Part 52 (2/2)
”Are you a spirit or a living being?”
”I am your faithful servant; I have come to ask your orders,” said Zaklika.
”Then there are faithful servants; and I, a prisoner, can still give orders? To whom?”
”To me,” answered Zaklika, ”as long as I live.”
”How did you come here?”
Zaklika pointed to his uniform.
”Now is my turn,” said he. ”I will try to be more intelligent, and perhaps I shall be more lucky.”
Cosel smiled bitterly.
”Everything is written above, predestinated, unchangeable--no one can escape his fate.”
”And why should it not be my fate to give you liberty?”
She shook her head.
”For this reason, that I shall be free in another way,” said she.
”Formerly I was blind, but now I see my destiny in this book. There is no favour in this world; there is only iron, unbreakable, unavoidable necessity. One must submit to it. In the Old Testament alone is wisdom.”
Zaklika did not know what to say to that.
”Do you remain here?” asked Cosel.
”I do not know yet. Tell me what I have to do; I am ready for anything.”
Cosel turned over several pages, and began to read:
”'And he said again, Be not afraid; strengthen yourself and be wise, for thus will the Lord do unto all them against whom ye fight.'”
Then she said,--
”You must await G.o.d's voice.”
”But am I to quit the military service or not?” asked Zaklika.
”Throw down that horrid livery--that coat of slavery of the Amalekites,” said Cosel with animation.
”It will take some time to sell the commission before I could come to Stolpen.”
”Go, then, and return,” said she. ”You are the only man who serves me faithfully.”
Zaklika left her. In the courtyard he met Kaschau.
<script>