Part 28 (2/2)
On the fourth day Flemming, who was riding, met her near the gates of the palace. Cosel leaned out of the carriage window, and, shaking her fist at him, exclaimed,--
”You must remember who you are, and who I am! You are the King's servant, and have to obey orders. I am mistress here. You wish for war with me, you shall have it.”
Flemming laughed, and with apparent courtesy, touched his hat.
”I do not make war on women,” said he, ”and I do what I consider good for my master. I will neither bow to, nor gratify women's caprices.”
Then, setting spurs to his horse, he galloped away.
War had now begun in good earnest between them. Cosel wept with anger, and awaited Augustus's return.
Augustus returned early the next day, and he had already been informed of everything that had occurred, for when Flemming met him on the road, he said to him,--
”I wonder that you, an old soldier and a diplomat, cannot live in peace with one woman.”
”Your Majesty,” returned the General, ”I live in peace with many, but I cannot with those who think themselves G.o.ddesses and queens. That woman ruins the country, and does not respect any one.”
”But I love this woman, and I require her to be obeyed.”
”No one slighted her, until she began to insult every one.”
The King was silent, and Flemming added, confidentially,--
”She will ruin Saxony, and Poland too, and then she will not be satisfied. Your Majesty may be satisfied with her caprices, but with us who surround the throne, our duty is to free your Majesty from such fetters.”
Augustus hastened to speak of other matters. On reaching the castle he went at once to Cosel, who was awaiting him with anger and reproaches, things that Augustus disliked exceedingly.
”My King! my lord!” she cried. ”Help me! Flemming treats me as if I were the least among women. He insults me publicly; he tears my letters in pieces and tramples on them. He has threatened to drive me from this palace. Your Majesty must choose between him and me.”
Augustus embraced her, smiling.
”Calm yourself, my dear Countess, you are excited. I need Flemming just now, therefore I must be kind to him.”
”And I?” asked Cosel.
”You know very well that I cannot live without you. But if you love me, you will do something for my sake. You will be reconciled to Flemming.”
”Never!” exclaimed Cosel.
”He will ask your pardon.”
”I do not care about it. I wish never to see the man again.”
Augustus took hold of her hand, and said coldly,--
”My dear Cosel, to-day you wish to be rid of Flemming, to-morrow you will ask to be freed from Furstenberg, after that it will be the same with Plug and Vitzthum. You cannot live in peace with any one.”
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