Part 22 (1/2)

”That is very n.o.ble and knightly,” said Schulenberg sarcastically, ”but--”

He did not finish, but saluted respectfully.

The King took his hand.

”My dear General, give up that idea, and do not say another word about it. I do not wish for victory at such a cost.”

Schulenberg looked at him with his pale blue eyes, as though he would ask whether the imprisonment of Imhoff and Pfingstein, and the surrender of Patkul, about which Augustus had not hesitated, were n.o.bler deeds than this. The King must have understood the mute reproach, for he blushed. After a moment of sad silence, Schulenberg said,--

”We must try and get out of this difficulty by some act of despair. We must risk our lives. We have nothing else to lose. We have lost a crown that has cost us millions; the other is almost broken--what can happen further?”

”What can happen?” said Augustus. ”The arrogant youth will go further.

A few victories have given him a mad boldness, and he will be crushed in some crazy enterprise for which he has not properly calculated his strength. Why should we stain our name by trying to hasten that which must most surely come to pa.s.s? Why should we not bear our adversity patiently, so that in the end we may profit by that which some one else has accomplished?”

”But in the meantime, Saxony suffers dreadfully,” said the General.

”Yes, the poor people suffer,” exclaimed the King. ”But the people are like the gra.s.s that is trodden down by the cattle; it is greener the next year.”

”But they are people,” said Schulenberg.

”The crowd should not be taken into consideration,” rejoined the King.

Silence followed, and the General took his leave. When he was gone, the King threw himself into a chair, and was soon deep in thought.

After the surrender of Patkul his chivalrous sentiment was at the least very peculiar.

CHAPTER XI.

Charles XII.'s defiant wanderings through Saxony had given Cosel the idea of seizing him, and thus avenging the humiliations of her oppressed country. It was she who had suggested the idea to Schulenberg. She did not mention it to the King first, for she was sure he would not listen to her plans. She therefore was obliged to plot alone. She gained Flemming over to her side, and although he disliked the favourite, he nevertheless promised to aid her patriotic plan.

Schulenberg promised it the support of his cavalry.

Cosel declared that once the deed was accomplished, although Augustus might be indignant at first, he would soon be obliged to give way.

Still Schulenberg was commissioned to find out what Augustus would think of such a scheme.

Although he said not a word to any one on leaving the King's presence, they could see by his face that the plan had been rejected.

But in spite of this, Cosel was not discouraged. She felt strong enough to fight the King himself.

Augustus had no secrets from her, and the same evening he told her of his conversation with Schulenberg. Hearing which, the Countess exclaimed,--

”What? Your Majesty does not wish to avenge his wrongs?”

”Let us talk no more of the matter,” said the King, frowning.

Seeing it was not a good time to press the subject, Cosel turned the conversation, and told him all the court gossip.

For a long time she had been urging the King to take her to see the alchemist. Bottiger was at this time shut up in a tower of the castle, but although kept in perpetual imprisonment, he was always treated with the respect due to a man from whom gold is expected.