Part 30 (2/2)
”He did it _because_ he is great,” replied Gotzkowsky.
”Strange, hard to believe,” muttered the general, folding his arms, and striding up and down. After a pause, Gotzkowsky inquired, ”Would you not like to emulate the great king, general?”
Count Tottleben awoke from his reverie. Approaching Gotzkowsky, he laid his hand upon his shoulder; his expression was indescribably mild and gentle, and a melancholy smile played around his lips. ”Hark'ee, I believe it would do me good if we could be always together. Come with me. Settle in Russia. The empress has heard of you, and I know that she would be rejoiced if you came to Petersburg. Do it. You can make a large fortune there. The empress's favor will elevate you, and she will not let you want for orders or a t.i.tle.”
Gotzkowsky could hardly suppress a smile of contempt. ”Orders for me!
A t.i.tle! What would I do with them? Sir, I am more powerful than all your counts, for the greatness of the n.o.bility lies in the past, in mouldering ancestors; but the greatness of the manufacturer lies in the future, and the future belongs to industry. I founded the first large factories here in Berlin, and the manufacturers who come after me can call me their ancestor. No other n.o.bility do I desire, count.”
”You would then be capable of refusing a count's t.i.tle?” asked Tottleben, in astonishment.
Gotzkowsky shrugged his shoulders. ”If I had wished for n.o.bility I could long ago have bought a counts.h.i.+p of the holy German empire, for such things are for sale, and thirty thousand ducats is the highest price for a count's t.i.tle; and as for the orders, my own ribbon-factory turns out the ribbons for them.”
General Tottleben looked at him for a long time in mild astonishment.
”You are a wonderful man, and I wish I were like you. If I had thought as you do, my life would have been a less stormy one, and less tossed by care and restlessness. I would have--”
The general was interrupted by the hasty entrance of the adjutant.
He was the bearer of dispatches brought by a courier who had just arrived. The courier, he said, had ridden so hard, that his horse had fallen dead on his arrival.
Tottleben tore open the dispatches and read them rapidly. His countenance immediately lost its former expression of mildness and gentleness. His German heart was silenced by the will of the Russian general.
He seemed to forget Gotzkowsky's presence, and turning to his adjutant, with proud military bearing, he said: ”These dispatches contain important and surprising information. They announce that the Prussian army is drawing on in forced marches, with the king at its head. We cannot give him battle here, and must, in consequence, arrange for a rapid retreat from Berlin. Call all the generals and staff-officers together. Let the alarm be sounded. In three hours the whole army must have left the city. And, further, summon the Town Council to the New Market, that we may take our leave, for we must not leave Berlin as fugitives, but as conquerors, who are proceeding on their march.”
”And the poor editors who are to be flogged?” asked Gotzkowsky, when the adjutant had left.
The general smiled, as he took Gotzkowsky amicably by the hand.
”We will hang them a little lower,” said he, significantly. ”Come, accompany us to the market-place!”
NOTE.--Count von Tottleben expiated his clemency toward Berlin very dearly. A few months later he was sent to Petersburg under arrest, accused princ.i.p.ally of having behaved too leniently and too much in the German interest for a Russian general.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE EXECUTION.
The morning was cold and rainy, the wind howled down the empty streets, rattling the windows, and slamming the open house-doors.
Surely the weather was but little suited for going out, and yet the Berlin citizens were to be seen flocking toward the New Market in crowds, regardless of wind and rain.
The Berliners have, from time immemorial, been an inquisitive race, and where any thing is to be seen, there they rush. But this day there was to be a rare spectacle at the New Market.
The editors of the two newspapers were to run the gantlet; and besides, General von Tottleben had summoned the Town Council and Jews thither, to receive his last orders and resolutions before he left Berlin. People were, therefore, very much excited, and curious to witness this double show, and in their eagerness they forgave the hostile general, who had prepared such a delightful entertainment for them, all the terrors of the last few days. Two gentlemen--two learned men--were to be flogged. That was, indeed, a precious and delightful sight for cold, hungry, ragged poverty, which always takes delight in seeing those whom fortune has favored, suffer and smart.
How often had these shoemakers and tailors worried and fretted themselves over their pot of beer, that the newspaper writers should have had the hardihood and stupidity to write so violently against the Russians, without taking into account that the Russians would one day occupy Berlin, and take revenge on its innocent citizens! It served these newspaper writers quite right that they should be punished for their arrogance. And, besides, the good people would see the Russian general and his staff, and the grand Town Council and the chief magistrate, who, in his golden chain and his robes of office, was to hand over to the hostile general a present of ten thousand ducats.
The Berliners were, therefore, quite happy, and delighted to hear the hollow sound of the drum, and the Russian word of command.
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