第3章
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  CHAPTERIV。

  AfewdaysafterthebattleofSorau,theusualcamppostmanbroughtmealetterfrommycousinTrenck,thecolonelofpandours,antedatedatEffekfourmonths,ofwhichthefollowingisacopy:—

  \"Yourletter,ofthe12thofFebruary,fromBerlin,informsmeyoudesiretohavesomeHungarianhorses。Ontheseyouwouldcomeandattackmeandmypandours。Isawwithpleasure,duringthelastcampaign,thatthePrussianTrenckwasagoodsoldier;andthatI

  mightgiveyousomeproofsofmyattachment,Ithenreturnedthehorseswhichmymenhadtaken。If,however,youwishtohaveHungarianhorses,youmusttakemineinlikemannerfrommeinthefieldofbattle:or,shouldyousothinkfit,comeandjoinonewhowillreceiveyouwithopenarms,likehisfriendandson,andwhowillprocureyoueveryadvantageyoucandesire,\"&c。

  AtfirstIwasterrifiedatreadingthisletter,yetcouldnothelpsmiling。CornetWagenitz,nowgeneralinchiefoftheHesseCasselforces,andLieutenantGrotthausen,bothnowalive,andthenpresent,weremycampcomrades。Igavethemthelettertoread,andtheylaughedatitscontents。Itwasdeterminedtoshowittooursuperiorofficer,Jaschinsky,onapromiseofsecrecy,anditwasaccordinglyshownhimwithinanhourafteritwasreceived。

  Thereaderwillbesokindastorecollectthat,asIhavebeforesaid,itwasthisColonelJaschinskywhoonthe12thofFebruary,thesameyear,atBerlin,prevailedonmetowritetotheAustrianTrenck,mycousin;thathereceivedtheletteropen,andundertooktosenditaccordingtoitsaddress;alsothat,inthisletter,IinjesthadaskedhimtosendmesomeHungarianhorses,and,shouldtheycome,hadpromisedonetoJaschinsky。Hereadtheletterwithanairofsomesurprise;welaughed,and,itbeingwhisperedthroughthearmythat,inconsequenceofourlatevictory,detachedcorpswouldbesentintoHungary,Jaschinskysaid,\"WeshallnowgoandtakeHungarianhorsesforourselves。\"Heretheconversationended,andI,littlesuspectingfutureconsequences,returnedtomytent。

  Imusthereremarkthefollowingobservations:—

  1st。Ihadnotobservedthedateoftheletterbroughtbythepostman,which,asIhavesaid,wasantedatedfourmonths:this,however,thecoloneldidnotfailtoremark。

  2ndly。Theprobabilityisthatthiswasanet,spreadformebythisfalseandwickedman。Thereturnofmyhorses,duringtheprecedingcampaign,hadbeenthesubjectofmuchconversation。ItispossiblehehadtheKing’sorderstowatchme;butmoreprobablyheonlyprevailedonmetowritethathemightentrapmebyafictitiousanswer。Certainitis,mycousinTrenck,atVienna,affirmedtohisdeathheneverreceivedanyletterfromme,consequentlynevercouldsendanyanswer。Imustthereforeconcludethisletterwasforged。

  JaschinskywasatthistimeoneoftheKing’sfavourites;hisspyoverthearmy;atale—bearer;aninventorofwickedliesandcalumnies。SomeyearsaftertheeventofwhichIamnowspeaking,theKingwasobligedtobreakandbanishhimthecountry。

  HewasthenalsotheparamourofthebeauteousMadameBrossart,wifeoftheSaxonresidentatBerlin,andtherecanbelittledoubtbutthatthisfalseletterwas,byhermeans,conveyedtosomeSaxonorAustrianpost—office,andthence,accordingtoitsaddress,senttome。HehaddailyopportunitiesofinfusingsuspicionsintotheKing’smindconcerningme;and,unknowntome,ofpursuinghisdiabolicalplan。

  Imustlikewiseaddhewasfourhundredducatsindebtedtome。AtthattimeIhadalwaysaplentifulsupplyofmoney。ThisbootybecamehisownwhenI,unexamined,wasarrested,andthrownintoprison。Inlikemannerheseizedonthegreatestpartofmycampequipage。

  Further,wehadquarrelledduringourfirstcampaign,becausehehadbeatenoneofmyservants;weevenwereproceedingtofightwithpistols,hadnotColonelWinterfieldinterfered,andamicablyendedourquarrel。TheLithuanianis,bynature,obstinateandrevengeful;and,fromthatday,Ihavereasontobelievehesoughtmydestruction。

  GodonlyknowswhatwerethemeanshetooktoexcitetheKing’ssuspicious;foritisincrediblethatFrederic,consideringhisWELL—KNOWNPROFESSIONSofpublicjustice,shouldtreatmeinthemannerhedid,withoutahearing,withoutexamination,andwithoutacourt—martial。Thistomehaseverremainedamystery,whichtheKingalonewasabletoexplain;heafterwardswasconvincedIwasinnocent:butmysufferingshadbeentoocruel,andthemiserieshehadinflictedtoohorrible,formeevertohopeforcompensation。

  Inanaffairofthisnature,whichwillsoonheknowntoallEurope,asitlonghasbeeninPrussia,theweakestisalwaysguilty。I

  havebeenmadeaterribleexampletothisourage,howtruethatmaximisindespoticStates。

  Amanofmyrank,havingonceunjustlysuffered,andnothavingthepowerofmakinghissufferingsknown,musteverbehighlyrewardedorstillmoreunjustlypunished。MynameandinjurieswilleverstaintheannalsofFredericTHEGREAT;eventhosewhoreadthisbookwillperhapssupposethatI,frompoliticalmotivesofhopeorfear,havesometimesconcealedtruthbyendeavouringtopalliatehisconduct。

  Itmusteverremainincomprehensiblethatamonarchsoclear—

  sighted,himselfthedailywitnessofmydemeanour,onewellacquaintedwithmankind,andconsciousIwantedneithermoney,honour,norhopeoffuturepreferment;Isayitisincomprehensiblethatheshouldreallysupposemeguilty。ItakeGodtowitness,andallthosewhoknewmeinprosperityandmisfortune,Ineverharbouredathoughtofbetrayingmycountry。Howwasitpossibletosuspectme?Iwasneithermadmannoridiot。InmyeighteenthyearIwasacornetofthebodyguard,adjutanttotheKing,andpossessedhisfavourandconfidenceinthehighestdegree。Hispresentstome,inoneyear,amountedtofifteenhundreddollars。I

  keptsevenhorses,fourmeninlivery;Iwasvalued,distinguished,andbelovedbythemistressofmysoul。Myrelationsheldhighoffices,bothcivilandmilitary;IwasevenfanaticallydevotedtomyKingandcountry,andhadnothingtowish。

  ThatIshouldbecomethuswretched,inconsequenceofthisunfortunateletter,isequallywonderful:itcamebythepublicpost。Hadtherebeenanycriminalcorrespondence,mykinsmancertainlywouldnothavechosenthismodeofconveyance;since,itiswellknown,allsuchlettersareopened;norcouldIactmoreopenly。MycolonelreadtheletterIwrote;andalsothatwhichI

  received,immediatelyafteritwasbrought。

  ThedayafterthereceiptofthisletterIwas,asIhavebeforesaid,unheard,unaccused,unjudged,conductedlikeacriminalfromthearmy,byfiftyhussars,andimprisonedinthefortressofGlatz。

  Iwasallowedtotakethreehorses,andmyservants,butmywholeequipagewasleftbehind,whichIneversawmore,andwhichbecamethebootyofJaschinsky。MycommissionwasgiventoCornetSchatzel,andIcashieredwithoutknowingwhy。Therewerenolegalinquiriesmade:allwasdonebytheKing’scommand。

  Unhappypeople!wherepowerissuperiortolaw,andwheretheinnocentandthevirtuousmeetpunishmentinsteadofreward。

  Unhappyland!wheretheomnipotent\"SUCHISOURWILL\"supersedesalllegalsentence,androbsthesubjectofproperty,life,andhonour。

  IoncemorerepeatIwasbroughttothecitadelofGlatz;Iwasnot,however,thrownintoadungeon,butimprisonedinachamberoftheofficeroftheguard;wasallowedmyservantstowaitonme,andpermittedtowalkontheramparts。

  Ididnotwantmoney,andtherewasonlyadetachmentfromthegarrisonregimentinthecitadelofGlatz,theofficersofwhichwereallpoor。Isoonhadbothfriendsandfreedom,andtherichprisonereverydaykeptopentable。

  Heonlywhohadknownmeinthistheardourofmyyouth,whohadwitnessedhowhighIaspired,andthefortunethatattendedmeatBerlin,canimaginewhatmyfeelingswereatfindingmyselfthussuddenlycastfrommyhighhopes。

  IwrotesubmissivelytotheKing,requestingtobetriedbyacourt—

  martial,andnotdesiringanyfavourshouldIbefoundguilty。Thishaughtytone,inayouth,wasdispleasing,andIreceivednoanswer,whichthrewmeintodespair,andinducedmetouseeverypossiblemeanstoobtainmyliberty。

  Myfirstcarewastoestablish,bytheinterventionofanofficer,acertaincorrespondencewiththeobjectofmyheart。Sheanswered,shewasfarfromsupposingIhadeverentertainedtheleastthoughttreacheroustomycountry;thatsheknew,toowell,Iwasperfectlyincapable,ofdissimulation。SheblamedtheprecipitateangerandunjustsuspicionsoftheKing;promisedmespeedyaid,andsentmeathousandducats。

  HadI,atthiscriticalmoment,possessedaprudentandintelligentfriend,whocouldhavecalmedmyimpatience,nothingperhapsmighthavebeenmoreeasythantohaveobtainedpardonfromtheKing,byprovingmyinnocence;or,itmaybe,thantohaveinducedhimtopunishmyenemies。

  ButtheofficerswhothenwereatGlatzfedtheflameofdiscontent。

  TheysupposedthemoneyIsofreelydistributedcameallfromHungary,furnishedbythepandourchest;andadvisedmenottosuffermyfreedomtodependuponthewilloftheKing,buttoenjoyitinhisdespite。

  Itwasnotmoreeasytogivethisadvicethantopersuadeamantotakeit,who,tillthen,hadneverencounteredanythingbutgoodfortune,andwhoconsequentlysupportedthereversewithimpatience。

  Iwasnotyet,however,determined;becauseIcouldnotyetresolvetoabandonmycountry,andespeciallyBerlin。

  Fivemonthssoonpassedawayinprison:peacewasconcluded;theKingwasreturnedtohiscapital;mycommissionintheguardswasbestowedonanother,whenLieutenantPiaschky,oftheregimentofFouquet,andEnsignReitz,whooftenmountedguardoverme,proposedthattheyandIshouldescapetogether。Iyielded;ourplanwasfixed,andeverypreparatorysteptaken。

  AtthattimetherewasanotherprisoneratGlatz,whosenamewasManget,bybirthaSwiss,andcaptainofcavalryintheNatzmerschenhussars;hehadbeenbroken,andcondemnedbyacourt—martialtotenyears’imprisonment,withanallowanceofonlyfourrix—dollarspermonth。

  Havingdonethismankindness,Iwasresolvedtorescuehimfrombondage,atthesametimethatIobtainedfreedomformyself。I

  communicatedmydesign,andmadetheproposal,whichwasacceptedbyhim,andmeasuresweretaken;yetwerewebetrayedbythisvileman,whothuspurchasedpardonandliberty。

  Piaschky,whohadbeeninformedthatReitzwasarrested,savedhimselfbydeserting。IdeniedthefactinpresenceofManget,withwhomIwasconfronted,andbribedtheAuditorwithahundredducats。

  BythismeansReitzonlysufferedayear’simprisonment,andthelossofhiscommission。Iwasafterwardscloselyconfinedinachamber,forhavingendeavouredtocorrupttheKing’sofficers,andwasguardedwithgreatercaution。

  HereIwillinterruptmynarrative,foramoment,torelateanadventurewhichhappenedbetweenmeandthisCaptainManget,threeyearsafterhehadthusbetrayedme——thatistosay,in1749,atWarsaw。

  Itheremethimbychance,anditisnotdifficulttoimaginewhatwasthesalutationhereceived。Icanedhim;hetookthisill,andchallengedmetofightwithpistols。CaptainHeucking,ofthePolishguards,wasmysecond。Webothfiredtogether;Ishothimthroughtheneckatthefirstshot,andhefelldeadonthefield。

  Healone,ofallmyenemies,everdiedbymyownhand;andhewellmeritedhisend,forhiscowardlytreacherytowardsthetwobravefellowsofwhomIhavespoken;andstillmoresowithrespecttomyself,whohadbeenhisbenefactor。Iown,Ihaveneverreproachedmyselfforthisduel,bywhichIsentarascaloutoftheworld。

  Ireturntomytale。MydestinyatGlatzwasnowbecomemoreuntowardandsevere。TheKing’ssuspicionswereincreased,aslikewisewashisanger,bythismylateattempttoescape。

  Lefttomyself,Iconsideredmysituationintheworstpointofview,anddeterminedeitheronflightordeath。Thelengthandclosenessofmyconfinementbecameinsupportabletomyimpatienttemper。

  Ihadalwayshadthegarrisononmyside,norwasitpossibletopreventmymakingfriendsamongthem。TheyknewIhadmoney,and,inapoorgarrisonregiment,theofficersofwhicharealldissatisfied,havingmostofthembeendraftedfromothercorps,andsentthitherasapunishment,therewasnothingthatmightnotbeundertaken。

  Myschemewasasfollows:—Mywindowlookedtowardsthecity,andwasninetyfeetfromthegroundinthetowerofthecitadel,outofwhichIcouldnotget,withouthavingfoundaplaceofrefugeinthecity。

  Thisanofficerundertooktoprocureme,andprevailedonanhonestsoap—boilertograntmeahidingplace。Ithennotchedmypen—

  knife,andsawedthroughthreeironbars;butthismodewastootedious,itbeingnecessarytofileawayeightbarsfrommywindow,beforeIcouldpassthrough;anotherofficerthereforeprocuredmeafile,whichIwasobligedtousewithcaution,lestIshouldbeoverheardbythesentinels。

  Havingendedthislabour,Icutmyleatherportmanteauintothongs,sewedthemendtoend,addedthesheetsofmybed,anddescendedsafelyfromthisastonishingheight。

  Itrained,thenightwasdark,andallseemedfortunate,butIhadtowadethroughmoatsfullofmud,beforeIcouldenterthecity,acircumstanceIhadneveronceconsidered。Isankuptotheknees,andafterlongstruggling,andincredibleeffortstoextricatemyself,Iwasobligedtocallthesentinel,anddesirehimtogoandtellthegovernor,Trenckwasstuckfastinthemoat。

  Mymisfortunewasthegreateronthisoccasion,becausethatGeneralFouquetwasthengovernorofGlatz。Hewasoneofthecruellestofmen。Hehadbeenwoundedbymyfatherinaduel;andtheAustrianTrenckhadtakenhisbaggagein1744,andhadalsolaidthecountryofGlatzundercontribution。Hewas,therefore,anenemytotheverynameofTrenck;nordidheloseanyopportunityofgivingproofsofhisenmity,andespeciallyonthepresentoccasion,whenheleftmestandinginthemiretillnoon,thesportofthesoldiers。Iwasthendrawnout,halfdead,onlyagaintobeimprisoned,andshutupthewholeday,withoutwatertowashme。NoonecanimaginehowIlooked,exhaustedanddirty,mylonghairhavingfallenintothemud,withwhich,bymystruggling,itwasloaded。

  Iremainedinthisconditiontillthenextday,whentwofellow—

  prisonersweresenttoassistandcleanme。

  Myimprisonmentnowbecamemoreintolerable。Ihadstilleightylouis—d’orsinmypurse,whichhadnotbeentakenfrommeatmyremovalintoanotherdungeon,andtheseafterwardsdidmegoodservice。

  Thepassionssoonallassailedmeatonce,andimpetuous,boiling,youthfulbloodoverpoweredreason;hopedisappeared;Ithoughtmyselfthemostunfortunateofmen,andmyKinganirreconcileablejudge,morewrathfulandmorefortifiedinsuspicionbymyownrashness。Mynightsweresleepless,mydaysmiserable;mysoulwastorturedbythedesireoffame;aconsciousnessofinnocencewasacontinuedstimulusincitingmetoendmymisfortunes。Youth,inexperiencedinwoeanddisastrousfate,beholdseveryevilmagnified,anddespondsoneverynewdisappointment,moreespeciallyafterhavingfailedinattemptingfreedom。Educationhadtaughtmetodespisedeath,andtheseopinionshadbeenconfirmedbymyfriendLaMettrie,authorofthefamouswork,\"L’HommeMachine,\"or\"ManaMachine。\"

  IreadmuchduringmyconfinementatGlatz,wherebookswereallowedme;timewasthereforelesstedious;butwhentheloveoflibertyawoke,whenfameandaffectioncalledmetoBerlin,andmybaulkedhopespaintedthewretchednessofmysituation;whenIrememberedthatmylovedcountry,judgingbyappearances,couldnotbutpronouncemeatraitor;thenwasIhourlyimpelledtorushonthenakedbayonetsofmyguards,bywhom,tome,theroadoffreedomwasbarred。

  Bigwithsuch—likethoughts,eightdayshadnotelapsedsincemylastfruitlessattempttoescape,whenaneventhappenedwhichwouldappearincredible,wereI,theprincipalactorinthescene,notalivetoattestitstruth,andmightnotallGlatzandthePrussiangarrisonbeproducedaseyeandearwitnesses。Thisincidentwillprovethatadventurous,andevenrash,daringwillrenderthemostimprobableundertakingspossible,andthatdesperateattemptsmayoftenmakeageneralmorefortunateandfamousthanthewisestandbestconcertedplans。

  MajorDoo{2}cametovisitme,accompaniedbyanofficeroftheguard,andanadjutant。Afterexaminingeverycornerofmychamber,headdressedme,taxingmewithasecondcrimeinendeavouringtoobtainmyliberty;addingthismustcertainlyincreasetheangeroftheKing。

  Mybloodboiledatthewordcrime;hetalkedofpatience;IaskedhimhowlongtheKinghadcondemnedmetoimprisonment;heanswered,atraitortohiscountry,whohascorrespondencewiththeenemy,cannotbecondemnedforacertaintime,butmustdependforgraceandpardonontheKing。

  AtthatinstantIsnatchedhisswordfromhisside,onwhichmyeyeshadsometimebeenfixed,sprangoutofthedoor,tumbledthesentinelfromthetoptothebottomofthestairs,passedthemenwhohappenedtobedrawnupbeforetheprisondoortorelievetheguard,attackedthemswordinhand,threwthemsuddenlyintosurprisebythemannerinwhichIlaidaboutme,woundedfourofthem,madewaythroughtherest,sprangoverthebreastworkoftheramparts,and,withmysworddrawninmyhand,immediatelyleapedthisastonishingheightwithoutreceivingtheleastinjury。I

  leapedthesecondwallwithequalsafetyandgoodfortune。Noneoftheirpieceswereloaded;noonedurstleapafterme,andinordertopursue,theymustgoroundthroughthetownandgateofthecitadel;sothatIhadthestartfullhalfanhour。

  Asentinel,however,inanarrowpassage,endeavouredtoopposemyflight,butIparriedhisfixedbayonet,andwoundedhimintheface。Asecondsentinel,meantime,ranfromtheoutworks,toseizemebehind,andI,toavoidhim,madeaspringatthepalisadoes;

  thereIwasunluckilycaughtbythefoot,andreceivedabayonetwoundintheupperlip;thusentangled,theybeatmewiththebutt—

  endoftheirmuskets,anddraggedmebacktoprison,whileI

  struggledanddefendedmyselflikeamangrowndesperate。

  Certainitis,hadImorecarefullyjumpedthepalisadoes,anddespatchedthesentinelwhoopposedme,Imighthaveescaped,andgainedthemountains。ThusmightIhavefledtoBohemia,afterhaving,atnoonday,brokenfromthefortressofGlatz,sprungpastallitssentinels,overallitswalls,andpassedwithimpunity,indespiteoftheguard,whowereunderarms,readytoopposeme。I

  shouldnot,havingasword,havefearedanysingleopponent,andwasabletocontendwiththeswiftestrunners。

  Thatgoodfortunewhichhadsofarattendedmeforsookmeatthepalisadoes,wherehopewasatanend。Theseveritiesofimprisonmentwereincreased;twosentinelsandanunderofficerwerelockedinwithme,andwerethemselvesguardedbysentinelswithout;

  Iwasbeatenandwoundedbythebutt—endsoftheirmuskets,myrightfootwassprained,Ispatblood,andmywoundswerenotcuredinlessthanamonth。

  CHAPTERV。

  IwasnowfirstinformedthattheKinghadonlycondemnedmetoayear’simprisonment,inordertolearnwhetherhissuspicionswerewellfounded。Mymotherhadpetitionedforme,andwasanswered,\"Yoursonmustremainayearimprisoned,asapunishmentforhisrashcorrespondence。\"

  OfthisIwasignorant,anditwasreportedinGlatzthatmyimprisonmentwasforlife。Ihadonlythreeweekslongertorepineforthelossofliberty,whenImadethisrashattempt。WhatmusttheKingthink?Washenotobligedtoactwiththisseverity?Howcouldprudenceexcusemyimpatience,thustoriskaconfiscation,whenIwascertainofreceivingfreedom,justification,andhonour,inthreeweeks?But,suchwasmyadversefate,circumstancesalltendedtoinjureandpersecuteme,tillatlengthIgavereasontosupposeIwasatraitor,notwithstandingthepurityofmyintentions。

  Oncemore,then,wasIinadungeon,andnosoonerwasItherethanIformednewprojectsofflight。Ifirstgainedtheintimacyofmyguards。Ihadmoney,andthis,withthecompassionIhadinspired,mighteffectanythingamongdiscontentedPrussiansoldiers。SoonhadIgainedthirty—twomen,whowerereadytoexecute,onthefirstsignal,whateverIshouldcommand。Twoorthreeexcepted,theywereunacquaintedwitheachother;theyconsequentlycouldnotallbebetrayedatatime:hadchosenthesub—officerNicholaitoheadthem。

  Thegarrisonconsistedonlyofonehundredandtwentymenfromthegarrisonregiment,therestbeingdispersedinthecountyofGlatz,andfourofficers,theircommanders,threeofwhomwereinmyinterest。Everythingwasprepared;swordsandpistolswereconcealedintheovenwhichwasinmyprison。Weintendedtogivelibertytoalltheprisoners,andretirewithdrumsbeatingintoBohemia。

  Unfortunately,anAustriandeserter,towhomNicholaihadimpartedourdesign,wentanddiscoveredourconspiracy。Thegovernorinstantlysenthisadjutanttothecitadel,withordersthattheofficeronguardshouldarrestNicholai,and,withhismen,takepossessionofthecasement。

  Nicholaiwasontheguard,andthelieutenantwasmyfriend,andbeinginthesecret,gavethesignalthatallwasdiscovered。

  Nicholaionlyknewalltheconspirators,severalofwhomthatdaywereonguard。Heinstantlyformedhisresolution,leapedintothecasement,crying,\"Comrades,toarms,wearebetrayed!\"Allfollowedtotheguard—house,wheretheyseizedonthecartridges,theofficerhavingonlyeightmen,andthreateningtofireonwhoevershouldofferresistance,cametodelivermefromprison;buttheirondoorwastoostrong,andthetimetooshortforthattobedemolished。Nicholai,callingtome,bidmeaidthem,butinvain:

  andperceivingnothingmorecouldbedoneforme,thisbraveman,headingnineteenothers,marchedtothegateofthecitadel,wheretherewasasub—officerandtensoldiers,obligedthesetoaccompanyhim,andthusarrivedsafelyatBraunau,inBohemia;for,beforethenewswasspreadthroughthecity,andmenwerecollectedforthepursuit,theywerenearlyhalf—wayontheirjourney。

  TwoyearsafterImetwiththisextraordinarymanatOfenbourg,wherehuewasawriter:heenteredimmediatelyintomyservice,andbecamemyfriend,butdiedsomemonthsafterofaburningfever,atmyquartersinHungary,atwhichIwasdeeplygrieved,forhismemorywillbeeverdeartome。

  NowwasIexposedtoallthestormsofill—fortune:aprosecutionwasenteredagainstmeasaconspirator,whowantedtocorrupttheofficersandsoldiersoftheKing。Theycommandedmetonametheremainingconspirators;buttothesequestionsImadenoanswer,exceptbysteadfastlydeclaringIwasaninnocentprisoner,anofficerunjustlybroken;unjustly,becauseIhadneverbeenbroughttotrial;thatconsequentlyIwasreleasedfromallmyengagements;

  norcoulditbethoughtextraordinarythatIshouldavailmyselfofthatlawofnaturewhichgiveseverymanarighttodefendhishonourdefamed,andseekbyeverypossiblemeanstoregainhisliberty:thatsuchhadbeenmysolepurposeineveryenterpriseI

  hadformed,andsuchshouldstillcontinuetobe,forIwasdeterminedtopersist,tillIshouldeitherbecrownedwithsuccess,orlosemylifeintheattempt。

  Thingsthusremained:everyprecautionwastakenexceptthatIwasnotputinirons;itbeingalawinPrussiathatnogentlemanorofficercanbeloadedwithchains,unlesshehasfirstforsomecrimebeendeliveredovertotheexecutioner;andcertainlythishadnotbeenmycase。

  Thesoldierswerewithdrawnfrommychamber;butthegreatestillwasIhadexpendedallmymoney,andmykindmistress,atBerlin,withwhomIhadalwayscorresponded,andwhichmypersecutorscouldnotprevent,atlastwrote—

  \"Mytearsflowwithyours;theeviliswithoutremedy——Idarenomore——escapeifyoucan。Myfidelitywilleverbethesame,whenitshallbepossibleformetoserveyou。——Adieu,unhappyfriend:youmeritabetterfate。\"

  Thisletterwasathunderbolt:—mycomfort,however,stillwasthattheofficerswerenotsuspected,andthatitwastheirdutytovisitmychamberseveraltimesaday,andexaminewhatpassed:fromwhichcircumstanceIfeltmyhopessomewhatrevive。Henceanadventurehappenedwhichisalmostunexampledintalesofknight—errantry。

  Alieutenant,whosenamewasBach,aDanebynation,mountedguardeveryfourthday,andwastheterrorofthewholegarrison;for,beingaperfectmasterofarms,hewasincessantlyinvolvedinquarrels,andgenerallylefthismarksbehindhim。Hehadservedintworegiments,neitherofwhichwouldassociatewithhimforthisreason,andhehadbeensenttothegarrisonregimentatGlatzaspunishment。

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