Part 15 (2/2)
”And what, pray, does His Majesty command?” inquired Hoym sarcastically.
”He wishes your consent to the divorce, in return for which he promises you his favour,” replied Vitzthum. ”If you do not consent, I pity you, my dear fellow, but I must warn you that you expose yourself to great danger. You cannot fight against the King. The slightest wrong done to the Countess will be regarded as _lese majestatis_.”
”But why do you wish for my consent?” exclaimed Hoym. ”The King can do anything he chooses without that. The Consistory will obey him. Let him take from me my most precious possession, but he must not ask me to thank him for so doing.”
Vitzthum smiled.
”It is a proof of his favour, that he asks your permission to do a thing which he can as easily do without it. From this you should see that he desires to retain you in your present position.”
”Only because he has need of me,” muttered Hoym.
Vitzthum sat down on the sofa.
”Dear Count, think it well over; when I leave the room it will be too late.”
Again Hoym rushed wildly about the room, overthrowing everything that came in his way. At length, throwing himself down on a chair, he began to laugh; but it was a laugh full of bitterness.
”Hoym, the King is awaiting your decision,” said Vitzthum.
”It is mere irony to ask a man whom you have stripped of his clothes, for permission to keep them, and threaten him with a club should he refuse. Therefore, my dear brother-in-law, you will tell His Majesty that I am very grateful to him for taking the burden of that woman from me. Tell him I consent, that I am glad, happy, merry, that I kiss His Majesty's hand. It is a great honour to be able to offer the King a half-eaten fruit--ha! ha! ha!”
”You had better drink a gla.s.s of iced-water,” said Vitzthum, taking his hat.
He shook hands with Hoym.
”Believe me,” said he, in a whisper, ”you have come out of this better than any of the others. I will tell the King you consent. You will cool off after a time.”
The King was eagerly awaiting the answer, but, being impatient, he had ordered that he should be carried to Hoym's palace, where he entered Anna's apartments. Just as Vitzthum was preparing to go to the castle, he was informed that the King was waiting for him, only a few paces away. From his countenance, and the smile with which he entered His Majesty's presence, Augustus guessed immediately that Hoym would not oppose his wishes. But the beautiful Anna, addressing the amba.s.sador, said,--
”You were more fortunate than I was.”
”No one could be more fortunate than you are,” replied Vitzthum, bowing, ”but I was more patient. I allowed Hoym to work off his excitement, after that he consented.”
The light of joy shone in Anna's black eyes.
”You bring me freedom and happiness!” she cried. ”How can I ever repay you?”
A box lay on the table; this she seized and handed it to Vitzthum.
The King at once approached to see what it contained. In it was Anna's miniature.
”Ah!” exclaimed he, ”that is too great a reward for you, Vitzthum. I confiscate it in the name of the King, and in exchange I will give you twenty thousand thalers.”
Anna threw herself on the King's breast.
The day following, the Consistory granted the divorce, and on the third day this was, by Anna's wish, placarded on all the public buildings.
The same day, Anna left her husband's house and took up her abode in a mansion situated close to the palace, to which it was joined by means of a covered gallery, which had been constructed in a few hours.
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