Frederick the Great and His Fam

ambassador at the court of Berlin. Amelia advanced to meet him, and gazed wit

s, "to repair an injury. You have been announced

e demands that a new ambassador should introduce himself to every member of the royal house. Your royal highness

t wonder why I h

Your order for me to come has m

uspicion why I

rmed me you kindly wished to indem

taken hold of, but slip through one's fingers. I am accustomed to go at once to the poin

it around, looking at every picture, reading every verse. Amelia watched him keenly, but his countenance betrayed not

think of the workma

rthy of an artist, y

w by what artis

t, your roya

me his

called Freder

I do not err, he

ative-yes, your

elative in chains? Does not your

presume, or he would n

on the hard floor; he has been torn from his dreams of freedom and happiness by the rough voice of the soldier standing at his door. Read the verse beneath it-is not every word of it bathed in tears? Breathes there not a cry of terror throughout so fearful, so unheard-of, that it

nt and character of my duties. She did not request me to exert myself for the release of thi

the life of a man, a relative, is conce

ur royal highness, but

u! Perhaps anot

ess interests herself sufficiently

her grave on a prop of love? Look at this horribly disfigured countenance. Listen to the rough, discordant voice that dares to speak of love, and then laugh, general, for I tell you I love Trenck. I love him with all the strength and passion of a young girl. Grief and age have laid a fearful mask upon my countenance, but my heart is still young, there burns within it an undying, a sacred flame. My thoughts, my desires are passionate and youthful, and my every thought, my every desire is for Trenck. I could tell you of all the agony, all the despair I have endured for

o her in silence. When she had ceased speaking, he raised his head and looked at her. A

ied she; "you

ty you-your grief is too great, too sacred-it is above pity. But I bow profoundly before you, for your suffering is worthy of all reverence. To me you appear much m

upon her lip she thanked him for his sympathy, and hoped

the empress must be worked upon-she must intercede with Kin

said Amelia, hastily. "Will you int

nemies of a powerful and influential party at court-with a party whose wish it is that Trenck may never be released, because he would then come and demand an account of the gold, jewels, and property left him by his cousin, the colonel of the pandours, thus causing a great disturbance amongst several noble families at court. These families are continually filling the ear of the empress with accusations against the unfortunate prisoner, well knowing that he cannot defen

uch a one?" sa

r royal h

What is his na

is a poor Savoyard, without name, without rank,

ed the princess,

ntains always the same movement and sound. The empress, accustomed for thirty years to see him enter daily her apartments, has become used to his homeliness, and often in the kindness of her heart enters into conversation with him. His answers are always laconic, in a tone of perfect indifference-at times brusque, even harsh-but they have a sensible and often a deep meaning. When the empress speaks with him, he does not cease his work for a moment, and when he has finished he does not remain a minute longer, but goes without asking if she desires to continue the conv

est and disinterested, how

fate of the unfortunate prisoner-he must become anxious for his release. When

probity and truth is s

ucated in a convent far from Vienna. She is now living with some respectable family in Vienna, but she never visits him, never enters the castle to inquire for him for fear she should be seen by some of the court gentlemen. Th

plead with the empr

, receiving no gifts from the empress. Nor would he now act for this gold alone contrary to his idea of right, were his

mortal will surely touch both head and heart. When we have succeeded, we will give his daughter a handsome dower. God has so willed it that I am right rich now, and can fulfil my promises. My pension as abbes

sufficient; but to win this honest

s it e

t

o him; a man whose heart and head, soul and body are bound up in

thought your royal highn

looked at him

who brought me the cup; who referred me

him to return early

that? Are you acq

gly. "I ventured to send h

hat the jeweller is as great a negotiator as you are

e Landgrave of Hesse; as I could do nothing with

t against us. Hasten away, general, and give the jeweller, or whatever else he may be, his instructions. Send him to me early in the morning for his reward." [Footno