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〃I dare to oppose myself to this lecture；〃 said Louise； laughing。 〃There are books which should only be read in solitude； and to that class belong the volumes of my past life。 I am ready in the presence of your highness to have my future prophesied； but of my past I will hear nothingI know too much already。〃
〃Had I been alone with Fraulein Lethow； I should have told her many other things； and she would have been forced to believe in my power。 Only when these cards are under your eyes is my spirit clear。〃
〃I must； then； in order to know the whole truth from you； be entirely alone？〃 said the princess。
The prophet bowed silently。 Amelia fixed a piercing glance upon him； and nodded to her ladies。
〃Go into the next room；〃 said she。 〃And now；〃 said the princess； 〃you can begin。〃
The magician； instead of taking the cards； knelt before the princess and kissed the hem of her robe。 〃I pray for mercy and forgiveness；〃 said he； 〃I am nothing but a poor impostor！ In order to reach the presence of your royal highness； I have disguised myself under this mask； which alone made it possible。 But I swear to you； princess； no one knows of this attempt； no one can ever know itI alone am guilty。 Pardon； then； princesspardon for this bold act。 I was forced to this stepforced to clasp your kneesto implore you in your greatness and magnanimity； to stand by me！ I was impelled irresistibly； for I had sworn a fearful oath to do this thing。〃
〃To whom have you sworn？〃 said the princess； sternly。 〃Who are you？ what do you ask of me？〃
〃I am Count Ranuzi； Austrian captain and prisoner of war。 I implore you； noble princess； to have mercy upon a poor； helpless prisoner； consumed with grief and despair。 God and the world have forsaken him； but he has one protecting angel in whom he trusts； to whom he praysand her name is Amelia！ He is bound in chains like a wild beasta hard stone is his couch； and a vault beneath is his grave he is living and buriedhis heart lives and heaves and calls to you； princess； for rescue。〃
The Princess Amelia shrank back trembling and groaning on the sofa； her eyes were wide open； and staring in the distance。 After a long pause； she said； slowly： 〃Call his name。〃
〃Frederick von Trenck！〃
Amelia shuddered； and uttered a low cry。 〃Trenck！〃 repeated she； softly； 〃oh； what sad melody lies in that word！ It is like the death…cry of my youth。 I think the very air must weep when this name vibrates upon it。 Trenck； Trenck！ How beautiful； how lovely that sounds； it is a sweet； harmonious song； it sings to me softly of the only happiness of my life。 Ah； how long； how long since this song was silenced！ All within me is desolate！ On every side my heart is tornon every side！ Oh； so drear； so fearful！ All！ all！〃 Lost in her own thoughts； these words had been slowly uttered。 She had forgotten that she was not alone with her remembrances； which like a cloud had gathered round about her and shut off the outward world。
Ranuzi did not dare to recall her thoughtshe still knelt at her feet。
Suddenly her whole frame trembled； and she sprang up。 〃My God！ I dream； while he calls me！ I am idly musing； and Trenck has need of me。 Speak； sir； speak！ What do you know of him？ Have you seen him？ Did he send you to me？〃
〃He sent me； your highness； but I have not seen him。 Have the grace to listen to me。 Ah； your highness； in what I now say I lay the safety of a dear and valued friend； yes； his life； at your feet。 One word from you； and he will be delivered over to a court…martial and be shot。 But you will not speak that wordyou are an angel of mercy。〃
〃Speak； sirspeak； sir；〃 said Amelia； breathlessly。 〃My God！ do you not see that I am dying from agitation？〃
〃Princess； Trenck liveshe is in chainshe is in a hole under the earthbut he lives； and as long as he has life； he hopes in you has wild dreams of liberty； and his friends think and hope with him。 Trenck has friends who are ready to offer up their lives for him。 One of them is in the fortress of Magdeburghe is lieutenant of the guard； another is a Captain Kimsky； prisoner of war； I am a third。 I have known Trenck since my youth。 In our beautiful days of mirth and revelry； we swore to stand by each other in every danger。 The moment has come to fulfil my oathTrenck is a prisoner； and I must help to liberate him。 Our numbers are few and dismemberedwe need allies in the fortress； and still more in the city。 We need powerful assistance； and no one but your highness can obtain it for us。〃
〃I have an assured and confidential friend in Magdeburg；〃 said the princess； 〃at a hint from me he will be ready to stand by you to〃
Suddenly she was silent； and cast a searching； threatening glance at Ranuzi。 She had been too often deceived and circumventedsnares had been too often laid at her feetshe was distrustful。 〃No； no；〃 said she； at last； sternly； rudely〃I will take no part in this folly。 Go； sirgo。 You are a poor soothsayer； and I will have nothing to do with you。〃
Ranuzi smiled； and drew a folded paper from his bosom； which he handed to the princess。 It contained these words： 〃Count Ranuzi is an honest manhe can be trusted unconditionally。〃 Under these words was written： 〃Nel tue giorni felici； vicordati da me。〃
The breast of Amelia heaved convulsivelyshe gazed at these written characters； at last her eyes filled with tearsat last her heart was overcome by those painful and passionate feelings which she had so long kept in bondage。 She pressed the paper； the lines on which were written with his blood； to her lips； and hot tears gushed from those poor eyes which for long； long years； had lost the power to weep。
〃Now； sir；〃 said she； 〃I believe in you； I trust you。 Tell me what I have to do。〃
〃Three things fail us； princess： A house in Magdeburg； where Trenck's friends can meet at all hours； and make all necessary preparations； and where he can be concealed after his escape。 Secondly； a few reliable and confiding friends； who will unite with us and aid us。 Thirdly； we must have goldwe must bribe the guard； we must buy horses； we must buy friends in the fortress； and lastly； we must buy French clothing。 Besides this； I must have permission to go for a few days to Magdeburg； and there on the spot I can better make the final preparations。 A fair pretext shall not fail me for this； Captain Kimsky is my near relativehe will be taken suddenly ill； and as a dying request he will beg to see me； one of his comrades will bring me notice of this； and I will turn imploringly to your highness。〃
〃I will obtain you a passport；〃 said Amelia； decisively。
〃While in Magdeburg； the flight will be arranged。〃
〃And you believe you will succeed？〃 said the princess； with a bright smile； which illuminated her poor deformed visage with a golden ray of hope。
〃I do not only believe it； I know it； that is； if your royal highness will assist us。〃
The princess made no reply； she stepped to her desk and took from it several rolls of gold； then seated herself and wrote with a swift hand： 〃You must trust the bearer fully； he is my friend； assist him in all that he undertakes。〃 She folded the paper and sealed it。
Ranuzi followed every movement with flashing eyes and loudly beating heart。