, and if your +name stood at the bottom of a contract, every one was pleased. Your +name was as good as gold, and that vexed me." + +"And for that reason you wished to overthrow me, and worked +unceasingly for my downfall; because you knew that I expected this +remittance of light money from Hamburg!" + +"I procured the decision that the light money should be declared +uncurrent, that is true. I succeeded. From this hour I am more +powerful and richer than you. You shall see that I only hated your +house, not yourself; I have come to help you. You must indeed fail; +that I am aware of, and that if you were to put forth all your power, +you could not stand this blow, You must and will fail, and that this +very day." + +Gotzkowsky muttered some unintelligible words, and covered his face +with his hands. "Yes," he cried, piteously, "I and all my hopes have +suffered shipwreck." + +Ephraim laid his hand suddenly upon his shoulder. "Seek, then, to save +some plank from the wreck, on which you may swim. You can no longer +save your creditors; save yourself." + +Gotzkowsky removed his hands slowly from his face, and looked at him +with astonishment and wonder. + +Ephraim met his look with a smiling and mysterious expression, and +bending down to Gotzkowsky's ear, whispered: "I think you will not be +such a fool as to give up all you have to your creditors, and to go +out of your house a poor man. Intrust me with your important papers, +and all that you possess of money and valuables, and I will preserve +them for you. You do not answer. Come, be reasonable; do not allow the +world the pleasure of pitying you; it does not deserve it. Believe +me, mankind is bad; and he is a fool who strives to be better than +his fellows." He stopped, and directed an inquiring look toward +Gotzkowsky. + +The latter regarded him proudly and with contempt. "This, then, is +your friendship for me? You wish to make me a cheat!" + +"Every man cheats his neighbor," cried Ephraim, shrugging his +shoulders; "why should you alone be honest?" + +"Because I do not wish to be ashamed of myself. It is the fault of +others that I fall to-day. It shall not be said that Gotzkowsky is +guilty of any crime of his own." + +"It will be said, nevertheless," interrupted Ephraim; "for whoever is +unfortunate, is in the wrong, in the eyes of men. And if he can help +himself at the expense of others, and does not do it, do you think men +will admire him for it? No! believe me, they will only laugh at him. +I have often been sorry for you, Gotzkowsky; for, with all your good +sense, your whole life through has been a miscalculation--" + +"Or rather say," said Gotzkowsky, sadly, "I have not calculated +enough, and from all the experiences of my life I have not drawn the +sum total." + +"You miscalculated," said Ephraim, "for you calculated on gratitude. +That is a bad investment which does not bear interest. Mankind cannot +be grateful, and when any one tries to be so he must sink, for others +are not so. Whoever wishes to succeed in this world, must think only +of himself, and keep his own interest in sight." + +"You wise men of the world are right!" cried Gotzkowsky, with a hoarse +laugh. + +Unhindered by Gotzkowsky's vehement and scornful bearing, Ephraim +continued: "If I had thought as you did, I would not have been able +to operate against you, nor could I have brought the mint ordinance +to bear on you. Then, to be sure, I would have been grateful, but it +would not have been business-like. Therefore I thought first of my +own welfare, and after that I came here to serve you, and show you my +gratitude." + +"I do not desire any gratitude. Let me go my way--you go yours." + +Ephraim looked at him almost pityingly. "Be reasonable, Gotzkowsky; +take good advice. The world does not thank you for being honorable. +Mankind has not deserved the pleasure of laughing at you. And they +will laugh!" + +"Leave me, I tell you!" cried Gotzkowsky; "you shall not deprive me of +my last possession, my conscience!" + +"Conscience!" sneered Ephraim. "You will starve on that capital." + +Gotzkowsky sighed deeply and dropped his head on his breast. At this +moment there were heard from without loud hurrahs and jubilant sounds, +mingled with the tones of martial music. + +King Frederick II. was returning this day to Berlin, after a long +absence, and the happy and delighted Berliners had prepared for him a +pompous and brilliant entry. They had built triumphal arches, and the +guilds had gone forth to accompany him into the city, now adorned +for festivity. The procession had to pass by Gotzkowsky's house, and +already were heard the sounds of the approaching music, while the +shouts and cries of the people became louder and shriller. + +Ephraim stepped to the window, opened it, and pointing down into the +street, he said, with a mocking laugh: "Just look, Gotzkowsky! There +is the true test of your beautiful, high-toned principles. How often +has Berlin not called you her benefactor, and yet she is overjoyed +on the very day you are going to ruin! The whole town of Berlin knows +that Gotzkowsky fails to-day, and yet they pass by your house with +merry music, and no one thinks of you." + +"He is right," murmured Gotzkowsky, as the huzzas sounded under his +window. "He is right! I was a fool to love mankind." + +Ephraim pointed down into the street again. "See," said he, "there +comes Count Salm, whom you saved from death when the Russians +were here. He does not look up here. Ah, there goes the banker, +Splittyerber, whose factories in Neustadt Eberswald you saved at the +same time. He, too, does not look up. Oh! yes, he does, and laughs. +Look there! There goes the king with his staff. You have caused his +majesty much pleasure. You accomplished his favorite wish--you founded +the porcelain factory. You travelled at your own expense into Italy, +and bought pictures for him. You preserved his capital from pillage +by the Austrians and Russians. The Dutch ambassador, who at that time +interfered in favor of Berlin with the Austrians, him has the king in +his gratitude created a count. What has he done for you? What Verelse +did was but a trifle in comparison with your services, yet he, +forsooth, is made a count. What has the king done for you? See, the +king and his staff has passed by, and not one of them has looked up +here. Yesterday they would have done so, for yesterday you were rich; +but to-day they have forgotten you already: for to-day you are poor, +and the memory of the people is very short for the poor. Ah! look down +again, Gotzkowsky--so many gentlemen, so many high-born people are +passing! Not one looks up!" + +Against his will Gotzkowsky had been drawn to the window, and, enticed +by Ephraim's words, he had looked down anxiously and mournfully at the +brilliant procession which was passing by. How much would he not have +given if only one of the many who had formerly called themselves his +friends had looked up at him, had greeted him cordially? But Ephraim +was right. No one did so. No one thought of him who, with a broken +heart, was leaning beside the window, asking of mankind no longer +assistance or help, but a little love and sympathy. But, as he looked +down into the street again, his countenance suddenly brightened up. +He laid his hand hastily on Ephraim's shoulder, and pointed to the +procession. + +"You are right," said he; "the respectable people do not look up here, +but here comes the end of the procession, the common people, the poor +and lowly, the workmen. Look at them! See how they are gazing at me. +Ah, they see me, they greet me, they wave their hats! There, one of +them is putting his hand to his face. He is a day-laborer who formerly +worked in my factory. This man is weeping, and because he knows that +I have been unfortunate. See! here come others--poor people in ragged +clothes--women with nurslings in their arms--tottering old men--they +all bend dewy eyes on me. Do you see? they smile at me. Even the +children stretch up their arms. Ah, they love me, although I am no +longer rich." + +And turning with a beaming face and eyes moistened with tears toward +Ephraim, he exclaimed: "You tell me that I have miscalculated. No! +you are mistaken. I calculated on the kernel of humanity, not on the +degenerate shell. And this noble kernel of humanity resides in the +people, the workmen, and the poor. I trusted in these, and they have +not betrayed my confidence." + +Ephraim shrugged his shoulders. "The people are weathercocks; they +will stone to-morrow the same men whom they bless to-day. Only wait +until public opinion has condemned you, and the people, too, will +forsake you. Protect yourself, then, against men. When you were rich, +every one partook of your liberality; now that you are poor, no one +will be willing to share your misfortune. Therefore save yourself, +I tell you. Collect whatever papers and valuables you may have. Give +them to me. By the God of my fathers I will preserve them faithfully +and honestly for you!" + +Gotzkowsky repulsed him with scorn, and indignant anger flashed from +his countenance. "Back from me, tempter!" cried he, proudly. "It is +true you possess the wisdom of the world, but one thing is wanting in +your wisdom--the spirit of honor. I know that this does not trouble +you much, but to me it is every thing. You are right: I will be a +beggar, and men will point at me with their finger, and laugh me to +scorn. But I will pass them by proudly, nor will I bend my head before +them, for my dignity and honor as a man are unconnected with gold +or property. These are my own, and when I die, on my tomb will be +written--'He died in poverty, but he was an honorable man.'" + +"Fool that you are!" exclaimed Ephraim, laughing in contempt. "You are +speculating on your epitaph, while the fortune of your life slips away +from you. Take my advice: there is yet time to secure your future." + +"Never, if it is to be accomplished by frauds!" + +"Think of your daughter." + +A painful quivering flitted across Gotzkowsky's face. "Who gives you a +right to remind me of her?" asked he angrily. "Do not soil her name by +pronouncing it. I have nothing in common with you." + +"Yes, you have, though," said Ephraim with a wicked smile. "You have +done me a good deed, and I am thankful. That is something in common." + +Gotzkowsky did not answer him. He crossed the room hastily, and +stepped to his writing-table, out of a secret drawer of which he drew +a dark-red case. He opened it and snatched out the diamond ring that +was contained in it. + +"I do not wish your gratitude," said he, turning to Ephraim, anger +flashing from his countenance--"and if you could offer me all the +treasures of the world, I would throw them to the earth, as I do this +ring!" And he cast down the costly jewel at Ephraim's feet. + +The latter raised it coolly from the ground and examined it carefully. +He then broke out into a loud, scornful laugh. "This is the ring which +the Jews presented to you when you procured our exemption from the +war-tax. You give it to me?" + +"I give it to you, and with it a curse on the tempter of my honor!" + +"You repulse me, then? You will have none of my gratitude?" + +"Yes; if your hand could save me from the abyss, I would reject it!" + +"Let it be so, then," said Ephraim; and his face assumed an expression +of hatred and malice--for now it could be perceived that the rich +Ephraim was again overcome by Gotzkowsky, although the latter was a +poor and shattered man. His sympathy and his help had only met with +a proud refusal from him whom he had not succeeded in humbling and +dragging down to the dust. + +"Let it be so, then!" he repeated, gnashing his teeth. "You will +not have it otherwise. I take the ring," and looking at Gotzkowsky +maliciously, he continued: "With this ring I will buy you a place in +the churchyard, that the dishonored bankrupt may, at least, find +an honorable grave, and not be shovelled in like De Neufville the +suicide!" + +"What do you say--De Neufville is dead?" cried Gotzkowsky, hurrying +after him as he neared the door, and seizing him violently by the arm. +"Say it once more--De Neufville is dead?" + +Ephraim enjoyed for a moment, in silence, Gotzkowsky's terrible grief. +He then freed himself from his grasp and opened the door. But turning +round once more, and looking in Gotzkowsky's face with a devilish +grin, he slowly added, "De Neufville killed himself because he could +not survive disgrace." And then, with a loud laugh, he slammed the +door behind him. + +Gotzkowsky stared after him, and his soul was full of inexpressible +grief. He had lost in De Neufville not only a friend whom he loved, +and on whose fidelity he could count, but his own future and his last +hope were buried in his grave. But his own tormenting thoughts left +him no leisure to mourn over his deceased friend. It was the kind of +death that De Neufville had chosen which occupied his mind. + +"He came to his death by his own hand; he did not wish to survive his +disgrace. He has done right--for when disgrace begins, life ends--and +shall I live," asked he aloud, as almost angrily he threw his head +back, "an existence without honor, an existence of ignominy and +misery? I repeat it, De Neufville has done right. Well, then, I dare +not do wrong; my friend has shown me the way. Shall I follow him? Let +me consider it." + +He cast a wild, searching look around the room, as if he feared +some eye might be looking at him, and read desperate thoughts in +the quivering of his face. "Yes! I will consider it," whispered he, +uneasily. "But not here--there in my cabinet, where every thing is +so silent and solitary, no one will disturb me. I will think of it, +I say." And with a dismal smile he hurried into his study, and closed +the door behind him. + + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ELISE. + + +The bridal costume was completed, and with a bright face, smiling and +weeping for sheer happiness, Elise stood looking at herself in a large +Venetian mirror. Not from vanity, nor to enjoy the contemplation of +her beauty, but to convince herself that all this was not a dream, +only truth, delightful truth. The maiden, with blushing cheeks, stood +and looked in the glass, in her white dress, till she smiled back +again; so like a bride, that she shouted aloud for joy, kissed her +hand to herself, in the fulness of her mirth, as she greeted and +smiled again to her image in the mirror. "I salute you, happy bride!" +said she, in the exuberance of her joy. "I see in your eyes that you +are happy, and so may God bless you! Go forth into the world and teach +it by your example, that for a woman there is no happiness but love, +no bliss but that of resting in the arms of her lover. But am I +not too simply clad?" cried she, interrupting herself suddenly, and +examining herself critically in the glass. "Yes, indeed, that simple, +silly child is not worthy of such a handsome and splendid cavalier: +a white silk dress and nothing else! How thoughtless and foolish has +happiness made me! My Heaven! I forgot that he comes from the land +of diamonds, and that he is a prince. Oh! I will adorn myself for my +prince." And she took from her desk the costly set of diamonds, the +legacy of her mother, and fastened the glittering brilliants in her +ears, on her arms, and the necklace set with diamonds and emeralds +around her snow-white neck. + +"Now that looks splendid," said she, as she surveyed herself again. +"Now perhaps I may please him. But the last ornament is still +wanting--my myrtle-wreath--but that my father shall put on." Looking +at the wreath, she continued, in a more serious and sad tone: "Crown +of love and of death! it is woven in the maiden's hair when she dies +as a maiden, whether it be to arise again as a wife or as a purified +spirit." And raising her tearful eyes to heaven, she exclaimed: "I +thank Thee, O God, for granting me all this happiness. My whole life, +my whole future, shall evince but gratitude toward Thee, who art the +God of love." + +Soon, however, it became too close and solitary in this silent +chamber. She wished to go to her father, to throw herself on his +breast, to pour out to him all her happiness, her affection, her joy, +in words of thankfulness, of tender child-like love. How the +white satin dress rustled and shone! how the diamonds sparkled and +glittered, as, meteor-like, they flitted down the dark corridor! With +a bright, happy smile, holding the wreath in her hand, she stepped +into her father's room. But the apartment was empty. She crossed it +in haste to seek him in his study. The doors were locked and no one +answered her loud calls. She supposed he had gone out, and would +doubtless soon return. She sat down to await him, and soon sank into +deep thought and reverie. What sweet and precious dreams played around +her, and greeted her with happy bodings of the future! + +The door opened, and she started up to meet her father. But it was not +her father--it was Bertram. And how altered--how pale and troubled +he looked! He hardly noticed her, and his eye gleamed on her without +seeing her. What was it that had so changed him? Perhaps he already +knew that she was to be married to-day, and that her lover, so long +mourned, had returned to her. She asked confusedly and anxiously for +her father. + +"My God! is he not here, then?" asked Bertram in reply. "I must speak +to him, for I have things of the greatest importance to tell him." + +Elise looked at him with inquiring astonishment. She had never seen +him so intensely excited in his whole being, and unwillingly she asked +the cause of his trouble and anxiety. + +Bertram denied feeling any anxiety, and yet his eye wandered around +searchingly and uneasily, and his whole frame was restless and +anxious. This only made Elise the more eager to find out the cause of +his trouble. She became more pressing, and Bertram again assured her +that nothing had happened. + +Elise shook her head distrustfully. "And yet I do not deceive myself! +Misfortune stands written on your brow." Then, turning pale with +terror, she asked, "Do you bring my father bad news?" + +Bertram did not answer, but cast his eyes on the ground to escape her +searching gaze. There awoke in her breast all the anxiety and care of +a loving daughter, and she trembled violently as she implored him +to inform her of the danger that threatened her father. He could +withstand her no longer. "She must learn it some time; it is better +she should hear it from me," muttered he to himself. He took her hand, +led her to the sofa, and, sitting down by her side, imparted to her +slowly and carefully, always endeavoring to spare her feelings, the +terrible troubles and misfortunes of her father. But Elise was little +acquainted with the material cares of life. She, who had never +known any extreme distress, any real want, could not understand how +happiness and honor could depend on money. When Bertram had finished, +she drew a long breath, as if relieved from some oppressive anxiety. +"How you have frightened me!" said she, smiling. "Is that all the +trouble--we are to be poor? Well, my father does not care much about +money." + +"But he does about his honor," said Bertram. + +"Oh, the honor of my father cannot stand in any danger," cried Elise, +with noble pride. + +Bertram shook his head. "But it is in danger, and though _we_ are +convinced of his innocence, the world will not believe it. It will +forget all his noble deeds, all his high-mindedness and liberality, it +will obliterate all his past, and only remember that this day, for the +first time in his life, he has it not in his power to fulfil his word. +It will condemn him as if he were a common cheat, and brand him with +the disgraceful name of bankrupt." With increasing dismay Elise had +watched his countenance as he spoke. Now, for the first time, the +whole extent of the misfortune which was about to befall her father +seemed to enter her mind, and she felt trembling and crushed. She +could feel or think of nothing now but the evil which was rushing +in upon her parent, and with clasped hands and tears in her eyes she +asked Bertram if there was no more hope; if there was no one who could +avert this evil from her father. + +Bertram shook his head sadly. "His credit is gone--no one comes to his +assistance." + +"No one?" asked Elise, putting her hand with an indescribable +expression on his shoulder. "And you, my brother?" + +"Ah, I have tried every thing," said he; and even in this moment +her very touch darted through him like a flash of delight. "I have +implored him with tears in my eyes to accept the little I possess, to +allow me the sacred right of a son. But he refused me. He will not, he +says, allow a stranger to sacrifice himself for his sake. He calls me +a stranger! I know that my fortune cannot save him, but it may delay +his fall, or at least cancel a portion of his debt, and he refuses me. +He says that if I were his son, he would consent to what he now +denies me. Elise," he continued, putting aside, in the pressure of the +moment, all consideration and all hesitation, "I have asked him for +your hand, my sister, that I may in reality become his son. I know +that you do not love, but you might esteem me; for the love I bear +your father, you might, as a sacrifice to your duty as a daughter, +accept my hand and become my bride." + +He ceased, and looked anxiously and timidly at the young girl, who +sat blushing and trembling by his side. She felt that she owed him an +answer; and as she raised her eyes to him, and looked into his noble, +faithful face, which had never changed, never altered--as she thought +that Bertram had always loved her with the same fidelity, the same +self-sacrifice--with a love which desired nothing, wished for nothing +but her happiness and contentment, she was deeply moved; and, for the +first time, she felt real and painful remorse. Freely and gracefully +she offered him her hand. + +"Bertram," she said, "of all the men whom I know, you are the most +noble! As my soul honors you, so would my heart love you, if it were +mine." + +Bertram bent over her hand and kissed it; but as he looked at her, his +eye accidentally caught sight of the sparkling jewels which adorned +her arms and neck, and aware for the first time of her unusually +brilliant toilet, he asked in surprise the occasion for it. + +"Oh, do not look at it," cried Elise; "tell me about my father. What +did he answer you when you asked him for my hand?" + +"That he would never accept such a sacrifice from his daughter, even +to save himself from death." + +"And is his fall unavoidable?" asked Elise thoughtfully. + +"I almost fear it is. This morning already reports to that effect were +current in the town, and your father himself told me that if Russia +insisted on payment, he was lost irretrievably. Judge, then, of my +horror, when I have just received from a friend in St. Petersburg the +certain intelligence that the empress has already sent a special envoy +to settle this business with the most stringent measures. This half +a million must be of great importance to the empress, when, for the +purpose of collecting it, she sends her well-known favorite, Prince +Stratimojeff!" + +Elise started from her seat in horror, and stared at Bertram. "Whom +did she send?" + +"Her favorite, Stratimojeff," repeated Bertram, calmly. + +Elise shuddered; her eyes flashed fire, and her cheeks burned. "Who +has given you the right to insult the Prince Stratimojeff, that you +call him the favorite of the adulterous empress?" + +Bertram looked at her in astonishment. "What is Prince Stratimojeff +to you?" said he. "The whole world knows that he is the favorite +of Catharine. Read, then, what my correspondent writes me on the +subject." He drew forth a letter, and let Elise read those passages +which alluded especially to the mission of the imperial favorite. + +Elise uttered a scream, and fell back fainting on the sofa; every +thing swam before her; her blood rushed to her heart; and she muttered +faintly, "I am dying--oh, I am dying!" But this momentary swoon soon +passed over, and Elise awoke to full consciousness and a perception of +her situation. She understood every thing--she knew every thing. With +a feeling of bitter contempt she surveyed all the circumstances--her +entire, pitiable, sorrowful misfortune. "Therefore, then," said she to +herself, almost laughing in scorn, "therefore this hasty wedding, this +written consent of the empress--I was to be the cloak of this criminal +intercourse. Coming from her arms, he was anxious to present me to the +world. 'Look! you calumniate me! this is my wife, and the empress is +as pure as an angel!'" She sprang up, and paced the room with +hasty steps and rapid breathing. Her whole being was in a state of +excitement and agitation. She shuddered at the depth of pitiable +meanness she had discovered in this man, who not only wished to cheat +and delude her, but was about, as if in mockery of all human feeling, +to make herself the scapegoat of her imperial rival. + +She did not notice that Bertram was looking at her in all +astonishment, and in vain seeking a clew to her conduct. "This is too +much!" cried she, half soliloquizing. "Love cannot stand this! Love! +away with the word--I would despise myself if I could find a spark of +this love in my heart!" She pressed her hands to her breast, as if she +wished thereby to extinguish the flames which were consuming her "Oh!" +she cried, "it burns fearfully, but it is not love! Hate, too, has +its fires. I hate him! I know it now--I hate him, and I will have +vengeance on the traitor! I will show him that I scorn him!" Like an +infuriated tigress she darted at the myrtle-wreath which lay on the +table. "The bond of love is broken, and I will destroy it as I do this +wreath!" she exclaimed, wildly; but suddenly a gentle hand was laid +upon her extended arm, and Bertram's soft and sympathizing voice +sounded in her ear. + +What he said, what words he used--he who now understood all, and +perceived the fulness of her grief--with what sincere, heart-born +words he sought to comfort her, she neither knew nor understood. But +she heard his voice; she knew that a sympathizing friend stood at +her side, ready to offer a helping hand to save her from misery, and +faithfully to draw her to his breast. She would have been lost, she +would have gone crazy, if Bertram had not stood at her side. She felt +it--she knew it. Whenever she had been threatened with calamity, he +was always near, to watch and shield, to afford her peace and comfort. + +"Bertram! Bertram!" she cried, trembling in every limb, "protect me. +Do not shut me out from your heart! have pity on me!" She leaned her +head on his breast and wept aloud. Now, in her sorrow, she felt it to +be a blessing that he was present, and for the first time she had +a clear consciousness that God had sent him to her to be a helping +friend, a guardian angel. + +The illusions and errors of her whole life fell from before her eyes +like a veil, and she saw in a clear light both herself and Bertram. +And now, as she leaned her head upon his breast, her thoughts became +prayers, and her tears thank-offerings. "I have entertained an angel +unawares," said she, remembering, unintentionally, the language of +Holy Writ. When Bertram asked the meaning of her words, she answered, +"They mean that an erring heart has found the right road home." + +She wiped away her tears with her long locks. She would no longer +weep, nor shed a single tear for the false, intriguing traitor, the +degenerate scion of a degenerate race. He was not worthy of a sigh of +revenge, not even of a reproach. A mystery had slept in her breast, +and she thought to have found the true solution in the word "Feodor!" +but she was mistaken, and God had allowed this long-mourned, +long-desired man to return to her, that she might be allowed to read +anew the riddle of her heart more correctly, to find out its deceitful +nature, its stubborn pride, and to conquer them. Thus thinking, she +raised her head from Bertram's breast, and looked at him "You asked my +father for my hand. Do you still love me?" + +Bertram smiled. This question seemed so strange and singular! "Do I +love you?" asked he. "Can he ever cease to love who has once loved?" + +"Do you still love me?" she repeated. + +"Faithfully and honorably," said he, with feeling. + +"Faithfully and honorably!" cried Elise, deeply moved. "Oh those are +words as strong as rocks, and like the shipwrecked sailor, I will +cling to them to save myself from sinking. Oh, Bertram, how good you +are! You love my father, and desire to be his son, only for the sake +of helping him." + +"And if need be, to work for him, to give up my life for him!" + +With her bright eyes she looked deeply into his, and held out her hand +to him. "Give me your hand, Bertram," said she, softly. "You were a +better son to my father than I have been a daughter. I will learn from +you. Will you be my teacher?" + +Bertram gazed at her astonished and inquiringly. She replied to this +look with a sweet smile, and like lightning it shot through his heart, +and a happy anticipation pervaded his entire soul. "My God! my God! +is it possible?" murmured he, "is the day of suffering, indeed, past? +Will--" + +He felt Elise suddenly shudder, and pressing his hand significantly, +she whispered, "Silence, Bertram, look there!" + +Bertram followed the direction of her eyes, and saw Gotzkowsky, who +had opened the door of his study, and was entering the room, his +features pale and distorted, and his gaze fixed. "He does not see us," +whispered Elise. "He is talking to himself. Do not disturb him." + +In silence she pointed to the curtains just behind them, concealing +a recess, in the middle of which stood a costly vase. "Let us conceal +ourselves," said she, and, unnoticed by Gotzkowsky, they glided behind +the curtains. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE RESCUE. + + +Gotzkowsky had closed with life and earthly affairs. He had signed the +document declaring him a bankrupt, and he had delivered over all his +property to his creditors. The die had been cast. He had been powerful +and great through money, but his power and greatness had now gone from +him, for he was poor. The same men who yesterday had bowed down to the +ground before him, had to-day passed him by in pride and scorn; and +those who had vowed him eternal gratitude, had turned him from their +door like a beggar. Why should he continue to bear the burdens of +a life which had no longer any allurements, and whose most precious +jewel, his honor, he had lost? + +De Neufville had done right, and only a coward would still cling to +life after all that was worth living for had disappeared. They should +not point scornfully at him as he went along the streets. He would not +be condemned to hear whispered after him, "Look! there goes Gotzkowsky +the bankrupt." No, this fearful word should never wound his ears or +pierce his heart. + +Once more only would he pass through those streets, which had so often +seen him in his glory--once more, not poor, nor as the laughing-stock +of children, but so that those who now derided him should bow down +before him, and honor him as the mourning emblem of departed honor: +only his body should pass by these men who had broken his heart. He +had determined to quit this miserable existence, to leave a world +which had proved itself to him only a gulf of wickedness and malice, +and his freed spirit would wing its way to regions of light and +knowledge. + +With such thoughts he entered the room which was to be the scene of +his last hours. But he would not go down to the grave without bearing +witness to the wickedness and malice of the world. His death should be +a monument of its disgrace and ingratitude. + +For this purpose he had sought this room, for in it was the costly +_etagere_ on which stood the silver pitcher presented to him by the +Council of Leipsic as a token of their gratitude, and from it he would +drink his fatal draught. He took it and emptied into it a small white +powder, that looked so innocent and light, and yet was strong enough +to drag him down with leaden weight into the grave. He then took the +water-goblet and poured water on it. The draught was ready; all that +was necessary was for him to put it to his lips to imbibe eternal +rest, eternal oblivion. + +Elise saw it all--understood it all. She folded her hands and prayed; +her teeth chattered together, and all that she could feel and know +was, that she must save him, or follow him to the grave. "When he +raises the pitcher to his lips, I will rush out," she whispered to +Bertram, softly, and opened the curtains a little in order to watch +him. + +Gotzkowsky had returned to the _etagere_. He took the silver-oaken +wreath, the civic crown presented to him by the city of Berlin, and +looked at it with a bitter, scornful smile. "I earned this," he said, +half aloud--"I will take it with me to the grave. They shall find my +corpse crowned with this wreath, and when they turn away in shame, the +broken bankrupt, John Gotzkowsky, will enjoy his last triumph over a +degenerate world." And as if in a dream, in the feverish delirium of +grief, he placed the wreath on his brow, then for a moment stood with +his head bent in deep thought. + +It was a strange picture to see his proud, tall figure, his pale, +nervous face, crowned with the silver wreath, and opposite to him, +looking through the curtains, his daughter, whose glowing eyes were +eagerly watching her father. + +And now Gotzkowsky seized the silver pitcher, raised it on high--it +had already touched his lips--but suddenly he staggered back. A +dearly-loved voice had called his name. Ah, it was the voice of his +daughter, whom he had forgotten in the bitterness of his grief. He had +believed his heart dead to all feeling, but love still lived in him, +and love called him back to life. Like an electric shock it flew +through his whole frame. + +He put the pitcher down, and covering his face with his hands, cried, +"Oh, unnatural father! I forgot my child!" + +Behind him stood Elise, praying to God eagerly and fervently. She +wished to appear quite composed, quite unsuspicious, that her father +might not have even an inkling of her knowledge of his dark design. +Her voice dare not tremble, her eye must remain clear and calm, and a +smile play about her lips, which yet quivered with the anxious prayers +she had just offered to God. "My father!" she said, in a low but quiet +voice--"my father, I come to beg your blessing. And here is the myrtle +wreath with which you were to adorn me." + +Gotzkowsky still kept his face covered, but his whole frame trembled. +"I thank Thee, O my God! I thank Thee! the voice of my child has saved +me." And turning round suddenly, he stretched out both arms toward +her, exclaiming aloud: "Elise, my child, come to my heart, and comfort +your father." + +Elise uttered a cry of joy, rushed into his arms, and nestled close to +his heart. She whispered in his ear words of fervent love, of warmest +affection. They fell on Gotzkowsky's heart like soothing balm; they +forced tears of mingled joy and repentance from his eyes. + +A long while did they remain locked in each other's arms. Their lips +were silent, but their hearts spoke, and they understood each other +without words. Then Elise raised herself from her father's embrace, +and, again offering him the myrtle-wreath, said with a smile, "And +now, my father, bless your daughter." + +"I will," said Gotzkowsky, drying his eyes. "Yes, from my whole soul +will I bless you. But where is the bridegroom?" + +Elise looked at him inquiringly. "Will you bid him, also, welcome?" + +"That I will with all my heart!" + +Elise approached the curtain, drew it back, and taking Bertram's hand, +led him to her father, saying, with indescribable grace: "My father, +bless your children." + +"This is your bridegroom?" asked Gotzkowsky, and for the first time a +sunbeam seemed to flash across his face. + +Bertram with a cry of delight drew Elise to his heart. She clung to +him, and said warmly: "I will rest on your breast, Bertram. I will +be as true and as faithful as yourself. You shall reconcile me to +mankind. You will make us both happy again. My father and I put our +hope in you, and we both know it will not be in vain. Is it not so, my +father?" She extended her hand to Gotzkowsky. + +He took it, but was too much affected to speak. He pressed it to his +eyes and his breast, and then looked with a smile into the countenance +of his daughter. + +Elise continued: "Look, father, life is still worth something. It +gives you a son, who is happy to share your unhappiness with you. It +gives you a daughter, who looks upon every tear of yours as a jewel in +your crown; who would be proud to go as a beggar with her father from +place to place, and say to all the world, 'Gotzkowsky is a beggar +because he was rich in love toward his fellow-men; he has become poor +because he was a noble man, who had faith in mankind.'" And as she +drew her father into her own and Bertram's embrace, she asked him, +smiling through her tears, "My father, do you still wish to leave your +children?" + +"No, I will live--live for you!" cried Gotzkowsky, as, almost overcome +with emotion and pleasure, he threw his arms around their necks, and +kissed them both warmly and lovingly. "A new life is to begin for us," +said he, cheerfully. "We will seek refuge in a quiet cottage, and take +with us none of the show and luxury for which men work and sell their +souls--none of the tawdriness of life. Will you not be content, Elise, +to be poor, and purchase the honor of your father with the loss of +this vain splendor?" + +Elise leaned her head on his shoulder. "I was poor," she said, "when +the world called me rich. Now I am rich when it will call me poor. +Give up every thing that we possess, father, that no one may say +Gotzkowsky owes him any thing, and has not kept his word." With ready +haste she loosened the necklace from her throat, the bracelets from +her arms, and the drops from her ears. "Take these, too," said she, +smiling. "Add them to the rest. We will keep nothing but honor, and +the consciousness of our probity." + +"Now I am your son, father," cried Bertram, with beaming eyes. "Now +I have a right to serve you. You dare no longer refuse to accept all +that is mine for your own. We will save the honor of our house, and +pay all our creditors." + +"That we will do," exclaimed Gotzkowsky; "I accept your offering, my +son." And joining Elise and Bertram's hands together, he cast grateful +looks to heaven, saying: "From this day forward we are poor, and yet +far richer than many thousands of rich people; for we are of sound +health, and have strong arms to work. We have good consciences, and +that proud contentment which God gives to those only who trust in His +help." + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +RETRIBUTION. + + +The appointed hour had arrived, and in the full splendor of his rich +uniform, decorated with orders, and glittering with diamonds bestowed +upon him by the favor of two empresses, Prince Feodor von Stratimojeff +entered Gotzkowsky's house. With the proud step of victory he ascended +the stairs that led to the apartments of his bride. The goal was at +last reached. The beautiful, lovely, and wealthy maiden was finally to +become his wife. He could present her at the court of St. Petersburg, +and with her beauty, her virtue, and his happiness revenge himself on +the fickle empress. These were his thoughts as he opened the door and +entered Elise's room. There she stood in her white bridal attire, as +delicate, as slender, and as graceful as a lily to the sight. There +stood also her father, and the friend of her youth, Bertram. The +witnesses to the ceremony were present, and nothing more was necessary +but to lead her to the altar. Elise had requested of her father that +she herself should see the prince, and give him his dismissal. She had +also requested that Bertram should be present. She wished to show him +that her heart had, at once and forever, been healed of its foolish +and unholy love, and that she could face the prince without trembling +or hesitation. This was an offering which she wished to bring to the +honor of her future husband and her own pride; and she would have +despised herself if a motion of her eyebrow or a sigh from her breast +had betrayed the sadness which, against her will, she felt in her +heart. She looked, therefore, with a cold and calm eye on the prince +as he entered, and for the first time he seemed no longer the handsome +man, the being endowed with numberless fascinations, of former days. +She read only in his flaccid features the sad history of the past. The +charm was broken which had held her eyes captive. Her vision was clear +again, and she shuddered before this wild, demoniacal beauty which she +had once adored as God's image in man. As she looked at him, she felt +as if she could hate him, because she had loved him; because she had +spent her first youth, her first love, her first happiness, on him; +because he had defrauded her of the peace and innocence of her heart; +and because she no longer had even the right of weeping for her lost +love, but was forced to turn away from it with blushes of shame. + +Feodor approached with an air of happy triumph and satisfaction, and, +bowing low to her father, said, with a most exquisite smile, "I have +come to seek my bride--to request Elise's hand of her father." + +With eyes beaming with pleasure he offered Elise his hand, but hers +remained calm and cold, and her voice did not tremble or falter as +she said: "I am a bride, but not yours, Prince Stratimojeff;" and +extending her hand to Bertram, she continued: "This is my husband! +To-day, for the third time, he has saved me--saved me from you!" + +Prince Feodor felt annihilated, and staggered back as if struck by an +electric shock. "Elise! is this the way you reward my love?" asked he +sadly, after a pause. "Is this the troth you plighted me?" + +She stepped up close to him, and said softly: "I kept my heart +faithful to my Feodor, but he ceded it to Prince Stratimojeff. Elise +is too proud to be the wife of a man who owes his title of prince to +the fact of being the favorite of an empress." + +She turned and was about to leave the room, but Feodor held her back. +No reserve, no concealment were any longer possible to him. He only +felt that he was infinitely wretched, and that he had lost the hope of +his life. "Elise," he said, in that soft, sad tone, which had formerly +charmed her heart, "I came to you to save me; you have thrust me back +into an abyss. Like a drowning man I stretched out my hand to you, +that in your arms I might live a new life. But Fate is just. It hunts +me back pitilessly from this refuge, and I must and will sink. Well, +then, though the waves of life close over me, my last utterance will +be your name." + +Elise found herself capable of the cruel courage of listening to his +pathetic words with a smile: "You will yet have time to think over +your death," said she, with proud composure; and, turning to her +father, she continued, "My business with this gentleman is finished. +Now, father, begin yours." She gave her hand to Bertram, and, without +honoring the prince with another look, she left the room with her +betrothed. + +"And now," said Gotzkowsky coldly, "now, sir, let us proceed to our +affairs. Will you have the kindness to follow me to my counting-room? +You have come to Berlin to rob me of my daughter and my property! You +have been unsuccessful in the one; try now the other." + +"That I will, that I shall!" cried the prince, gnashing his teeth, and +anger flashing from his eyes. "Elise has been pitiless, I will be so +too." + +"And I would hurl your pity from me as an insult," said Gotzkowsky, +"if you offered it." + +"We are then enemies, for life and death--" + +"Oh, no! We are two tradesmen who bargain and haggle with each other +about the profits. There is nothing more between us." He opened the +door and called in his secretary and his cashier. "This gentleman," +said Gotzkowsky, with cutting coldness, "is the agent of Russia, sent +here to negotiate with me, and in case I cannot pay, to adopt the most +severe measures toward me. You, gentlemen, will transact this business +with him. You have the necessary instructions." He then turned to the +prince, who stood breathless and trembling from inward excitement, +burning with anger and pain, and leaning against the wall to keep +himself from falling. "Prince," said he, "you will be paid. Take these +thirty thousand dollars; they are the fortune of my son-in-law. He +has given it cheerfully to release us from you. Here, further, are my +daughter's diamonds. Take them to your empress as a fit memorial +of your German deeds, and my pictures will cover the balance of my +indebtedness to you."[1] + +"It is too much, it is too much!" cried Prince Feodor; and as if +hunted by the furies, he rushed out, his fists clinched, ready to +crush any one who should try to stop him. + + +[Footnote 1: Gotzkowsky paid his debt to Russia with thirty thousand +dollars cash; a set of diamonds; and pictures which were taken by +Russia at a valuation of eighty thousand dollars, and formed the first +basis of the imperial gallery at St. Petersburg. Among these were some +of the finest paintings of Titian, some of the best pieces of Rubens, +and one of Rembrandt's most highly executed works--the portrait of his +old mother.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TARDY GRATITUDE. + + +John Gotzkowsky, the rich merchant of Berlin, had determined to +struggle no longer with Fate; no longer to undergo the daily +martyrdom of an endangered honor, of a threatened name. Like the +brave Sickenhagen, he said to himself, "Better a terrible end than an +endless terror," and he preferred casting himself down the abyss at +once, to be slowly hurled from cliff to cliff. He had given notice to +the authorities of his failure, and of his intention of making over +all his property to his creditors. He was now waiting to hand over the +assets to the assignees, and leave the house which was no longer his. +Not secretly, however, but openly, in the broad daylight, he would +cross the threshold to pass through the streets of that town which +was so much indebted to him, and which had formerly hailed him as her +savior and preserver. It was inevitable--he must fall, but his fall +should at the same time be his revenge. For the last time he would +open the state apartments of his house; for the last time receive his +guests. But these guests would be the legal authorities, who were to +be his heirs while he was yet alive, and who were to consign his name +to oblivion before death had inscribed it on any tomb-stone. + +The announcement of his fall had spread rapidly through the town, +and seemed at last to have broken through the hardened crust which +collects around men's hearts. The promptings of conscience seemed +for a moment to overcome the voice of egotism. The magistrates were +ashamed of their ingratitude; and even the Jews of the mint, Ephraim +and Itzig, had perceived that it would have been better to have +avoided notoriety, and to have raised up the humbled Gotzkowsky, than +to have trodden him in the dust entirely. + +Instead of the officials whom he had expected, however, a committee of +the Council, accompanied by Ephraim and Itzig, entered his house and +asked to speak with him. He received them in his apartments of state, +with his children at his side. His figure was erect, his head proudly +raised, and he regarded them, not as an unfortunate, downcast man, but +as a superior would regard his inferiors; and they lowered their eyes +before his penetrating glances, ashamed and conscious of wrong. + +"The Council have sent us," said one of the aldermen. + +"I have no further business with the Council," said Gotzkowsky, +contemptuously. + +"Gotzkowsky, do not be angry with us any longer," said the aldermen, +almost imploringly. "The magistracy, in acknowledgment of your +great services to the city, are ready and willing to pay the sum you +demand." Gotzkowsky shook his head proudly. "I am no longer ready to +accept it. The term has expired; you can no longer buy me off; you +remain my debtors." + +"But you will listen to us," cried Itzig. "We come in the name of the +Jews." + +"We are empowered to assist you," added Ephraim. "We have been +instructed by the Jews to give you, on the security of your signature +and the prepayment of the interest, as much money and credit as will +prevent your house from failing." + +Gotzkowsky's large bright eyes rested for a moment searchingly and +speculatively on Ephraim's countenance; and the light, mocking smile +which stood on the lips of the Jew confirmed his determination, and +strengthened him in his resolution. "My house has failed," said he, +quietly and proudly, and, reading the anxiety and terror depicted on +their countenances, he continued almost exultingly: "yes! my house +has failed. The document in which I announced it and declared myself +a bankrupt, has already been sent to the magistracy and the merchant's +guild." + +"You dare not fail!" cried Itzig, in a rage. + +"You dare not put this insult upon the Council and the town," +exclaimed the aldermen, with dignity. "We cannot allow posterity to +say of us, 'The town of Berlin left the noblest of her citizens to +perish in want and misery.'" + +"It will be well for me if posterity should say so, for then my name +and my honor will be saved." + +"But the magistracy will be delighted to be able to show its gratitude +toward you." + +"And the Jews will be delighted, too," cried Itzig. "The Jews are +ready to help you." + +Gotzkowsky cast an angry look at him. "That is to say, you have +calculated that it will not profit you if I do fail. You have large +drafts on me, and if I fail, you only get a portion of your debt; +whereas, if I stand, you get the whole. You would be magnanimous from +self-interest, but I do not accept your magnanimity--you shall lose. +Let that be your punishment, and my revenge. You have wounded my heart +unto death, therefore I will strike you on the only spot in which +you are sensitive to pain: I attack your greed of money. You come too +late; I am bankrupt! My drafts are no longer current, but my honor +will not die with my firm." + +They were all silent, and gazed down to the earth frowningly. Only one +looked toward Gotzkowsky with a clear, bright eye. This was Ephraim, +who, mindful of his conversation with Gotzkowsky, said to himself, +triumphantly, "He has taken one lesson from me--he has learned to +despise mankind." + +But Itzig was only the more furious. "You wish our ruin," said he, +angrily. "You will be ungrateful. The Jews, who made you a present of +a handsome ring, have not deserved that of you. What will the world +say?" + +"The world will learn the cause of my ruin, and condemn you," said +Gotzkowsky. "Go, take all that I have; I will reserve nothing; I +despise riches and estate. I wish to be poor; for in poverty is peace. +I turn my back upon this house, and I take nothing with me but this +laurel-wreath and you, my children." + +Smilingly he gave his hands to Bertram and Elise. "Come, my children! +let us wander out in the happiness of poverty. We shake the dust from +our feet, and are light and free, for though we are poor, we are rich +in love. Yes, we are poor; but poverty means freedom. We are no longer +dependent upon prejudices, conventionalities, and forms. We have +nothing more to conceal or hide. We need not be ashamed of our +poverty, for we dare to show it to all the world; and when we go +through the streets as ragged beggars, these rich people will cast +down their eyes in shame, for our poverty will accuse them, and our +rags testify against them. Come, my children, let us begin our life of +poverty. But when death comes to take me away, crown my cold brow with +this laurel-wreath, given me by the city of Berlin, and write on my +coffin: 'This is the world's reward!'"[1] + +And firm and erect, leaning on his children, Gotzkowsky crossed the +room. No one dared to detain him. Shame and remorse, anger and terror, +kept them all spell-bound. "Let us go, let us go; I have a horror of +this house, and this splendor sickens me." + +"Yes! let us go," said Elise, throwing her arms around her father's +neck. They went out into the street. How refreshing did the cool air +seem to them, and how soft and sweet did the calm blue sky look +down upon them! Gotzkowsky gazed up at it. He did not perceive the +multitude of people which stood before his own door, or rather he did +not wish to see them, because he took them for a portion of the idle, +curious populace, which follows misfortune everywhere, and finds a +spectacle for the amusement of its _ennui_ in the suffering of others. + +But for this once, Gotzkowsky was mistaken; it was indeed only poor +people who were standing in the street, but their countenances bore +the marks of sympathy, and their looks were sad. They had heard of +his misfortunes, and had hastened hither, not from curiosity, but from +interest in him. They were only factory-hands, to whom Gotzkowsky had +been benefactor, friend, and adviser; they were the poor whom he had +supported and comforted, who now stood before his house, to bid him a +last farewell. To be sure, they could render him no assistance--they +had no money, no treasures--but they brought their love with their +tears. + +At the head of the workmen stood Balthazar, with his young wife, and +although his eyes were dimmed with tears, he still recognized his +master who had done him so much kindness; and although his breast was +stifled with grief, yet he controlled himself, and cried out, "Long +live Gotzkowsky, our father!" + +"Hurrah for Gotzkowsky! Long may he live!" cried the crowd, not +jubilantly, but in a sad tone, half smothered by tears. + +Gotzkowsky's countenance beamed with joy, and with a grateful smile +he stretched out his hand to Balthazar. "I thank you, my friend," he +said; "you have often shouted in compliment to me, but never has it +given me so much pleasure as to-day." + +"Never has it been done more cordially and sincerely," said Balthazar, +pressing Gotzkowsky's hand to his lips. "You have always been a father +and a friend to us, and we have often been sorry that you were so rich +and powerful that we could not show you how dear you were to us. Now +that you are no longer rich, we can prove that we love you, for we can +work for you. We have come to an agreement among ourselves. Each of +us will give one working-day in the week, and the proceeds shall go to +you, and as there are one hundred and seventy of us workmen, you shall +at least not starve, Father Gotzkowsky." + +Gotzkowsky looked at him with eyes glistening with pleasure. "I thank +you, my friends," said he, deeply moved; "and if I do not accept your +offer you must not think that I do not appreciate its greatness or its +beauty. Who can say that I am poor when you love me, my children?" + +At that moment, a carriage stopped at the door. Bertram had brought it +to convey them to their new and modest residence. + +"Are you going, then, to leave us forever?" said Balthazar mournfully. + +"No, my children, I remain among you, in the midst of you. I am only +going to exchange this large house for a smaller one." + +"Come," cried Balthazar, "come, my friends, we will escort our father, +Gotzkowsky, to his new house. The town of Berlin shall see that only +rich people are ungrateful, and that the poor never forget their +benefactor and their friend. Come, let us take out the horses. We will +draw Father Gotzkowsky through the streets." + +The crowd answered with a thundering hurrah; and with busy haste they +proceeded to the work. The horses were unharnessed, and twelve of the +most powerful workmen crowded around the pole. In vain did Gotzkowsky +beg them to refrain, not to make him an object of general curiosity. +But the people paid no heed to his request--it was a necessity to +their hearts to give him a public proof of their love. Almost by force +they raised him into the carriage, and compelled Bertram and Elise, +who had mixed with the crowd for the purpose of escaping attention, +to take their seats beside him. And now the procession advanced. Women +and workmen went on before, rejoicing and jumping about merrily at the +side of the carriage; and when they met other workmen, these latter +stopped and waved their hats, and greeted Gotzkowsky, calling him +the great factory-lord, the father of his workmen, the benefactor of +Berlin. Especially when the procession came to the low houses and +the poor cottages, the small dusty windows were thrown open, and +sun-browned faces looked out, and toil-hardened hands greeted and +waved. + +The forsaken, the ruined Gotzkowsky celebrated this day a splendid +triumph. The jubilant voice that thus did him homage was that of the +people--and the voice of the people is the voice of God! + + +[Footnote 1: With these words Gotzkowsky closes his autobiography.] + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE AUCTION. + + +All was now over--the curtain had fallen: Gotzkowsky had run his +brilliant career, and retired into oblivion. His fall was for some +days the topic of conversation of the good Berliners; but it was +soon superseded by some other novelty, and without either sympathy or +ill-feeling they passed by the deserted house with the closed windows +which had once been Gotzkowsky's residence. The king had purchased +it, in order to carry on, at the expense of the royal government, the +porcelain factory which Gotzkowsky had founded. + +Months had passed by. How many changes had taken place in this short +space of time! How many tears had been shed there, how many hopes +destroyed! + +Elise had become Bertram's wife; and she lived with him in the small, +quiet residence which they had selected in the most remote quarter of +the town. The three had entered the low, narrow rooms, which were to +be their home, with the firm determination not to let themselves +be annoyed by such slight material privation as they might have to +endure, but to pass them over with cheerful equanimity and proud +indifference, consoling themselves with the conviction that no one +could rob them of their great and pure love. And besides this, +their honor and their reputation were untouched, for every one was +acquainted with Gotzkowsky's fate, every one knew that he had not +fallen through his own fault, but through the force of circumstances, +and the baseness of mankind. + +He might have cause of complaint against the world, it had none +against him. With his creditors he had been honest. All that he +possessed he had given up to them, and they were all satisfied. With +proud step and unbent head could he pass through the streets, for no +one dared to follow him with insulting words. Nor had he need to be +ashamed of his poverty, for it was in itself a proof not only of +his unmerited misfortune, but of his integrity. All this he said and +repeated to himself daily, and yet it pained him to go through the +streets, feeling solitary and downcast. His eyes even filled with +tears, as one day passing by his house he saw the gates open, and +equipages, as in former days, at his door, while genteel and rich +people, with cold, apathetic countenances, were entering his house +as they had done of yore. Formerly they came to Gotzkowsky's splendid +dinners, now they had come to the auction. The _fauteuils_ and +velvet-covered sofas, the carpets and gold-embroidered curtains, the +chandeliers of bronze and rock crystal, the paintings and statuary, +the silver table-ware, and the costly porcelain service, all these +were now exposed for sale. + +There is something sad and mournful about an auction. It speaks always +of the ruin and breaking up of a man's life and the happiness of his +family, of the wreck of a shattered existence, and the sad remains of +what was once, perhaps, a brilliant destiny. On the day of an auction +there ceases to be a home, the sacred secrets of family life vanish; +home is no longer the abode of peace, and the long-cherished _penates_ +hide their heads in grief. + +Then the gates are opened, and the curious multitude rushes in, and +with callous eye spies into each corner and every room; tries the +sofas on which, perhaps, yesterday some poor widow sat weeping for her +lost husband; throws itself down on the bed which once had been the +sacred temple of their love; and coldly and unfeelingly examines the +furniture of parlor and boudoir, which yet retains the appearance +of comfort and of genial repose, though soon to be scattered to +the winds, to proclaim aloud its sad and secret story in the gaudy +show-room of some second-hand dealer. All the beauty and splendor of +Gotzkowsky's former days were now to be displayed at auction. For this +reason there stood so many carriages before his door; for this reason +did so many noble and wealthy persons come to his house, and, mixed +with brokers and speculators, crowd into those halls, which they had +formerly trod with friendly smiles and in costly dresses. + +No one took any heed of the figure of a man crouching, leaning against +the staircase, with his hat pressed down over his brow, and the collar +of his cloak drawn up high over his face. No one perceived how he +shuddered when the auctioneer handled the beautiful articles and +called on the public to bid. It was to him a terrible grief to assist +at these obsequies of his past life, and yet he could not tear himself +away. He felt fascinated, as it were, by some supernatural power, and +forced to remain in the house and attend this horrible ceremony. +In the tediousness of his lonesome, inactive, idle misery, it was a +species of diversion to him, something to arouse him from his dull +rumination, to be present at this disintegration and demolition of his +own house. + +As Jeremiah once sat among the ruins of Jerusalem, so sat Gotzkowsky +with concealed face at the threshold of his house, listening with +savage joy to the strokes of the auctioneer's hammer--albeit each blow +struck him to the heart, and made its wounds smart still more keenly. +At times, when a well-known voice fell on his ear, he would raise +his head a little, and look at the bidders, and examine their cold, +unsympathizing faces. How many were there among them whom he had +once called his friends, and to whom he had done good! And now, like +vultures, they flocked to the carcass of his past; they bought his +treasures, while their eyes glistened with malicious joy. They were +delighted to be able to boast that they possessed a souvenir of the +rich Gotzkowsky. + +When Gotzkowsky saw this, he felt ashamed that he had once smiled +lovingly on these men, had confided in them, and believed in their +assurances of friendship. He rose to leave, feeling himself refreshed +and strengthened, for his depression and grief had left him. Never had +he walked the streets more proudly than on the day when he returned +from the auction to his dark, lowly dwelling. Never had he looked upon +mankind with greater pity or more bitter scorn. And yet it pained him +to reenter this dismal, quiet house, and to force himself back +into the _ennui_ and indolence of his inactive life. It was such +a sensitive, burning pain, so, in the fulness of his strength and +manhood to be condemned to do nothing more than drag on a weary +existence--to sleep, to eat, and to dream of the past! And yet he +would repeat to himself, he was strong and active to work and create; +and nevertheless, he was condemned to idleness, to live by the favor +and toil of others, even if these others were his children. + +But they worked for him with so much pleasure and so much love! +Bertram had accepted the situation of book-keeper in a large factory, +and his salary was sufficient to support the three. To be sure, they +had to manage carefully, and provide scantily enough. But Elise was +active and notable; though as the spoilt child of wealth, she had, +indeed, been able to learn nothing of those minor offices of life +which are called by women "housekeeping." Still the instinct of her +sex had enabled her soon to acquire this knowledge, and in a short +time she became mistress of it. It was, indeed, a pleasant sight to +see Elise, with the same quiet cheerfulness, acting at one moment the +part of cook in the kitchen, at another setting her little chamber to +rights with busy hands, and making amends in cleanliness and neatness +for what was wanting in elegance and beauty. True, she was altered, +but never since she had been. Bertram's wife had her brow been +darkened or her eye dimmed. Her face was always bright and clear: for +her husband, when he returned home, she had always a smile of welcome, +a cordial greeting--never a word of complaint or of mourning over the +privations she was obliged to undergo, or the wealth she had lost. +Elise felt rich--for she loved her husband; not with that ardent, +consuming passion which she had once felt, and which had been the +cause of so much disappointment and so many tears; but with that +gentle, affectionate flame which never dies out, but is constantly +supplied and nourished by esteem and appreciation. + +Bertram was no longer her brother; he was her beloved, her friend, her +counsellor, and comforter, above all. With him she was always certain +to be understood and appreciated, to find comfort and help. As on a +rock, she could now rely on the noble heart of one who was at the same +time so firm, and yet so soft in loving, that he had never doubted +her, never turned away from her. Her whole heart was given up to him +in gratitude and affection, and with her whole life did she wish to +reward him for his noble love, for the self-sacrificing gratitude with +which he had given up his entire fortune to her father, and saved +the name and honor of his house from disgrace and shame. She desired +neither splendor nor jewels. Surrounded by the halo of her love, and +of her quiet, peaceful happiness, this poor, little dwelling seemed +to her as a temple of peace and of holy rest; and, locked in Bertram's +embrace, her wishes never reached beyond its narrow sphere. + +But Gotzkowsky was not as yet able to attain this resignation. This +repose was to him an annihilating torment, and the inactive vegetation +a living death. With each day the torture increased, the soreness of +his heart became more corroding and painful. At times he felt as if he +must scream out aloud in the agony of his despair. He would strike his +chest with his clinched fists, and cry to God in the overflow of +his sufferings. He who his whole life long had been active, was now +condemned to idleness; he who through his whole life had worked for +others, was now obliged to lay his hands in his lap, and allow +others to labor for him. How had he deserved this? What crime had he +committed, that after he had toiled and worked honestly, he should go +down, whilst others who had enriched themselves by fraud and lying, +by cunning and malice, should drive through the streets in splendid +carriages, surrounded by elegance and wealth, while he was obliged to +creep along, bowed down with sorrow? He had gone down, while Ephraim +had risen higher and higher. He had become poor because he was honest; +but Ephraim had grown rich on usury. His firm had failed, while +Ephraim continued to coin money. What did the Jew care that his name +was branded by the people, that they spoke with cutting sarcasm of the +pewter-money to which he had so skilfully imparted the appearance of +silver coin, and that he was derided by all? Gotzkowsky's name, too, +had been scoffed at, and he had been a benefactor of the people, while +Ephraim had been their blood-sucking leech. + +At last, Gotzkowsky came to a firm determination that he would have +revenge--yes, revenge on this ungrateful generation which had betrayed +and forsaken him--revenge on the men who had shown themselves so small +and pitiful. He wanted to remind those who were flourishing in pride +and splendor, of their meanness and ingratitude. He would accuse no +one, but his whole life was an indictment, not against individual men, +but whole communities and cities, against the king himself. They had +all been ungrateful toward him. They were all his debtors, and in +presence of the whole world he would cast their ingratitude, their +meanness, their malice, and knavery in their face, and humble them +by recalling the past. He wrote for that purpose _The History of his +Life_, not in anger and scorn; he did not dip his pen in gall, he made +no ill-natured reflections, no contemptuous remarks. He did nothing +more than quietly and simply, clearly and truthfully, describe +his life and his deeds, and whenever it was necessary, confirm +his assertions by quotations from the official documents relating +thereto.[1] + +The very simplicity and truthfulness of this "_Biography of a +Patriotic Merchant_" procured for it an enormous success, and made the +long-forgotten, much-calumniated Gotzkowsky for a while the topic of +conversation, not only in Berlin, but throughout all Germany. Every +one wanted to read the book. All wished to have the malicious pleasure +of seeing how much people of rank, communities, cities, and princes, +were indebted to this man, and how pitilessly they had let him sink. + +The natural consequence was that the book, though written simply and +with reserve, gave great offence. Gotzkowsky had accused no one, but +the facts accused. His present poverty and need condemned the proud, +high-born people, and showed to the world their cold-heartedness and +miserable conduct. He had not exposed _individuals_ to the judgment +of the world; no--his book accused the whole magistracy of Berlin of +deeds of ingratitude; and it even included the king, for whom he had +bought a hundred thousand _ducats_' worth of pictures, and who had +only paid him back a hundred and fifty thousand _dollars_. + +If his book had contained the smallest untruth, if there had been +the least false statement in it, they would have stigmatized him as a +calumniator and scandalizer of majesty. But Gotzkowsky had only told +the truth. They could not, therefore, punish him as a false witness +or slanderer. Consequently they had to content themselves with +suppressing "The Life of a Patriotic Merchant." + +The booksellers in Berlin were therefore ordered to give up all the +copies, and even Gotzkowsky received an order to return those in his +possession. He did so; he gave up the book to the authorities, who +persecuted him because they had cause to blush before him; but his +memory he could not surrender. His memory remained faithful to +him, and was his support and consolation, whenever he felt ready to +despair; this made him proud in his misfortune, and free in the bonds +of poverty. And now they were really poor; and penury, with all its +horrors, its humiliations and sufferings, crept in upon them. + +Gotzkowsky's book had awakened all those who envied and hated him, and +they vowed his ruin. It showed how much the merchants of Berlin +were indebted to him, and how little of this indebtedness they +had cancelled. It was therefore an accusation against the wealthy +merchants of Berlin, against which they could not defend themselves, +but for which they could wreak revenge. Not on him, for he had nothing +they could take from him--no wealth, no name, no credit, and, in +their mercantile eyes, no honor. But they revenged themselves on his +family--on his son-in-law. The rich factory-lord, whose book-keeper +Bertram had been, deprived him of his situation; and in consequence of +a preconcerted arrangement, he could find no situation elsewhere. How +could he now support his family? He was willing to work his fingers to +the bone for his wife, for his father, for his child; who looked up so +lovingly to him with its large, clear, innocent eyes, and dreamt +not of the anxiety of its father, nor of the sighs which told of +the anguish of its young mother. But nowhere could he procure +employment--nowhere was there a situation for the son-in-law of +Gotzkowsky, who had accused the merchants, the magistrates, yea, even +the king! And now they were indeed poor, for they had no work; but, +condemned to inactivity, to comfortless brooding, they shudderingly +asked themselves what was to become of them--how this life of +privation was to end. + +But while Bertram and Elise remained sad and dispirited, Gotzkowsky +suddenly brightened up. For a long time he had walked up and down in +silent thought. Now, of a sudden, his countenance assumed the cheerful +expression of former days, and energetic self-reliance was expressed +in his features. Elise looked on with astonishment. He drew out from +his chest the last remains of by-gone days, the silver oak-wreath set +with diamonds, presented him by the town of Berlin, and the golden +goblet given by the town of Leipsic. He looked at them for a long time +attentively, and then went out, leaving Elise alone, to weep and pray +to God to send them help, and to console Bertram when he came home +from his fruitless search after a situation. + +It was some hours before Gotzkowsky returned, but his countenance +still retained its cheerfulness, and his features exhibited the energy +and activity of past days. He stretched out his hands to both of his +children, and drew them affectionately toward him and embraced them. +"Are we then really poor, possessing one another? I say that we are +still rich, for our hearts are yet warm, and our honor is not yet +lost. But we have not yet learned to bear the indigence of our outer +life, We have covered our poverty with the gloss of respectability; we +have been ashamed to appear in the streets in coarse clothes; we have +not yet learned to distinguish the necessary from the superfluous; we +have endeavored to be poor, and yet happy, in a city. That has been +our mistake. The happiness of poverty does not reside within the cold +walls of a town. It is not sown among the paving-stones of a street. +It is only in Nature, who is rich enough to nourish and give to all +those who trustingly cast themselves on her bosom--only in Nature, and +the privacy of country life, that we can find rest and peace. Come, +my children, let us leave this town; let us have the courage to become +children of Nature and free citizens of poverty. Let us cast the show +and glitter of a city life behind us, and wander forth, not over the +sea nor into the desert, but to a cottage in a wood. I have stripped +off the last vestige of the past, and the silver wreath and the golden +goblet have been of some use, for they have furnished us the means to +found a new existence. Bertram, have you the courage to commence life +anew and become a peasant?" + +Bertram smiled. "I have both the courage and the strength, for I am +hearty and able to work." + +"And you, Elise, are you not too proud to bring up your child as a +peasant?" + +Elise kissed her child, and handed him to her father. "Let us bring +him up to be a good and healthy man--a man like you and his father, +and he will overcome the world and poverty, and be happy." + +"Oh! I well knew that I could count upon you; and now I know how we +all can be helped. We are rich enough to buy, in some corner of the +world, a little piece of land that we can cultivate, and on which we +can build a cottage. The product of my valuables is sufficient for +that purpose; and what we can realize from these articles of furniture +will be sufficient to defray our travelling expenses. Get ready, then, +children; to-morrow we leave for Silesia. In the mountains there +we will look out some quiet, secluded valley, where the newly-made +peasants can build them a cottage. There we will forget the past, and +cast all its sufferings behind us; or if we do speak of them, it will +be as of the tales of our childhood. Come, my children, let us return +to Nature, God, and contentment. Do you remember, Elise, how I once +related to you that as a lad I once lay hungry and wretched on the +high-road? The hand which was then stretched out to me did not proceed +out of the cloud, but from heaven. It was not the consolation of +an alms that it gave me, but the comforting assurance of love which +raised me up and strengthened me, directing my looks to God, and +teaching me to love Him in all His works. God dwells and speaks in +Nature. Let us seek Him there, and serve Him in the sweat of our brow +and in the coarse peasant's frock." + + * * * * * + +And they went, and did as Gotzkowsky said. They moved to Silesia, and +bought themselves there, among the mountains, a piece of land and a +cottage, in which they led a quiet, retired, happy life. The world +forgot them. Gotzkowsky's name passed into oblivion. But history +preserved it, and still holds him up as an example, not only of the +most noble patriotism, but also of the ingratitude of men. His book, +too, is left us, and bears witness for him. But as we read it, we +become sad, and are ready to cry out, as he does, "_This is the +world's reward_!" + + +THE END. + + +[Footnote 1: His biography begins in those words: "I know that I +subject myself to a variety of judgments. How ridiculous will I appear +in the eyes of many, because I did not use my fortune for my own +benefit! They will say, 'A man who pretends to know the world, a +merchant, furthermore, whose principal merit is to make himself rich, +and found a great house, gives so little heed to self-interest, and +entertains dreams of humanity and benevolence, hardly pardonable in +a philosopher. Others, again, will deem my acts too good-natured, +improvident, or vain, as usually happens, when such are considered +from a point of view different from the actual one. But as long as +I am convinced that I have acted as a true Christian and an honest +patriot, I can despise all these criticisms. I would not act +otherwise, if I had my whole life to live over again. But I would be +more prudent, as I am better acquainted with the character of those +in whom I confided most. The peace of mind and cheerfulness which +innocence and the consciousness of good deeds impart, are too +perceptible to me, to allow me to hesitate for a moment between the +demands of selfishness and those of humanity."] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Merchant of Berlin, by L Muehlbach + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERCHANT OF BERLIN *** + +***** This file should be named 12016.txt or 12016.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/1/12016/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Leah Moser and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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