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〃They are already saddled； prince；〃 said Baron Kalkreuth。 〃I have ordered them to the court； and as soon as it is dark we will mount them。〃
〃What！ is it not best that we should mount before my door and ride openly away？〃 said the prince； wonderingly。
〃It is my opinion that is the best plan；〃 cried Baron Kaphengst； laughing gayly。 〃Every one will believe your highness to be simply taking a ride； while curiosity would be raised if we left the city on foot。〃
〃I think leaving in the dark； and on foot； looks as if I were afraid；〃 said the prince； thoughtfully。
〃Secrecy is good for priests and old women； but not for us；〃 cried Kaphengst。
〃Secrecy suits all who wish to do wrong；〃 said Kalkreuth； earnestly。
The prince glanced hastily at him。 〃You believe； then； we are about to do wrong？〃
〃I dare not speak of your highness； but we two are certainly doing wrong； we are about to commit an act of insubordination。 But still； my prince； I am ready to do so； as your highness wishes us to accompany you。〃
The prince did not answer； but stepped to the window； and looked out thoughtfully and silently。 In a few moments he returned； looking calm and resolute。
〃Kalkreuth is rightwe were going to do wrong； and we must avoid it。 I shall write to the king； and ask leave for you and myself to go to Berlin。〃
〃That is； unfortunately； impossible；〃 said a sweet voice behind him； and as the prince turned he saw the smiling face of Pollnitz。 〃I beg pardon； your highness； for having entered unannounced； but you allowed me to come at this hour and give you an account of the commissions you gave me。〃
〃Why do you say it is impossible to obtain leave of the king today？〃 asked Henry； hastily。
〃Because his majesty is already in the concert…saloon； and your highness knows that he has strictly forbidden any one to disturb him there。〃
〃We shall； then； have to give up our plan and remain here；〃 said the prince。
Kaphengst glanced angrily and threateningly at his friend。
〃And why should your highness do this？〃 asked Pollnitz； astonished。 〃All your preparations are made； all your commands fulfilled。 I have procured your costumes； no one will recognize you； and if they should； would not dare to betray you to the king。 Only two persons know that you are to visit the ball； the Prince of Prussia； and a lovely lady； whose beautiful eyes were misty with tears when I delivered her your message。 'Tell the prince；' she murmured； in a tender voice； 'I will await him there； even if I knew the king would crush me with his anger。'〃
The prince blushed with joy。 〃And you say it is impossible for me to see the king？〃
〃Impossible； my prince。〃
〃Well； we will have to renounce it；〃 said the prince； sighing。
〃Renounce seeing the king； yes！ for he will not leave his rooms in Sans…Souci today。〃
〃Then we would be entirely safe； he would not notice our departure；〃 said Kaphengst； quickly。
〃Entirely safe；〃 said Pollnitz。
〃That is； if Baron Pollnitz does not himself inform the king；〃 said Baron Kalkreuth； whose quick； clear glance rested upon the smiling face of the courtier； and appeared to read his inmost thoughts。
Baron Pollnitz cast a suspicious and angry glance at Kalkreuth。 〃I did not know that borrowing money from you gave you the right to speak rudely to me！〃
〃Silence！ gentlemen；〃 cried the prince； who； until now； had stood quietly struggling with his own wishes。 〃Take your cloaks and let us walk。 Did you not say that horses were awaiting us at the door； Baron Kalkreuth？〃
〃I said so； your highness。〃
〃And you Pollnitz？ Did you not say that three costumes awaited us in Berlin？〃
〃Yes； your highness。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the prince； smiling； 〃we must not allow the horses and costumes to await us any longer。 Come； gentlemen； we will ride to Berlin。〃
〃Really it was hard to get him off；〃 murmured Pollnitz； as he regained the street； and saw the three young men fading in the distance。 〃The good prince had quite a dutiful emotion； if the king only knew it； he would forgive him all； and renounce the idea of his marriage。 But that would not suit memy debts would not be paid！ I must not tell the king of his brother's inward struggle。〃
〃Well！〃 said the king； as Pollnitz entered； 〃has my brother really gone to Berlin？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； and accompanied by the two Messieurs〃
〃Silence！〃 cried the king； hastily； 〃I do not wish to know their names； I should have to punish them also。 He has then gone； and without any hesitation； any reluctance？〃
〃Yes； sire； without hesitation。 He thinks he has the right to go where he pleases； and to amuse himself as he can。〃
〃Order the carriage； Pollnitz；〃 said the king。 〃Without doubt my brother has taken the shortest road to Berlin？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃Then there is no danger of our meeting them and being recognized； and as we have relays on the road； we will reach Berlin before them。〃
CHAPTER III。
LOUISE VON KLEIST。
Madame von Kleist was alone in her boudoir。 She had just completed her toilet； and was viewing herself with considerable pleasure in a large Venetian glass。 She had reason to be pleased。 The costume of an odalisque became her wonderfully； suited her luxuriant beauty； her large； dreamy blue eyes； her full red lips； her slender； swaying form。 At twenty…eight； Louise von Kleist was still a sparkling beauty； the many trials and sorrows she had passed through had not scattered the roses from her cheek； nor banished youth from her heart。
Louise von Kleist resembled greatly the little Louise von Schwerin of earlier daysthe little dreamer who found it romantic to love a gardener； and was quite ready to flee with him to a paradise of love。 The king's watchfulness saved her from this romantic folly； and gave her another husband。 This unhappy match was now at an end。 Louise was again free。 She still felt in her heart some of the wild love of romance and adventure of the little Louise； she was the same daring； dreamy； impressible Louise； only now she was less innocent。 The little coquette from instinct was changed into a coquette from knowledge。
She stood before the glass and surveyed once more her appearance； then acknowledged with a pleased smile that she was beautiful enough to fascinate all men； to arouse in all hearts a painful longing。
〃But I shall love no one but the prince；〃 she said； 〃and when my power over him is sufficient to induce him to marry me； I shall reward him by my faith； and entire submission to his wishes。 Oh！ I shall he a virtuous wife； a true and faithful mother； and my lovely little Camilla shall find in her mother a good and noble example。 I shall promise this to my angel with my farewell kiss； and thento the ball！〃
She entered the next chamber； and stood at her child's bed。 What a strange sight！ This woman； in a fantastic； luxuriant costume； bending over the cot of the little girl； with such tender； pious looks； with folded hands； and soft； murmuring lips； uttering a prayer or holy wish！
〃How beautiful she is！〃 murmured Louise； not dreaming that her own beauty at this moment beamed with touching splendorthat mother love had changed the alluring coquette into an adorable saint〃how beautiful she is！〃
The gay； rin