Part 29 (1/2)

”Because no one is friends with me,” replied Anna.

She began to cry; thereupon the King rang the bell, and, despite Cosel's opposition, ordered Flemming to be summoned.

After a long time, which Augustus employed in pacing furiously up and down the room, the General arrived. He did not salute Cosel on entering, but turned straight towards the King.

”My dear Flemming,” said Augustus, ”if you love me, you will ask pardon of the Countess. Shake hands both of you!”

”Never!” exclaimed Cosel. ”I will not shake hands with that vile courtier, who has dared to slight a woman.”

”Do not be afraid,” said Flemming, ”I shall not bother you by shaking hands with you. I do not know how to lie, and I shall offer no excuses.”

The King had risen. He was angry.

”General, you will do it for me,” he said.

”Neither will I do it for your Majesty. I should prefer to leave your service.”

”You villain!” screamed Cosel. ”His Majesty's favours have made you arrogant; but it is not far from Dresden to Konigstein, thank G.o.d!”

”Cosel, for Heaven's sake!” interrupted Augustus.

”Your Majesty will permit me to be frank; for I likewise do not know how to lie. I must tell him what I think of him. He declared war against me, let him have it.”

”I do not propose to make war against you, Countess,” said Flemming. ”I have something better to do.”

”Leave my house!” screamed the Countess, stamping her foot on the floor.

”This house is not yours; there is not one thing that belongs to you; this is a palace belonging to my King and my lord, and I shall not leave it without his orders,” replied Flemming.

Cosel began to weep and tear her dress. Then, addressing Flemming, the King said, gently and calmly,--

”General, I beg you to make peace. I love you both; I require both of you. Why must I suffer because of you?”

”Your Majesty does not need to listen to our quarrels; it were better to leave them to be decided by fate.”

Having exhausted all her arguments, Cosel threw herself on the sofa.

The King, seeing no means of reconciling them, either by calming Flemming or by softening the irritated Countess, extended his hand to the General and conducted him to the door. Then Augustus began to pace up and down; he was thoughtful, and it was evident that he was occupied with matters of greater importance.

Cosel loaded him reproaches.

”Alas! sire,” said she, ”then it has come to this, that your servants insult me. It is my fate. Flemming laughs at the one you say you love.”

”Dear Countess,” he replied calmly, ”all that you say proves that you do not know how I am situated. At this moment I need Flemming more than I do my right hand: to make him angry is to renounce the crown of Poland. You cannot ask that of me, and if you did, as a King I should not do it. You know that I do not refuse you anything, but there is a limit to all things. I was a King before I was Cosel's lover.”

Frowning, fearful, mad, Cosel rushed towards Augustus.

”Lover!” she screamed. ”I have your written promise. I am not your mistress; I am your wife!”

Augustus made a grimace.

”All the more reason you should pay attention to the interests of my crown,” he replied.