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Nothing remained for Saldern but to fall ill, and retire from the Service; which he did: a man honorably ruined, thought everybody; which did not prove to be the case, by and by. This surely is a remarkable Dialogue; far beyond any of the Gellert kind. Details on the Quintus-Icilius procedure, which followed next day, would also have been rather welcome, had Kuster seen good.
The King, with voice gradually rising, I suppose, repeated his demonstration that the thing was proper, necessary in the circumstances; but Saldern, true to the inward voice, answered steadily: SALDERN. "For this commission your Majesty will easily find another person in my stead." "SALDERN, ER WILL NICHT REICH WERDEN, Saldern, you refuse to become rich."
He marched towards the left, to the point where he should have attacked in the morning, but which he had passed in his hot pursuit of the small Austrian force; but first sent Saldern against the village of Siptitz.
The king compelled himself to be composed, for he loved General Saldern as a brave and noble officer. "You would be right," said he, "if I did not use this desperate means to a good object. But let me tell you, the head of the great lord does not feel it if you tear out the hair of his subjects. You must hit, then, where it hurts him; and that I intend to do.
The money obtained from its ransom will be turned over to the Lazaretto, and I will not forget you." There was a pause. General von Saldern remained at the door motionless, in stiff military attitude. The king looked at him with astonishment. "Well! did you hear?" "Yes, your majesty, I heard. But, may it please your majesty, this is against my honor and my oath."
"You will find the king very much out of humor," said General von Saldern; "he has not left his study to-day, and doubtless he is occupied with very serious plans." "Perhaps even with the plan of a battle," said another of the gentlemen, "for it is said that Lacy has advanced his army, and even that Landon has left Dresden.
"I herewith ask for my discharge, sire!" "You have it go!" Without saying a word, General von Saldern made a military obeisance, and left the room. "You go too!" said the king to Gotzkowsky, who had been a silent, involuntary spectator of this scene "go and tell my adjutant to send Quintus Icilius to me." In a few minutes Major Quintus Icilius entered.
General von Saldern turned pale, and his countenance was expressive of deep suffering, as he answered gravely and firmly: "Your majesty may send me right off to attack the enemy and his batteries, and I will obey with my whole heart; but against my honor, my oath, and my duty, I cannot, dare not act." The king stamped with his foot, and his eye flashed with threatening anger.
"It is his majesty's express command that you should be married without delay," said General Saldern; "he has also commanded me to say to you that this scandalous intrigue, insulting to morals and good manners, should no longer be brought before the public.
Outside, in the antechamber, were standing the stern generals, the heroic warriors, Zeithen, and the brave Schwerin, and General von Saldern, and their scarred, austere features assumed a soft, touching expression, as they leaned against the wall and listened in breathless silence to the performance of the king. But suddenly the playing ceased.
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