United States or Guam ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Your majesty was kind enough to promise me that you would come." "Do you know, Rothenberg, I really believe that the expectation of this fete has made the hours of the day so long and wearisome. Now, tell me, who are we to have? who takes part in our gayety?" "Those who were selected by your majesty: Chazot and Algarotti, Jordan and Bielfeld."
The king continued writing, his countenance becoming more and more radiant with pleasure, while his pen flew over the paper. He was so completely occupied with his thoughts that he did not hear the door open behind him, and did not perceive the merry and intelligent face of his favorite, General Rothenberg, looking in. The king wrote on.
She was still profoundly sad, but no longer hopeless. Her vanity, her rare beauty, in whose magic power she still believed, whispered golden words of comfort, of encouragement; she was now convinced that the king could not give her up. "He spurned me yesterday, to- day he will implore me to forgive him." She was not surprised when her servant announced Duke Algarotti and General Rothenberg.
"Do not believe that, Rothenberg; the hands that labor become hard and callous, and so is it with the heart. Mine has labored and suffered; it will turn at last to stone. Then I shall be condemned. The world will forget that it is responsible; they will speak only of my hard heart, and say nothing of the anguish and the deceptions which have turned me to stone. But what of that?
Rothenberg watched him with the eye of a sportsman, who sees the wild deer brought to bay. "If your majesty will condescend to set etiquette aside, I will make a proposition." "Etiquette is nonsense and folly, and shall not do the honors by our petits soupers; pleasure only presides." "Then I propose that we invite some of the ladies from the theatre is your majesty content?"
"Dead! my best, my dearest friend is dead?" "His death was as bright and peaceful as his life," said Rothenberg. "His last word was a farewell to your majesty, his last act was to write to his king. Here is the letter, sire." The king silently received the letter from Rothenberg. Two great tears ran slowly down his checks, and, falling on the letter, obliterated some words of the address.
He perhaps suspected the truth, and thought it natural that, in the disquiet of their hearts, they had sought an explanation of Barbarina. "Sire," said Rothenberg, "Signora Barbarina has entirely recovered. Algarotti and myself made her a visit this morning, and she commissioned us, if your majesty should be gracious enough to ask for her, to say that she was well and happy."
"How suffering and full of grief must my king be to speak thus! You have lost two dear friends, sire. I also mourn their loss, but am suffering from a still deeper grief. I have lost the love of my king. I have lost faith in the friendship of my Frederick," said Rothenberg, sighing deeply.
This evening in the theatre give some public evidence, give the Berliners something to talk about: then then " said she, softly, "the rest will come in time." Duke Algarotti and General Rothenberg returned to the castle much comforted by their interview with Barbarina.
Pale with alarm, Rothenberg asked Algarotti if it was not their duty to force the door and ascertain the condition of his majesty. "Beware how you take that rash step!" said Fredersdorf, shaking his head. "The king's commands were imperative; he will be alone and undisturbed." "Have you no suspicion of the cause of his majesty's distress?" asked Algarotti.
Word Of The Day