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Updated: May 3, 2025
"I see you are in high favor: in three weeks you are promoted from cadet to lieutenant! quick advancement, which the king, no doubt, signalized by some other act of grace?" "He sent me two horses from his stable, and when I came to thank him, he gave me a purse containing two hundred 'Fredericks." Pollnitz gave a spring backward. "Thunder! you are indeed in favor! the king gives you presents!
Pollnitz gave himself up for a while to these wicked and cruel thoughts, and he looked like a demon rejoicing in the anguish of his victims. He soon smoothed his brow, however, and assumed his accustomed gay and unembarrassed manner. "But before I revenge myself, I must be paid," said he, with an internal chuckle.
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 fear, my prince, you are regarded as a rejected lover, and Madame du Trouffle has succeeded in throwing a holy lustre around her beautiful brow. It is said that she refused your dishonorable proposals, and preferred being the virtuous wife of a major, to becoming the mistress of a prince." "Go on," said the prince, hastily, as Pollnitz ceased, and looked searchingly at him.
The king approached and whispered: "Pollnitz has found the precious letter, and is anxious to return it to you." "Where is he?" said the gypsy, joyously. "Follow me," said Frederick, leading her to the same room where he had dismissed Manteuffel. "Here we are, alone and unnoticed," said the king, "and we can gossip to our heart's content."
The king turned again to the minister, who looked at him like a man who dared all and was resigned to all; he thought, with Pollnitz and Fredersdorf, that the king would crush him in his wrath. But Frederick's face was calm, and a strangely mild glance beamed in his eye.
"Bagatelles! nothing more," he murmured, after reading the other letters and laying them aside. He then rang hastily, and bade the servant send Baron Pollnitz to him as soon as he appeared in the audience-chamber. A few minutes later the door opened, and the old, wrinkled, sweetly smiling face of the undaunted courtier appeared. "Approach," said the king, advancing a few steps to meet him.
Frederick bowed once more to Barbarina; she took the arm of Baron Pollnitz. Silence reigned in the saloon as Barbarina withdrew. The king gazed after her till she had entirely disappeared; then, breathing heavily, he turned to his generals and said: "Messieurs, it is time for parade."
With your permission, I should like to retire." "Go, madame, where you wish. Pollnitz will conduct you to your carriage." He offered her his hand, and, with a friendly bow, led her to the door. "Farewell, madame! I believe we part friends?" "Sire," she answered, smiling faintly, "I can only say as the soldiers do, 'I thank you for your gracious punishment!"
"Your majesty forgets that you promised me one hundred dollars for every thousand over and above the sum of four hundred thousand." "Did I say that?" said the king; and as all present confirmed it, he laughed aloud, saying, "I see that none of you understand Pollnitz. That was not my meaning.
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