Count Bruhl Part 35

They shot till dark: the evening was quiet and warm, the air sweetly scented and the landscape charming; n.o.body wished to return to town; the court dispersed, forming small groups.

It happened that the Chamberlain Watzdorf stood by the side of the beautiful Frances Kolowrath. Her mother noticed it and tried to separate them, but she did not succeed. Not wis.h.i.+ng to draw more attention to them than was proper, she was obliged to leave them alone.

Watzdorf did not neglect to take advantage of his opportunity. Usually ironical, that evening he was sad and depressed. As there was n.o.body near them he could speak to the girl.

'I am grateful to fate,' said he, 'for the opportunity it gives me of seeing you to-day: and this happens very seldom. The opportunity is the more precious to me, as I see you for the last time.'

'What do you mean? Why for the last time?' asked the girl with uneasiness.

'I feel that over me hangs the vengeance of that minister-page. They dog my footsteps, they have bribed my servants, for many of my papers are missing. They must have taken them secretly, and if that is so, I am lost.'

'Run away!' cried the girl pa.s.sionately. 'I beseech you by our love, run away. n.o.body watches you just now, take the best horse, and in a couple of hours you will be in Bohemia.'

'Yes, and to-morrow the Austrians would catch me.'

'Then flee to Prussia, to Holland, to France,' said the girl wildly.

'I have no means,' answered Watzdorf, 'and what is worse the charm of life is lost to me. There is no happiness for me. Frances--do not forget me--and avenge me. You will become that man's wife, be his executioner--'

Watzdorf looked into her eyes; they shone with love.

'Should you not see me to-morrow at the court, it will mean that I am lost,' he continued. 'I have a presentiment of which I cannot get rid.'

'But what reasons have you to suspect this?'

'An hour ago I found everything upside down in my room; the lackey has disappeared. Farewell,' he said with a voice full of emotion. 'You will live, I shall die between four gloomy walls. Frances, I beseech you, drop a handkerchief for a souvenir. I shall carry it on my heart; looking at it my grief will be less painful.'

The girl dropped the handkerchief: Watzdorf stooped, picked it up, and hid it in his bosom.

'Thank you,' said he. 'One moment more, and I shall not see your eyes again. Farewell, Frances, _addio_, my sweetest!'

The girl's mother came up at that moment, and, taking advantage of the general confusion, she pulled her daughter away almost by force.

Watzdorf withdrew. At a distance of a few steps from him, Sulkowski encountered Bruhl, while Guarini entertained the Prince.

'One word--' said Bruhl, 'my suppositions were right.'

'What suppositions?' the Count asked indifferently.

'I ordered Watzdorf's apartments to be searched and they found fifty copies of the medal and a letter from the manufacturer, who tried to justify himself because he could not execute a better facsimile of the drawing sent him. It is absolute proof that he is guilty.'

Sulkowski grew pale.

Bruhl slipped a paper into his hand.

'Take this: I do not wish to do anything on my own responsibility; do what you please, but if you don't put Watzdorf in Konigstein, who knows if one of us will not take his place there? Impudence can do much--Count, do what you please, but I wash my hands of it.--I would not condescend to a search to avenge myself--but the Prince is attacked--It's _crimen laesae majestatis_ and for that death is the penalty.'

Having said this Bruhl stepped aside quickly; his face a.s.sumed its usual sweet smile. He perceived the Countess Moszynski and he turned towards her, bowing in a most ceremonious and respectful way.

Frances Kolowrath followed her mother; she was silent and proud; she gazed several times after Watzdorf and paid not the slightest attention to what was going on around her.

While she was so deeply thoughtful Bruhl came to her, bowed respectfully and smiled sweetly. The proud girl's eyes shone; she drew herself up and looked at the minister contemptuously.

'Don't you think,' Bruhl said, 'that we succeeded in amusing the Prince?'

'Yes, and you proved a good marksman,' answered the girl. 'I don't doubt that you could shoot just as well at people--'

Bruhl looked sharply at her.

'I am not very skilful,' he said coolly, 'but if I were obliged to defend His Majesty, I don't doubt I should shoot well. I noticed that you enjoyed your conversation with the Chamberlain Watzdorf.'

'Yes,' said the girl, 'Watzdorf is very witty, he shoots with words as you do with b.a.l.l.s.'

'That is a very dangerous weapon. If one does not know how to handle it,' said Bruhl, 'one might shoot oneself.'

The girl's mother interrupted this unpleasant conversation, Frances'

look closed it. She wished to intercede with Bruhl, but pride closed her mouth: besides she was not certain that Watzdorf did not exaggerate his peril.

The Princess had already left with her ladies in waiting, the Prince still remained. Sulkowski tried to come near him, and the Prince expressing his desire to walk some little distance, the favourite seized the opportunity and walked at his side. Bruhl accompanied the Countess Kolowrath.

Sulkowski did not wish to postpone the affair, for he was afraid that Watzdorf might fly if it were delayed.

'It's a very unpleasant duty,' said Sulkowski, 'to be obliged to spoil your majesty's humour after such pleasant amus.e.m.e.nt.'

Having listened to this, Frederick became gloomy, and looked askance at his minister, who continued:

'The matter is pressing; Bruhl and I and even your Majesty are exposed to the ridicule of the whole of Europe: I did not speak before, wis.h.i.+ng to spare your Majesty's feelings.--In Holland an abominable medal has been struck--'

Frederick stopped; his face grew as pale as his father's used to do when extremely angry, and he lost control of himself.

'I did not wish to mention it, until we had found the culprit,'

Sulkowski wound up. 'I and Bruhl would forgive the offence to ourselves, but we cannot forgive the insult to your Majesty.'

'But who? Who?' asked Frederick.

'The man whose whole family including himself, owes everything to your Majesty's father. It is unheard of grat.i.tude and daring--'

'Who? Who?' exclaimed Frederick,

'The Chamberlain Watzdorf.'

'Have you proofs?'

'I have a letter found in his rooms and several medals.'

'I don't wish to see them,' the Prince said extending his arm, 'nor him either; away, away--'

'Shall we let him go unpunished?' Sulkowski asked. 'It cannot be. He will carry his calumnies and spread them in other countries.'