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〃Yes； speak；〃 said the king； 〃but quickly； or the crowd will take your secret from you。〃
〃Hostess！〃 cried Deesen； from the box； 〃do you know what that crowd means？〃
〃No；〃 she said； superciliously。
〃I will explain； listen； madame。 The magistrates are coming to greet the King of Prussia！〃
〃The King of Prussia！〃 shrieked the hostess。 〃Where is the King of Prussia？〃
〃Here！〃 cried Deesen； with a malicious grin； as he pointed to the king； 〃and I am his majesty's cabinet…hussar！ Forward； postilion！ quick； forward！〃
The postilion whipped his horses； and the carriage dashed by the mayors and senators； who were marching to greet the King of Prussia。 They never dreamed that he had just passed mischievously by them。
Two days later； the king and his companions stood on the Prussian border； on the spot where； in the beginning of their journey； the king had written the words 〃majesty〃 and 〃sire。〃
〃Look！〃 he said； pointing to the ground； 〃the two fatal words have not vanished away； the sun has hardened the ground； and they are still legible。 I must lift them from the sand； and wear them henceforth and forever。 Give me your hand； Balby； the poor musician； Frederick Zoller； will bid farewell to his friend； and not only to you； Balby； but farewell also to my youth。 This is my last youthful adventure。 Now； I shall grow old and cold gracefully。 One thing I wish to say before I resume my royalty； confidentially； I am not entirely displeased with the change。 It seems to me difficult to fill the role of a common man。 Men do not seem to love and trust each other fully； a man avenges himself on an innocent party for the wrongs another has committed。 Besides； I do not rightly understand the politenesses of common life； and； therefore； received many reproaches。 I believe； on the whole； it is easier to bestow than to receive them。 Therefore； I take up my crown willingly。〃
〃Will your majesty allow me a word？〃 said Deesen； stepping forward。
〃Speak； Deesen。〃
〃I thank Mr。 Zoller for saving my life。 As true as God lives； I should have stifled with rage if I had not told that haughty Hollander who Mr。 Zoller was and who I was。〃
〃Now； forward！ Farewell； Frederick Zoller！ Now I am on Prussian soil； the hour of thoughtless happiness is passed。 I fear； Balby； that the solemn duties of life will soon take possession of us。 So be it！ I accept my destinyI am again Frederick of Hohenzollern！〃
〃And I have the honor to be the first to greet your majesty on your own domain；〃 said Balby； as he bowed profoundly before the king。
BOOK II。
CHAPTER I。
THE UNHAPPY NEWS。
The Princess Amelia was alone in her room。 She was stretched upon a sofa； lost in deep thought； her eyes were raised to heaven； and her lips trembled； from time to time they murmured a word of complaint or of entreaty。
Amelia was ill。 She had been ill since that unhappy day in which she intentionally destroyed her beauty to save herself from a hated marriage。＇Footnote： See 〃Berlin and Sans…Souci。〃＇ Her eyes had never recovered their glance or early fire； they were always inflamed and veiled by tears。 Her voice had lost its metallic ring and youthful freshness； it sounded from her aching and hollow chest like sighs from a lonely grave。
Severe pain from time to time tortured her whole body； and contracted her limbs with agonizing cramps。 She had the appearance of a woman of sixty years of age； who was tottering to the grave。
In this crushed and trembling body dwelt a strong； powerful； healthy soul； this shrunken； contracted bosom was animated by a youthful； ardent； passionate heart。 This heart had consecrated itself to the love of its early years with an obstinate and feverish power。
In wild defiance against her fate； Amelia had sworn never to yield； never to break faith； to bear all； to suffer all for her love； and to press onward with unshaken resignation but never…failing courage through the storms and agonies of a desolate； misunderstood； and wretched existence。 She was a martyr to her birth and her love； she accepted this martyrdom with defiant self…reliance and joyful resignation。
Years had passed since she had seen Trenck； but she loved him still！ She knew he had not guarded the faith they had mutually sworn with the constancy that she had religiously maintained； but she loved him still！ She had solemnly sworn to her brother to give up the foolish and fantastic wish of becoming the wife of Trenck； but she loved him still！ She might not live for him； but she would suffer for him； she could not give him her hand； but she could consecrate thought and soul to him。 In imagination she was his； only his； he had a holy； an imperishable right to her。 Had she not sworn； in the presence of God； to be his through life down to the borders of the grave？ Truly； no priest had blessed them； God had been their priest； and had united them。 There had been no mortal witness to their solemn oaths； but the pure stars were presentwith their sparkling； loving eyes they had looked down and listened to the vows she had exchanged with Trenck。 She was therefore hishis eternally！ He had a sacred claim upon her constancy； her love； her forbearance； and her forgiveness。 If Trenck had wandered from his faith； she dared not follow his example； she must be ever ready to listen to his call； and give him the aid he required。
Amelia's love was her religion； her life's strength； her life's object； it was a talisman to protect and give strength in time of need。 She would have died without it； she lived and struggled with her grief only for his sake。
This was a wretched； joyless existencea never…ending martyrdom； a never…ceasing contest。 Amelia stood alone and unloved in her family； feared and avoided by all the merry； thoughtless； pleasure seeking circle。 In her sad presence they shuddered involuntarily and felt chilled； as by a blast from the grave。 She was an object of distrust and weariness to her companions and servants； an object of love and frank affection to no one。
Mademoiselle Ernestine von Haak had alone remained true to her； but she had married； and gone far away with her husband。 Princess Amelia was now alone； there was no one to whom she could express her sorrow and her fears； no one who understood her suppressed agony； or who spoke one word of consolation or sympathy to her broken heart。
She was alone in the world； and the consciousness of this steeled her strength； and made an impenetrable shield for her wearied soul。 She gave herself up entirety to her thoughts and dreams。 She lived a strange； enchanted； double life and twofold existence。 Outwardly； she was old； crushed； ill； her interior life was young； fresh； glowing； and energetic； endowed with unshaken power； and tempered in the fire of her great grief。 Amelia lay upon the divan and looked dreamily toward heaven。 A strange and unaccountable presentiment was upon her； she trembled with mysterious forebodings。 She had always felt thus when any new misfortunes were about to befall Trenck。 It seemed as if her soul was bound to his； and by means of an electric current she felt the blow in the same moment that it fell upon him。
The princess believed in these presentiments。 She had faith in dreams