Bachoneday,sittingbesideme,relatedhow,theeveningbefore,hehadwoundedalieutenant,ofthenameofSchell,inthearm。I
replied,laughing,"HadImyliberty,Ibelieveyouwouldfindsometroubleinwoundingme,forIhavesomeskillinthesword。"Thebloodinstantlyflewinhisface;wesplitoffakindofpairoffoilsfromanolddoor,whichhadservedmeasatable,andatthefirstlungeIhithimonthebreast。
Hisragebecameungovernable,andhelefttheprison。Whatwasmyastonishmentwhen,amomentafter,Isawhimreturnwithtwosoldiers’swords,whichhehadconcealedunderhiscoat。——"Now,then,boaster,prove,"saidhe,givingmeoneofthem,"whatthouartabletodo。"Iendeavouredtopacifyhim,byrepresentingthedanger,butineffectually。Heattackedmewiththeutmostfury,andIwoundedhiminthearm。
Throwinghissworddown,hefelluponmyneck,kissedme,andwept。
Atlength,aftersomeconvulsiveemotionsofpleasure,hesaid,"Friend,thouartmymaster;andthoumust,thoushalt,bymyaid,obtainthyliberty,ascertainlyasmynameisBach。"Webounduphisarmaswellaswecould。Heleftme,andsecretlywenttoasurgeon,tohaveitproperlydressed,andatnightreturned。
Henowremarked,thatitwashumanlyimpossibleIshouldescape,unlesstheofficeronguardshoulddesertwithme;——thathewishednothingmoreardentlythantosacrificehislifeinmybehalf,butthathecouldnotresolvesofartoforgethishonouranddutytodesert,himself,whileonguard:henotwithstandinggavemehiswordofhonourhewouldfindmesuchapersoninafewdays;andthat,inthemeantime,hewouldprepareeverythingformyflight。
Hereturnedthesameevening,bringingwithhimLieutenantSchell,andasheenteredsaid,"Hereisyourman。"Schellembracedme,gavehiswordofhonour,andthuswastheaffairsettled,andasitproved,mylibertyascertained。
Wesoonbegantodeliberateonthemeansnecessarytoobtainourpurpose。SchellwasjustcomefromgarrisonatHabelchwerttothecitadelofGlatz,andintwodayswastomountguardoverme,tillwhenourattemptwassuspended。Ihavebeforesaid,Ireceivednomoresuppliesfrommybelovedmistress,andmypurseatthattimeonlycontainedsomesixpistoles。ItwasthereforeresolvedthatBachshouldgotoSchweidnitz,andobtainmoneyofasurefriendofmineinthatcity。
HeremustIinformthereaderthatatthisperiodtheofficersandI
allunderstoodeachother,CaptainRoderaloneexcepted,whowasexact,rigid,andgavetroubleonalloccasions。
MajorQuaadtwasmykinsman,bymymother’sside,agood,friendlyman,andardentlydesirousIshouldescape,seeingmycalamitiesweresomuchincreased。ThefourlieutenantswhosuccessivelymountedguardovermewereBach,Schroeder,Lunitz,andSchell。Thefirstwasthegrandprojector,andmadeallpreparations;Schellwastodesertwithme;andSchroederandLunitzthreedaysafterweretofollow。
Nooneoughttobesurprisedthatofficersofgarrisonregimentsshouldbesoreadytodesert。Theyare,ingeneral,eithermenofviolentpassions,quarrelsome,overwhelmedwithdebts,orunfitforservice。Theyareusuallysenttothegarrisonasapunishment,andarecalledtherefuseofthearmy。Dissatisfiedwiththeirsituation,theirpaymuchreduced,anddespisedbythetroops,suchmen,expectingadvantage,maybebroughttoengageinthemostdesperateundertaking。Noneofthemcanhopefortheirdischarge,andtheyliveintheutmostpoverty。Theyallhopedbymymeanstobettertheirfortune,Ialwayshavinghadmoneyenough;and,withmoney,nothingismoreeasythantofindfriends,inplaceswhereeachindividualisdesirousofescapingfromslavery。
ThetalentsofSchellwereofasuperiororder;hespokeandwrotesixlanguages,andwaswellacquaintedwithallthefinearts。HehadservedintheregimentofFouquet,hadbeeninjuredbyhiscolonel,whowasaPomeranian;andFouquet,whowasnofriendtowell—informedofficers,hadsenthimtoagarrisonregiment。Hehadtwicedemandedhisdismissal,buttheKingsenthimtothisspeciesofimprisonment;hethendeterminedtoavengehimselfbydeserting,andwasreadytoaidmeinrecoveringmyfreedom,thathemight,bythatmeans,spiteFouquet。
Ishallspeakmorehereafterofthisextraordinaryman,thatImustnotinthisplaceinterruptmystory。WedeterminedeverythingshouldbepreparedagainstthefirsttimeSchellmountedguard,andthatourprojectshouldbeexecutedonournext。Thus,ashemountedguardeveryfourdays,theeighthwastobethatofourflight。
ThegovernormeantimehadbeeninformedhowfamiliarIwasbecomewiththeofficers,atwhichtakingoffence,hesentordersthatmydoorshouldnomorebeopened,butthatIshouldreceivemyfoodthroughasmallwindowthathadbeenmadeforthepurpose。Thecareoftheprisonwascommittedtothemajor,andhewasforbiddentoeatwithme,underpainofbeingbroken。
Hisprecautionswereineffectual;theofficersprocuredafalsekey,andremainedwithmehalfthedayandnight。
CaptainDamnitzwasimprisonedinanapartmentbythesideofmine。
ThismanhaddesertedfromthePrussianservice,withthemoneybelongingtohiscompany,toAustria,whereheobtainedacommissioninhiscousin’sregiment,whohavingprevailedonhimtoserveasaspy,duringthecampaignof1744,hewastakeninthePrussianterritories,known,andcondemnedtobehanged。
SomeSwedishvolunteers,whoweretheninthearmy,interestedthemselvesinhisbehalf,andhissentencewaschangedtoperpetualimprisonment,withasentenceofinfamy。
Thiswretch,whotwoyearsafter,bytheaidofhisprotectors,notonlyobtainedhislibertybutalieutenant—colonel’scommission,wasthesecretspyofthemajorovertheprisoners;andheremarkedthat,notwithstandingtheexpressprohibitionlaidontheofficers,theystillpassedthegreaterpartoftheirtimeinmycompany。
The24thofDecembercame,andSchellmountedguard。Heenteredmyprisonimmediately,wherehecontinuedalongtime,andwemadeourarrangementsforflightwhenhenextshouldmountguard。
LieutenantSchroederthatdaydinedwiththegovernor,andheardordersgiventotheadjutantthatSchellshouldbetakenfromtheguard,andputunderarrest。
Schroeder,whowasinthesecret,hadnodoubtbutthatwewerebetrayed,notknowingthatthespyDamnitzhadinformedthegovernorthatSchellwastheninmychamber。
Schroeder,fullofterror,camerunningtothecitadel,andsaidtoSchell,"Savethyself,friend;allisdiscovered,andthouwiltinstantlybeputunderarrest。"
Schellmighteasilyhaveprovidedforhisownsafety,byflyingsingly,Schroederhavingpreparedhorses,ononeofwhichhehimselfofferedtoaccompanyhimintoBohemia。Howdidthisworthyman,inamomentsodangerous,acttowardhisfriend?
Runningsuddenlyintomyprison,hedrewacorporal’ssabrefromunderhiscoat,andsaid,"Friend,wearebetrayed;followme,onlydonotsuffermetofallaliveintothehandsofmyenemies。"
Iwouldhavespoken:butinterruptingme,andtakingmebythehand,headded,"Followme;wehavenotamomenttolose。"I
thereforeslippedonmycoatandboots,withouthavingtimetotakethelittlemoneyIhadleft;and,aswewentoutoftheprison,Schellsaidtothesentinel,"Iamtakingtheprisonerintotheofficer’sapartment;standwhereyouare。"
Intothisroomwereallywent,butpassedoutattheotherdoor。
ThedesignofSchellwastogounderthearsenal,whichwasnotfaroff,togainthecoveredway,leapthepalisadoes,andafterwardsescapeafterthebestmannerwemight。
WehadscarcelygoneahundredpacesbeforewemettheadjutantandMajorQuaadt。
Schellstartedback,sprangupontherampart,andleapedfromthewall,whichwastherenotveryhigh。Ifollowed,andalightedunhurt,excepthavinggrazedmyshoulder。Mypoorfriendwasnotsofortunate;havingputouthisankle。Heimmediatelydrewhissword,presentedittome,andbeggedmetodespatchhim,andfly。Hewasasmall,weakman:but,farfromcomplyingwithhisrequest,Itookhiminmyarms,threwhimoverthepalisadoes,afterwardsgothimonmyback,andbegantorun,withoutverywellknowingwhichwayI
went。
CHAPTERVI。
Itmaynotbeunnecessarytoremarkthosefortunatecircumstancesthatfavouredourenterprise。
Thesunhadjustsetaswetooktoflight;thehoarfrostfell。Noonewouldruntheriskthatwehaddone,bymakingsodangerousaleap。Weheardaterriblenoisebehindus。Everybodyknewus;butbeforetheycouldgoroundthecitadel,andthroughthetown,inordertopursueus,wehadgotafullhalfleague。
Thealarmgunswerefiredbeforewewereahundredpacesdistant;atwhichmyfriendwasverymuchterrified,knowingthatinsuchcasesitwasgenerallyimpossibletoescapefromGlatz,unlessthefugitiveshadgotthestartfulltwohoursbeforethealarmgunswereheard;thepassesbeingimmediatelyallstoppedbythepeasantsandhussars,whoareexceedinglyvigilant。Nosoonerisaprisonermissedthanthegunnerrunsfromtheguard—house,andfiresthecannononthethreesidesofthefortress,whicharekeptloadeddayandnightforthatpurpose。
Wewerenotfivehundredpacesfromthewalls,whenallbeforeusandbehinduswereinmotion。Itwasdaylightwhenweleaped,yetwasourattemptasfortunateasitwaswonderful:thisIattributedtomypresenceofmind,andthereputationIhadalreadyacquired,whichmadeitthoughtaserviceofdangerfortwoorthreementoattackme。
Itwasbesidesimaginedwewerewellprovidedwitharmsforourdefence;anditwaslittlesuspectedthatSchellhadonlyhissword,andIanoldcorporal’ssabre。
AmongtheofficerscommandedtopursueuswasLieutenantBart,myintimatefriend。CaptainZerbst,oftheregimentofFouquet,whohadalwaystestifiedthekindnessofabrothertowardsme,metusontheBohemianfrontiers,andcalledtome,"Maketotimeleft,brother,andyouwillseesomelonehouses,whichareontheBohemianconfines:thehussarshaveriddenstraightforward。"Hethenpassedonasifhehadnotseenus。
Wehadnothingtofearfromtheofficers;fortheintimacybetweenthePrussianofficerswasatthattimesogreat,andthewordofhonoursosacred,thatduringmyrigorousdetentionatGlatzIhadbeenoncesix—and—thirtyhourshuntingatNeurode,attheseatofBaronStillfriede;Lunitzhadtakenmyplaceintheprison,whichthemajorknewwhenhecametomakehisvisit。HencemaybeconjecturedhowgreatwastheconfidenceinwhichthewordoftheunfortunateTrenckwasheldatGlatz,sincetheydidnotfearlettinghimleavehisdungeon,andhuntontheveryconfinesofBohemia。This,too,showsthegovernorwasdeceived,indespiteofhiswatchfulnessandorder,andthatamanofhonour,withmoney,andagoodheadandheart,willneverwantfriends。
Thesemymemoirswillbethepictureofwhatthenationalcharacterthenwas;andwillprovethat,withofficerswholivedlikebrothers,andheldtheirwordssosacred,thegreatFrederickwellmightvanquishhisenemies。
Arbitrarypowerhasnowintroducedthewhipofslavery,andmechanicsubordinationhaseradicatedthosenobleandrationalincitementstoconcordandhonour。Insteadofwhich,mistrustandslavishfearhavingarisen,theenthusiasticspiritoftheBrandenburgwarriordeclines,andintothiserrorhavemostoftheotherEuropeanStatesfallen。
ScarcelyhadIbornemyfriendthreehundredpacesbeforeIsethimdown,andIlookedroundme,butdarknesscameonsofastthatI
couldseeneithertownnorcitadel;consequently,weourselvescouldnotbeseen。
Mypresenceofminddidnotforsakeme:deathorfreedomwasmydetermination。"Wherearewe,Schell?"saidItomyfriend。"WheredoesBohemialie?onwhichsideistheriverNeiss?"Theworthymancouldmakenoanswer:hismindwasallconfusion,andhedespairedofourescape:hestill,however,entreatedIwouldnotlethimbetakenalive,andaffirmedmylabourwasallinvain。
Afterhavingpromised,byallthatwassacred,Iwouldsavehimfromaninfamousdeath,ifnoothermeanswereleft,andthusraisedhisspirits,helookedround,andknew,bysometrees,wewerenotfarfromthecitygates。Iaskedhim,"WhereistheNeiss?"Hepointedsideways——"AllGlatzhasseenusflytowardstheBohemianmountains;
itisimpossibleweshouldavoidthehussars,thepassesbeingallguarded,andwebesetwithenemies。"Sosaying,Itookhimonmyshoulders,andcarriedhimtotheNeiss;herewedistinctlyheardthealarmsoundedinthevillages,andthepeasants,wholikewiseweretoformthelineofdesertion,wereeverywhereinmotion,andspreadingthealarm。AsitmaynotbeknowntoallmyreadersinwhatmannertheyproceedontheseoccasionsinPrussia,Iwillheregiveashortaccountofit。
Officersaredailynamedontheparadewhosedutyitistofollowfugitivesassoonasthealarm—gunsarefired。
Thepeasantsinthevillages,likewise,aredailyappointedtorimtotheguardofcertainposts。Theofficersimmediatelyflytothesepoststoseethatthepeasantsdotheirduty,andpreventtheprisoner’sescape。Thusdoesitseldomhappenthatasoldiercaneffecthisescapeunlesshebe,attheveryleast,anhourontheroadbeforethealarm—gunsarefired。
Inowreturntomystory。
IcametotheNeiss,whichwasalittlefrozen,entereditwithmyfriend,andcarriedhimaslongasIcouldwade,andwhenIcouldnotfeelthebottom,whichdidnotcontinueformorethanaspaceofeighteenfeet,heclungroundme,andthuswegotsafelytotheothershore。
Myfathertaughtallhissonstoswim,forwhichIhaveoftenhadtothankhim;sincebymeansofthisart,whichiseasilylearntinchildhood,Ihadonvariousoccasionspreservedmylife,andwasmoreboldindanger。Princeswhowishtomaketheirsubjectssoldiers,shouldhavethemeducatedsoastofearneitherfirenorwater。Howgreatwouldbetheadvantageofbeingabletocrossariverwithwholebattalions,whenitisnecessarytoattackorretreatbeforetheenemy,andwhentimewillnotpermittopreparebridges!
ThereaderwilleasilysupposeswimminginthemidstofDecember,andremainingafterwardseighteenhoursintheopenair,wasaseverehardship。Aboutseveno’clockthehoar—fogwassucceededbyfrostandmoonlight。Thecarryingofmyfriendkeptmewarm,itistrue,butIbegantobetired,whilehesufferedeverythingthatfrost,thepainofadislocatedfoot(whichIinvainendeavouredtoreset),andthedangerofdeathfromathousandhands,couldinflict。
Weweresomewhatmoretranquil,however,havingreachedtheoppositeshoreoftheNeiss,sincenobodywouldpursueusontheroadtoSilesia。Ifollowedthecourseoftheriverforhalfanhour,andhavingoncepassedthefirstvillagesthatformedthelineofdesertion,withwhichSchellwasperfectlyacquainted,weinaluckymomentfoundafisherman’sboatmooredtotheshore;intothisweleaped,crossedtheriveragain,andsoongainedthemountains。
Herebeingcome,wesatourselvesdownawhileonthesnow;hoperevivedinourhearts,andweheldcouncilconcerninghowitwasbesttoact。IcutasticktoassistSchellinhoppingforwardaswellashecouldwhenIwastiredofcarryinghim;andthuswecontinuedourroute,thedifficultiesofwhichwereincreasedbythemountainsnows。
Thuspassedthenight;duringwhich,uptothemiddleinsnow,wemadebutlittleway。Therewerenopathstobetracedinthemountains,andtheywereinmanyplacesimpassable。Dayatlengthappeared:wethoughtourselvesnearthefrontiers,whicharetwentyEnglishmilesfromGlatz,whenwesuddenly,toourgreatterror,heardthecityclockstrike。
Overwhelmed,aswewere,byhunger,cold,fatigue,andpain,itwasimpossibleweshouldholdoutthroughtheday。Aftersomeconsideration,andanotherhalf—hour’slabour,wecametoavillageatthefootofthemountain,onthesideofwhich,aboutthreehundredpacesfromus,weperceivedtwoseparatehouses,whichinspireduswithastratagemthatwassuccessful。
Welostourhatsinleapingtheramparts;butSchellhadpreservedhisscarfandgorget,whichwouldgivehimauthorityamongthepeasants。
Ithencutmyfinger,rubbedthebloodovermyface,myshirt,andmycoat,andboundupmyhead,togivemyselftheappearanceofamandangerouslywounded。
InthisconditionIcarriedSchelltotheendofthewoodnotfarfromthesehouses;herehetiedmyhandsbehindmyback,butsothatIcouldeasilydisengagethemineaseofneed:andhobbledafterme,byaidofhisstaff,callingforhelp。
Twooldpeasantsappeared,andSchellcommandedthemtoruntothevillage,andtellamagistratetocomeimmediatelywithacart。"I
haveseizedthisknave,"addedhe,"whohaskilledmyhorse,andinthestruggleIhaveputoutmyankle;however,Ihavewoundedandboundhim;flyquickly,bringacart,lestheshoulddiebeforeheishanged。"
Asforme,Isufferedmyselftobeled,asifhalf—dead,intothehouse。Apeasantwasdespatchedtothevillage。Anoldwomanandaprettygirlseemedtotakegreatpityonme,andgavemesomebreadandmilk:buthowgreatwasourastonishmentwhentheagedpeasantcalledSchellbyhisname,andtoldhimhewellknewweweredeserters,havingthenightbeforebeenataneighbouringalehousewheretheofficerinpursuitofuscame,namedanddescribedus,andrelatedthewholehistoryofourflight。ThepeasantknewSchell,becausehissonservedinhiscompany,andhadoftenspokenofhimwhenhewasquarteredatHabelschwert。
Presenceofmindandresolutionwereallthatwerenowleft。I
instantlyrantothestable,whileSchelldetainedthepeasantinthechamber。He,however,wasaworthyman,anddirectedhimtotheroadtowardBohemia。WewerestillaboutsomesevenmilesfromGlatz,havinglostourselvesamongthemountains,wherewehadwanderedmanymiles。Thedaughterfollowedme:Ifoundthreehorsesinthestable,butnobridles。Iconjuredher,inthemostpassionatemanner,toassistme:shewasaffected,seemedhalfwillingtofollowme,andgavemetwobridles。Iledthehorsestothedoor,calledSchell,andhelpedhim,withhislameleg,onhorseback。Theoldpeasantthenbegantoweep,andbegIwouldnottakehishorses;butheluckilywantedcourage,andperhapsthewilltoimpedeus;forwithnothingmorethanadung—fork,inourthenfeeblecondition,hemighthavestoppeduslongenoughtohavecalledinassistancefromthevillage。
Andnowbeholdusonhorseback,withouthatsorsaddles;Schellwithhisuniformscarfandgorget,andIinmyredregimentalcoat。
Stillwewereindangerofseeingallourhopesvanish,formyhorsewouldnotstirfromthestable;however,atlast,goodhorseman—
like,Imadehimmove:Schellledtheway,andwehadscarcelygoneahundredpaces,beforeweperceivedthepeasantscomingincrowdsfromthevillage。
Askindfortunewouldhaveit,thepeoplewereallatchurch,itbeingafestival:thepeasantsSchellhadsentwereobligedtocallaidoutofchurch。Itwasbutnineinthemorning;andhadthepeasantsbeenathome,wehadbeenlostpastredemption。
WewereobligedtotaketheroadtoWunshelburg,andpassthroughthetownwhereSchellhadbeenquarteredamonthbefore,andinwhichhewasknownbyeverybody。Ourdress,withouthatsorsaddles,sufficientlyproclaimedweweredeserters:ourhorses,however,continuedtogotolerablywell,andwehadthegoodlucktogetthroughthetown,althoughtherewasagarrisonofonehundredandeightyinfantry,andtwelvehorse,purposelytoarrestdeserters。SchellknewtheroadtoBrummem,wherewearrivedateleveno’clock,afterhavingmet,asIbeforementioned,CaptainZerbst。
Hewhohasbeeninthesamesituationonlycanimagine,thoughhenevercandescribe,allthejoywefelt。Aninnocentman,languishinginadungeon,whobyhisownendeavours,hasbrokenhischains,andregainedhisliberty,indespiteofallthearbitrarypowerofprinces,whovainlywouldopposehim,conceivesinmomentslikethesesuchanabhorrenceofdespotism,thatIcouldnotwellcomprehendhowIevercouldresolvetoliveundergovernmentswherewealth,content,honour,liberty,andlifealldependuponamaster’swill,andwho,werehisintentionsthemostpure,couldnotbeable,singly,todojusticetoawholenation。
NeverdidI,duringlife,feelpleasuremoreexquisitethanatthismoment。Myfriendformehadriskedashamefuldeath,andnow,afterhavingcarriedhimatleasttwelvehoursonmyshoulders,I
hadsavedbothhimandmyself。Wecertainlyshouldnothavesufferedanymantobringus,alive,backtoGlatz。YetthiswasbutthefirstactofthetragedyofwhichIwasdoomedthehero,andthemournfulincidentsofwhichallaroseoutof,anddependedon,eachother。
CHAPTERVII。
CouldIhavereadthebookoffate,andhaveseenthefortyyears’
fearfulafflictionsthatweretofollow,IcertainlyshouldnothaverejoicedatthismyescapefromGlatz。Oneyear’spatiencemighthaveappeasedtheirritatedmonarch,and,takingaretrospectofallthathaspassed,Inowfinditwouldhavebeenafortunatecircumstance,hadthegoodandfaithfulSchellandInevermet,sincehealsofellintoatrainofmisfortunes,whichIshallhereafterrelate,andfromwhichhecouldneverextricatehimself,butbydeath。ThesufferingswhichIhavesinceundergonewillbereadwithastonishment。
Itismyconsolationthatboththelawsofhonourandnaturejustifytheaction。Imayserveasanexampleofthefortitudewithwhichdangeroughttobeencountered,andshowmonarchsthatinGermany,aswellasinRome,therearemenwhorefusetocrouchbeneaththeyokeofdespotism,andthatphilosophyandresolutionarestrongerthaneventhoselordsofslaves,withalltheirthreats,whips,tortures,andinstrumentsofdeath。
InPrussia,wheremysufferingsmighthavemademesupposedtheworstoftraitors,ismyinnocenceuniversallyacknowledged;andinsteadofcontempt,therehaveIgainedtheloveofthewholenation,whichisthebestcompensationforalltheillsIhavesuffered,andforhavingperseveredinthevirtuousprinciplestaughtmeinmyyouth,persecutedasIhavebeenbyenvyandmaliciouspower。Ihavenottimefurthertomoralise;thenumerousincidentsofmylifewouldotherwiseswellthisvolumetotoogreatanextent。
ThusinfreedomatBraunau,ontheBohemianfrontiers,Isentthetwohorses,withthecorporal’ssword,backtoGeneralFouquet,atGlatz。Theletteraccompanyingthemwassopleasingtohimthatallthesentinelsbeforemyprisondoor,aswellastheguardunderarms,andallthosewepassed,wereobligedtorunthegauntlet,althoughtheverydaybeforehehadhimselfdeclaredmyescapewasnowrenderedimpossible。He,however,wasdeceived;andthusdothemeanrevengethemselvesonthemiserable,andthetyrantontheinnocent。
AndnowforthefirsttimedidIquitmycountry,andflylikeJosephfromthepitintowhichhisfalsebrethrenhadcasthim;andinthisthepresentmomentofjoyformyescape,thelossevenoffriendsandcountryappearedtometheexcessofgoodfortune。
Theestateswhichhadbeenpurchasedbythebloodofmyforefatherswereconfiscated;andthuswasayouth,ofoneofthenoblestfamiliesintheland,whoseheartwasallzealfortheserviceofhisKingandcountry,andwhowasamongthosemostcapabletorenderthemservice,banishedbyhisunjustandmisledKing,andtreatedliketheworstofmiscreants,malefactors,andtraitors。
IwrotetotheKing,andsenthimatruestateofmycase;sentindubitableproofsofmyinnocence,andsupplicatedjustice,butreceivednoanswer。
Inthisthemonarchmaybejustified,atleastinmyapprehension。
Awickedmanhadmaliciouslyandfalselyaccusedme;ColonelJaschinskyhadmadehimsuspectmeforatraitor,anditwasimpossibleheshouldreadmyheart。Thefirstactofinjusticehadbeenhastilycommitted;Ihadbeencondemnedunheard,unjudged;andtheinjusticethathadbeendonemewasknowntoolate;FrederictheGreatfoundhewasnotinfallible。PardonIwouldnotask,forI
hadcommittednooffence;andtheKingwouldnotprobablyown,byareverseofconduct,hehadbeenguiltyofinjustice。Myresolutionincreasedhisobstinacy:but,inthediscussionofthecause,ourpowerwasveryunequal。
Themonarchoncereallylovedme;hemeantmypunishmentshouldonlybetemporary,andasatrialofmyfidelity。ThatIhadbeencondemnedtonomorethanayear’simprisonmenthadneverbeentoldme,andwasafactIdidnotlearntilllongafter。