Part 42 (1/2)
”Dear Countess,” said the General, sighing, ”it might happen even to you. A military order prevails in our country. I would advise you to play trictrac; it amuses, and is less dangerous.”
Cosel dropped her head sadly.
”You may think,” continued the General, ”that I am grumbling, as old people do. Well, then, I will tell you that somebody advised me to warn you.”
Having said this, he quietly left the room, and the Countess threw herself on the sofa and laughed bitterly.
But she did not listen to the warning, and when her guests gathered again, her words were many and loud, in utter defiance of the severity with which she was threatened.
One morning the Governor-general of Berlin came to Cosel's house. He saluted her civilly, smiled, twisted his moustache, and then asked her,--
”Is it true that you wish to change your residence and go to live in the quiet city of Halle?”
”I, in Halle?” exclaimed Cosel. ”And what should I do there?”
”The air is very healthy there, the views are lovely, and it is quiet and secluded. There is no more agreeable place to live in than Halle.”
At first Cosel did not know what to answer. Then she said,--
”But I never intended to go to Halle.”
”It is rather strange,” said the Governor-general, ”somebody spoke about it to his Majesty, and the King ordered that every comfort should be a.s.sured you. The King's orders cannot be disobeyed; the best way, then, will be to go to Halle.”
Cosel wrung her hands, and the tears began to flow down her cheeks.
”Then it is an order,” she said, finally, ”it is a new exile--why is it?”
”The King thinks you will be more comfortable there. You know that in Berlin every word echoes far. There in Halle, no one will hear anything. There is more freedom.”
He had risen.
”You may go there to-morrow, in the morning,” he added. ”The weather is lovely; but as the roads are not always safe, His Majesty offers you a few men to escort you. It is great gallantry on his part; you should be thankful to him for that.”
General Wartesleben bowed very elegantly and went out, leaving the Countess as one turned to stone.
The blow came from Dresden--there can be no doubt about that. They wanted to force her to be silent--to accept her fate. Her unbending spirit rose in indignation; every such blow made her more energetic.
She ordered her trunks to be packed and the horses to be hired, and the faithful but gloomy Zaklika worked hard without saying a word.
When Cosel was ready to enter the carriage, a small group of curious men gathered round the house; but seeing that woman clad in black going majestically to the carriage surrounded by dragoons, they were frightened and scattered, for they thought that a victim was being conducted to the scaffold.
CHAPTER XXI.
In a narrow street in the city of Halle, in the first floor of a modest house, a strange woman had for some time attracted the attention of the peaceful pa.s.sers-by.
There she sat all day long, looking out at the sky, with unseeing eyes, and her mien, her great beauty, and the intense sadness of her face attracted a curious crowd.
No one in Halle knew the lady, but from her sadness they guessed she was very unhappy.