The two antagonists were still to all appearances the best of friends,
although, on both sides there had begun a secret conflict. That same
morning Sulkowski spoke to Ludovici about Bruehl's marriage.
Ludovici was more suspicious than the Count.
'Count,' said he, 'that marriage ought to make us careful. Bruehl has
married not the Countess Kolowrath alone, but with her he has married
the Austrian Court, Father Guarini and the Princess. Bruehl is sweet as
honey, but he overthrew Fleury, Manteufel, Wackerbarth and Hoym; he put
Watzdorf into Koenigstein; I do not trust Bruehl.'
Sulkowski began to laugh.
'My dear Ludovici,' he said proudly, 'remember who they were, and who I
am! He will not be able to overthrow me were he helped by Guarini and
all the Austrians. I shall drive off Guarini and all the Jesuits. I
shall give other courtiers to the Princess. With regard to Hoym and
Watzdorf, you are mistaken, I sent them away, not he.'
'That is to say he did it by means of your Excellency's hands; _is
facit, cui prodest_; I remember that when I studied law. Watzdorf was
in love with his present wife.'
'You must not try to teach me anything about court affairs,' said
Sulkowski, 'I know what I am about, and none of you know how strong my
influence is with the Prince.'
'I do not doubt that,' Ludovici said bowing.
Sulkowski however remembered that conversation. Although he did not
betray his thoughts even to his confidant, Ludovici, the Count had
distrusted Bruehl for some time. It was a suspicious circumstance to him
that Bruehl was continually with Frederick, remaining for hours with him
together with the two fools and Guarini, and accompanied him
everywhere, so that the Prince grew accustomed to his face. Several
times already he had asked after Bruehl when he had been absent longer
than usual. Little by little his presence became indispensable.
Sulkowski did not even dream that this could menace him, but he did not
wish for any rivals; he was jealous, and alone must be the object of
the Prince's favour.
'Bruehl must be got rid of,' he said to himself. 'I shall easily find an
excuse. I must prepare the Prince.'
The same day after dinner, when the Prince retired as usual to his
apartment, put on his _robe de chambre_, sat in a chair and began to
smoke a pipe, Sulkowski entered followed by a man carrying a case; he
took it from the servant in the ante-room and brought it to the
Prince's room.
The Prince during his travels in Italy had taken a fancy to certain
masterpieces of Italian art. Wishing to imitate his father, and having
inherited his love of music, hunting, luxury, theatres, and even for
Leipzig fairs, he also inherited his love of art. He was passionately
fond of pictures, he would purchase as many as he could get hold of to
increase the collection started by Augustus II.
The best way to please him was either to tell him of some good picture,
or present him with one. Usually cold and phlegmatic Augustus'
successor would become quite another man at the sight of a good
picture; his eyes would shine as they did on hearing Faustina's voice.
It seemed almost that thought circulated more quickly through his
brain, and, usually silent, he would talk and exclaim.
Even in his saddest mood, at the mention of a picture or an opera, his
face would brighten up. Sulkowski, no less than others, was aware of
this weak point in his lord.
Augustus III began to blow out the first whiffs of smoke when Sulkowski
appeared on the threshold with the case. He looked round him, drew
himself up, put out his hand, without a word. Evidently he guessed the
contents of the case, personally brought by his favourite.
The King's eyes brightened.--As he disliked talking he urged Sulkowski
by gestures only to be quick and disclose what he had brought.
'Your Majesty,' the Count said in a whisper, 'this is certainly a
masterpiece, but--'
'But what?' muttered the King frowning.
'But,' the minister said, 'the subject is a little too mythological and
if by accident her Majesty should come--'
The King became gloomy and less insistent; his face was stern and he
moved his head significantly.
Sulkowski put the case in a corner; Frederick's eyes followed it. 'And
who painted it?' he asked.
'The divine Titian Vecello,' said Sulkowski. 'It is not very large, but
a true masterpiece.'
On hearing the name the King bowed as though greeting Titian himself,
and whispered:
'_Gran maestro!_'
Sulkowski turned the conversation. The King looked at him as though he
did not understand, became thoughtful and said to himself:
'_Troppo mitologico!_ H'm!'
After a while when the minister spoke of hunting he said, 'What does it
represent?'
The Count made a gesture with his hand.
'A very improper scene,' he said.
'Fie 'Hide it! If the Queen should come in, or Father Guarini--fie!'
Notwithstanding his apparent disapproval, his gaze turned constantly to
the case.
'I think it would be best to take it away,' said Sulkowski, going
towards the case.
The King frowned.
'But just tell me what it represents.'
'Mars and Venus at the moment when Vulcan catches them _in flagrante_
and puts a net round them.'
The King shut his eyes and waved his hand.
'Fie! Fie!' he exclaimed. Sulkowski put the case under his arm.
'But to see it for the sake of art,' said the King, 'is only an
ordinary sin. I shall confess it to Father Guarini--three _paters_ and
all is over--'
He stretched out his arm, Sulkowski smiled, opened the case, lifted the
cover, and moved the picture towards the King. The pipe fell from his
hands.
It was indeed a small masterpiece. The woman it represented was the
same belle who sat for Titian's Venus and Diana; a marvellously
beautiful woman, but in very fact in a very mythological position.
The King looked at it furtively, evidently ashamed of his curiosity; he
blushed, but continued to gaze at the picture. He repeated, '_un gran
maestro!_' His eyes shone. He paid no attention to Sulkowski and began
to whisper:
'Venus is very beautiful. Classical forms! What a charming, what a
lovely _favola!_'
Suddenly overcome with shame, he looked round, pushed aside the
picture, spat, made the sign of the cross, and said severely:
'Away with it! I do not wish to lose my soul. Why do you show me such
things?'
'But what about the painting, your Majesty?'
'It is a masterpiece, but away with it!' Sulkowski shut the case and
was about to carry it away, when the King stopped him.
'Wait--it is better that no one else should be scandalised by it; put
it there in the corner; then we shall see--we shall burn it.'
'Burn such a masterpiece?'
The King became thoughtful and continued to smoke the pipe. The
minister put the case behind the sofa and returned to the King. Still
under the influence of the picture Augustus III continually murmured:
'_Diavolo incarnato!_' and he shrugged his shoulders, 'but the picture
is admirable. If Mars were not there, and if one could change Venus
into repenting Magdalene, I would hang it in my room.'
'Your Majesty, there is no indecency in works of art, one admires only
the picture of a master.'
The King was silent.
'I must confess to Father Guarini,' he said presently.
'I am sure that the Padre himself,' said Sulkowski, 'would look at this
masterpiece, and not think of confession.'
'_Siete un birbante!_' muttered the King. '_Tace! basta!_'
Thus the conversation about Titian's Venus ended, and as Bruehl was not
there the King asked after him. Sulkowski sighed. Augustus III glanced
at him.
'I see,' said Sulkowski, 'that Bruehl supersedes me in your Majesty's
favour, and the sight hurts an old and faithful servant like myself.
For that alone I could dislike him.'
The King cleared his throat significantly.
'He is a useful man, but has many drawbacks,' continued Sulkowski. 'I
am afraid of him. He is mixed up with everything, he takes hold of
everything--he squanders the money--is fond of luxury--'
'Oh! Oh! Oh!' muttered the King, shaking his head.
'It is true, your Majesty.'
Sulkowski became silent and looked sad. The King pitied him.
'Sulkowski,' he said, 'don't be afraid, there is plenty of room for
both of you, and you will always stand first with me.'
After these words, which were quite an effort for the silent Augustus
III, Sulkowski kissed his hand. The King embraced him.
'You are my true friend, but I need Bruehl.'
This time Sulkowski did not press the matter further, but made up his
mind to pursue the same subject on some future occasion, and allow it
to act slowly on the King; he noticed however, that Augustus III was
growing accustomed to Bruehl, and of this he was afraid.
The King smoked his pipe contentedly, sitting up straight in his chair,
blinking his eyes and thinking, as he was wont to do when at peace with
all the world. There was a soft rap at the door. It announced that some
privileged person, one who was permitted to enter the King's room
without being previously announced, was coming. It was Father Guarini.
He entered quietly and smiling; the King greeted him with a friendly
nod, and continued to smoke his pipe and blink his eyes. Sulkowski,
silent, stood near him.
The Jesuit's eyes, searching round the room, were quick to notice the
case behind the sofa. He went towards it as though wishing to inspect
something with which he was not familiar. The King seeing his movement,
blushed and looked reproachfully at Sulkowski, who rushed to the priest
and whispered something to him; Augustus III evidently wishing to be
beforehand with his excuse muttered to Guarini,
'I did not wish to look at it--it is mythology.'
'Eh!' answered the Padre laughing, 'mythology might be dangerous for
your Majesty, but not for an old man like me.'
Sulkowski tried to stop the priest, but the Padre insisted, while the
King was embarrassed, and he frowned at Sulkowski. Guarini had no wish
to give in, and repeated, 'I must see it.'
Sulkowski's position became unpleasant, for through this picture he had
now compromised the King, who always wished to be regarded as a man of
severe morals.
'_Sentile!_' said Guarini to Sulkowski, 'if you do not show me the
picture, I might think that you have brought something very ugly into
the palace, and that you are endeavouring to serve two gods at the same
time,--ruling the country and being fond of art,--one of these two you
must do badly, for the saying is--_chi due lepri caccia, una non piglia
e l'altra lascia_.'
Sulkowski's conscience pricked him, and he went towards the case
followed by the Jesuit. The King inclined his head towards the window.
They lifted the cover; Guarini clapped his hands.
'A masterpiece!' he exclaimed, '_miraviglia!_ But why do you say that
the picture is immoral? On the contrary! The culprits are punished.
Vulcan catches them, and he, according to _sensus paganorum_,
represents God's justice. As to Venus, the poor thing is not dressed,
_ma_--'
The Jesuit waved his hand. The King looked at him relieved and happy at
this explanation, and cried to Sulkowski: 'Bring it here! Show it to
me!'
The minister brought the picture. The King was looking at Venus with
evident admiration, when there happened what they dreaded most. While
all were bent over Venus, the door leading from the Queen's apartment
opened and Queen Josephine, like an avenging angel, proudly entered the
room.
In the twinkling of an eye the cover was replaced, Father Guarini
retreated towards the window, the King looked up to the ceiling, and
Sulkowski tried to conceal the case. But nothing can escape a jealous
and suspicious woman. The Queen Josephine guessed everything, blushed,
frowned and moved towards the King who slowly rose to greet her.
'We are to have an opera to-day,' he said, 'Faustina will sing.'
'Very well,' the Queen answered, looking at Sulkowski, 'but I see that
you have some other entertainment here. What is it that the Count so
carefully conceals?'
The Queen painted herself and was fond of art, and by the shape of the
case easily guessed its contents. The King, knowing her strict and
exaggerated modesty, grew confused.
'An interesting picture,' the King said, 'but a little too
mythological!'
Josephine blushed, grew angry, and looked at Sulkowski.
'I am also fond of art,' she said, 'but not that art which panders to
vulgar, sensual propensities; the best painting cannot redeem a wicked
thought.'
Understanding the nature of the picture the Queen could not insist on
seeing it, and perchance imagined it worse than it was.
Sulkowski guessed that she was angry with him for showing a lewd
picture to the King. It was a fact, that the Queen suspected the
courtiers of inducing the King to indulge in such amours as his father
had, and she considered that to show Augustus III lewd pictures would
be one of the means of corrupting him.
Father Guarini changed the subject of conversation, protected
Sulkowski, saved the King from embarrassment, and began to talk about
the quarrels of Italian actors, whom he continually had to reconcile.
The Queen remained deep in thought and gloomy; she did not know how to
conceal her thoughts. The King knew that she would scold him severely
for being too familiar with Sulkowski; he sighed and longed for the
opera, where, in his musical ecstasies, he might forget the sorrows
that were unavoidable in private life, even though he occupied a throne
where he could sit half the day smoking a pipe in a _robe de chambre_
and smiling at the fancies of a slow imagination.
Sulkowski and Guarini slipped out, leaving the consorts alone, which
was the best way of putting the Queen into a better frame of mind.