whispers　misled　my　soul。　I　sold　my　honor　and　became　a　traitor；　and　all　this　for　the　sake　of　gold！　So　I　became　what　I　now　am。　I　do　not　reproach　you　Rosa；　for　most　likely　it　would　have　happened　without　you。〃
  〃But　what　danger　threatens　you　now？〃　asked　Rosa。
  〃The　just　punishment　for　a　traitor；〃　said　he；　hoarsely。　〃Give　me　some　wine；　Rosa；　so　that　I　can　gain　strength　to　go　to　the　king　at　once。〃
  〃To　the　king　at　this　early　hour？〃
  〃And　why　not？　Have　I　not　been　with　him　often　at　this　hour；　when　I　had　important　news　or　dispatches　to　give　him？　So　give　me　the　wine；　Rosa。〃
  Rosa　left　the　room；　but　returned　almost　instantly。　He　took　the　bottle　from　her　and　filled　a　glass　hastily。
  〃Now；〃　said　he；　breathing　deeply；　〃I　feel　that　I　live　again。　My　blood　flows　freely　through　my　veins；　and　my　heart　is　beating　loudly。　Now　to　the　king！〃
  He　stood　before　a　glass　for　a　moment　to　arrange　his　hair；　then　pressed　a　cold　kiss　upon　Rosa's　pale；　trembling　lips；　and　left　the　room。　With　a　firm；　sure　tread；　he　hurried　through　the　halls　and　chambers。　No　one　stopped　him；　for　no　one　was　there　to　see　him。　In　the　king's　antechamber　sat　Deesen　taking　his　breakfast。
  〃Is　the　king　up？〃　asked　Weingarten。
  〃The　sun　has　been　up　for　hours；　and　so　of　course　the　king　is　up；〃　said　Deesen；　proudly。
  〃Announce　me　to　his　majesty；　I　have　some　important　news　for　him。〃
  He　entered　the　king's　chamber；　and　returned　in　a　few　moments　for　Weingarten。
  The　king　was　sitting　in　an　arm…chair　by　a　window；　which　he　had　opened　to　breathe　the　fresh　summer　air。　His　white　greyhound；　Amalthea；　lay　at　his　feet；　looking　up　at　him　with　his　soft　black　eyes。　In　his　right　hand　the　king　held　his　flute。
  〃You　are　early；　sir；〃　said　he；　turning　to　Weingarten。　〃You　must　have　very　important　news。〃
  〃Yes；　sire；　very　important；〃　said　Weingarten；　approaching　nearer。
  The　king　reached　out　his　hand。　〃Give　them　to　me；〃　said　he。
  〃Sire；　I　have　no　dispatches。〃
  〃A　verbal　message；　then。　Speak。〃
  〃Sire；　all　is　lost；　Count　Puebla　suspects　me。〃
  The　king　was　startled　for　a　moment；　but　collected　himself　immediately。　〃He　suspects；　but　he　is　certain　of　nothing？〃
  〃No；　sire；　but　his　suspicion　amounts　almost　to　certainty。　Yesterday　I　was　copying　a　dispatch　which　was　to　go　that　evening；　and　which　was　of　the　highest　importance　to　your　majesty；　when　I　suddenly　perceived　Count　Puebla　standing　beside　me　at　my　desk。　He　had　entered　my　room　very　quietly；　which　showed　that　he　had　his　suspicions；　and　was　watching　me。　He　snatched　my　copy　from　the　desk　and　read　it。　'For　whom　is　this？'　said　he；　in　a　threatening　tone。　I　stammered　forth　some　excuses；　said　that　I　intended　writing　a　history；　and　that　I　took　a　copy　of　all　dispatches　for　my　work。　He　would　not　listen　to　me。　'You　are　a　traitor！'　said　he；　in　a　thundering　voice。　'I　have　suspected　you　for　some　time；　I　am　now　convinced　of　your　treachery。　You　shall　have　an　examination　tomorrow；　for　to…night　you　will　remain　a　prisoner　in　your　room。'　He　then　locked　my　desk；　put　the　key　in　his　pocket；　and；　taking　with　him　the　dispatch　and　my　copy；　left　the　room。　I　heard　him　lock　it　and　bolt　my　door。　I　was　a　prisoner。〃
  〃How　did　you　get　out？〃　said　the　king。
  〃By　the　window；　sire。　And　I　flew　here　to　throw　myself　at　your　majesty's　feet；　and　to　beg　for　mercy　and　protection。〃
  〃I　promised　you　protection　and　help　in　case　of　your　detectionI　will　fulfil　my　promise。　What　are　your　wishes。　Let　us　see　if　they　can　be　realized。〃
  〃Will　your　majesty　give　me　some　sure　place　of　refuge　where　Count　Puebla's　threats　cannot　harm　me？〃
  〃You　will　remain　here　in　the　dwelling　of　the　castle…warder　until　a　suitable　residence　can　be　found　for　you。　What　next？　What　plans　have　you　made　for　the　future？〃
  〃I　would　humbly　beseech　your　majesty　to　give　me　some　position　in　your　land　worthy　of　my　station；　such　as　your　highness　promised　me。〃
  〃You　remember　too　many　of　my　promises；〃　said　the　king；　shrugging　his　shoulders。
  〃Your　majesty　will　not　grant　me　the　promised　position？〃　said　Count　Weingarten；　tremblingly。
  〃I　remember　no　such　promise；〃　said　Frederick。　〃Men　of　your　stamp　are　paid；　but　not　rewarded。　I　have　made　use　of　your　treachery；　but　you　are；　nevertheless；　in　my　eyes　a　traitor；　and　I　will　have　none　such　in　my　service。〃
  〃Then　I　am　lost！〃　said　Weingarten。　〃My　honor；　my　good　name；　my　future　are　annihilated。〃
  〃Your　honor　has　been　weighed　with　gold；〃　said　the　king；　sternly；　〃and　I　think　I　have　already　paid　more　for　it　than　it　was　worth。　Your　good　name；　it　is　true；　will　be　from　now　changed　into　a　bad　one；　and　your　mother　will　have　to　blush　when　she　uses　it。　Therefore　I　advise　you　to　let　it　go；　to　take　another　name；　to　begin　a　new　existence；　and　to　found　a　new　future。〃
  〃A　future　without　honor；　without　name；　without　position！〃　sighed　Weingarten；　despairingly。
  〃So　are　men！〃　said　the　king；　softly；　〃insolent　and　stubborn　when　they　think　themselves　secure；　cowardly　and　uncertain　when　they　are　in　danger。　So　you　were　rash　enough　to　think　that　your　treacherous　deeds　would　always　remain　a　secret？　You　did　not　think　of　a　possible　detection；　or　prepare　yourself　for　it。　In　treading　the　road　which　you　have　trodden；　every　step　should　be　considered。　This；　it　seems　to　me；　you　have　not　done。　You　wish　to　enjoy　the　fruits　of　your　treachery　in　perfect　security；　but　you　have　not　the　courage　to　stand　before　the　world　as　a　traitor。　Do　away　with　this　name；　which　will　cause　you　many　dangers　and　insults。　Fly　from　this　place；　where　you　and　your　deeds　are　known。　Under　a　different　name　look　for　an　asylum　in　another　part　of　my　land。　Money　shall　not　fail　you；　and　if　what　you　have　earned　from　me　is　not　sufficient；　turn　to　me；　and　I　will　lend　you　still　more。　I　will　not　forget　that　to　me　your　treachery　has　been　of　great　use；　and　therefore　I　will　not　desert　you；　though　I　shall　despise　the　traitor。　And　now；　farewell！　This　is　our　last　meeting。　Call　this　afternoon　upon　my　treasurer；　he　will　pay　you　two　hundred　louis　d'or。　And　now　go。〃　And　with　a　scornful　look　at　Weingarten's　pale　countenance；　he　turned　to　the　window。
  Weingarten　hurried　past　the　halls　and　chambers；　and　entered　Rosa's　room。　She　read　in　his　pale；　sad　face　that　he　had　no　good　news　to　tell　her。
  〃Has　it　all　been　in　vain？〃　said　she；　breathlessly。
  〃In　vain？〃　cried　he；　with　a　scornful　smile。　〃No；　not　in　vain。　The　king　rewarded　me　well；　much　better　than　Judas　Iscariot　was　rewarded。　I　have　earned　a　large　sum　of　money；　and　am　still　to　receive　a　thousand　crowns。　Quiet　yourself；　Rosa；　we　will　be　very　happy；　for　we　will　have　money。　Only　I　must　ask　if　the　proud　daughter　of　the　royal　castle…warder　will　give　her　hand　to　a　man　who　can　offer　her　no　name；　no　position。　Rosa；　I　warn　you；　think　well　of　what　you　do。　You　loved　me　because　I　was　a　count；　and　had　position　to　offer　you。　From　to…　day；　I　have　no　position；　no　name；　no　honor；　no　family。　Like　Ahasuerus；　I　will　wander　wearily　through　the　world；　happy　and　thanking　God　if　I　can　find　a　quiet　spot　where　I　am　not　known；　and　my　name　was　never　heard。　There　I　will　rest；　and　trust　to　chance　for　a　name。　Rosa；　will　you　share　with　me　this　existence；　without　sunshine；　without　honor；　without　a　name？〃
  She　was　trembling　so；　that　she　could　barely　speak。
  〃I　have　no　choice；〃　stammered　she；　at　last；　〃I　must　follow　you；　for　my　honor　demands　that　I　should　be　your　wife。　I　must　go　with　you；　fate　wills　it。〃
  With　a　loud　shriek　she　fainted　by　his　side。　Weingarten　did　not　raise　her；　he　glanced　wildly　at　the　pale；　lifeless　woman　at　his　feet。
  〃We　are　both　condemned；〃　murmured　he；　〃we　have　both　lost　our　honor。　And　with　this　Cain's　mark　upon　our　foreheads　we　will　wander　wearily　through　the　world。〃　＇Footnote：　Count　Weingarten　escaped　from　all　his　troubles　happily。　He　married　his　sweetheart；　the　daughter　of　the　castle…warder；　and　went　to　Altmark；　where；　under　the　name　of　Veis；　he　lived　happily　for　many　years。＇
  The　king；　in　the　mean　while；　after　Weingarten　had　left　him；　walked　thoughtfully　up　and　down　his　room。　At　times　he　raised　his　head　and　gazed　with　a　proud；　questioning　glance　at　the　sky。　Great　thoughts　were　at　work　within　him。　Now　Frederick　throws　back　his　head　proudly；　and　his　eyes　sparkle。
  〃The　time　has　come；〃　said　he；　in　a　loud；　full　voice。　〃The　hour　for　delay　is　past；　now　the　sword　must　decide　between　me　and　my　enemies。〃　He　rang　a　bell　hastily；　and　ordered　a　valet　to　send　a　courier　at　once　to　Berlin；　to　call　General　Winterfeldt；　General　Retzow；　and　also　Marshal　Schwerin；　to　Sans…Souci。
  CHAPTER　VIII。
  DECLARATION　OF　WAR。
  A　few　hours　after　the　departure　of　the　courier；　the　heavy　movement　of　wheels　in　the　court　below　announced　to　the　king；　who　was　standing　impatiently　at　his　window；　the　arrival　of　the　expected　generals。　In　the　same　moment；　his　chamberlain；　opening　wide　the　library　door；　ushered　them　into　his　presence。
  〃Ah！〃　said　the　king；　welcoming　them　pleasantly；　〃I　see　I　am　not　so　entirely　without　friends　as　my　enemies　think。　I　have　but　to　call；　and　Marshal　Schwerin；　that　is；　wisdom　and　victory；　is　at　my　side；　and　Generals　Winterfeldt　and　Retzow；　that　is；　youth　and　courage；　boldness　and　bravery；　are　ready　to　give　me　all　the　assistance　in　their　power。　Sirs；　I　thank　you　for　coming　to　me　at　once。　Let　us　be　seated；　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say；　and　upon　what　earnest　important　subjects　I　wish　your　advice