Old Fritz and the New Era Part 40

"Yes," solemnly answered the general; "it is the royal seal from the king's private cabinet."

"Read the address upon this, and the unopened letter."

"Truly, the latter is directed to my daughter, and the other to Professor Ged.i.c.ke."

Herr Ged.i.c.ke opened the letter, asking the general if he could recognize the king's handwriting.

"Yes," he answered, "I know it well."

"Have the goodness to read the lines upon the margin," mid the professor, unfolding the letter, so that he could only read those referred to.

The general read: "Professor Ged.i.c.ke shall go himself to Fraulein von Leuthen, and bring her to reason, reading the doc.u.ment to her without witnesses. I wish this affair to come to an end. Teach Mamselle mores!

mores! mores! FREDERICK."

"You have heard the royal command, ladies and gentlemen; will you respect it?" said the professor, turning around with an air of proud satisfaction.

"My dear son-in-law," said the general, solemnly, "it is a royal command; give me your arm, as you know I am feeble; and you, my wife, take my other arm, and we will go into the next room. Hush! not a word--we have only to obey, and not reason."

He seized his wife's hand hastily and firmly, that she should not slip away, and winked to Ebenstreit, upon whose support he crossed the room, drawing his wife with him, and pushing open the door of the next with his foot.

Marie had stood during the whole transaction pale and rigid in the centre of the room, looking haughty and defiant as long as her parents and Herr Ebenstreit were present. Now, as the door closed, life and action were visible in this marble form; she rushed to the old gentleman, scarce respiring, and looking up at his dignified, sad face, asked: "Is he living? Tell me only this, or is he ill?"

"Yes, he lives, he does not suffer from bodily ills, but the sickness of the soul."

"And do not I also?" asked she, with quivering voice. "Oh! I know what he suffers, as we are wretched from the same cause. But tell me, have you seen him?"

"Yes, Fraulein, I have."

"Where is he? Where did you see him?"

"In prison!"

Marie grew paler, and retreated, shuddering. The director continued: "In a dark, damp prison at Spandau. The poor fellow has been there for two months without air, light, or occupation, and his only society is his own revengeful thoughts and angry love-complaints."

Marie gave one hollow moan, covering her corpse-like face with her hands.

"In this abode of torture, in this dwelling of the d.a.m.ned, he must remain ten long years, if death does not release him?"

"What did you say?" she groaned. "Ten long years? Have they condemned him?"

"Yes, he was guilty of a great crime--eloping with a minor--who, with the king's consent, and that of her parents, was betrothed to another.

Read the sentence of the court, which was forwarded to me as the head of the college where Moritz was employed. See, here is the king's signature, which affirms the sentence, rendering it legal, and here upon the margin are the lines your father read."

Trembling, Marie perused the contents. "Ten years in the house of correction!" she murmured. "On my account condemned to a living death!

No, no, it is impossible! It cannot be! Ten years of the best part of life! He condemned as a criminal! I will go to the king. I will throw myself at his feet, imploring for mercy. I am the guilty one--I alone!

They should judge me, and send me to the penitentiary! I will go to the king! He must and will hear me!"

"He will not," sighed the director. "Listen to me, poor child! As I heard the sentence, I felt it my duty to summon all my powers to rescue Moritz, for I love him as a son, and had set my hopes upon him."

"I thank you for this kind word," said Marie, seizing the hand of the old man, and pressing it to her lips.

"I went immediately to Minister von Herzberg, and, upon his advice, as he explained to me the king might lighten his punishment, I betook myself to Frederick's winter-quarters at Breslau."

"You n.o.ble, generous man, I shall love you for it as long as I live. Did you speak with the king?"

"Yes, and every thing that my heart or mind could inspire, to excuse and justify my unhappy friend, I have said--but all in vain. The king was much embittered, because he had had the grace to grant him an audience, and explain the impossibility of the fulfilment of his pet.i.tion. I did not cease begging and imploring, until I softened the generous heart of the king."

"Has he pardoned Moritz?" Marie asked, with brightening hopes.

"Under certain conditions he will allow that he should escape secretly from prison. They are formally written, and if Moritz consents and binds himself by oath, he will not only be freed, but provided with means to go to England, and receive immediately an appointment as translator to the Prussian emba.s.sy at London."

"What are the conditions, sir?"

"They are, first, that Moritz shall by oath renounce every wish and thought of uniting himself with Fraulein von Leuthen; secondly, that before he leaves the prison, he shall write to the young lady, in which he shall solemnly release her, and enjoin it upon her as a duty to accept the hand of the man to whom her parents have betrothed her. These were the conditions, and the king commanded me to go to Spandau, and with sensible representations, to confer with Moritz, and persuade him to accept them, and a.s.sure himself of freedom, and an honorable future, free from care."

"You saw Moritz?"

"Yes."

"Did you communicate the conditions?"

"Yes."

"And he?"

"He refused, with rage and indignation!"

"He refused?" cried Marie, joyfully. "Oh, my dear Philip, I thank you.

You love me truly and faithfully. Your glorious example shall inspire me to be as firm as you."

"Unhappy child, you know not what you are saying!" cried the director, sadly. "If you really love him, you could not follow his example. Read what the king has written."

She took, in breathless silence, the doc.u.ment, and broke the seal, unfolding the paper, but her hand shook it so violently, that she could not distinguish the words.

She returned it to the director. "Read it, I cannot," she said, and sank kneeling, looking up to the old man with unspeakable anguish, and listening to every word that fell from his lips. It ran thus:

"His majesty announces to Mademoiselle Marie von Leuthen that he is exceedingly indignant at her improper and undutiful conduct, which does not at all become a maiden loving of honor, and particularly a n.o.ble one. His majesty enn.o.bled her father for a brave deed, and he is angry that the daughter should bring shame upon the t.i.tle, in giving way, not only to a pa.s.sion which is beneath her, but is so little mindful of morality as to flee from the paternal house, at night, in an improper manner, with a man whose wife, according to the command of the king and the will of her father, she could never be. If his majesty did not respect the former service of her father, and the new t.i.tle, he would send the daughter to the house of correction, and punish her according to the law. But he will leave her to the reproaches of conscience, and let the weight of the law fall upon her partner in guilt, Philip Moritz.

He is rightly sentenced to ten years in the house of correction, and he will not be released one year or one day from the same, as he is guilty of a great crime, and his sentence is just."

"Just!" shrieked Marie, in anguish--"ten years just?"

The director continued to read: "His majesty will propose a last opportunity to the obstinate and inconsiderate young lady to reinstate her own honor, and release at the same time Conrector Moritz. His majesty has personal knowledge of the latter, and respects his scholarly attainments and capability and would bring an end to this affair for the general good. If mademoiselle, as becomes an honorable young woman, and an obedient daughter, follows the wishes of her father, and without delay marries Herr Ebenstreit, and leads a respectable life with him, the same hour of the ceremony Conrector Moritz shall be released, and a fit position be created for him. This is the final decision of the king.

If the daughter does not submit in perfect obedience, she will burden her conscience with a great crime, and thank herself for Moritz's unfortunate fate. His majesty will be immediately informed of her decision. If she listens to reason, to morality, and affection, she will submit to the proposition which Director Ged.i.c.ke is commissioned to make known to her, and announce to her parents in his presence that she will obediently follow their commands, Conrector Moritz will be at once set at liberty; otherwise he will be sent to Brandenburg to the house of correction. This is the unalterable will of the king. Signed, in the name of the king, FREDERICK."

"Now decide, my child," continued the director, after a solemn pause. "I know nothing to add to this royal writing. If it has not itself spoken to your heart, your reason and your honor, words are useless."

"O G.o.d, it is cruel--it is terrible!" cried Marie. "Shall I break my oath of constancy, becoming faithless, and suffer him to curse me, for he will never pardon me, but despise me!"