Frederick the Great and His Family [13]
his mother and unmarried sisters, and enable himself to live according to his rank and old aristocratic name. Baron Weingarten would have made any sacrifice, submitted to any service, to obtain wealth. Poverty had demoralized him, pride had laid a mildew on his heart and stifled all noble aspirations. As he read a letter, just received from his mother, complaining of wants and privations, telling of the attachment of a young officer to his sister, and that poverty alone prevented their marriage, his heart was filled with repining, and at this moment he was prepared to commit a crime, if, by so doing, he could have obtained wealth.
In this despairing and sorrowful mood he had entered the office, and awaited in vain for petitioners who would pay him richly for his services. But the hours passed in undisturbed quiet, and Baron Weingarten was in the act of leaving the office, as the servant announced Baron von Waltz, and the court councillor, Zetto, from Vienna.
He advanced to meet the two gentlemen, with a smiling countenance, and welcomed his Austrian countrymen heartily.
The two gentlemen seated themselves silently; Weingarten took a seat in front of them.
A painful, embarrassed pause ensued. The majestic Baron von Waltz looked silently at the ceiling, while the black, piercing eyes of the little Councillor Zetto examined the countenance of Weingarten with a strangely searching and penetrating expression.
"You are from Vienna?" said Weingarten at last, putting an end to this painful silence.
"We are from Vienna," answered the baron, with a grave bow. "And have travelled here post-haste to have an interview with you."
"With me?" asked the secretary of legation, astonished.
"With you alone," said the baron, gravely.
"We wish you to do the King of Prussia a great service," said Zetto, solemnly.
Weingarten reddened, and said confusedly: "The King of Prussia! You forget, gentlemen, that my services belong alone to the Empress Maria Theresa."
"He defends himself before he is accused," said Zetto, aside. "It is then true, as we have been told, he is playing a double game--serves Austria and Prussia at the same time." Turning to Baron Weingarten, he said: "That which we ask of you will be at the same time a service to our gracious empress, for certainly it would not only distress, but compromise her majesty, if an Austrian officer committed a murder in Prussia."
"Murder!" cried the secretary of legation.
"Yes, an intentional murder," said Baron Waltz, emphatically--"the murder of the King of Prussia. If you prevent this crime, you will receive ten thousand guilders," said Zetto, examining Weingarten's countenance closely. He remarked that the baron, who was but a moment ago pale from terror, now reddened, and that his eyes sparkled joyously.
"And what can I do to prevent this murder?" asked Weingarten, hastily.
"You can warn the king."
"But to warn successfully, I must have proofs."
"We are ready to give the most incontrovertible proofs."
"I must, before acting, be convinced of the veracity of your charges."
"I hope that my word of honor will convince you of their truth," said Baron Waltz, pathetically.
Weingarten bowed, with an ambiguous smile, that did not escape Zetto. He drew forth his pocket-book, and took from it a small, folded paper, which he handed to Weingarten.
"If I strengthen my declaration with this paper, will you trust me?"
Weingarten looked with joyful astonishment at the paper; it was a check for two thousand guilders. "My sister's dowry," thought Weingarten, with joy. But the next moment came doubt and suspicion. What if they were only trying him--only convincing themselves if he could be bought? Perhaps he was suspected of supplying the Prussian Government from time to time with Austrian news--of communicating to them the contents of important dispatches!
The fire faded from his eye, and with a firm countenance he laid the paper upon the table.
"Your are mistaken, gentlemen! That is no document, but a check."
"With which many documents
In this despairing and sorrowful mood he had entered the office, and awaited in vain for petitioners who would pay him richly for his services. But the hours passed in undisturbed quiet, and Baron Weingarten was in the act of leaving the office, as the servant announced Baron von Waltz, and the court councillor, Zetto, from Vienna.
He advanced to meet the two gentlemen, with a smiling countenance, and welcomed his Austrian countrymen heartily.
The two gentlemen seated themselves silently; Weingarten took a seat in front of them.
A painful, embarrassed pause ensued. The majestic Baron von Waltz looked silently at the ceiling, while the black, piercing eyes of the little Councillor Zetto examined the countenance of Weingarten with a strangely searching and penetrating expression.
"You are from Vienna?" said Weingarten at last, putting an end to this painful silence.
"We are from Vienna," answered the baron, with a grave bow. "And have travelled here post-haste to have an interview with you."
"With me?" asked the secretary of legation, astonished.
"With you alone," said the baron, gravely.
"We wish you to do the King of Prussia a great service," said Zetto, solemnly.
Weingarten reddened, and said confusedly: "The King of Prussia! You forget, gentlemen, that my services belong alone to the Empress Maria Theresa."
"He defends himself before he is accused," said Zetto, aside. "It is then true, as we have been told, he is playing a double game--serves Austria and Prussia at the same time." Turning to Baron Weingarten, he said: "That which we ask of you will be at the same time a service to our gracious empress, for certainly it would not only distress, but compromise her majesty, if an Austrian officer committed a murder in Prussia."
"Murder!" cried the secretary of legation.
"Yes, an intentional murder," said Baron Waltz, emphatically--"the murder of the King of Prussia. If you prevent this crime, you will receive ten thousand guilders," said Zetto, examining Weingarten's countenance closely. He remarked that the baron, who was but a moment ago pale from terror, now reddened, and that his eyes sparkled joyously.
"And what can I do to prevent this murder?" asked Weingarten, hastily.
"You can warn the king."
"But to warn successfully, I must have proofs."
"We are ready to give the most incontrovertible proofs."
"I must, before acting, be convinced of the veracity of your charges."
"I hope that my word of honor will convince you of their truth," said Baron Waltz, pathetically.
Weingarten bowed, with an ambiguous smile, that did not escape Zetto. He drew forth his pocket-book, and took from it a small, folded paper, which he handed to Weingarten.
"If I strengthen my declaration with this paper, will you trust me?"
Weingarten looked with joyful astonishment at the paper; it was a check for two thousand guilders. "My sister's dowry," thought Weingarten, with joy. But the next moment came doubt and suspicion. What if they were only trying him--only convincing themselves if he could be bought? Perhaps he was suspected of supplying the Prussian Government from time to time with Austrian news--of communicating to them the contents of important dispatches!
The fire faded from his eye, and with a firm countenance he laid the paper upon the table.
"Your are mistaken, gentlemen! That is no document, but a check."
"With which many documents