Old Fritz and the New Era Part 50

"I am only treating you as you behaved to one of the n.o.blest and best of men," replied Marie, voice and look betraying her deep feeling. "You thrust from your door, with scorn and contempt, a man worthy of your esteem and recognition, although you knew that my heart was breaking.

I am only following your example and exercising my just rights, and am less guilty than you are, as neither of us has need of the respect or esteem of the other."

"Can you suffer this, my son? Do you allow any one in your presence to treat me so shamefully? After all, it is your house; do speak and exercise your right as master here: tell your wife that I am her mother, and you, my adopted son, who bears my name, and that I have the just right to come here as often as it pleases me."

"Speak your mind to Frau von Werrig," said Marie, as Ebenstreit remained silent. "Decide which shall remain, as one or the other of us must leave; you are perfectly free to choose."

"Then, naturally, there is no choice left me," replied Ebenstreit, despondingly. "I declare myself for my wife, of course, who is the n.o.blest and proudest beauty in Berlin, and will make my house the centre of attraction to the aristocracy, n.o.bility, and wealth. This is my greatest pride, and to secure this I wooed my beautiful bride, and have submitted to all the sorrow and humiliation which have been my portion.

If I must choose between the mother and daughter, I naturally prefer the latter."

"He abandons me also!" cried the mother. "You are an ungrateful, wretched man! You forget that you owe every thing to me, and that without me you were a miserable mercenary, whose stupidity and tediousness were the ridicule of every one, and you had never gained the entrance to a genteel house. What have you now become? A high-born man, whose house every one will crowd, and who could even appear at court, as he bears our n.o.ble and distinguished name. To whom do you owe all this, but to me alone?"

"G.o.d in heaven, Thou hearest it!" cried Marie, solemnly, with uplifted arms. "She acknowledges that she alone has brought this misfortune upon me, and in this hour I stand justified."

"Pardon, Frau von Werrig," said Ebenstreit, haughtily; "you are going too far. After my fortune, I thank you for my position. I am certainly of insignificant birth, but I am ambitious and rich. I said to myself, 'Money can bring about all that I wish,' and you see it has accomplished it. My wealth procured me a t.i.tle, a splendid house, a beautiful wife, and a position in society. I acknowledge that you aided me in the carrying out of my plans, but you would not have done it, if I had not been in a position to pay you. You receive a very considerable annuity from me, therefore you cannot accuse me of ingrat.i.tude, but must confess that you have driven a very good bargain. You must forgive me if I beg of you to end this painful scene."

"That means that I must leave," said Frau von Werrig, mildly, remembering the gambling debt and the annuity. "Very well, I will go, and promise you never to return, upon two conditions."

"Have the goodness to communicate them," said Ebenstreit.

"The first is, pay the gambling-debt of my husband, who has played away the entire sum you allow us yearly, and do not deduct it from our income. The second is, increase your allowance five hundred thalers, without letting the general know it, and pay it to me."

"It is impossible," cried Ebenstreit, terrified. "You mistake me for a Croesus, whose wealth is inexhaustible. If this expenditure and demand increase, my colossal fortune will be entirely wasted, and--"

"You exaggerate," interrupted Marie, with a peculiar brilliancy in her eyes. "Such wealth as yours is never-ending, and the banking business, which you are still engaged in under another name, is an inexhaustible source of wealth. I beg you to accept these conditions, that we may at last be at peace."

"Very well," said Ebenstreit, to whom the words of Marie sounded as the sweetest music. "I will then accord your wishes, and you shall have the five hundred thalers for yourself."

"For me alone?"

"Yes, for yourself alone, Frau von Werrig."

"Who vouches for the fulfilment of your promise?"

"My word, Frau von Werrig."

"I have no confidence but in a written promise."

"Then I will have it made out, and bring you the doc.u.ment to-morrow morning."

"Then our business is finished, and I can go.--Farewell, baroness; this is my last word to you. I cursed you from the moment you came into being. If you had been a son, the rich estate in trust of my family would have pa.s.sed to you, of which I was the natural heir. As it was, it went to a distant relative, and we received nothing. Therefore your parents could not rejoice at your birth, and we only pardoned you when you married a rich man, who could free us from want, and now the separation is no grief to us. You have always been a disagreeable burden, and I am only quit of a discomfort, and renounce forever the sight of you.--Give me your arm, my son, and accompany me at least to the threshold of your house, that you may be able to say to this cold-hearted viper, that she is forever rid of the sight of her mother, who will never think of her but with chilling contempt." She seized Ebenstreit by the arm, who had not the courage to resist her, and drew him along with her, casting a look of supreme disgust at old Trude, who stood pale and sad near the door.

CHAPTER x.x.xIV. BEHIND THE MASK.

As the door closed, and Marie found herself alone with her old friend and nurse, a peculiar change was visible in her sad face; something of its former sunny radiance brightened its usually sorrowful expression, and she turned to greet Trude with the smile of earlier, happier days, though it was tinged with sadness and grief. Impulsively she threw her arms around her faithful nurse, kissing her, and, with quivering lip, whispering: "A greeting and a blessing for you, dear mother! Take me to your kind, disinterested heart, and let me there find repose from all this torture and love the poor lost one, who--"

She drew suddenly back, her face a.s.suming its usually cold, look as she heard her husband enter.

"She is gone, dear Marie. I hope that you are gratified with my decision, and perceive therein a proof of my excessive love and esteem for you," said Ebenstreit, drawing a long breath.

"I did not desire this polite evidence of it," she coldly responded. "We have solemnized our entrance into this house in a fitting manner, and the important matter remaining for us is to make known our arrival to the society of Berlin. The horses purchased in Alexandria, and the new carriage from London, have already arrived--have they not?"

"My book-keeper so informed me a fortnight since, when we were in Paris, and complained of the enormous sum which he had to disburse."

"You must forbid him such a liberty once for all," said she, and the strange blending of joy and scorn was visible in her face. "It is inadmissible for a subordinate to presume to complain to his master, or advise him. He has only to listen and obey. This all your inferiors must understand, and know that they will be dismissed who murmur or advise!"

"I will instruct them accordingly," he sighed, "though I must confess my head-man well understands financial operations, and during the many years that he has been with me has won the right to be consulted and advised with."

"Then prove your grat.i.tude as it becomes a true cavalier and a n.o.bleman," dictated Marie. "Settle his salary as an annuity upon him, and replace him."

"But he receives very great wages, and is still very active, though advanced."

"The more the reason to pension him, that he may repose his remaining years and enjoy the fruit of his labors. But do as you like. I have only told you how a n.o.ble cavalier would act; if you choose to bargain and haggle, it is your own affair."

"Heaven keep me from acting otherwise than as a n.o.bleman!" cried Ebenstreit.

Marie nodded a.s.sent, desiring that the carriage might be ordered, with the Arab horses. "We will make our visits at once, as I will, for the first time, open our large house for a soiree to-morrow evening," she added.

"Ah, that is charming!" said Ebenstreit, delighted. "I shall at last have the opportunity of seeing the aristocratic Berlin society, and enter upon the rank of my new t.i.tle."

"Yes," she replied, with an expression of irrepressible scorn, "you will have this enjoyment. Send me the steward, I wish to give him a list of the invited guests. You can add to it at your pleasure."

"I have no one to invite," cried her husband.

"No matter! Make the necessary preparations. I will go to my room to make my toilet."

"Will you not allow me to accompany you? You are not yet familiar with the house."

"Trude will show it to me, and you can at the same time give the orders."

Nodding proudly to Ebenstreit, she told Trude to precede her, following the old woman through the suite of brilliant rooms.

"Here is my lady's dressing-room," said Trude, entering one ornamented with mirrors, laces, and gauzes.

The French waiting-maid was busy within, unpacking the large trunks filled with silk and satin dresses which had been purchased by the dozens in Paris.

"Lay out an elegant visiting toilet; I will return directly, after Trude has shown me the house," They entered the adjoining chamber, Marie's sleeping-room and found the German maid arranging the lace and silk coverings for her mistress to repose herself after the long journey.

Marie betrayed no inclination for repose, but questioned Trude as to whither the other door led to.

"Into the little corridor, baroness."

"Did I not order that there should be but one entrance to my sleeping-room, and that from the dressing-room?"

"Your commands have been strictly obeyed," replied Trude. "The only door from the corridor leads to my two rooms, and there is but one entrance to them upon the other side, which can be securely fastened."