Part 53 (1/2)
”What have you been talking about with her?” asked he.
”I could not talk at all,” answered Zaklika. ”She was reading the Bible. I did not want to interrupt her. I must come again.”
”I doubt you will have a better chance. Now the Countess seeks distraction in holy books. It is better.”
They spent the day in walking on the ramparts and chatting till the moment of locking the gates. Then he took leave of his friend and returned to his quarters in Ochatz, where he sold his commission, gathered as much money as he could, and came to Stolpen, where he purchased a little house in which he settled.
[Ill.u.s.tration: The Countess Orzelska]
CHAPTER XXVII.
Many changes took place at the Court in Dresden. Cosel was avenged without putting her hand to it. Her foes disappeared one after another.
Amid the ruins King Augustus the Strong was always standing magnificent, throwing away gold, seeking pleasures, but not being able to find them.
The Countess Marie Denhoff, being afraid that she might meet the fate of Cosel, thought it would be wise to marry, and the King did not oppose it. The King enjoyed himself the best in Leipzig fairs, and preferred short amours to those which would fetter him for a long time.
The beautiful and statuesque Sophie Dieskau claimed him for a while; but the King found her cold as an icicle, and he married her to Herr von Loss. After that he was in love for a while with Henriette Osterhausen. These temporary love intrigues were followed by the reign of Anna Orzelska, the daughter of Henriette Duval.
The King seemed to become younger at his beautiful daughter's side, who, clad in a uniform embroidered with gold, accompanied him to military reviews, man[oe]uvres, and hunting.
The King was always eager for distractions, and the arrival of Anna Orzelska furnished him with an opportunity for the display of still greater splendour.
Amid different pleasures furnished by the King's fancy, there were moments when Augustus thought that he was a military genius, and wanted military parades.
In 1727 the King was spending the spring in Pillnitz, where the troops were camping. They tried new cannons which were able to break the rock on which Konigstein was built.
”I know some rocks,” said Count Wackerbarth to the King, ”which would resist those cannons.”
”Where?” asked Augustus.
Wackerbarth looked at the King, and it seemed as if he were sorry for what he had said.
”Where?” repeated the King.
”At Stolpen; the basalt rocks would resist.”
”In Stolpen!” exclaimed Augustus, and he was gloomy.
There was a moment of silence. The King walked to and fro impatiently; it was evident that he was tormented by some fancy which he did not want to satisfy.
”In Stolpen!” repeated he. ”One could try the cannon on those rocks.”
The general looked timidly at the King, who, as if he were p.r.i.c.ked by that look, exclaimed,--
”Why should we not try the b.a.l.l.s on the basalt rocks? We cannot destroy the castle, and a few shots--”
Wackerbarth was silent, and waited for orders, still not believing that Augustus wanted to show that he was superior to the childish consideration.
”Send two cannons to Stolpen,” said he, ”and give orders for them to be trained on the rock. To-morrow I will see the trial personally. Yes, to-morrow morning very early, for it is warm already towards noon.”