Frederick the Great and His Family [14]
could be purchased," said Zetto, smiling. Placing the paper again in his pocket-book, he took out another and a larger one. It was a check for three thousand guilders.
But Weingarten had regained his composure. He knew that men acting thus must be spies or criminals; that they were testing him, or luring him on to some unworthy act. In either case, he must be on his guard.
"I beg you to confirm your charge in the usual manner," said he, with a cold, indifferent glance at the paper. "Murder is a dreadful accusation--you cannot act too carefully. You say that an Austrian officer intends to murder the King of Prussia. How do you know this?"
"From himself," said Baron Waltz. "He communicated his intentions to me, and confided to me his entire plan."
"It appears," remarked Weingarten, mockingly, "that the officer had reason to believe he might trust you with this terrible secret."
"You see, however, that he was mistaken," said the baron, smilingly. "I demand of you to warn the King of Prussia of the danger that threatens him."
"I shall be compelled to make this danger clear, give all particulars, or the king will laugh at my story and consider it a fairy tale."
"You shall give him convincing proof. Say to him that the murder is to be committed when his majesty attends the Austrian review at Konigsberg."
"How will the officer cross the Prussian border?"
"He is supplied with an Austrian passport, and under the pretence of inheriting a large property in Prussia, he has obtained leave of absence for a month."
"There remains now but one question: why does the officer wish to murder the king? What motive leads him to do so?"
"Revenge," said Baron von Waltz, solemnly--"an act of vengeance. This Austrian officer who is resolved to murder the king of Prussia, is Frederick von Trenck."
Weingarten was embarrassed, and his countenance bore an uneasy and troubled expression. But as his eye fell upon the weighty paper that lay before him, he smiled, and looked resolved.
"Now I have but one thing more to ask. Why, if your story is authentic, and well calculated to startle even the brave king, have you thought it necessary to remove my doubts with this document?"
Baron Waltz was silent, and looked inquiringly at Zetto.
"Why did I hand you this document?" said the councillor, with a sweet smile. "Because gold remains gold, whether received from an Austrian councillor or from a Prussian prince."
"Sir, do you dare to insult me?" cried the secretary of legation, fiercely.
Zetto smiled. "No, I only wish to notify you that we are aware that it is through you that Baron von Trenck receives money from a certain aristocratic lady in Berlin. It is, therefore, most important that the king should be warned by you of his intended murder--otherwise you might be thought an accomplice."
Weingarten appeared not to be in the least disconcerted by this statement--he seemed not even to have heard it.
"Before I warn the king," he said, with calm composure, "I must be convinced of the truth of the story myself, and I acknowledge to you that I am not convinced, cannot understand your motives for seeking the destruction of Baron von Trenck."
"Ah! you search into our motives--you mistrust us," cried Zetto, hastily. "Well, we will prove to you that we trust you, by telling you our secret. You know the story of the inheritance of Trenck?"
"He is the only heir of the pandour chieftain, Franz von Trenck."
"Correct. And do you know the history of this pandour chieftain Trenck?"
"I have heard a confused and uncertain statement, but nothing definite or reliable."
"It is, however, a very interesting and instructive story, and shows how far a man with a determined will and great energy can reach, when his thoughts are directed to one end. Baron Trenck wished to be rich, immensely rich--that was the aim of his life. Seduced by his love of money, he became the captain of a band of robbers, then a murderer, a church-robber; from that a brave soldier, and, at last, a holy penitent. Robbing and plundering every-where,
But Weingarten had regained his composure. He knew that men acting thus must be spies or criminals; that they were testing him, or luring him on to some unworthy act. In either case, he must be on his guard.
"I beg you to confirm your charge in the usual manner," said he, with a cold, indifferent glance at the paper. "Murder is a dreadful accusation--you cannot act too carefully. You say that an Austrian officer intends to murder the King of Prussia. How do you know this?"
"From himself," said Baron Waltz. "He communicated his intentions to me, and confided to me his entire plan."
"It appears," remarked Weingarten, mockingly, "that the officer had reason to believe he might trust you with this terrible secret."
"You see, however, that he was mistaken," said the baron, smilingly. "I demand of you to warn the King of Prussia of the danger that threatens him."
"I shall be compelled to make this danger clear, give all particulars, or the king will laugh at my story and consider it a fairy tale."
"You shall give him convincing proof. Say to him that the murder is to be committed when his majesty attends the Austrian review at Konigsberg."
"How will the officer cross the Prussian border?"
"He is supplied with an Austrian passport, and under the pretence of inheriting a large property in Prussia, he has obtained leave of absence for a month."
"There remains now but one question: why does the officer wish to murder the king? What motive leads him to do so?"
"Revenge," said Baron von Waltz, solemnly--"an act of vengeance. This Austrian officer who is resolved to murder the king of Prussia, is Frederick von Trenck."
Weingarten was embarrassed, and his countenance bore an uneasy and troubled expression. But as his eye fell upon the weighty paper that lay before him, he smiled, and looked resolved.
"Now I have but one thing more to ask. Why, if your story is authentic, and well calculated to startle even the brave king, have you thought it necessary to remove my doubts with this document?"
Baron Waltz was silent, and looked inquiringly at Zetto.
"Why did I hand you this document?" said the councillor, with a sweet smile. "Because gold remains gold, whether received from an Austrian councillor or from a Prussian prince."
"Sir, do you dare to insult me?" cried the secretary of legation, fiercely.
Zetto smiled. "No, I only wish to notify you that we are aware that it is through you that Baron von Trenck receives money from a certain aristocratic lady in Berlin. It is, therefore, most important that the king should be warned by you of his intended murder--otherwise you might be thought an accomplice."
Weingarten appeared not to be in the least disconcerted by this statement--he seemed not even to have heard it.
"Before I warn the king," he said, with calm composure, "I must be convinced of the truth of the story myself, and I acknowledge to you that I am not convinced, cannot understand your motives for seeking the destruction of Baron von Trenck."
"Ah! you search into our motives--you mistrust us," cried Zetto, hastily. "Well, we will prove to you that we trust you, by telling you our secret. You know the story of the inheritance of Trenck?"
"He is the only heir of the pandour chieftain, Franz von Trenck."
"Correct. And do you know the history of this pandour chieftain Trenck?"
"I have heard a confused and uncertain statement, but nothing definite or reliable."
"It is, however, a very interesting and instructive story, and shows how far a man with a determined will and great energy can reach, when his thoughts are directed to one end. Baron Trenck wished to be rich, immensely rich--that was the aim of his life. Seduced by his love of money, he became the captain of a band of robbers, then a murderer, a church-robber; from that a brave soldier, and, at last, a holy penitent. Robbing and plundering every-where,