首页 >出版文学> The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck>第16章
  Whatmyanxietywas,whatmyexertionswere,maywellbeimagined。
  Myevilgenius,however,haddecreedthatthesamesentinel,whohadheardmebefore,shouldbethatdayonguard。Hewaspiquedbyvanity,toprovehewasnottheblockheadhehadbeencalled;hethereforeagainlaidhiseartotheground,andagainheardmeburrowing。Hocalledhiscomradesfirst,nexttheemajor;leecame,andheardmelikewise;theythenwentwithoutthepallisadoes,andheardmeworkingnearthedoor,atwhichplaceIwastobreakintothegallery。Thisdoortheyimmediatelyopened,enteredthegallerywithlanthorns,andwaitedtocatchthehuntedfoxwhenunearthed。
  ThroughthefirstsmallbreachImadeIperceivedalight,andsawtheheadsofthosewhowereexpectingme。Thiswasindeedathunder—stroke!Icreptback,mademywaythroughthesandIhadcastbehindme,andawaitedmyfatewithshuddering!Ihadthepresenceofmindtoconcealmypistols,candles,paper,andsomemoney,underthefloorwhichIcouldremove。Themoneywasdisposedofinvariousholes,wellconcealedalsobetweenthepanelsofthedoors;andunderdifferentcracksinthefloorIhidmysmallfilesandknives。Scarcelywerethesedisposedofbeforethedoorsresounded:thefloorwascoveredwithsandandsand—bags:myhandcuffs,however,andtheseparatingbar,IhadhastilyresumedthattheymightsupposeIhadworkedwiththemon,whichtheyweresillyenoughtocredit,highlytomyfutureadvantage。
  NomanwasmorebusyonthisoccasionthanthebrutalandstupidBruckhausen,whoputmanyinterrogatories,towhichImadenoreply,exceptassuringhimthatIshouldhavecompletedmyworksomedayssooner,haditnotbeenhisgoodfortunetofallsick,andthatthisonlyhadbeenthecauseofmyfailure。
  Themanwasabsolutelyterrifiedwithapprehension;hebegantofearme,grewmorepolite,andevensupposednothingwasimpossibletome。
  Itwastoolatetoremovethesand;thereforethelieutenantandguardcontinuedwithme,sothatthisnightatleastIdidnotwantcompany。Whenthemorningcame,theholewasfirstfilledup;theplankingwasrenewed。ThetyrantBorckwasill,andcouldnotcome,otherwisemytreatmentwouldhavebeenstillmorelamentable。Thesmithshadendedbeforetheevening,andtheironswereheavierthanever。Thefootchains,insteadofbeingfastenedasbefore,werescrewedandriveted;allelseremainedasformerly。Theywereemployedintheflooringtillthenextday,sothatIcouldnotsleep,andatlastIsankdownwithweariness。
  Thegreatestofmymisfortuneswastheyagaindeprivedmeofmybed,becauseIhadcutitupforsand—bags。BeforethedoorswerebarredBruckhausenandanothermajorexaminedmybodyverynarrowly。TheyoftenhadaskedmewhereIconcealedallmyimplements?Myanswerwas,"Gentlemen,Beelzebubismybestandmostintimatefriend;hebringsmeeverythingIwant,suppliesmewithlight:weplaywholenightsatpiquet,and,guardmeasyouplease,hewillfinallydelivermeoutofyourpower。"
  Somewereastonished,otherslaughed。Atlength,astheywerebarringthelastdoor,Icalled,"Comeback,gentlemen!youhaveforgottensomethingofgreatimportance。"IntheinterimIhadtakenuponeofmyhiddenfiles。Whentheyreturned,"Lookye,gentlemen,"saidI,"hereisaproofofthefriendshipBeelzebubhasforme,hehasbroughtmethisinatwinkling。"Againtheyexamined,andagaintheyshuttheirdoors。Whiletheyweresodoing,Itookoutaknife,andtenlouis—d’ors,called,andtheyreturned,grumblingcurses;Ithenshewedtheknifeandthelouis—
  d’ors。Theirconsternationwasexcessive;andIdivertedmymisfortunesbyjestingatsuchblundering,short—sightedkeepers。
  ItwassoonrumouredthroughMagdeburg,especiallyamongthesimpleandvulgar,thatIwasamagiciantowhomthedevilbroughtallI
  asked。
  OneMajorHoltzkammer,averyselfishman,profitedbythisreport。
  Afoolishcitizenhadofferedhimfiftydollarsifhemightonlybepermittedtoseemethroughthedoor,beingverydesiroustoseeawizard。Holtzkammertoldme,andwejointlydeterminedtosportwithhiscredulity。Themajorgavemeamaskwithamonstrousnose,whichIputonwhenthedoorswereopening,andthrewmyselfinanheroicattitude。Theaffrightedburgerdrewback;butHoltzkammerstoppedhim,andsaid,"Havepatienceforsomequarterofanhour,andyoushallseehewillassumequiteadifferentcountenance。"
  Theburgerwaited,mymaskwasthrownby,andmyfaceappearedwhitenedwithchalk,andmadeghastly。Theburgeragainshrankback;Holtzkammerkepthiminconversation,andIassumedathirdfarcicalform。Itiedmyhairundermynose,andapewterdishtomybreast,andwhenthedoorathirdtimeopened,Ithundered,"Begone,rascals,orI’llsetyournecks——awry!"Theybothran:
  andthesillyburger,easedofhisfiftydollars,scamperedfirst。
  Themajor,invain,laidhisinjunctionsontheburgernevertorevealwhathehadbeheld,itbeingabreachofdutyinhimtoadmitanypersonswhatevertothesightofme。Inafewdays,thenecromancerTrenckwasthethemeofeveryalehouseinMagdeburg,andthepersonwasnamedwhohadseenmechangemyformthriceinthespaceofonehour。Manyfalseandridiculouscircumstanceswereadded,andatlastthestoryreachedthegovernor’sears。Thecitizenwascited,andofferedtotakehisoathofwhathimselfandthemajorhadseen。Holtzkammeraccordinglysufferedaseverereprimand,andwassomedaysunderarrest。Wefrequentlylaughed,however,atthisadventure,whichhadrenderedmesomuchthesubjectofconversation。Miraculousreportswerethemoreeasilycredited,becausenoonecouldcomprehendhow,indespiteoftheloadofironsIcarried,andallthevigilanceofmyguards,I
  shouldbecontinuallyabletomakenewattempts,whilethoseappointedtoexaminemydungeonseemed,asitwere,blindedandbewildered。Aproofthis,howeasyitistodeceivethecredulous,andwhencehaveoriginatedwitchcraft,prophecies,andmiracles。
  CHAPTERIV。
  Mylastundertakinghademployedmemorethantwelvemonths,andsoweakenedmethatIappearedlittlebetterthanaskeleton。
  Notwithstandingthegreatnessofmyspirit,Ishouldhavesunkintodespondency,atseeinganendlikethistoallmylabours,hadInotstillcherishedasecrethopeofescaping,foundedonthefriendsI
  hadgainedamongtheofficers。
  Isoonfelttheeffectsofthelossofmybed,andwasasecondtimeattackedbyaviolentfever,whichwouldthistimecertainlyhaveconsumedmehadnottheofficers,unknowntothegovernor,treatedmewithallpossiblecompassion。Bruckhausenalonecontinuedmyenemy,andtheslaveofhisorders;onhisdayofexaminationrulesandcommandsinalltheirrigourwereobserved,nordurstIfreemyselffrommyirons,tillIhadforsomeweeksremarkedthosepartsonwhichheinvariablyfixedhisattention。Ithencutthroughthelink,andclosedupthevacancywithbread。MyhandsIcouldalwaysdrawout,especiallyafterillnesshadconsumedthefleshoffmybones。HalfayearhadelapsedbeforeIhadrecoveredsufficientstrengthtoundertake,anew,labourslikethepast。
  NecessityatlengthtaughtmethemeansofdrivingBruckhausenfrommydungeon,andofinducinghimtocommithisofficetoanother。I
  learnthisolfactorynervesweresomewhatdelicate,andwheneverI
  heardthedoorsunbar,Itookcaretomakeastirinmynight—table。
  Thismadehimgiveback,andatlengthhewouldcomenofartherthanthedoor。Sucharethehardexpedientsofapoorunhappyprisoner!
  Onedayhecame,bloatedwithpride,justafteracourierhadbroughtthenewsofvictory,andspokeoftheAustrians,andtheaugustpersonoftheEmpress—Queenwithsomuchvirulence,that,atlast,enragedalmosttomadness,Isnatchedtheswordofanofficerfromitssheath,andshouldcertainlyhaveendedhim,hadhenotmadeahastyretreat。Fromthatdayforwardhedurstnomorecomewithoutguardstoexaminethedungeon。Twomenalwaysprecededhim,withtheirbayonetsfixed,andtheirpiecespresented,behindwhomhestoodatthedoor。Thiswasanotherfortunateincident,asI
  dreadedonlyhisexamination。
  Thefollowinganecdotewillaffordaspecimenofthisman’sunderstanding。WhilediggingintheearthIfoundacannon—ball,andlaiditinthemiddleofmyprison。Whenhecametoexamine——
  "WhatinthenameofGodisthat?"saidhe。"Itisapartoftheammunition,"answeredI,"thatmyFamiliarbringsme。Thecannonwillbehereanon,andyouwillthenseefinesport!"Hewasastonished,toldthistoothers,norcouldconceivesuchaballmightbyanynaturalmeansentermyprison。
  Iwroteasatireonhim,whenthelateLandgraveofHesse—CasselwasgovernorofMagdeburg;andIhadpermissiontowriteaswillhereafterappear:theLand—gravegaveittohimtoreadhimself;
  andsogrosswashisconception,thatthoughhisownphraseologywasintroduced,partofhishistoryandhischaracterpainted,yethedidnotperceivethejest,butlaughedheartilywiththehearers。
  TheLandgravewashighlydiverted,andafterIobtainedmyfreedom,restoredmethemanuscriptwritteninmyownblood。
  Aboutthetimethatmylastattemptatescapingfailed,GeneralKrusemarckcametomyprison,whomIhadformerlylivedwithinhabitsofintimacy,whencornetofthebodyguard。Withouttestifyingfriendship,esteem,orcompassion,heasked,amongotherthings,inanauthoritativetone,howIcouldemploymytimetopreventtediousness?Iansweredinashaughtyamoodasheinterrogated:fornevercouldmisfortunebendmymind。Itoldhim,"Ialwayscouldfindsourcesofentertainmentinmyownthoughts;
  andthat,asformydreams,Iimaginedtheywouldatleastbeaspeacefulandpleasantasthoseofmyoppressors。""Hadyouintime,"repliedhe,"curbedthisfervourofyours,hadyouaskedpardonoftheKing,perhapsyouwouldhavebeeninverydifferentcircumstances;buthewhohascommittedanoffenceinwhichheobstinatelypersists,endeavouringonlytoobtainfreedombyseducingmenfromtheirduty,deservesnobetterfate。"
  Justlywasmyangerroused!"Sir,"answeredI,"youareageneraloftheKingofPrussia,IamanAustriancaptain。Myroyalmistresswillprotect,perhapsdeliverme,or,atleast,revengemydeath;I
  haveaconsciencevoidofreproach。You,yourself,wellknowIhavenotdeservedthesechains。Iplacemyhopeintime,andthejustnessofmycause,calumniatedandcondemned,asIhavebeen,withoutlegalsentenceorhearing。Insuchasituation,thephilosopherwillalwaysbeabletobraveanddespisethetyrant。"
  Hedepartedwiththreats,andhislastwordswere,"Thebirdshallsoonbetaughttosinganothertune。"Theeffectsofthiscourteousvisitweresoonfelt。AnordercamethatIshouldbepreventedsleeping,andthatthesentinelsshouldcall,andwakemeeveryquarterofanhour;whichdreadfulorderwasimmediatelyexecuted。
  Thiswasindeedapunishmentintolerabletonature!Yetdidcustomatlengthteachmetoanswerinmysleep。Fouryearsdidthisunheardofcrueltycontinue!ThenobleLandgraveofHesse—CasselatlengthputanendtoitayearbeforeIwasreleasedfrommydungeon,andonceagain,inmercy,sufferedmetosleepinpeace。
  Underthisnewaffliction,IwroteanElegywhichmaybefoundinthesecondvolumeofmyworks,afewlinesofwhichIshallcite。
  Wakeme,yeguards,forhark,thequarterstrikes!
  Sportwithmywoes,laughloudatmymiseriesHearkenifyouhearmychainsclank!Knock!Beat!
  OfaninexorabletyrantbeyeTh’inexorableinstruments!Wakeme,yeslaves;
  Yedobutasyou’rebade。SoonshallhelieSleepless,ordreaming,thespectresofconscienceBeholdandshriek,whomedeprivesofrest。
  Wakeme:Againthequarterstrikes!CallloudRipupallmybleedingwounds,andshrinknot!
  Yetthink’tisIthatanswer,Godthathears!
  Toeverywretchinchainssleepispermitted:
  I,Ialone,amrobb’dofthislastrefugeOfsinkingnature!Hark!Againtheythunder!
  AgaintheyiterateyellsofTrenckanddeath。
  Peacetothyanger,peace,thousufferingheart!
  Norindignantbeat,addingtenfoldpangstopain。
  Yeburthenedlimbs,arisefrommomentarySlumbers!Shakeyourchains!Murmurnot,butrise!
  Andye!Watch—dogsofPower!letlooseyourrage:
  Fearnot,forIamhelpless,unprotected。
  Andyet,notso——Thenoblemind,withinItself,resourcesfindsinnumerable。
  Thou,OhGod,thought’stgoodmet’imprisonthus:
  Thou,OhGod,inThygoodtime,wiltmedeliver。
  Wakemethen,norfear!Mysoulslumbersnot。
  Andwhocansaybutthosewhofetterme,May,ereto—morrow,groanthemselvesinfetters!
  Wakeme!Forlo!theirsleep’slesssweetthanmine。
  Call!Call!Fromnighttomorn,fromtwilighttodawn,Incessant!Yea,inGod’sname,Call!Call!Call!
  Amen!Amen!Thywill,OhGod,bedone!
  YetsurelyThouatlengthshalthearmysighs!
  Shaltburstmyprisondoors!ShaltshewmefairCreation!Yea,theveryheav’nofheav’ns!
  Withwhomtheseordersoriginated,unexampledinthehistoryevenoftyranny,Ishallnotventuretosay。Themajor,whowasmyfriend,advisedmetopersistinnotanswering。Ifollowedhisadvice;anditproducedthisgoodeffectthatwemutuallyforcedeachothertoacapitulation:theyrestoredmemybed,andIwasobligedtoreply。
  Immediatelyafterthisregulation,thesub—governor,GeneralBorck,mybitterenemy,becameinsane,wasdispossessedofhispost,andLieutenant—GeneralReichmann,thebenevolentfriendofhumanity,wasmadesub—governor。
  AboutthesametimetheCourtfledfromBerlin,andtheQueen,thePrinceofPrussia,thePrincessAmelia,andtheMargraveHenry,choseMagdeburgfortheirresidence。Bruckhausengrewmorepolite,probablyperceivingIwasnotwhollydeserted,andthatitwasyetpossibleImightobtainmyfreedom。Thecruelareusuallycowards,andthereisreasontosupposeBruckhausenwasactuatedbyhisfearstotreatmewithgreaterrespect。
  Theworthynewgovernorhadnotindeedthepowertolightenmychains,oralterthegeneralregulations;whathecould,hedid。Ifhedidnotcommand,heconnivedatthedoorsbeingoccasionallyatfirst,andatlength,daily,keptopensomehours,toadmitdaylightandfreshair。Afteratime,theywereopenthewholeday,andonlyclosedbytheofficerswhentheyreturnedfromtheirvisittoWalrabe。
  Havinglight,Ibegantocarve,withanail,onthepewtercupinwhichIdrank,satiricalversesandvariousfigures,andattainedsomuchperfectionthatmycups,atlast,wereconsideredasmaster—
  pieces,bothofengravingandinvention,andweresolddear,asrarecuriosities。Myfirstattemptswererude,asmaywellbeimagined。
  Mycupwascarriedtotown,andshowntovisitorsbythegovernor,whosentmeanother。Iimproved,andeachoftheinspectingofficerswishedtopossessone。Igrewmoreexpert,andspentawholeyearinthisemployment,whichthuspassedswiftlyaway。TheperfectionIhadnowacquiredobtainedmethepermissionofcandle—
  light,andthiscontinuedtillIwasrestoredtofreedom。
  TheKinggaveordersthesecupsshouldallbeinspectedbygovernment,becauseIwished,bymyversesanddevices,toinformtheworldofmyfate。Butthiscommandwasnotobeyed;theofficersmademerchandiseofmycups,andsoldthematlastfortwelveducatseach。Theirvalueincreasedsomuch,whenIwasreleasedfromprison,thattheyarenowtobefoundinvariousmuseumsthroughoutEurope。TwelveyearsagothelateLandgraveofHesse—Casselpresentedoneofthemtomywife;andanothercame,inaveryunaccountablemanner,fromtheQueen—DowagerofPrussiatoParis。I
  havegivenprintsofboththese,withtheversestheycontained,inmyworks;whenceitmaybeseenhowartificiallytheywereengraved。
  AthirdfellintothehandsofPrinceAugustusLobkowitz,thenaprisonerofwaratMagdeburg,who,onhisreturntoVienna,presentedittotheEmperor,whoplaceditinhismuseum。Amongotherdevicesonthiscup,wasalandscape,representingavineyardandhusbandmen,andunderitthefollowingwords:—Bymylaboursmyvineyardflourished,andIhopedtohavegatheredthefruit;butAhabcame。Alas!forNaboth。
  Theallusionwassopointed,bothtothewrongsdonemeinVienna,andmysufferingsinPrussia,thatitmadeaverystrongimpressionontheEmpress—Queen,whoimmediatelycommandedherministertomakeeveryexertionformydeliverance。Shewouldprobablyatlasthaveevenrestoredmetomyestates,hadnotthepossessorsofthembeensopowerful,orhadsheherselflivedoneyearlonger。TothesemyengravedcupswasIindebtedforbeingoncemorerememberedatVienna。Onthesamecup,also,wasanotherengravingofabirdinacage,heldbyaTurk,withthefollowinginscription:—Thebirdsingseveninthestorm;openhiscage,breakhisfetters,yefriendsofvirtue,andhissongsshallbethedelightofyourabodes!
  Thereisanotherremarkablecircumstanceattendingthesecups。Allwereforbiddenunderpainofdeathtoholdconversationwithme,ortosupplymewithpenandink;yetbythisopenpermissionofwritingwhatIpleasedonpewter,wasIenabledtoinformtheworldofallIwished,andtoproveamanofmeritwasoppressed。Thedifficultiesofthisengravingwillbeconceived,whenitisrememberedthatIworkedbycandle—lightonshiningpewter,attainedtheartofgivinglightandshade,andbypracticecoulddivideacupintotwo—and—thirtycompartmentsasregularlywithastrokeofthehandaswithapairofcompasses。Thewritingwassominutethatitcouldonlybereadwithglasses。Icouldusebutonehand,both,beingseparatedbythebar,andthereforeheldthecupbetweenmyknees。Mysoleinstrumentwasasharpenednail,yetdidIwritetwolinesontherimonly。
  Mylabourbecamesoexcessive,thatIwasindangerofdistractionorblindness。Everybodywishedforcups,andIwishedtoobligeeverybody,sothatIworkedeighteenhoursaday。Thereflectionofthelightfromthepewterwasinjurioustomyeyes,andthelabourofinventionforappositesubjectsandverseswasmostfatiguing。I
  hadlearntonlyarchitecturaldrawing。
  Enoughofthesecups,whichprocuredmesomuchhonour,somanyadvantages,andhelpedtoshortensomanymournfulhours。Mygreatestencumbrancewasthehugeironcollar,withitsenormousappendages,which,whensufferedtopressthearteriesinthebackofmyneck,occasionedintolerableheadaches。Isattoomuch,andathirdtimefellsick。ABrunswicksausage,secretlygivenmebyafriend,occasionedanindigestion,whichendangeredmylife;aputridfeverfollowed,andmybodywasreducedtoaskeleton。
  Medicines,however,wereconveyedtomebytheofficers,and,nowandthen,warmfood。
  Aftermyrecovery,Iagainthoughtitnecessarytoendeavourtoregainmyliberty。Ihadbutfortylouis—d’orsremaining,andtheseIcouldnotgettillIhadfirstbrokenuptheflooring。
  LieutenantSonntagwasconsumptive,andobtainedhisdischarge。I
  suppliedbinswithmoneytodefraytheexpensesofhisjourney,andwithanorderthatfourhundredflorinsshouldbeannuallypaidhimfrommyeffectstillhisdeathormyrelease。IcommissionedhimtoseekanaudiencefromtheEmpress,endeavourtoexcitehercompassioninmybehalf,andtoremitmefourthousandflorins,forwhichIgaveaproperacquittance,bythewayofHamburgh。Themoney—draftwasaddressedtomyadministrators,CounsellorsKempfandHuttner。
  Butnoone,alas!inVienna,wishedmyreturn;theyhadalreadybeguntosharemyproperty,ofwhichtheyneverrenderedmeanaccount。PoorSonntagwasarrestedasaspy,imprisoned,illtreatedforsomeweeks,and,atlast,whennakedanddestitute,receivedahundredflorins,andwasescortedbeyondtheAustrianconfines。Theworthymanfellashamefulsacrificetohishonesty,couldneverobtainanaudienceoftheEmpress,andreturnedpoorandmiserableonfoottoBerlin,wherehewastwelvemonthssecretlymaintainedbyhisbrother,andwithwhomhedied。HewroteanaccountofallthistothegoodKnoblauch,myHamburghagent,andI,frommysmallstore,senthimahundredducats。
  HowmuchmustIdespairoffindinganyplaceofrefugeonearth,hearingaccountslikethesefromVienna。
  Afriend,whomIwillnevername,bytheaidofoneofthelieutenants,secretlyvisitedme,andsuppliedmewithsixhundredducats。Thesamefriend,intheyear1763,paidfourthousandflorinstotheimperialenvoy,BaronReidt,atBerlin,forthefurtheringofmyfreedom,asIshallpresentlymorefullyshow。
  ThusIhadoncemoremoney。
  AboutthistimetheFrencharmyadvancedtowithinfivemilesofMagdeburg。Thisimportantfortresswas,atthattime,thekeyofthewholePrussianpower。Itrequiredagarrisonofsixteenthousandmen,andcontainednotmorethanfifteenhundred。TheFrenchmighthavemarchedinunopposed,andatoncehaveputanendtothewar。Theofficersbroughtmeallthenews,andmyhopesroseastheyapproached。Whatwasmyastonishmentwhenthemajorinformedmethatthreewaggonshadenteredthetowninthenight,hadbeensentbackloadedwithmoney,andthattheFrenchwereretreating。This,Icanassuremyreaders,onmyhonour,isliterallytruth,totheeternaldisgraceoftheFrenchgeneral。Themajor,whoinformedme,washimselfaneye—witnessofthefact。ItwaspretendedthemoneywasforthearmyoftheKing,buteverybodycouldguesswhitheritwasgoing;itleftthetownwithoutaconvoy,andtheFrenchwerethenintheneighbourhood。SuchwerethealliesofMariaTheresa;thereceiversofthismoneyareknowninParis。
  Notonlyweremyhopesthiswayfrustrated,butinRussialikewise,wheretheCountessofBestuchefandtheChancellorhadfallenintodisgrace。
  Inowimaginedanother,and,indeed,afearfulanddangerousproject。ThegarrisonofMagdeburgatthismomentconsistedbutofninehundredmilitia,whowerediscontentedmen。Twomajorsandtwolieutenantswereinmyinterest。TheguardoftheStarFortamountedbuttoahundredandfifteenmen。Frontingthegateofthisfortwasthetowngate,guardedonlybytwelvemenandaninferiorofficer;besidetheselaythecasemates,inwhichwereseventhousandCroatprisoners。BaronK—y,acaptain,andprisonerofwar,alsowasinourinterest,andwouldholdhiscomradesreadyatacertainplaceandtimetosupportmyundertaking。Anotherfriendwas,undersomepretence,toholdhiscompanyready,withtheirmusketsloaded,andtheplanwassuchthatIshouldhavehadfourhundredmeninarmsreadytocarryitintoexecution。
  Theofficerwastohaveplacedthetwomenwemostsuspectedandfeared,assentinelsoverme;hewastocommandthemtotakeawaymybed,andwhenencumbered,Iwastospringout,andshutthemintheprison。Clothingandarmsweretohavebeenprocured,andbroughtmeintomyprison;thetown—gatewastohavebeensurprised;Iwastohaveruntothecasemate,andcalledtotheCroats,"Trencktoarms!"Myfriends,atthesameinstant,weretobreakforth,andtheplanwassowellconcertedthatitcouldnothavefailed。
  Magdeburg,themagazineofthearmy,theroyaltreasury,arsenal,allwouldhavebeenmine;andsixteenthousandmen,whowerethenprisonersofwar,wouldhaveenabledmetokeeppossession。
  Themostessentialsecret,bywhichallthiswastohavebeeneffected,Idarenotreveal;sufficeittosay,everythingwasprovidedfor,everythingmadesecure;Ishallonlyaddthatthegarrison,intheharvestmonths,wasexceedinglyweakened,becausethefarmerspaidthecaptainsaflorinpermaneachday,andthemenfortheirlabourlikewise,toobtainhands。Thesub—governorconnivedatthepractice。
  OneLieutenantG—procuredafurloughtovisithisfriends;but,suppliedbymewithmoney,hewenttoVienna。Ifurnishedhimwithaletter,addressedtoCounsellorsKempfandHuttner,includingadraftfortwothousandducats;whereinIsaidthat,bythesemeans,Ishouldnotonlysoonbeatliberty,butinpossessionofthefortressofMagdeburg;andthatthebearerwasentrustedwiththerest。
  ThelieutenantcamesafetoVienna,underwentathousandinterrogatories,andhisnamewasrepeatedlyasked。This,fortunately,heconcealed。Theyadvisedhimnottobeconcernedinsodangerousanundertaking;toldhimIhadnotsomuchmoneyduetome,andgavehim,insteadoftwothousandducats,onethousandflorins。WiththeseheleftVienna,butwithveryprudentsuspicionswhichpreventedhimeverreturningtoMagdeburg。AmonthhadscarcelypassedbeforethelateLandgraveofHesse—Cassel,thenchiefgovernor,enteredmyprison,showedmemyletter,anddemandedtoknowwhohadcarriedtheletter,andwhoweretofreemeandbetrayMagdeburg。WhethertheletterwassentimmediatelytotheKingorthegovernorIknownot;itissufficientthatIwasoncemorebetrayedatVienna。Thetruthwas,theadministratorsofmyeffectshadactedasifIweredeceased,anddidnotchoosetorefundtwothousandducats。TheywishednotIshouldobtainmyfreedom,inamannerthatwouldhaveobligedthegovernmenttohaverewardedme,andrestoretheeffectstheyhadembezzledandtheestatestheyhadseized。WhathappenedafterwardsatVienna,whichwillberelatedinitsplace,willincontestablyprovethissurmisetobewellfounded。