Part 45 (1/2)

But neither on that nor the following day did she see anything except shepherds, herds, and vans. No one looked at the castle. She wandered from window to window; but all round the country was quiet and deserted. Towards evening she perceived a small peasant boy picking flowers near the wall, and she threw him a piece of money that she found in her pocket, and, leaning out, she asked him the name of the castle. The boy muttered, ”Nossen,” and ran away frightened.

She did not know even the name, but she remembered to have heard it, and guessed she was in the vicinity of Meissen and Dresden. She again thought of Zaklika, but what could he do alone against walls, guards, and the King?

The third day she was looking on the road when towards noon she noticed a horseman. He was riding slowly from the direction of Dresden.

He dropped his reins and looked curiously round the country; he had raised his head towards the castle. He seemed to be looking for something. He wore a grey mantle, and she thought it was her faithful servant. She s.h.i.+vered, and began to wave her handkerchief.

The cavalier had also taken out his handkerchief, and, apparently wiping his forehead, made signs with it. It was indeed Zaklika. His mien and his movements were easily recognized, even from a distance.

Her heart began to throb. He at least did not forget her; he could save her.

Riding slowly and looking at the castle, he disappeared behind the hill.

Zaklika had remained a few days in Halle and watched. He wanted to follow the Countess, but the Prussians ordered him to leave the country. He made his way to Dresden, where he went directly to Lehman.

The banker received him with evident fear; he locked the doors, and first asked him whether anybody had seen him. Being a.s.sured that Zaklika had not met any one in Dresden, Lehman breathed more easily.

But he could not speak for quite a while, and when he began to speak, he seemed afraid of his own words.

”It is difficult to know,” said he, ”what was the cause of that, but now there will be no measure to her misfortune. The King is angry, and the King's anger is cold like ice. When some one offends him, he is inexorable. Cosel is lost.”

Zaklika listened.

”Yes, she is lost!” continued Lehman. ”When the King wrongs some one, he persecutes him, and will not let him appear in his presence. Cosel has refused to return to him that promise of marriage, and he will never forget that. They have confiscated her all. Lowendahl received orders to search for her money and jewels. Pillnitz is taken by the Treasury, and the other estate also.”

Here Lehman approached Zaklika.

”They have taken everything from me too. The King sent for it. The books showed I had it; I could not refuse,” he added.

”What! everything? But not that secret sum that the Countess told me to take from you?”

He took a paper that was sewn in his sleeve. The banker took it with trembling hands.

”And do you know,” said he, ”what would become of both of us if they seized that paper? They would send us to Konigstein, and my children would become beggars. Flemming and Lowendahl would seize the pretext to look into my safe.” And he trembled.

”Then you have given them that sum also?” said Zaklika, wringing his hands in despair.

Lehman looked at him for a long time; he seemed to be wrestling with himself.

”Listen,” said he. ”Swear to me upon that which you hold most sacred, that you will not betray me even should they threaten you with death--”

Here the Jew took from a drawer a diamond cross p.a.w.ned by the Princess Teschen.

”Swear to me upon that,” said he.

Zaklika took the cross, and, raising his hand, said quietly,--

”I swear!”

Then he added,--

”It was not necessary to ask me for an oath: my word as n.o.bleman would be enough. Zaklika has never betrayed any one, and never will.”