the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第11部分
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ioned intolerable headaches。 I sat too much； and a third time fell sick。 A Brunswick sausage； secretly given me by a friend； occasioned an indigestion； which endangered my life； a putrid fever followed； and my body was reduced to a skeleton。 Medicines； however； were conveyed to me by the officers； and； now and then； warm food。
After my recovery； I again thought it necessary to endeavour to regain my liberty。 I had but forty louis…d'ors remaining； and these I could not get till I had first broken up the flooring。
Lieutenant Sonntag was consumptive； and obtained his discharge。 I supplied bins with money to defray the expenses of his journey； and with an order that four hundred florins should be annually paid him from my effects till his death or my release。 I commissioned him to seek an audience from the Empress； endeavour to excite her compassion in my behalf； and to remit me four thousand florins； for which I gave a proper acquittance； by the way of Hamburgh。 The money…draft was addressed to my administrators； Counsellors Kempf and Huttner。
But no one； alas！ in Vienna； wished my return； they had already begun to share my property； of which they never rendered me an account。 Poor Sonntag was arrested as a spy； imprisoned； ill treated for some weeks； and； at last； when naked and destitute； received a hundred florins； and was escorted beyond the Austrian confines。 The worthy man fell a shameful sacrifice to his honesty； could never obtain an audience of the Empress； and returned poor and miserable on foot to Berlin； where he was twelve months secretly maintained by his brother； and with whom he died。 He wrote an account of all this to the good Knoblauch； my Hamburgh agent； and I； from my small store； sent him a hundred ducats。
How much must I despair of finding any place of refuge on earth； hearing accounts like these from Vienna。
A friend； whom I will never name； by the aid of one of the lieutenants； secretly visited me； and supplied me with six hundred ducats。 The same friend； in the year 1763； paid four thousand florins to the imperial envoy； Baron Reidt； at Berlin； for the furthering of my freedom； as I shall presently more fully show。 Thus I had once more money。
About this time the French army advanced to within five miles of Magdeburg。 This important fortress was； at that time； the key of the whole Prussian power。 It required a garrison of sixteen thousand men； and contained not more than fifteen hundred。 The French might have marched in unopposed； and at once have put an end to the war。 The officers brought me all the news； and my hopes rose as they approached。 What was my astonishment when the major informed me that three waggons had entered the town in the night； had been sent back loaded with money； and that the French were retreating。 This； I can assure my readers； on my honour； is literally truth； to the eternal disgrace of the French general。 The major； who informed me； was himself an eye…witness of the fact。 It was pretended the money was for the army of the King； but everybody could guess whither it was going； it left the town without a convoy； and the French were then in the neighbourhood。 Such were the allies of Maria Theresa； the receivers of this money are known in Paris。 Not only were my hopes this way frustrated； but in Russia likewise； where the Countess of Bestuchef and the Chancellor had fallen into disgrace。
I now imagined another； and； indeed； a fearful and dangerous project。 The garrison of Magdeburg at this moment consisted but of nine hundred militia； who were discontented men。 Two majors and two lieutenants were in my interest。 The guard of the Star Fort amounted but to a hundred and fifteen men。 Fronting the gate of this fort was the town gate； guarded only by twelve men and an inferior officer； beside these lay the casemates； in which were seven thousand Croat prisoners。 Baron K…y； a captain； and prisoner of war； also was in our interest； and would hold his comrades ready at a certain place and time to support my undertaking。 Another friend was； under some pretence； to hold his company ready； with their muskets loaded； and the plan was such that I should have had four hundred men in arms ready to carry it into execution。
The officer was to have placed the two men we most suspected and feared； as sentinels over me； he was to command them to take away my bed； and when encumbered； I was to spring out； and shut them in the prison。 Clothing and arms were to have been procured； and brought me into my prison； the town…gate was to have been surprised； I was to have run to the casemate； and called to the Croats； 〃Trenck to arms！〃 My friends； at the same instant； were to break forth； and the plan was so well concerted that it could not have failed。 Magdeburg； the magazine of the army； the royal treasury； arsenal； all would have been mine； and sixteen thousand men； who were then prisoners of war； would have enabled me to keep possession。
The most essential secret； by which all this was to have been effected； I dare not reveal； suffice it to say； everything was provided for； everything made secure； I shall only add that the garrison； in the harvest months； was exceedingly weakened； because the farmers paid the captains a florin per man each day； and the men for their labour likewise； to obtain hands。 The sub…governor connived at the practice。
One Lieutenant G… procured a furlough to visit his friends； but； supplied by me with money； he went to Vienna。 I furnished him with a letter； addressed to Counsellors Kempf and Huttner； including a draft for two thousand ducats； wherein I said that； by these means； I should not only soon be at liberty； but in possession of the fortress of Magdeburg； and that the bearer was entrusted with the rest。
The lieutenant came safe to Vienna； underwent a thousand interrogatories； and his name was repeatedly asked。 This； fortunately； he concealed。 They advised him not to be concerned in so dangerous an undertaking； told him I had not so much money due to me； and gave him； instead of two thousand ducats； one thousand florins。 With these he left Vienna； but with very prudent suspicions which prevented him ever returning to Magdeburg。 A month had scarcely passed before the late Landgrave of Hesse…Cassel； then chief governor； entered my prison； showed me my letter； and demanded to know who had carried the letter； and who were to free me and betray Magdeburg。 Whether the letter was sent immediately to the King or the governor I know not； it is sufficient that I was once more betrayed at Vienna。 The truth was； the administrators of my effects had acted as if I were deceased； and did not choose to refund two thousand ducats。 They wished not I should obtain my freedom； in a manner that would have obliged the government to have rewarded me； and restore the effects they had embezzled and the estates they had seized。 What happened afterwards at Vienna； which will be related in its place； will incontestably prove this surmise to be well founded。
These bad men did not； it is true； die in the manner they ought； but they are all dead； and I am still living； an honest； though poor man： they did not die so。 Be this read and remembered by their luxurious heirs； who refuse to restore my children to their rights。
CHAPTER V。
My consternation on the appearance of the Landgrave； with my letter in his hand； may well be supposed； I had the presence of mind； however； to deny my handwriting； and affect astonishment at so crafty a trick。 The Landgrave endeavoured to convict me； told me what Lieutenant Kemnitz had repeated at Vienna concerning my possessing myself of Magdeburg； and thereby showed me how fully I had been betrayed。 But as no such person existed as Lieutenant Kemnitz； and as my friend had fortunately concealed his name； the mystery remained impenetrable； especially as no one could conceive how a prisoner； in my situation； could seduce or subdue the whole garrison。 The worthy prince left my prison； apparently satisfied with my defence； his heart felt no satisfaction in the misfortunes of others。
The next day a formal examination was taken； at which the sub… governor Reichmann presided。 I was accused as a traitor to my country； but I obstinately denied my handwriting。 Proofs or witnesses there were none； and in answer to the principal charge； I said； 〃I was no criminal； but a man calumniated； illegally imprisoned； and loaded with irons； that the King； in the year 1746； had cashiered me； and confiscated my parental inheritance； that therefore the laws of nature enforced me to seek honour and bread in a foreign service； and that； finding these in Austria； I became an officer and a faithful subject of the Empress…Queen； that I had been a second time unoffendingly imprisoned； that here I was treated as the worst of malefactors； and my only resource was to seek my liberty by such means as I could； were I therefore in this attempt to destroy Magdeburg； and occasion the loss of a thousand lives； I should still be guiltless。 Had I been heard and legally sentenced； previous to my imprisonment at Glatz； I should have been； and still continued； a criminal； but not having been guilty of any small； much less of any great crime； equal to my punishment； if such crime could be； I was therefore not accountable for consequences； I owed neither fidelity nor duty to the King of Prussia； for by the word of his power he had deprived me of bread； honour； country； and freedom。〃
Here the examination ended； without further discovery； the officers； however； falling under suspicion； were all removed； and thus I lost my best friends； yet it was not long before I had gained two others； which was no difficult matter； as I knew the national character； and that none but poor men were made militia officers。 Thus was the governor's precaution fruitless； and almost everybody secretly wished I might obtain my freedom。
I shall never forget the noble manner in which I was treated on this occasion by the Landgrave。 This I personally acknowledged； some years afterwards； in the city of Cassel； when I heard many things which confirmed all my surmises concerning Vienna。 The Landgrave received me with all grace； favour； and distinction。 I revere his mem
