The Countess Cosel Part 40

Cosel smiled ironically.

"Not far off they put up magnificent tents. Under one of them the King dined with the Countess Denhoff, Pociej, Bielinska, and the cream of the Court."

"Were you there?" asked Cosel sneeringly.

The Baron blushed.

"No, I was in another tent," replied he; "but I saw everything very well. Several bands of music played during the dinner, and every toast was announced by a salvo of cannon."

"How charming!" interrupted Cosel. "And that is the end of it?"

"No, it is only the beginning. When the dinner was over they did not clear the tables, as Flemming wanted to give the rest to the soldiers; but as there was not enough bread for them, he ordered a silver thaler to be put in every small piece of bread. Then they sounded the bugle for the attack. The soldiers marched in military order towards the tables, but the first ranks were broken by the following, the second by the third, and so on. The tables were upset, heaps of soldiers were sprawling on the ground. The spectacle was magnificent; we split our sides with laughter. Then the retreat was sounded.

"When evening came, dancing began, and lasted till seven o'clock in the morning. During the whole time Flemming was going from guest to guest with a b.u.mper, praying them to drink. He himself was drunk first, and when the King started to go, he threw his arms round his neck and exclaimed, 'Brother, dear brother, if you leave me now, our friends.h.i.+p is gone,' and to our great surprise the King was not offended at such familiarity."

"For he did not want to spoil his amus.e.m.e.nt," said Cosel, laughing sarcastically. "But when he is tired of a man he only nods, the man disappears and the comedy is over."

She began to walk to and fro. The Baron said,--

"I do not wonder at your bitterness."

"Yes," she broke in, "if I had no heart--if I did not feel the wrong, but tried to make a bargain of it, I could talk differently. But I did not profit by the example left for me by Haugwitz, Aurora, Esterle and Teschen, who went hand in hand at Leipzig fair."

She laughed spasmodically.

"No, I am different. I thought there were hearts, souls, consciences; that love was not lechery, that promises ought to be kept, that the King's words were holy. All that was only my illusion. Consequently, while the other women are happy, I am dying of humiliation, longing, and shame."

The Baron von Sinen was moved and confused by the complaints of that still beautiful woman. Cosel noticed it.

"Listen," said she, "I know that you came here neither from curiosity nor in sympathy, but by order."

"Madam!" exclaimed he.

"Do not interrupt me, but listen! I forgive you, for every one of you cares more for a career than to be men. Repeat to them what you have heard from me; let them know what I think of them; and if you wish to be well rewarded, tell the King that you have heard from Anna Cosel's own lips that she will do as she told him, she will shoot him for his treachery and unfaithfulness. In one, two, ten years, the first time I meet Augustus, I shall fire at him. I always have a pistol with me, and shall not discard it until I have accomplished my vengeance."

The Baron was mortally pale.

"Countess," he exclaimed, "you force an honest man to be a traitor. I am a n.o.bleman, and I am in the King's service. I shall be obliged to repeat what I have heard from you. It is my duty!"

"That is what I wanted you to do," said Cosel.

"But it would give to your numerous foes a new weapon."

"One less or more does not amount to anything. They use lies, calumny, treachery. The villains feel in me a being that cannot suffer their villainies; my honesty is a continual reproach to them. How can they forgive a woman who did not wish to be as soiled as they are?"

She laughed bitterly, while the Baron felt very uneasy. During that conversation her eyes were in turn wet with tears and burning with fire. Cosel possessed all the characteristics of Medea--everything that an ideal turns into reality. When she became silent, the chamberlain still stared at her as if he were mesmerized.

"I am very sorry indeed," said he at last, "that you force me to contribute to your misfortune." And he was sincere there.

"No one can make my misfortune greater," said she. "You are mistaken if you think that I regret the loss of palaces and luxury. No! I suffer because I have lost my faith in a human heart. Give me back his heart, and I will give up for it the crown of the world. I loved him! My whole life was bound up in him--he was my hero; he was my G.o.d; but the hero turned clown, his G.o.dhead is smirched."

The Baron tried to tranquilize her, but she cried,--

"O my golden dreams, where are you?"

Von Sinen could hold no longer. Pity was stronger within him than any other consideration.

"I implore you," said he, "to go away from here! I can say no more."

"What!" said Cosel. "Is it possible that even here I am threatened?

Would the King of Prussia surrender a woman as Augustus surrendered Patkul?"

Von Sinen stood silent; it was evident he could not say any more.

"Where is there to go?" she murmured to herself. "I could not live too far from him; my heart still longs for him. Let them do with me what they please. I am disgusted with life. They have taken away my children--they have left me only bitterness."

The chamberlain had seized his hat.

"I pity you," said he; "but as long as you do not change your sentiments your friends can do nothing for you."

"My friends?" said she, ironically.

"You have more than you think," said the visitor. "I am the first."

"What! You my friend! I could find three or four such as you are. They are willing to console the widow and share her riches!"

Von Sinen was so confused that he could not answer. He bowed distantly, and, pursued by Cosel's scornful looks, left the room.

CHAPTER XX.

Cosel's enemies tried every means to excite the King against her. He did not wish to mention her, but it was no use. The deadly grudges were taking various disguises, mostly fear for the King's safety. They tried to represent the unfortunate woman as being very dangerous: she was free and still very rich; she might become very threatening.

Flemming, Lowendahl, Watzdorf, Lagnasco, without asking the King's permission, sent spies, and planned how they could seize her riches as they did those of Beichling.

Some of them acted under the influence of vengeance, others of cupidity. Cosel had not wronged any of them during her influence, and many of them were beholden to her for their freedom and elevation.

When Von Sinen returned from Berlin he did not appear immediately at court, for he was still under the spell of pity for the unfortunate woman, but Lowendahl spied him out and went to see him.

"How did you find Cosel?" asked he. "Does she still speak about the promise of marriage? Does she still threaten?"

Von Sinen answered sadly,--

"The fact is that she is very unhappy."

"Unhappy! It's her own fault! But speak precisely--tell me what you have seen and heard," pressed Lowendahl.