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The princess believed in these presentiments。 She had faith in dreams and prophecies； as do all those unhappy beings to whom fate has denied real happiness； and who seek wildly in fantastic visions for compensation。 She loved； therefore； to look into the future through fortune…tellers and dark oracles； and thus prepare herself for the sad events which lay before her。 The day before； the renowned astrologer Pfannenstein had warned her of approaching peril； he declared that a cloud of tears was in the act of bursting upon her！ Princess Amelia believed in his words； and waited with a bold； resolved spirit for the breaking of the cloud； whose gray veil she already felt to be round about her。
These sad thoughts were interrupted by a light knock upon the door； and her maid entered and announced that the master of ceremonies； Baron Pollnitz； craved an audience。
Amelia shuddered； but roused herself quickly。 〃Let him enter！〃 she said； hastily。 The short moment of expectation seemed an eternity of anguish。 She pressed her hands upon her heart； to still its stormy beatings； she looked with staring； wide…opened eyes toward the door through which Pollnitz must enter； and she shuddered as she looked upon the ever…smiling； immovable face of the courtier； who now entered her boudoir； with Mademoiselle von Marwitz at his side。
〃Do you know； Pollnitz；〃 said she； in a rough； imperious tone〃do you know I believe your face is not flesh and blood； but hewn from stone； or； at least； one day it was petrified？ Perhaps the fatal hour struck one day； just as you were laughing over some of your villainies； and your smile was turned to stone as a judgment。 I shall know this look as long as I live； it is ever most clearly marked upon your visage； when you have some misfortune to announce。〃
〃Then this stony smile must have but little expression to…day； for I do not come as a messenger of evil tidings； but if your royal highness will allow me to say so； as a sort of postillon d'amour。〃
Amelia shrank back for a moment； gave one glance toward Mademoiselle von Marwitz； whom she knew full well to be the watchful spy of her mother； and whose daily duty it was to relate to the queen…mother every thing which took place in the apartment of the princess。 She knew that every word and look of Pollnitz was examined with the strictest attention。
Pollnitz； however； spoke on with cool self…possession：
〃You look astonished； princess； it perhaps appears to you that this impassive face is little suited to the role of postillon d'amour； and yet that is my position； and I ask your highness's permission to make known my errand。〃
〃I refuse your request；〃 said Amelia； roughly； 〃I have nothing to do with Love； and find his godship as old and dull as the messenger he has sent me。 Go back； then； to your blind god； and tell him that my ears are deaf to his love greeting； and the screeching of the raven is more melodious than the tenderest words a Pollnitz can utter。〃
The princess said this in her most repulsive tone。 She was accustomed to shield herself in this rude manner from all approach or contact； and； indeed； she attained her object。 She was feared and avoided。 Her witty bon mots and stinging jests were repeated and merrily laughed over； but the world knew that she scattered her sarcasms far and wide； in order to secure her isolation； to banish every one from her presence； so that none might hear her sighs； or read her sad history in her countenance。
〃And yet； princess； I must still implore a hearing；〃 said he； with imperturbable good…humor； 〃if my voice is rough as the raven's； your royal highness must feed me with sugar； and it will become soft and tender as an innocent maiden's。〃
〃I think a few ducats would be better for your case；〃 said Amelia； 〃a Pollnitz is not to be won with sweets； but for gold he would follow the devil to the lower regions。〃
〃You are right； princess； I do not wish to go to heaven； but be low； there I am certain to find the best and most interesting society。 The genial people are all born devils； and your highness has ever confessed that I am genial。 Then let it be so！ I will accept the ducats which your royal highness think good for me； and now allow me to discharge my duty。 I come as the messenger of Prince Henry： He sends his heart…felt greetings to his royal sister； and begs that she will do him the honor to attend fete at Rheinsberg； which will take place in eight days。〃
〃Has the master of ceremonies of the king become the fourrier of Prince Henry？〃 said Amelia。
〃No； princess； I occasionally and accidentally perform the function of a fourrier。 This invitation was not my principal object to…day。〃
〃I knew it；〃 said Amelia； ironically。 〃My brother Henry does not love me well enough to invite me to this fete； if he had not some other object to attain。 Well； what does Prince Henry wish？〃
〃A small favor； your royal highness； he wishes； on the birthday of his wife； to have Voltaire's 'Rome Sauvee' given by the French tragedians。 Some years since your highness had a great triumph in this piece。 The prince remembers that Voltaire prepared the role of Aurelia especially for you； with changes and additions； and he entreats you； through me； the temporary Directeur des spectacles de Rheinsberg； to lend him this role for the use of his performer。〃
〃Why does not my brother rather entreat me to take this part myself？〃 said Amelia； in cruel mockery over herself。 〃It appears to me I could look the part of Aurelia； and my soft； flute…like voice would make a powerful impression upon the public。 It is cruel of Prince Henry to demand this role of me； it might be inferred that he thought I had become old and ugly。〃
〃Not so； your highness； the tragedy is to be performed on this occasion by public actors； and not by amateurs。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Amelia； suddenly becoming grave； 〃at that time we were amateurs； lovers of the drama； our dreams are overwe live in realities now。〃
〃Mademoiselle von Marwitz； have the goodness to bring the manuscript my brother wishes； it is partly written by Voltaire's own hand。 You will find it in the bureau in my dressing…room。〃
Mademoiselle Marwitz withdrew to get the manuscript； as she left the room； she looked back suspiciously at Pollnitz and； as if by accident； left the door open which led to the dressing…room。
Mademoiselle Marwitz had scarcely disappeared； before Pollnitz sprang forward； with youthful agility； and closed the door。
〃Princess； this commission of Prince Henry's was only a pretext。 I took this order from the princess's maitre d'hotel in order to approach your highness unnoticed； and to get rid of the watchful eyes of your Marwitz。 Now listen well； Weingarten； the Austrian secretary of Legation； was with me to…day。〃
〃Ah； Weingarten；〃 murmured the princess； tremblingly； 〃he gave you a letter for me； quick； quick； give it to me。〃
〃No； he gave me no letter； it appears that he； who formerly sent letters； is no longer in the condition to do so。〃
〃He is dead！〃 cried Amelia with horror； and sank back as if struck by lightning。
〃No； princess； he is not dead； but in great danger。 It appears that Weingarten is in great need of money； for a hundred louis d'o