Augustus wished to get rid of Cosel, but he wished to do it quietly.
Sometimes he regretted her, but he was weak; he could not resist the
intrigues. Fresh faces did with him what they pleased; novelty amused
him, and he gladly entered on fresh amours, ended by laughter and
gaping on his part, and tears on the part of others.
The example of Koenigsmark, Teschen, Spiegel, Esterle, and many more,
who had been consoled, and provided with comforters, quieted his mind
with regard to Cosel, although he well knew that there was a great
difference between her and the others. But then she had threatened to
kill him, and her threats were not vain. One might expect she would
fulfil it. Orders were therefore given in Dresden that Cosel's
movements should be watched; they feared she would come to Warsaw, and,
knowing the King's character, Flemming was sure that did Cosel once
make her appearance, she would regain her former influence over the
King by her beauty and superiority.
It was important that Lowendhal should act speedily. Cosel was still
young and beautiful.
One day Cosel's friend, Baron Haxthausen, found her weeping; she rushed
towards him, wringing her hands with indignation.
"Could you believe it!" she cried, "that villain Lowendhal, who owes me
everything, dared to tell me he loved me."
Haxthausen could scarcely soothe her.
"A few years back," she continued, "he would not have dared to insult
me in that way. Have you heard about that Denhoff?"
"Yes! there are some rumours," replied Haxthausen.
"Through what mud will they drag the King!" said she sadly; then she
was silent.
Flemming, who was managing the whole affair, came to Dresden. The King
had ordered him to get rid of the Countess, but to treat her with great
respect and delicacy.
At first his arrival alarmed Cosel, but after a few days, having
persuaded herself that he seemed anxious to avoid fresh quarrels with
her, she was reassured.
The King wished Cosel to give up the Palace of the Four Seasons, and
Haxthausen was deputed to carry out this delicate mission. To his great
surprise, Cosel replied,--
"The King gave it to me, and he can take it back. This house reminds me
too powerfully of happy times. I could not live in it, and would move
out willingly."
The news of her banishment from that paradise filled her enemies with
joy. This must be a sure sign that everything was ended between her and
Augustus. But Cosel kept on repeating to her intimate friends that she
was the King's wife, and that he could not leave her thus.
In 1705, while he was still in love with Cosel, Augustus had made her a
present of a lovely country house at Pillnitz, on the banks of the
Elbe. The situation was very beautiful, but it was lonely, and quite a
long journey from Dresden.
The King wished to show Denhoff the magnificence of his capital, but
feared some outburst from Cosel. He therefore wrote to Flemming,
telling him to induce Cosel to leave Dresden and take up her residence
at Pillnitz.
Haxthausen was again chosen as ambassador, and the King's letter was
shown to him.
"General," said Flemming, "the King wishes to visit Dresden, but he
cannot come so long as Cosel is here. She has threatened to kill him so
many times. And he never likes to meet those whom he has offended. I
know that Cosel regards me as her enemy; she has made me momentarily
angry, but I have forgotten all about it by now. I should very much
dislike to push her to extremities. Be so kind as to go and induce her
to leave Dresden. I should be sorry to be compelled to send her an
order."
Having heard Flemming's sweet words, Haxthausen went. Cosel was in a
very good humour; the General began by joking.
"I marvel at the King's bad taste," said he. "I do not know this
Denhoff, but, from what I have heard, I am sure that you will return in
triumph to your former position, provided always that you do not
irritate the King."
Cosel guessed he had come charged with some errand.
"Do you bring me some command wrapped up in flattery?"
Haxthausen looked at her sadly, and nodded his head to signify that it
was so.
"Then speak."
"Flemming has shown me an order from the King, saying that you are to
leave Dresden and go to Pillnitz. I think it will be better for you; it
will be more agreeable for you than to see--"
Tears dimmed her eyes.
"It is so hard! so very hard!" said she softly. "I know that you are my
friend, and I can tell you that you have no idea what an effort it will
cost me. Have you seen the King's order? Do they not lie?"
"Yes, I have seen it!"
She flushed, and then grew angry.
"They do not know me!" she exclaimed. "They will tease me until they
arouse a fearful vengeance within me. They are mistaken in thinking
that I shall respect the man who thinks that the crown gives him the
right to scoff at sentiment."
Haxthausen listened in silence.
"And all this," she continued, "I have to suffer for such a woman as
that Denhoff, who has already had several lovers. They wished to abase
the King that they gave him such a woman as that."
She began to weep.
"Could I have expected this?" said she, sobbing. "He swore that I had
his heart, he did not hesitate to give up everything for me, and I
believed him; I was sure of the future. Three children unite us, he
loved them, he acknowledged them; he was not ashamed of his love for
me. I was faithful to him. I tried to please him in everything. I
served him like a slave. And to-day, after so many years, I have to
remain alone, driven out without a word of good-bye, without a word of
sympathy. Alas! that man has my heart."
In such passionate outbursts half an hour passed; at length she sank on
the sofa exhausted.
"Madam," said Haxthausen, "your anger is justifiable, but at present
you must be patient and cautious, so that you may not shut the door to
a return. You know how changeable the King is; you must win him back,
but you must be patient."
"Then give me your advice, my good friend," said Anna.
"Will you allow me to speak frankly?"
"Yes!"
"Flemming is better disposed to you than formerly. You must try and
keep him in that frame of mind. Everything is changed at Court. You
might be useful to him. If you act quietly now, the King will be
grateful to you. They are continually frightening him by saying that
you threatened to kill him. The King is afraid, and Denhoff will not
venture to start for Dresden, being afraid for her life. As long as the
King thinks that you are excited he will not venture near you. The best
way, therefore, is to show that you are not vehement. Countess
Koenigsmark has preserved her friendly relations with the King. Princess
Teschen was not driven from Dresden, while Esterle, by her obstinacy,
has closed the entrance to the palace to herself for ever."
"How dare you give me such examples!" exclaimed Cosel. "Esterle,
Koenigsmark, Teschen, were the King's mistresses, while I am his wife!
You must not compare me with them."
Haxthausen was silent.
"Still, you are right," she continued; "I must not make him angry. I
will go to-morrow."
The envoy was about to depart with the good news, when Cosel broke
forth again,--
"They would not dare force me! The King himself would not dare do that!
It cannot be!"
Haxthausen tried to persuade her to be submissive, but no sooner had
she agreed to follow his advice than she was again bent on resistance.
Three or four times she changed her mind. Finally she said,--
"I will not go! Let them use force if they dare!"
"Pray think it over! What shall I tell Flemming!"
"Tell him I do not wish to go!"
The Baron returned to the General, and told him of his conversation
with Cosel.
Flemming was sorry he was obliged to use force: he went to her. She
received him haughtily.
"You place me in a most awkward position," said he, "for I wished to
save you unpleasantness. I have kept back the King's order for several
days; now I bring it to you personally. Should you refuse to obey it, I
shall be grieved, but I shall be compelled to force you to submit to
it. The King does not wish to meet you in Dresden."
Looking from the window, Cosel saw a detachment of dragoons standing
before her house. Her black eyes gleamed angrily, but she kept her
anger under control.
She glanced at the letter.
"I am going at once," said she; "you can trust my word."
Flemming bowed and departed; the dragoons followed him.
An hour later, Cosel, hidden in a carriage, was journeying towards
Pillnitz.
A few days later she had disappeared; she was on the road to Warsaw.
Letters were immediately dispatched in great haste to Countess
Przebendowska, notifying her of the danger.
Cosel's arrival would change their well-played comedy into a drama. The
King was already in love, or rather entangled by those ladies, and they
determined to act at once, in order to avoid danger. When the King came
to see Countess Denhoff, he found her dressed in black, and weeping.
"What ails you, my beautiful lady?" he inquired solicitously, at the
same time kissing her beautiful hands.
"Your Majesty," said Denhoff, "I am threatened by a great danger. I
should not mind death, were I persuaded that your Majesty loves me;
but, alas! they wish to take my life from me, together with your
Majesty's heart. Cosel is coming to Warsaw; perhaps she is already
here. Perhaps your Majesty has come to tell me that I must yield to my
rival."
"From whence did you receive such news?" inquired the King in surprise.
"Still, let Cosel come; your triumph over her will then be more
complete."
"No! no!" exclaimed Denhoff. "If she comes, I leave Warsaw."
The mother was listening at the door, waiting for an agreed signal to
enter. Marie coughed, the door opened, and the Countess entered. She
appeared much surprised at seeing the King.
"I am glad you are come," said Augustus. "You must help me to quiet
your daughter."
"Why, what is the matter?" rejoined the mother, still pretending to be
surprised.
The King repeated what Countess Denhoff had just told him. The mother
listened, looking in wonder, now at her daughter, now at Augustus.
"I do not wonder that Marie is afraid," said she. "Every one knows of
Cosel's threats, and how impetuous she is."
"Well," interrupted Augustus, "it is very easy to settle matters. If
you wish, I will order Cosel to be sent back to Dresden."
The old lady replied to this with exclamations of gratitude.
"Marie, you may well consider yourself happy, having such a solicitous
tutor."
Then addressing the King, she added,--
"I would venture to observe to your Majesty that Countess Cosel will
not obey every one."
"Choose whom you please," replied the King, much bored by the scene.
The old lady recommended a Frenchman, by name Montargon, who had come
over to Poland with Prince Polignac. Half an hour later he had the
King's order that Cosel was to be sent back to Dresden.
"What am I to do, supposing she will not obey your Majesty's order?"
inquired the Frenchman.
The King looked thoughtful; then, after a short silence, replied,--
"I will order Captain La Haye and six guards to accompany you; it seems
to me that should be sufficient."
The captain was sent for, and given the necessary orders, and that same
night the detachment of soldiers marched out against one unarmed woman.