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ter all her sufferings； I might make her happy。 Oh； precisely because of her sorrows； the shameful slanders with which she is pursued； and all for which she is reproached； I love her。〃
〃Well； my prince；〃 sighed Pollnitz； with a tragical expression； 〃I never saw a bolder hero and a more pious Christian than your highness。〃
〃What do you mean by that； Pollnitz？〃
〃That an enormous amount of bravery is necessary； prince； to believe Madame von Kleist chaste and innocent； and that only a pious Christian can count himself so entirely among those of whom Christ says； 'Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed。' May a good fairy long preserve you your bravery and your Christianity！ But surely your highness must have important and convincing proofs to believe in the innocence and faithfulness of this woman。 I confess that any other man would have been discouraged in his godlike belief by facts。 It is a fact that for twelve days Madame von Kleist has sent you no message through me； it is a fact that she was not at the masked ball； that as often as I have been to her in these last days； to deliver letters for your highness； and to obtain hers in return； she has never received me； always excused herself； and； therefore； I could not receive her letters； nor deliver those of your highness。〃
〃And were you not in Berlin early this morning！ Did you not go to her as I ordered you； and tell her she might expect me this evening？〃
〃I went to her house； but in vain； she was with the queen…mother； and I was told that she would not return until late in the evening； I therefore could not deliver the message； your highness。〃
The prince stamped his foot impatiently； and walked hastily to and fro； his brow was clouded； his lips trembled with inward emotion。 The sharp eye of the baron followed with an attentive； pitiless glance every movement of his face； noted every sigh that came from his anxious heart； that he might judge whether the seeds of mistrust that he had sown in the breast of the prince would grow。 But Prince Henry was still young； brave； and hopeful； it was his first love they wished to poison； but his young； healthy nature withstood the venom； and vanquished its evil effects。 His countenance resumed its quiet； earnest expression； and the cloud disappeared from his brow。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； standing before Pollnitz； and looking smilingly into his cunning face〃do you know that you do not descend； as the rest of mankind； from Adam and Eve； but in a direct line from the celebrated serpent？ And truly you do honor to your ancestor！ No paradise is holy to you； and to do evil gives you pleasure。 But you shall not disturb my paradise； and as much of the old Adam as is still in me； I will not be foolish enough to eat of the bitter fruit that you offer me。 No； you shall not succeed in making me jealous and distrustful； you shall not destroy my faith： and see you； those that believe are still in paradise； notwithstanding your ancestor； the serpent。〃
〃My prince；〃 said Pollnitz； shrugging his shoulders； 〃your highness looks upon me as a kind of Messiahat least it pleases you to give me a mother and no father。 But oh； my prince！ if you are right about my descent； philosophers are certainly wrong； for they maintain that the serpent of paradise left gold as a fearful inheritance to mankind。 I shall accuse my great…grandmother the serpent of disinheriting me and condemning me to live upon the generosity of my friends and patrons。〃
He looked at the prince； with a sly； covetous glance； but he had not understood him； engaged in deep thought； he had stepped to the window； and was gazing up at the heavens； where the clouds were chasing each other。
〃She will be the entire day with my mother； and I shall not see her；〃 he murmured。 Then； turning hastily to Pollnitz； he asked； 〃How is the queen…mother？ Did I not hear that she was suffering？〃
〃Certainly； your highness； a severe attack of gout confines her to her chair； and holds her prisoner。〃
〃Poor mother！ it is long since I saw you。〃
〃It is true； the queen complained of it the last time I spoke with her；〃 said Pollnitz； with a perfectly serious face； but with inward rejoicing。
Another pause ensued。 The prince appeared to reflect； and to struggle with his own thoughts and wishes。 Pollnitz stood behind him； and noted every motion； every sigh that he uttered； with his malicious smiles。
〃I believe；〃 said the prince； with still averted face； perhaps to prevent Pollnitz from seeing his blushes〃I believe it would be proper for me to inquire to…day personally after my mother's health； it is not only my duty to do so； but the desire of my heart。〃
〃Her majesty will be pleased to see her beloved son again； and this pleasure will hasten her recovery。〃
The prince turned hastily and glanced sharply at Pollnitz； as if he wished to read his inmost thoughts。 But the countenance of the courtier was earnest and respectful。
〃If that is your opinion；〃 said the prince； with a happy smile； 〃my duty as a son demands that I should hasten to the queen； and I will go immediately to Berlin。 But as I am going to my mother； and solely on her account； I will do it in the proper form。 Have； therefore； the kindness to obtain my leave of the kingbring me my brother's answer immediately； I only await it to depart。〃
〃And I hasten to bring it to your highness；〃 said Pollnitz； withdrawing。
Prince Henry looked thoughtfully after him。
〃I shall see her；〃 he murmured； 〃I shall speak with her； and shall learn why she withdrew herself so long from me。 Oh； I know she will be able to justify herself； and these slanders and evil reports will flee before her glance as clouds before the rays of the sun。〃
In the mean while； Pollnitz hastened to Sans Souci； where he was immediately received by the king。
〃Your majesty；〃 he said； joyfully； 〃the young lion has fallen into the net that we set for him。〃
〃He goes then to Berlin； to the queen…mother？〃 asked the king； quickly。
〃He begs your majesty's permission to take this little trip。〃
〃He really charged you with this commission？〃
〃Yes； sire： it appears that his obstinacy is beginning to relent； and that he thinks of submitting。〃
The king was silent； and walked thoughtfully to and fro； with clouded brow； then remained standing before Pollnitz； and looked sharply and piercingly at him。
〃You rejoice；〃 he said； coldly； 〃but you only think of your own advantage。 You are indifferent to the sorrow we are preparing for my brother。 You only think that your debts will be paid。 Yes； I will pay them； but I shall never forget that you have betrayed my brother's confidence。〃
〃I only acted according to your majesty's commands；〃 said Pollnitz； confounded。 〃Certainly； but if you had resisted my commands； I would have esteemed and prized you the more。 Now； I shall pay your debts； but I shall despise you。 No one has reasons for thanking you。〃
〃Sire； I desire no other thanks。 Had I been paid with money for my services； instead of fine speeches； I would have been as rich as Croesus。〃
〃And a beggar in virtue；〃 said the king； smiling。 〃But go； I was wrong to reproach you。 I shall now go to Berlin； and when my brother arrives he shall fi