Part 14 (1/2)

Hoym was forbidden to return. Every day the Countesses Reuss and Vitzthum, a.s.sisted by the Prince, invented some new pretext for bringing the King and the beautiful Anna together; every day she was bolder and more familiar with him, but since the evening spent at Countess Reuss's house, Augustus had made no further advances, neither had he heard from her anything different from what she had then said.

The beautiful Anna showed no signs of yielding, and at length her coolness and self-possession began to alarm every one. They feared the King would be discouraged, and retire, and that then some one else would be suggested to him. Every time they attempted to question Countess Hoym, she replied that she would become a wife, but never a mistress. She demanded, if not an immediate marriage, to which there was an obstacle in the person of Queen Christine Eberhardyne, at least a solemn promise from the King that he would marry her, in the event of his becoming a widower.

The condition was most strange and unusual; in other times, or in other courts, or amongst a less light-headed people, it would have been impossible. The first time Furstenberg mentioned it to the King, Augustus did not reply. A few hours later, he said,--

”I am already weary of this long courts.h.i.+p, we must end it once and for ever.”

”Break it?” inquired the Prince.

”We shall see,” replied the King briefly.

His confidant could learn nothing farther.

One day the King ordered a hundred thousand gold thalers to be brought him from the treasury. The bag was enormous, and two strong men could scarcely carry it. When they had deposited their heavy burden, the King seized it, and lifted it without the slightest difficulty. Furstenberg, who was present, did not dare ask for what purpose such an amount was destined, the King's face was far too gloomy. It was clear that events of considerable importance were at hand. The King was silent. He visited Princess Teschen almost daily. That Princess almost drowned herself in tears when the name of Countess Hoym was mentioned in her presence, but she quickly dried them when she perceived the King. In this state of uncertainty several weeks pa.s.sed away--a time that seemed to the courtiers all too long. They knew not to whom they should bow, nor to whom they should go with gossip. At length Hoym was not only permitted, but even commanded to return, for the treasury was empty, and he alone could fill it.

The day the Secretary to the Treasury was expected to return, Augustus, having placed the bag containing the hundred thousand thalers in his carriage, gave orders that he should be driven to Hoym's palace.

It was towards evening, and foggy. Countess Hoym was sitting solitary and thoughtful in her boudoir. Being unaccustomed to receive visitors, she was greatly surprised at hearing the voices of men conversing on the stairs, and her astonishment increased when, without any warning, the door opened and the King entered the room.

The door was immediately closed behind him. Anna was terrified, and seized the pistol which, ever since her arrival in Dresden, she had kept lying on the table. She had frequently been joked with about this precaution. Although she concealed the weapon in the folds of her dress, the King had noticed her action.

”You do not need to defend yourself,” said he.

Anna stared at him, but was incapable of uttering a word.

”Listen,” continued Augustus, throwing the bag of gold on the floor with such violence that the ducats were scattered. ”I can give you gold, honours, and t.i.tles in abundance.”

Then, taking a horse-shoe he had brought with him, he broke it, and cast the fragments on the piles of gold.

”But,” he added, ”I can also break resistance as I have just broken that iron. You have to choose between iron and gold, peace and war, love and hatred.”

Anna stood looking with indifference on the gold and the broken horse-shoe.

”Your Majesty,” said she, after a moment's silence, ”I do not fear death, I do not wish for gold. You can break me as you broke that horse-shoe, but you cannot do anything against my will. Why do you not bring me the thing that can conquer me? Why do you not offer me your heart?”

Augustus rushed towards her.

”That has been yours for a long time,” he exclaimed.

”I neither see it, nor feel it,” said the Countess slowly. ”The heart is shown in deeds. A heart that loves truly would never wish to dishonour the object of its love. My Lord, I cannot conceal from you that I love you. I could not resist your love, but I cannot stain it!”

The King knelt before her, but Anna retreated.

”Your Majesty, listen to me, I pray you.”

”Command me!”

”Anna Hoym could never be yours except she felt she were worthy of you.”

”What are your conditions?”