Part 5 (1/2)
”These accusations will be proved.”
”They cannot be, for I shall find means to justify myself. Although I cannot deny having been for some time connected with you, it does not follow that this is still the case.”
”That too is provided for. We possess the most irrefutable proofs that you still maintain an intercourse with us by letter.” He drew out a small portfolio. ”Now I will ask you for a lamp.” _Heinrich_ lighted the candles, and saw two envelopes, which Severinus held out to him, addressed in his own hand. ”You see,--these envelopes contained the replies to the General's requests concerning the erection of a private inst.i.tution in H----. We shall know how to conceal the fact that these answers were refusals. It is enough that the postmarks on envelopes addressed by your own hand will afford proofs of the recent existence of a secret correspondence.”
”And of what use will they be if you are forced to conceal their contents? Suppose you are asked why you do not produce the letters themselves?”
”It will be sufficient reason to say that they contained important secrets which we cannot reveal on any account.”
_Heinrich_ pa.s.sionately struck his brow. ”Oh, could I suspect that I had to deal with men to whom no measures are too petty, and who are not ashamed to collect pitiful envelopes and use them to aid their designs!”
”Nothing is so trivial that it is not worth the trouble of keeping, if it can serve the honest cause. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not ashamed to pick up a piece of old iron; why should not we, his servants, make even the most trifling things useful for his designs?”
”I hope, father, that you yourself feel the humorousness, not to say absurdity, of such logic at this moment.”
”Let us not digress. I am aware that our proceedings can in no case meet with your approval, and bear you no ill will for it; therefore I have not submitted them to your judgment. Every word which does not directly concern the matter in hand is a mere waste of time.”
”Well, then, father, we will use very few. Tell me exactly what you require.”
”That you should bind yourself to contend with us no longer.”
_Heinrich_ burst into a loud laugh. ”And by these untenable threats you wish to induce me to take such a step! No, father, we have not yet gone so far. Although I have no proofs that our correspondence was a hostile one, you are equally unable to show that it was confidential and friendly; far less, that I have failed in my duty towards my own government. Our risks are equal.”
”If they are, I need only throw in these papers and your scale will sink!” held aloft a roll of ma.n.u.script. ”Here are the proofs of the offenses you committed against your government and court during your stay in Rome. Whoever sees them will no longer doubt that you are a traitor now as well as then!”
”Severinus!” cried _Heinrich_, fairly beside himself with fury.
”Be calm, my friend; we are only weighing our comparative advantages and disadvantages. If you compel me to make these papers public, your honor and all your ambitious plans are destroyed!”
”If you rob me of my future career as a statesman, woe betide you! Do you see what an enemy you will find in me? I, too, am in possession of secrets which you would not desire to have revealed!”
”As we know this, my friend, we do you the honor of treating with you.
Towards any one else we should have adopted a shorter course. The only point in question now is which of us has most to lose, and it is you!”
”What do those papers contain?” asked _Heinrich_, in a hollow tone.
”In the first place an article in your own hand, which you prepared at the rector's command, containing the characteristics of this court and those of the most influential persons who surround the prince.”
”That can only compromise me personally,” said _Heinrich_, with forced composure.
”It can be displayed by a malevolent person as an act of treachery to your court in favor of the Jesuits' designs,--and in fact it was intended to aid us in our first steps here.”
”It failed, however, for the characteristics were not correct. Any one who is familiar with the relations existing here will instantly perceive that they are intentionally falsified, to mislead any one who might wish to use them.”
”This may have proceeded from want of judgment quite as much as design.”
_Heinrich_ suppressed a smile. ”Oh, father, pardon my lack of modesty if I doubt that any would impute want of judgment to _me_!”
Severinus bit his lips. ”You were a very young man, whose penetration could not have been so well disciplined as now. Meantime, where many proofs are brought together the number turns the scale, and I possess one which will weigh heavier than all the rest.” He drew a printed doc.u.ment from his breast and pointed to the t.i.tle. ”Who is the author of this pamphlet written in favor of the Jesuits and against your government?”
”I,” said _Heinrich_, coldly. ”But, fortunately, you can create no proofs of the fact.”
”We can procure them.”