Frederick the Great and His Family [22]
"Certainly, your highness, a severe attack of gout confines her to her chair, and holds her prisoner."
"Poor mother! it is long since I saw you."
"It is true, the queen complained of it the last time I spoke with her," said Pollnitz, with a perfectly serious face, but with inward rejoicing.
Another pause ensued. The prince appeared to reflect, and to struggle with his own thoughts and wishes. Pollnitz stood behind him, and noted every motion, every sigh that he uttered, with his malicious smiles.
"I believe," said the prince, with still averted face, perhaps to prevent Pollnitz from seeing his blushes--"I believe it would be proper for me to inquire to-day personally after my mother's health; it is not only my duty to do so, but the desire of my heart."
"Her majesty will be pleased to see her beloved son again, and this pleasure will hasten her recovery."
The prince turned hastily and glanced sharply at Pollnitz, as if he wished to read his inmost thoughts. But the countenance of the courtier was earnest and respectful.
"If that is your opinion," said the prince, with a happy smile, "my duty as a son demands that I should hasten to the queen, and I will go immediately to Berlin. But as I am going to my mother, and solely on her account, I will do it in the proper form. Have, therefore, the kindness to obtain my leave of the king--bring me my brother's answer immediately, I only await it to depart."
"And I hasten to bring it to your highness," said Pollnitz, withdrawing.
Prince Henry looked thoughtfully after him.
"I shall see her," he murmured; "I shall speak with her, and shall learn why she withdrew herself so long from me. Oh, I know she will be able to justify herself, and these slanders and evil reports will flee before her glance as clouds before the rays of the sun."
In the mean while, Pollnitz hastened to Sans Souci, where he was immediately received by the king.
"Your majesty," he said, joyfully, "the young lion has fallen into the net that we set for him."
"He goes then to Berlin, to the queen-mother?" asked the king, quickly.
"He begs your majesty's permission to take this little trip."
"He really charged you with this commission?"
"Yes, sire: it appears that his obstinacy is beginning to relent, and that he thinks of submitting."
The king was silent, and walked thoughtfully to and fro, with clouded brow, then remained standing before Pollnitz, and looked sharply and piercingly at him.
"You rejoice," he said, coldly, "but you only think of your own advantage. You are indifferent to the sorrow we are preparing for my brother. You only think that your debts will be paid. Yes, I will pay them, but I shall never forget that you have betrayed my brother's confidence."
"I only acted according to your majesty's commands," said Pollnitz, confounded. "Certainly, but if you had resisted my commands, I would have esteemed and prized you the more. Now, I shall pay your debts, but I shall despise you. No one has reasons for thanking you."
"Sire, I desire no other thanks. Had I been paid with money for my services, instead of fine speeches, I would have been as rich as Croesus."
"And a beggar in virtue," said the king, smiling. "But go, I was wrong to reproach you. I shall now go to Berlin, and when my brother arrives he shall find me there. Go now, my grand chamberlain, and take the prince my permission for a three days' absence."
CHAPTER IX.
THE FIRST DISAPPOINTMENT.
A few hours later the equipage of Prince Henry arrived in the court- yard of Monbijou, and the prince demanded of his mother, the widowed queen, permission to pay her his respects.
Sophia Dorothea was suffering greatly. The gout, that slow but fatal disease, which does not kill at once, but limb by limb, had already paralyzed the feet of the poor queen, and confined her to her chair. To-day her sufferings were greater than usual, and she was not able to leave her bed. Therefore, she could not receive the prince as a queen, but only as a mother, without ceremony or etiquette.