page, an old friend of mine, has told me this very moment, that the
Marshal's wife, inspired by the devil, went up to the Duke, and told
him that the trick played on him at the baker's house was planned by
Prince Julian, who opposed his marriage with his sister; that the
spirit he saw was myself, sent by the Princess to be a witness of his
superstition; that your Highness was a witness of his descent into the
pit after hidden gold, and of his promise to make the baker's daughter
his mistress, and also to make her one of the nobility immediately
after his marriage with the Princess. 'Do not hope to gain the
Princess. It is useless for you to try,' were the last words of the
Marshal's wife to the Duke."
"And a pretty story it is," muttered Philip; "why, behavior like that
would be a disgrace to the meanest of the people. I declare there is no
end to these deviltries."
"Yes, indeed. 'T is impossible to behave more meanly than the Marshal's
lady. The woman must be a fury. My gracious Lord, save me from
destruction."
"Where is the Duke?" asked Philip.
"The page told me he started up on hearing the story, and said, 'I will
go to the King.' And if he tells the story to the King in his own way--"
"Is the King here, then?"
"Oh, yes, he is at play in the next room, with the Archbishop and the
Minister of Police."
Philip walked with long steps through the boudoir. The case required
consideration.
"Your Royal Highness," said the negro, "protect me. Your own honor is
at stake. You can easily make all straight; otherwise, I am ready at
the first intimation of danger to fly across the border. I will pack
up, and to-morrow I shall expect your last commands as to my future
behavior."
With these words the negro took his leave.
VI.
"It is high time I were a watchman again," thought Philip. "I am
getting both myself and my substitute into scrapes he will find it hard
to get out of--and this makes the difference between a peasant and a
prince. One is no better off than the other. Good heavens! what stupid
things these court lords are doing which we do not dream of with our
lanterns and staff in hand, or when at the spade. We think they lead
the lives of angels, without sin or care. Pretty piece of business!
Within a quarter of an hour I have heard of more rascally tricks than I
ever played in my whole life. And--" but his reverie was interrupted by
a whisper.
"So lonely, Prince! I consider myself happy in having a minute's
conversation with your Royal Highness."
Philip looked at the speaker; and he was a miner, covered over with
gold and jewels.
"But one instant," said the mask. "The business is pressing, and deeply
concerns you."
"Who are you?" inquired Philip.
"Count Bodenlos, the Minister of Finance, at your Highness's service,"
answered the miner, and showed his face, which looked as if it were a
second mask, with its little eyes and copper-colored nose.
"Well, then, my lord, what are your commands?"
"May I speak openly? I waited on your Royal Highness thrice, and was
never admitted to the honor of an audience; and yet--Heaven is my
witness--no man in all this court has a deeper interest in your Royal
Highness than I have."
"I am greatly obliged to you," replied Philip; "what is your business
just now? But be quick."
"May I venture to speak of the house of Abraham Levi?"
"As much as you like."
"They have applied to me about the fifty thousand dollars which you owe
them, and threaten to apply to the King. And you remember your promise
to his Majesty, when last he paid your debts."
"Can't the people wait?" asked Philip.
"No more than the Brothers, goldsmiths, who demand their seventy-five
thousand dollars."
"It is all one to me. If the people won't wait for their money, I
must--"
"No hasty resolution, my gracious Lord! I have it in my power to make
everything comfortable, if--"
"Well, if what?"
"If you will honor me by listening to me one moment. I hope to have no
difficulty in redeeming all your debts. The house of Abraham Levi has
bought up immense quantities of corn, so that the price is very much
raised. A decree against importation will raise it three or four
percent. higher. By giving Abraham Levi the monopoly, the business will
be arranged. The house erases your debt, and pays off your seventy-five
thousand dollars to the goldsmiths, and I give you over the receipts.
But everything depends on my continuing for another year at the head of
the Finance. If Baron Griefensack succeeds in ejecting me from the
Ministry, I shall be unable to serve your Royal Highness as I could
wish. If your Highness will leave the party of Griefensack, our point
is gained. For me, it is a matter of perfect indifference whether I
remain in office or not. I sigh for repose. But for your Royal
Highness, it is a matter of great moment. If I have not the mixing of
the pack, I lose the game."
Philip for some time did not know what answer to make. At last, while
the Finance Minister, in expectation of his reply, took a pinch out of
his snuff-box set with jewels, Philip said:
"If I rightly understand you, Sir Count, you would starve the country a
little, in order to pay my debts. Consider, sir, what misery you will
cause. And will the King consent to it?"
"If I remain in office I will answer for that, my gracious Lord! When
the price of corn rises, the King will, of course, think of permitting
importation, and prevent exportation by levying heavy imposts. The
permission to do so is given to the house of Abraham Levi, and they
export as much as they choose. But, as I said before, if Griefensack
gets the helm, nothing can be done. For the first year he would be
obliged to attend strictly to his duty, in order to be able afterwards
to feather his nest at the expense of the country. He must first make
sure of his ground. He is dreadfully grasping!"
"A pretty project," answered Philip; "and how long do you think a
finance minister must be in office before he can lay his shears on the
flock to get wool enough for himself and me?"
"Oh, if he has his wits about him, he may manage it in a year."
"Then the King ought to be counselled to change his finance minister
every twelve months, if he wishes to be faithfully and honorably
served."
"I hope, your Royal Highness, that since I have had the Exchequer, the
King and Court have been faithfully served?"
"I believe you, Count, and the poor people believe you still more.
Already they scarcely know how to pay their rates and taxes. You should
treat us with a little more consideration, Count."
"Us!--don't I do everything for the Court?"
"No! I mean the people. You should have a little more consideration for
them."
"I appreciate what your Royal Highness says; but I serve the King and
the Court, and the people are not to be considered. The country is his
private property, and the people are only useful to him as increasing
the value of the land. But this is no time to discuss the old story
about the interests of the people. I beg your Royal Highness' answer to
my propositions. Shall I have the honor to discharge your debts on the
above specified conditions?"
"Answer,--no--never, never! at the expense of hundreds and thousands of
starving families."
"But, your Royal Highness, if, in addition to the clearance of your
debts, I make the house of Abraham Levi present you with fifty thousand
dollars in hard cash? I think it may afford you that sum. The house
will gain so much by the operation, that--"
"Perhaps it may be able to give YOU also a mark of its regard."
"Your Highness is pleased to jest with me. I gain nothing by the
affair. My whole object is to obtain the protection of your Royal
Highness."
"You are very polite!"
"I may hope, then, Prince? My duty is to be of service to you.
To-morrow I shall send for Abraham, and conclude the arrangement with
him. I shall have the honor to present your Royal Highness with the
receipt for all your debts, besides the gift of fifty thousand dollars."
"Go, I want to hear no more of it."
"And your Royal Highness will honor me with your favor? For unless I am
in the Ministry, it is impossible for me to deal with Abraham Levi so
as--"
"I wish to Heaven you and your Ministry and Abraham Levi were all three
on the Blocksberg! I tell you what, unless you lower the price of corn,
and take away the monopoly from that infernal Jew, I'll go this moment
and reveal your villainy to the King, and get you and Abraham Levi
banished from the country. See to it--I'll keep my word." Philip turned
away in a rage, and proceeded into the dancing-room, leaving the
Minister of Finance petrified with amazement.
VII.
"When does your Royal Highness require the carriage?" whispered a stout
little Dutch merchant in a bob-wig.
"Not at all," answered Philip.
"'Tis after half-past eleven, and the beautiful singer expects you. She
will tire of waiting."
"Let her sing something to cheer her."
"How, Prince? Have you changed your mind? Would you leave the
captivating Rollina in the lurch, and throw away the golden opportunity
you have been sighing for for two months? The letter you sent to-day,
inclosing the diamond watch, did wonders. The proud but fragile beauty
surrenders. This morning you were in raptures, and now you are as cold
as ice! What is the cause of the change?"
"That is my business, not yours," said Philip.
"I had your orders to join you at half-past eleven. Perhaps you have
other engagements?"
"Perhaps."
"A petit souper with the Countess Born? She is not present here; at
least among all the masks I can't trace her out. I should know her
among a thousand by that graceful walk and her peculiar way of carrying
her little head--eh, Prince?"
"Well, but if it were so, there would be no necessity for making you my
confidant, would there?"
"I will take the hint, and be silent. But won't you at any rate send to
the Signora Rollina to let her know you are not coming?"
"If I have sighed for her for two months, she had better sigh a month
or two for me. I sha'n't go near her."
"So that beautiful necklace which you sent her for a New Year's present
was all for nothing?"
"As far as I am concerned."
"Will you break with her entirely?"
"There is nothing between us to break, that I know of."
"Well, then, since you speak so plainly, I may tell you something which
you perhaps know already. Your love for the Signora has hitherto kept
me silent; but now that you have altered your mind about her, I can no
longer keep the secret from you. You are deceived."
"By whom?"
"By the artful singer. She would divide her favors between your Royal
Highness and a Jew."
"A Jew?"
"Yes! with the son of Abraham Levi."
"Is that rascal everywhere?"
"So your Highness did not know it? but I am telling you the exact
truth; if it were not for your Royal Highness, she would be his
mistress. I am only sorry you gave her that watch."
"I don't regret it at all."
"The jade deserves to be whipped."
"Few people meet their deserts," answered Philip.
"Too true, too true, your Royal Highness. For instance, I have
discovered a girl--O Prince, there is not such another in this city or
in the whole world! Few have seen this angel.--Pooh! Rollina is nothing
to her. Listen--a girl tall and slender as a palm tree--with a
complexion like the red glow of evening upon snow--eyes like
sunbeams--rich golden tresses,--in short, the most beautiful creature I
ever beheld--a Venus--a goddess in rustic attire. Your Highness, we
must give her chase."
"A peasant girl?"
"A mere rustic; but then you must see her yourself, and you will love
her. But my descriptions are nothing. Imagine the embodiment of all
that you can conceive most charming--add to that, artlessness, grace,
and innocence. But the difficulty is to catch sight of her. She seldom
leaves her mother. I know her seat in church, and have watched her for
many Sundays past, as she walked with her mother to the Elm-Gate. I
have ascertained that a handsome young fellow, a gardener, is making
court to her. He can't marry her, for he is a poor devil, and she has
nothing. The mother is the widow of a poor weaver."
"And the mother's name is?"
"Widow Bittner, in Milk Street; and the daughter, fairest of flowers,
is in fact called Rose."
Philip's blood boiled at the sound of the beloved name. His first
inclination was to knock the communicative Dutchman down. He restrained
himself, however, and only asked:
"Are you the devil himself?"
"'T is good news, is it not? I have taken some steps in the matter
already, but you must see her first. But perhaps such a pearl has not
altogether escaped your keen observation? Do you know her?"
"Intimately."
"So much the better. Have I been too lavish of my praises? You confess
their truth? She sha'n't escape us. We must go together to the widow;
you must play the philanthropist. You have heard of the widow's
poverty, and must insist on relieving it. You take an interest in the
good woman; enter into her misfortunes; leave a small present at each
visit, and by this means become acquainted with Rose. The rest follows,
of course. The gardener can be easily got out of the way, or perhaps a
dozen or two dollars slipped quietly into his hand may--"
Philip's rage broke forth.
"I'll throttle you--"
"If the gardener makes a fuss?" interposed the Dutchman. "Leave me to
settle this matter. I'll get him kidnapped, and sent to the army to
fight for his country. In the meantime you get possession of the field;
for the girl has a peasant's attachment for the fellow, and it will not
be easy to get the nonsense out of her head, which she has been taught
by the canaille. But I will give her some lessons, and then--"
"I'll break your neck."
"Your Highness is too good. But if your Highness would use your
influence with the King to procure me the Chamberlain's key--"
"I wish I could procure you--"
"Oh, don't flatter me, your Highness. Had I only known you thought so
much of her beauty, she would have been yours long ago."
"Not a word more," cried the enraged Philip, in a smothered voice; for
he dared not speak aloud, he was so surrounded by maskers, who were
listening, dancing, talking, as they passed him, and he might have
betrayed himself; "not a word more!"
"No, there will be more than words. Deeds shall show my sincerity. You
may advance. You are wont to conquer. The outposts will be easily
taken. The gardener I will manage, and the mother will range herself
under your gilded banners. Then the fortress will be won!"
"Sir, if you venture," said Philip, who now could hardly contain
himself. It was with great difficulty he refrained from open violence,
and he clutched the arm of the Dutchman with the force of a vice.
"Your Highness, for Heaven's sake, moderate your joy. I shall
scream--you are mashing my arm!"
"If you venture to go near that innocent girl, I will demolish every
bone in your body."
"Good, good," screamed the Dutchman, in intense pain; "only let go my
arm."
"If I find you anywhere near Milk Street, I'll dash your miserable
brains out. So look to it."
The Dutchman seemed almost stupefied; trembling, he said:
"May it please your Highness, I could not imagine you really loved the
girl as it seems you do."
"I love her! I will own it before the whole world!"
"And are loved in return?"
"That's none of your business. Never mention her name to me again. Do
not even think of her; it would be a stain upon her purity. Now you
know what I think. Be off!"
Philip twirled the unfortunate Dutchman round as he let go his arm, and
that worthy gentleman slunk out of the hall.
VIII.
In the meantime Philip's substitute supported his character of watchman
on the snow-covered streets. It is scarcely necessary to say that this
was none other than Prince Julian who had taken a notion to join the
watch--his head being crazed by the fire of the sweet wine. He attended
to the directions left by Philip, and went his rounds, and called the
hour with great decorum, except that, instead of the usual watchman's
verses, he favored the public with rhymes of his own. He was cogitating
a new stanza, when the door of a house beside him opened, and a
well-wrapped-up girl beckoned to him, and ran into the shadow of the
house.
The Prince left his stanza half finished, and followed the apparition.
A soft hand grasped his in the darkness, and a voice whispered:
"Good-evening, dear Philip. Speak low, that nobody may hear us. I have
only got away from the company for one moment to speak to you as you
passed. Are you happy to see me?"
"Blest as a god, my angel,--who could be otherwise than happy by thy
side?"
"I've some good news for you, Philip. You must sup at our house
to-morrow evening. My mother has allowed me to ask you. You 'll come?"
"For the whole evening, and as many more as you wish. Would we might be
together till the end of the world! 'T would be a life fit for gods!"
"Listen, Philip; in half an hour I shall be at St. Gregory's. I shall
expect you there. You won't fail me? Don't keep me waiting long--we
shall have a walk together. Go now--we may be discovered." She tried to
go, but Julian held her back and threw his arms round her.
"What, wilt thou leave me so coldly?" he said, and tried to press a
kiss upon her lips.
Rose did not know what to think of this boldness, for Philip had always
been modest, and never dared more than kiss her hand, except once, when
her mother had forbidden their meeting again. They had then exchanged
their first kiss in great sorrow and in great love, but never since
then. She struggled to free herself, but Julian held her firm, till at
last she had to buy her liberty by submitting to the kiss, and begged
him to go. But Julian seemed not at all inclined to move.
"What! go? I'm not such a fool as that comes to! You think I love my
horn better than you? No indeed!"
"But then it isn't right, Philip."
"Not right? why not, my beauty? there is nothing against kissing in the
ten commandments."
"Why, if we could marry, perhaps you might--but you know very well we
can't marry, and--"
"Not marry? why not? You can marry me any day you like."
"Philip!--why will you talk such folly? You know we must not think of
such a thing."
"But _I_ think very seriously about it--if you would consent."
"You are unkind to speak thus. Ah, Philip, I had a dream last night."
"A dream--what was it?"
"You had won a prize in the lottery; we were both so happy! you had
bought a beautiful garden, handsomer than any in the city. It was a
little paradise of flowers--and there were large beds of vegetables,
and the trees were laden with fruit. And when I awoke, Philip, I felt
so wretched--I wished I had not dreamed such a happy dream. You've
nothing in the lottery, Philip, have you? Have you really won anything?
The drawing took place to-day."
"How much must I have gained to win you too?"
"Ah, Philip, if you had only gained a thousand dollars, you might buy
such a pretty garden!"
"A thousand dollars! And what if it were more?"
"Ah, Philip--what? is it true? is it really? Don't deceive me! 'twill
be worse than the dream. You had a ticket! and you've won!--own it! own
it!"
"All you can wish for."
Rose flung her arms around his neck in the extremity of her joy, and
kissed him.
"More than the thousand dollars? and will they pay you the whole?"
Her kiss made the Prince forget to answer. It was so strange to hold a
pretty form in his arms, receive its caresses, and to know they were
not meant for him.
"Answer me, answer me!" cried Rose, impatiently. "Will they give you
all that money?"
"They've done it already--and if it will add to your happiness I will
hand it to you this moment."
"What! have you got it with you?"
The Prince took out his purse, which he had filled with money in
expectation of some play.
"Take it and weigh it, my girl," he said, placing it in her hand and
kissing her again. "This, then, makes you mine!"
"Oh, not THIS--nor all the gold in the world, if you were not my own
dear Philip!"
"And how if I had given you twice as much as all this money, and yet
were not your own dear Philip?"
"I would fling the purse at your feet, and make you a very polite
curtsey," said Rose.
A door now opened; the light streamed down the steps, and the laughing
voices of girls were heard. Rose whispered:
"In half an hour, at St. Gregory's," and ran up the steps, leaving the
Prince in the darkness. Disconcerted by the suddenness of the parting,
and his curiosity excited by his ignorance of the name of his new
acquaintance, and not even having had a full view of her face, he
consoled himself with the rendezvous at St. Gregory's Church door. This
he resolved to keep, though it was evident that all the tenderness
which had been bestowed on him was intended for his friend the watchman.
IX.
The interview with Rose, or the coldness of the night, increased the
effect of the wine to such an extent that the mischievous propensities
of the young Prince got the upper hand of him. Standing amidst a crowd
of people, in the middle of the street, he blew so lustily on his horn
that the women screamed, and the men gasped with fear. He called the
hour, and then shouted, at the top of his lungs:
The bus'ness of our lovely state
Is stricken by the hand of fate--
Even our maids, both light and brown,
Can find no sale in all the town;
They deck themselves with all their arts,
But no one buys their worn-out hearts."
"Shame! shame!" cried several female voices from the window at the end
of this complimentary effusion, which, however, was crowned with a loud
laugh from the men. "Bravo, watchman!" cried some; "Encore! encore!"
shouted others. "How dare you, fellow, insult ladies in the open
street?" growled a young lieutenant, who had a very pretty girl on his
arm.
"Mr. Lieutenant," answered a miller, "unfortunately watchmen always
tell the truth, and the lady on your arm is a proof of it. Ha! young
jade, do you know me? do you know who I am? Is it right for a betrothed
bride to be gadding at night about the streets with other men?
To-morrow your mother shall hear of this. I'll have nothing more to do
with you!"
The girl hid her face, and nudged the young officer to lead her away.
But the lieutenant, like a brave soldier, scorned to retreat from the
miller, and determined to keep the field. He therefule made use of a
full round of oaths, which were returned with interest, and a sabre was
finally resorted to, with some flourishes; but two Spanish cudgels were
threateningly held over the head of the lieutenant by a couple of stout
townsmen, while one of them, who was a broad-shouldered beer-brewer,
cried: "Don't make any more fuss about the piece of goods beside
you--she ain't worth it. The miller's a good fellow, and what he says
is true, and the watchman's right too. A plain tradesman can hardly
venture to marry now. All the women wish to marry above their station.
Instead of darning stockings, they read romances; instead of working in
the kitchen, they run after comedies and concerts. Their houses are
dirty, and they are walking out, dressed like princesses; all they
bring a husband as a dowry are handsome dresses, lace ribbons,
intrigues, romances, and idleness! Sir, I speak from experience; I
should have married long since, if girls were not spoiled."
The spectators laughed heartily, and the lieutenant slowly put back his
sword, saying peevishly: "It's a little too much to be obliged to hear
a sermon from the canaille."
"What! Canaille!" cried a smith, who held the second cudgel. "Do you
call those canaille who feed you noble idlers by duties and taxes? Your
licentiousness is the cause of our domestic discords, and noble ladies
would not have so much cause to mourn if you had learned both to pray
and to work."
Several young officers had gathered together already, and so had some
mechanics; and the boys, in the meantime, threw snowballs among both
parties, that their share in the fun might not be lost. The first ball
hit the noble lieutenant on the nose, and thinking it an attack from
the canaille, he raised his sabre. The fight began.
The Prince, who had laughed amazingly at the first commencement of the
uproar, had betaken himself to another region, and felt quite
unconcerned as to the result. In the course of his wanderings, he came
to the palace of Count Bodenlos, the Minister of Finance, with whom, as
Philip had discovered at the masquerade, the Prince was not on the best
terms. The Countess had a large party. Julian saw the lighted windows,
and still feeling poetically disposed, he planted himself opposite the
balcony, and blew a peal on his horn. Several ladies and gentlemen
opened the shutters, because they had nothing better to do, and
listened to what he should say.
"Watchman," cried one of them, "sing us a New Year's greeting!"
This invitation brought a fresh accession of the Countess' party to the
windows. Julian called the hour in the usual manner, and sang, loud
enough to be distinctly heard inside: