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Ranuzi followed every movement with flashing eyes and loudly beating heart。 As she took the pen to write the address a ray of wild triumph lighted his dark face； and a proud smile played about his mouth。 As Amelia turned； all this disappeared； and he was dignified and grave as before。
〃Take this； sir；〃 said she； 〃you see that I place in your power a faithful and beloved friend； he is lost if you are false。 As soon as you reach Magdeburg go to him； and he will make other friends and allies known to you。〃
〃Can I make use of this address； and write under it to my friend Kimsky？〃 said Ranuzi。
〃Yes； without danger。 To…day I will find means to inform him that he may expect this letter。 Here is gold； two hundred ducats； all that I have at present。 When this is exhausted； turn again to me and I will again supply you。〃
Ranuzi took the gold and said； smilingly； 〃This is the magic means by which we will break his chains。〃
Amelia took a costly diamond pin； which lay upon the table； and gave it to Ranuzi。 She pointed to the paper marked with blood； which she still held in her hand。
〃This is a most precious jewel which you have given melet us exchange。〃
Ranuzi fell upon his knees and kissed her hand as ho took the pin。
〃And now； sir； go。 My maid is a salaried spy； and a longer interview would make you suspected。 You would be watched； and all discovered。 Go！ If I believed in the power of prayer； I would lie upon my knees night and day； and pray for God's blessing upon your effort。 As it is； I can only follow you with my thoughts and hopes。 Farewell！〃
〃Your royal highness sends no reply to these lines； written with Trenck's heart's blood？〃
Amelia took the pen and wrote a few hasty lines upon the paper； which she handed Ranuzi。 The words were： 〃Ovunque tu sei vicina ti sono。〃
〃Give him that；〃 said she； 〃it is not written with my heart's blood； but my heart bleeds for himbleeds ever inwardly。 And now resume your role of soothsayerI must call my ladies。〃
The afternoon of this day Ranuzi wrote to his friend； Captain Kimsky； prisoner of war at Magdeburg： 〃The train is laid； and will succeed。 The fortress will soon be in our hands。 A romantic； sentimental woman's heart is a good thing； easily moved to intrigues。 Magdeburg will be ours！ Prepare everythingbe ill； and call for me； I shall get a passport。 I have a powerful protectress； and with such； you know； a man mar attain all the desires of his heart！〃
CHAPTER VI。
A COURT DAY IN BERLIN。
It was the birthday of Prince Henry； and was to be celebrated with great pomp at the court。 The king had himself written explicitly on this subject to the master of ceremonies； Baron Pollnitz。 Pollnitz was； therefore； actively occupied in the early morning； and no general ever made his preparations for a battle with more earnestness and importance than the good baron gave his orders for the splendid fete which was to be given in the royal apartments that night。
And this was indeed a great opportunity。 The people of Berlin were to enjoy a ball and a concert； at which all the Italian singers were to be present； and then a rare and costly supper； to which not only the court； but all the officers who were prisoners of war were to be invited。
This supper was to Pollnitz the great circumstance； the middle point of the fete。 Such an entertainment was now rare at the court of Berlin； and many months might pass away ere the queen would think of giving another supper。 Pollnitz knew that when he thirsted now for a luxurious meal he must enjoy it at his own cost； and this thought made him shudder。 The worthy baron was at the same time a spendthrift and a miser。
Four times in every year he had three or four days of rare and rich enjoyment； he lived en grand seigneur； and prepared for himself every earthly luxury； these were the first three or four days of every quarter in which he received his salary。 With a lavish hand he scattered all the gold which he could keep back from his greedy creditors； and felt himself young； rich； and happy。 After these fleeting days of proud glory came months of sad economy； he was obliged to play the role of a parasitical plant； attach himself to some firm； well…rooted stem； and absorb its strength and muscle。 In these days of restraint he watched like a pirate all those who were in the condition to keep a good table； and so soon as he learned that a dinner was on hand； he knew how to conquer a place。 At these times he was also a passionate devotee of the card…table； and it was the greatest proof of his versatility and dexterity that he always succeeded in making up his party； though every man knew it cost gold to play cards with Pollnitz。 The grand…master had the exalted principles of Louis XV。 of France； who was also devoted to cards。 Every evening the great Louis set apart a thousand louis d'or to win or lose。 If the king won； the gold went into his private pocket； if he lost； the state treasury suffered。
Following this royal example； Pollnitz placed the gold he won in his pocket； if he lost； he borrowed the money to payhe considered this borrowed sum as also the clear profit of his game； he was assured to win； and in this way he obtained his pocket money。
To…day； however； he would not be merry at a strange table； he himself would do the honors； and he had conducted the arrangements of the table with a scholarship and knowledge of details which would have obtained the admiration of the Duke de Richelieu。
On this occasion it was not necessary to restrain his luxurious desires and tastes。 Honor demanded that the court should show itself in full pomp and splendor； and prove to the world that this long； wearisome war had not exhausted the royal treasury； nor the royal table service of silver； in short； that it was an easy thing to carry on the war； without resorting to the private treasures of the royal house。
It was； therefore； necessary to bring out for this great occasion the golden service which had been the king's inheritance from his mother。 Frederick's portion had been lately increased by the death of the Margravino of Baireuth； who had explicitly willed her part to her brother Frederick。 ＇Footnote： When the court fled； after the battle of Kunendorf； to Magdeburg； they took the golden service which the king inherited from his mother with them； that portion given to Frederick by the margravino was left in Berlin； and the next year； 1760； was seized by the Russians and carried to Petersburg〃Geschichte Berlins；〃 vol。 v。； p。 2。＇
The queen and the princesses were to appear in all the splendor of their jewels； and by their costly and exquisite toilets impose upon these proud and haughty officers； whom fate had sent as prisoners of war to Berlin； and who would not fail to inform their respective governments of all they saw in the capital。
This fete was a demonstration made by the king to his over…confident enemies。 He would prove to them that if he wished for peace it was not because the gold failed to carry on the war； but because he wished to give rest and the opportunity to recover to Europe； groaning and bleeding from a thousand wounds。 Besides this； the king wished to show his subjects； by the celebration of his brot