Part 53 (2/2)
He wept with heart-felt sorrow; his oath alone kept him from hastening to her; it bound him, and fettered his earnest wish to see her, making him sad and melancholy.
The spirits had no pity nor mercy upon him. His two confidants encouraged his virtue and piety from morning till night, exalting his excited fancy with their marvellous relations and apparitions.
One day as they were on the point of commencing the morning prayers to the Invisibles, a royal footman appeared, with the command to betake themselves to Sans-Souci, where the king awaited them.
A royal carriage was in attendance to convey them. There was no alternative but obedience.
”Perhaps Fate destines us to become martyrs to the holy cause,” said Woellner, devoutly folding his hands.
”We may never enjoy the happiness of seeing our dear brothers of the confederacy again,” sighed Bischofswerder. ”Our spirits will always be with you, my prince, and the Invisible Fathers will protect you in all your ways.”
The crown prince, deeply moved, separated from his friends with tears in his eyes; but as the carriage rolled away he felt relieved as of an oppressive burden, and breathed more freely.
At the same time a footman entered, bearing upon a golden salver a letter for the prince. Un.o.bserved and free to act, he read it, and as he sat musingly thinking over its contents, so tender and affectionate, he re-read it, and rising, made a bold resolve, his face beaming with happiness, to order his carriage, which he did, and in a few moments more drove at full speed away from the palace.
Bischofswerder and Woellner, in the mean time, arrived at Sans-Souci.
The footman awaiting them conducted them at once through the picture-gallery, into the little corridor leading to the king's cabinet, and there left them to announce them to his majesty. Both gentlemen heard their names called in a loud voice, and the response of the king: ”Let them wait in the little corridor until I permit them to enter.”
The footman returned and with subdued voice made known the royal command, and departed, carefully closing the door.
There was no seat in the narrow, little corridor, and the air was close and oppressive.
They could hear voices in mingled conversation; sometimes it seemed as if the king were communicating commands; again, as if he dictated in a suppressed voice. The Rosicrucians knew very well it was the hour of the cabinet council, and they waited patiently and steadfastly, but as their watches revealed the fact that three hours had pa.s.sed, and every noise was hushed, they concluded they were forgotten, and resolved to remind the lackey of their presence.
”Indeed, this standing is quite insupportable,” whispered Woellner.
They both slipped to the entrance and tried the bronze k.n.o.b, but although it turned, the door opened not, and was evidently fastened upon the outside. They looked alarmed at each other, asking what it could mean. ”Can it be intentional? Are we imprisoned here? We must be resigned, although it is a severe experience.” At last, patience exhausted, they resolved to bear it no longer, and tapped gently at the door of the king. The loud bark of a dog was their only response, and again all was still.
”Evidently there is no one there,” sighed Bischofswerder. ”It is the hour of dining of the king.”
”I wish it were ours also,” whined Woellner. ”I confess I yearn for bodily nourishment, and my legs sink under me.”
”I am fearfully hungry,” groaned Bischofswerder; ”besides, the air is suffocating. I am resolved to go to extremes, and make a noise.”
He rushed like a caged boar from one door to the other, shrieking for the lackey to open the door; but as before, a loud bark was the only response.
”The Lord has forsaken us,” whimpered Woellner. ”The sublime Fathers have turned their faces away from us. We will pray for mercy and beg for a release!” and he sank upon his knees.
”What will that avail us here, where neither prayers nor devotion are heeded? Only energy and determination will aid us at Sans-Souci. Come, let us thump and bang until they set us free!” cried Bischofswerder, peevishly.
Their hands were lame, and their voices hoa.r.s.e with their exertions; and no longer able to stand, they sank down upon the floor hungry and exhausted, almost weeping with rage and despair.
At last, after long hours of misery, they heard a noise in the adjoining room. The king had again entered his cabinet. The door opened, and the lackey motioned to the two gentlemen to enter. They rose with difficulty and staggered into the room, the door being closed behind them.
His majesty was seated in his arm-chair, with his three-cornered hat on, leaning his chin upon his hands, crossed upon his staff. He fixed his great blue eyes, with a searching glance, upon the two Rosicrucians; then turned to his minister, Herzberg, who was seated at the table covered with doc.u.ments.
”These are, then, the two great props of the Rosicrucians?” asked Frederick--”the two charlatans whom they have told me make h.e.l.l hot for the crown prince, continually lighting it up with their prayers and litanies.”
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