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not escape his punishment。 Let him but try to cross my bordershe will find a snare spread； a cage from which he cannot escape。 Yes； so it shall be。 But neither the world nor Trenck shall suspect why this is done。 If my brothers and envious persons hold him up in future as an example of my hardness of heart； what do I care for their approval； or the praise of short…sighted men！ I do my duty； and am answerable only to God and myself。 Trenck intends to murder meI must preserve myself for my people。 My mission is not yet accomplished； and if a poisonous insect crosses my path； I must crush it。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
THE UNWILLING BRIDEGROOM。
Prince Henry had again passed eight days in arresteight tedious days； days of powerless anger and painful humiliation。 This arrest had been； by the king's express orders； so strict； that no one was allowed to see the prince but Pollnitz； who belonged； as the king said； to the inventory of the house of Hohenzollern； and； therefore； all doors were open to him。
Pollnitz alone had； therefore； the pleasure of hearing the complaints； and reproaches； and bitter accusations of the prince against his brother。 Pollnitz always had an attentive ear for these complaints； and after listening to the prince with every appearance of real feeling and warm sympathy； he would hasten to the king； and with drooping eyelids and rejoicing heart repeat the bitter and hateful words of the unsuspicious princewords that were well calculated to increase the king's displeasure。 The prince still declared that he would not marry； and the king insisted that he must submit to his will and commands。
Thus the eight days had passed； and Pollnitz came to…day with the joyful news that his arrest was at an end； and he was now free。
〃That means；〃 said the prince； bitterly； 〃that I am free to wander through the stupid streets of Potsdam； appear at his table； that my clothes may be soiled by his unbearable four…legged friends； and my ears deafened by the dull； pedantic conversation of his no less unbearable two…legged friends。〃
〃Your highness can save yourself from all these small annoyances；〃 said Pollnitz； 〃you have only to marry。〃
〃Marry； bah！ That means to give my poor sister…in…law； Elizabeth Christine； a companion； that they may sing their sorrows to each other。 No； I have not the bravery of my kingly brother； to make a feeling； human being unhappy in order to satisfy state politics。 No； I possess not the egotism to purchase my freedom with the life…long misery of another。〃
〃But； mon Dieu！ my prince；〃 said Pollnitz； in his cynical way； 〃you look at it in too virtuous a manner。 All women are not as good and pure as poor Elizabeth Christine； and know how to compensate themselves in other quarters for the indifference of their husbands。 We are not speaking here of a common marriage； but of the betrothal of a prince。 You do not marry your heart； but your hand。 Truly such a marriage…ceremony is a protecting talisman； that may be held up to other women as an iron shield upon which； all their egotistical wishes； all their extravagant demands must rebound。 Moreover； a married man is entirely sans consequence for all unmarried women； and if they should love such a one； the happy mortal may be convinced that his love is really a caprice of the heart； and not a selfish calculation or desire to marry。〃
The prince regarded the smiling courtier earnestly； almost angrily。 〃Do you know；〃 he said； 〃that what you say appears to me very immoral？〃
〃Immoral？〃 asked Pollnitz； astonished； 〃what is that？ Your princely highness knows that I received my education at the French court； under the protection of the Regent of Orleans and the Princess of the Palatinate； and there I never heard this word immoral。 Perhaps your highness will have the kindness to explain it to me。〃
〃That would be preaching to deaf ears；〃 said the prince； shrugging his shoulders。 〃We will not quarrel about the meaning of a word。 I only wish to make you understand that I would not marry at my brother's bon plaisir。 I will not continue this race of miserable princes； that are entirely useless； and consequently a burden to the state。 Oh！ if Heaven would only give me the opportunity to distinguish myself before this people； and give to this name that is go small； so unworthy； a splendor； a color； a signification！〃
〃Your highness is ambitous；〃 said Pollnitz； as the prince； now silent； paced his room with deep emotion。
〃Yes； I am ambitiousI thirst for action； renown； and activity。 I despise this monotonous； colorless existence； without end or aim。 By God！ how happy I should be； if； instead of a prince； I could be a simple private man； proprietor of a small landed estate； with a few hundred subjects； that I should endeavor to make happy！ But I am nothing but a king's brother； have nothing but my empty title and the star upon my coat。 My income is so small； so pitiful； that it would scarcely suffice to pay the few servants I have； if； at the same time； they were not paid by the king as his spies。〃
〃But all this will cease as soon as you speak the decisive word； as soon as you declare yourself prepared to marry。〃
〃And you dare to tell me this？〃 cried the prince； with flashing eyes〃you； that know I love a lady who is unfortunately no princess； or do you believe that a miserable prince has not the heart of a manthat he does not possess the ardent desire； the painful longing for the woman he loves？〃
〃Oh； women do not deserve that we should love them so ardently； they are all fickle and inconstant； believe me； my prince。〃
The prince cast a quick； questioning glance at the smiling countenance of the courtier。
〃Why do you say this to me？〃 he asked； anxiously。
〃Because I am convinced of its truth； your highness； because I believe no woman has the power to preserve her love when obstacles are placed in the way； or that she can be faithful for the short space of eight days； if her lover is absent。〃
The prince was startled； and looked terrified at Pollnitz。
〃Eight days；〃 he murmured； 〃it is eight daysno； it is twelve since I saw Louise。〃
〃Ah； twelve daysand your highness has the really heroic belief that she still loves you？〃
The prince sighed； and his brow clouded； but only for a few moments； and his countenance was again bright and his eyes sparkled。
〃Yes； I have this belief； and why should I not have it； as my own heart had stood the trial？ I have not seen her for twelve days； have not heard of her； and still my love is as great and as ardent as ever。 Yes； I believe that at the thought of her my heart beats more quickly； more longingly than if I had her in my arms。〃
〃The reason of this；〃 said Pollnitz； almost sympathetically； 〃is that it is your first love。〃
Prince Henry looked at him angrily。
〃You are wrong and most unjust to this beautiful woman； who remained good and pure in the midst of the corrupting and terrible circumstances in which destiny placed her。 She preserved a chaste heart； an unspotted soul。 Her misfortunes only refined her； and therefore I love her； and believe that God has placed me in her way that； after all her sufferings； I might make her happy。 Oh； precisely because of her sorrows； the shameful s