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〃It was cowardly to fly；〃 he murmured； 〃but I felt that I should murder them； if they came out of the hut before my eyes。 A voice within whispered； 'Fly； or you will be a murderer！' I obeyed it almost against my will。 It was cowardlyan unpardonable error； but I will return to the hut。〃
He sprang forward like a tiger； ready to fall upon his prey。 His hand involuntarily sought his side for his sword。
〃Ah； I have no weapon；〃 he said； gnashing his teeth； 〃I must murder them with my hands。〃
He advanced with uplifted head； defiant as a conqueror； or as one who has overcome death and has nothing to fear。 The hut was again before him； but it no longer smiled at him； it filled him with horror and fury。 Now he has reached it； and with one blow he bursts open the door； but it is empty。 The prince had not remarked that the ivy…wreath was no longer displayed； and that the hut was therefore vacant。
〃They are gone；〃 he murmured。 〃This time they have escaped punishment； but it surely awaits them。〃
CHAPTER IX。
BROTHER AND SISTER。
A month had passed since Amelia dispatched her emissary to the queen's fireman； and she had as yet received no definite intelligence。 General Riedt had called but once； he told her he had succeeded in interesting the Savoyard in Trenck's fate； and he had promised to remind the empress of the unfortunate prisoner。 But a condition must be attached to this promise： no one must approach him again on this subject； it must be kept an inviolable secret。 Only when Trenck was free would the fireman receive the other half of the stipulated sum； if he failed in his attempt； he would return the money he now held。
This was all that the princess had heard from Vienna； her heart was sorrowfulalmost hopeless。 Trenck still sat in his wretched prison at Magdeburg； and she scarcely dared hope for his release。
It was a dark； tempestuous November day。 The princess stood at the window； gazing at the whirling snow…flakes； and listening to the howling of the pitiless storm。 They sounded to her like the raging shrieks of mocking； contending spirits； and filled her heart with malignant joy。
〃Many ships will go down to destruction in the roaring sea； many men will lose all that they possess；〃 she murmured； with a coarse laugh。 〃God sends His favorite daughter； the bride of the winds； she sings a derisive song to men； she shows them how weak； how pitiful they are。 She sweeps away their possessionstouches them on that point where alone they are sensitive。 I rejoice in the howling； whistling tempest！ This is the voice of the great world…spirit； dashing by in the thunder； and making the cowardly hearts of men tremble。 They deserve this punishment； they are utterly unworthy and contemptible。 I hate； I despise them all！ Only when I see them suffer can I be reconciled to them。 Aha！ the storm has seized a beautifully…dressed lady。 How it whirls and dashes her about！ Look how it lifts her robe； making rare sport of her deceitful； affected modesty。 Miserable； variegated butterfly that you are； you think yourself a goddess of youth and beauty。 This wild tempest teaches you that you are but a poor； pitiful insect； tossed about in the world like any other creeping thinga powerless atom。 The storm first takes possession of your clothes； now of your costly hat。 Wait； my lady； wait！ one day it will take your heart； it will be crushed and broken to piecesthere will be none to pity。 The world laughs and mocks at the wretched。 Misfortune is the only disgrace which is never forgiven。 You may be a thief； a murderer； and you will be pardoned if you are adroit enough to slip your head from the noose。 Criminals are pitied and pardoned； unfortunates never。 Ah； this is a mad； gay world； and they are fools who take it earnestly； who do not laugh laugh even as I do。〃
The princess laughed aloudif that could be called a laugh； from which she shuddered back herself in terror。
〃It is bitter cold here； 〃she said； shuddering； 〃I think I shall never be warm again。 I am always freezing； and this miserable frost has turned my heart and soul to ice。 I would like to know if they will thaw in the grave？〃
She stepped slowly from the window； and crept through the large； empty room to the chimney； where a large wood…fire was burningnow flickering up in clear flames； now breaking into glowing coals。
Amelia took the poker； and amused herself by dashing the coals apart； and watching the flashing； dancing flames。 The fire seemed to embrace her whole figure； and threw a rosy shimmer over her wan and fallen cheeks。 She gazed deep down into the glowing coals； and murmured broken； disconnected words。 From time to time a mocking smile trembled on her lips； then heavy sighs wrung her breast。 Was she perhaps telling the fire of the flames which raged within her bosom？ Was she perhaps a magician； who understood the language of these mysterious tongues of flame； and answered their burning questions？ The hasty opening of the door aroused her from her dreams； and a page entered and announced in a loud voice〃His majesty the king！〃
Amelia bowed her head； and advanced slowly and with a stern countenance to meet the king； who now appeared at the threshold。
〃May I enter； my sister； or do you command me to withdraw？〃 said Frederick； smiling。
〃The king has no permission to ask；〃 said Amelia； earnestly； 〃he is everywhere lord and master。 The doors of all other prisons open before him； and so also do mine。〃
Frederick nodded to the page to leave the room and close the door； then advanced eagerly to meet his sister。 Giving her his hands he led her to the divan； and seated himself beside her。
〃You regard me then as a kind of jailer？〃 he said； in a gentle； loving voice。
〃Can a king be any thing but a jailer？〃 she said； roughly。 〃Those who displease him； he arrests and casts into prison； and not one of his subjects can be sure that he will not one day displease him。〃
〃You； at least； my sister； have not this to fear； and yet you have just called this your prison。〃
〃It is a prison； sire。〃
〃And am I； then； your jailer？〃
〃No； sire； life is my jailer。〃
〃You are right； there； Amelia。 Life is the universal jailer； from whom death alone can release us。 The world is a great prison； and only fools think themselves free。 But we are involuntarily commencing an earnest； philosophical conversation。 I come to you to rest； to refresh myself； to converse harmlessly and cheerfully； as in our earlier and happier days。 Tell me something； dear sister； of your life； your occupations； and your friends？〃
〃That is easily done； and requires but few words；〃 said Amelia； hoarsely。 〃Of my life I have already told you all that can be said。 Life is my jailer； and I look longingly to death； who alone can release me。 As to my well…being； there is nothing to say； all is evil； only evil continually。 My occupations are monotonous； I am ever asleep。 Night and day I sleep and dream； and why should I awake？ I have nothing to hope； nothing to do。 I am a superfluous piece of furniture in this castle； and I know well you will all rejoice when I am placed in the vault。 I am an old maid； or； if you prefer it； I am a wall…frog； who has nothing to do but creep into my hole； and