s　hardened　us　both。　We　entered　upon　the　stage　of　life　with　great　but　fleeting　illusions。　How　gloriously　grand　and　beautiful　did　the　world　appear　to　us；　now　we　look　around　us　soberly；　almost　hopelessly！　What　remains　of　our　ideals？　What　has　become　of　the　dreams　of　our　youth？〃
  〃The　storm…winds　have　shattered　and　scattered　them；〃　cried　Amelia；　laughing。　〃The　evil　fiend　has　ploughed　over　the　fair　soil　of　your　youth　and　turned　it　to　stone　and　ashes。　I　am　content　that　this　is　so　I　would　rather　wander　amongst　ruins　and　dust　and　ashes　than　to　walk　gayly　over　a　smooth　surface　with　whose　dark　caves　and　pitfalls　I　was　unacquainted；　and　which　might　any　day　ingulf　me。　When　both　foundation　and　superstructure　lie　in　ruins　at　your　feet；　you　have　nothing　more　to　fear。　But　I　say　this　for　myself；　sire；　not　for　you；　the　fame…crowned　king；　who　has　astonished　the　world　by　his　victories；　and　now　fills　it　with　admiration　by　the　wisdom　with　which　he　governs　his　subjects　and　advances　the　glory　of　his　kingdom！〃
  〃My　child；〃　said　the　king；　mildly；　〃fame　has　no　longer　any　attraction　for　me。　Nero　was　also　renowned；　he　burned　cities　and　temples；　and　tortured　Seneca　to　death。　Erostratus　succeeded　in　making　his　name　imperishable　I　am　utterly　indifferent　as　to　the　world's　admiration　of　my　wisdom　and　power　to　govern。　I　try　to　do　my　duty　as　a　king。　But　I　tell　you；　child；　in　one　little　corner　of　the　king's　heart　there　remains　ever　something　human；　and　the　poor　creature　man　sometimes　cries　out　for　a　little　personal　comfort　and　happiness。　One　may　be　very　rich　as　a　king；　but　pooroh；　how　poor　as　a　man！　Let　us；　however；　dismiss　these　sad　thoughts。　I　was　speaking　to　you　of　money；　Amelia。　We　will　return　to　this　theme。　I　cannot　prevent　your　heart　from　suffering；　but　I　can　secure　to　you　every　outward　good。　Your　income；　until　now；　has　been　small；　tell　me　what　debts　you　have　contracted；　and　I　will　pay　them！〃
  〃Your　majesty　falls　into　my　room　like　a　shower　of　gold；〃　cried　Amelia；　〃you　will　find　no　Danae　here；　only　an　ugly　old　maid；　who　is；　however；　ready　to　receive　the　glittering　treasure；　but　you　give　me　credit　for　too　good　a　memory　when　you　think　I　know　the　amount　of　my　debts。　I　only　know　the　sum　now　in　my　casket。〃
  〃And　what　is　the　amount；　Amelia？〃
  〃A　cipher；　sire；　your　majesty　knows　this　is　the　end　of　the　month。〃
  〃I　know　it；　my　sister；　and　I　therefore　beg　you　to　accept　from　me　to…　day　a　small　sum　in　advance。　I　dreamt　last　night　that　you　had　recently　been　called　upon　to　pay　out　four　thousand　louis　d'or。　This　dream　was　significant；　it　seemed　to　me　a　suggestion　to　give　you　this　sum。　I　therefore　sent；　in　your　name；　an　order　on　my　treasurer　for　four　thousand　louis　d'or。〃
  Amelia　looked　at　him　and　trembled　with　terror。　〃Do　you　know　the　use　to　which　I　have　applied　this　sum？〃　said　she；　breathlessly。
  〃My　dream　was　silent　on　this　point；〃　said　Frederick；　rising；　〃it　only　told　me　that　you　needed　this　amount；　nothing　more。　If　I　had　been　curious；　I　might　have　asked　your　page；　who　has　an　acute　ear；　and　for　whom　no　key…hole　is　too　small。〃
  〃Ah；　he　has　betrayed　me；　then；〃　murmured　Amelia。
  Frederick　did　not　appear　to　hear　her；　he　took　his　hat；　and　offered　his　sister　his　hand。　Amelia　did　not　see　it；　she　stood　as　if　turned　to　stone　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　as　the　king　advanced　toward　the　door；　she　stepped　slowly　and　mechanically　after　him。
  Suddenly　the　king　turned　and　looked　at　his　sister。
  〃I　had　almost　forgotten　to　tell　you　a　piece　of　news；〃　said　he；　carelessly；　〃something　which　will　perhaps　interest　you；　Amelia。　Even　at　this　moment　a　prisoner　is　being　released　from　his　cell　and　restored　to　life　and　liberty。　The　Empress　Maria　Theresa；　influenced　by　her　fireman；　it　is　said；　has　appealed　to　me〃
  Princess　Amelia　uttered　a　heart…rending　shriek；　and　rushing　forward　she　seized　the　arm　of　the　king　with　both　her　trembling　hands。
  〃Brother！　oh；　brother；　be　merciful！　do　not　make　cruel　sport　of　me。　I　acknowledge　I　appealed　to　the　fireman　of　the　empress。　I　offered　him　four　thousand　louis　d'or　if　he　would　intercede　for　Trenck。　I　see　that　you　know　all；　I　deny　nothing。　If　I　have　committed　a　crime　worthy　of　death；　condemn　me；　but　do　not　inflict　such　fearful　tortures　before　my　execution。　Do　not　mock　at　my　great　grief；　but　be　pitiful。　Look　upon　me　brother；　look　at　my　withered　limbs；　my　deformed　visage；　is　not　my　punishment　sufficient？　torture　me　no　longer。　You　return　me　the　sum　of　money　I　sent　to　Vienna；　does　that　mean　that　you　have　discovered　and　destroyed　my　plot？　Is　this　so；　brother？　Have　you　the　heart　to　play　this　cruel　jest　with　me？　Having　thus　made　my　last　attempt　fruitless；　do　you　tell　me　in　mockery　that　Trenck　is　free？〃　She　held　the　arm　of　the　king　firmly；　and　half　sinking　to　her　knees；　she　looked　up　at　him　breathlessly。
  〃No；　Amelia；〃　said　Frederick；　and　his　voice　trembled　with　emotion。　〃No；　I　have　not　that　cruel　courage。　The　hand　of　your　clock　points　now　to　twelve；　at　this　moment　Trenck　leaves　Magdeburg　in　a　closed　carriage；　accompanied　by　two　soldiers。　To…morrow　he　will　reach　Prague；　and　then　he　is　free　to　go　where　he　will；　only　not　in　Prussia。　Trenck　is　free。〃
  〃Trenck　is　free！〃　repeated　Amelia；　with　a　shout　of　joy；　she　sprang　from　her　knees；　clasped　the　king　in　a　close　embrace；　and　wept　upon　his　bosom　such　tears　as　she　had　not　shed　for　many　long　yearstears　of　holy　happiness；　of　rapture　inexpressible；　then　suddenly　releasing　him；　she　ran　rapidly　about　the　room；　in　the　midst　of　bitter　weeping　breaking　out　into　loud　ringing　laughter；　a　laugh　which　rung　so　fresh；　so　joyous；　it　seemed　an　echo　from　her　far…off　happy　childhood。　〃Trenck　is　free！　free！〃　repeated　she　again；　〃and；　oh；　unspeakable　happiness！　I　obtained　him　his　liberty！　ah；　no；　not　I；　but　a　poor　Savoyard　who　wished　a　dower　for　his　daughter。　Oh；　ye　great　ones　of　the　earth；　speak　no　more　of　your　glory　and　power；　a　poor　Savoyard　was　mightier　than　you　all！　But　no；　no；　what　have　I　said？　you；　my　brother；　you　have　released　him。　To　you　Trenck　owes　his　life　and　liberty。　I　thank　you　that　these　fearful　chains；　which　held　my　soul　in　bondage；　have　fallen　apart。　Once　more　I　breathe　freely；　without　the　appalling　consciousness　that　every　breath　I　draw　finds　this　echo　in　a　cavern　of　the　earth。　You　have　released　me　from　bondage；　oh；　my　brother；　and　henceforth　I　will　love　you　with　all　the　strength　of　my　being。　Yes；　I　will　love　you；〃　cried　she；　eagerly；　〃I　will　cling　to　you　with　unchanging　constancy；　you　will　ever　find　in　me　a　faithful　ally。　I　can　be　useful。　I　cannot　act；　but　I　can　listen　and　watch。　I　will　be　your　spy。　I　will　tell　you　all　I　see。　I　will　read　all　hearts　and　make　known　to　you　their　thoughts。　Even　now　I　have　something　to　disclose；　do　not　trust　your　brothers。　Above　all　others　put　no　faith　in　Prince　Henry；　he　hates　you　with　a　perfect　hatred　for　the　sake　of　Augustus　William；　who；　he　says；　died　of　your　contempt　and　cruelty。　Trust　him　in　nothing；　he　is　ambitious；　he　envies　you　your　throne；　he　hates　me　also；　and　calls　me　always　'La　fee　malfaisant。'　He　shall　be　justified　in　this！　I　will　be　for　him　La　fee　malfaisant。　I　will　revenge　myself　for　this　hatred。　Without　my　help；　however；　he　will　soon　be　sufficiently　punished。　His　beautiful　Wilhelmina　will　revenge　me。〃
  She　broke　out　in　wild　and　convulsive　laughter；　and　repeated　again　and　again　in　joyous　tones；　〃Yes；　yes；　his　beautiful　Wilhelmina　will　punish　him　for　calling　me　an　old　witch。〃
  The　king　shuddered　at　her　mad　laughter；　and　was　oppressed　by　her　presence；　her　mirth　was　sadder　than　her　tears。　He　bade　her　a　silent　adieu；　and　hastened　away　as　if　flying　from　a　pestilence。　The　princess　did　not　detain　him；　she　had　fallen　upon　a　chair；　and　staring　immovably　before　her；　she　cried　out：　〃Trenck　is　free！　Trenck　is　free！　Life　is　his　once　more！　I　must；　I　will　live　till　I　have　seen　him　once　more。　Then；　when　my　poor　eyes　have　looked　upon　him　yet　once　again；　then　I　will　diedie！〃　＇Footnote：　This　wish　of　the　princess　was　fulfilled　after　the　death　of　Frederick　the　Great。　Trenck　received　permission　from　his　successor；　Frederick　William　II。；　to　return　to　Berlin。　He　was　graciously　received　at　court；　his　first　visit；　even　before　he　was　announced　to　the　king；　was　paid　to　the　Princess　Amelia。　She　received　him　in　the　same　room　in　which；　forty…　seven　years　before；　they　had　passed　so　many　happy　hours。　Upon　the　same　spot；　where；　beautiful　in　youth　and　grace；　they　had　once　sworn　eternal　love　and　faith；　they　now　looked　upon　each　other　and　sought　in　vain；　in　these　fallen　and　withered　features；　for　any　trace　of　those　charms；　which　had　once　enraptured　them。　Trenck　remained　many　hours　with　her；　they　had　much　to　relate。　He　confessed　freely　all　the　events　of　his　fantastic　and　adventurous　life。　She　listened　with　a　gentle　smile；　and　forgave　him　for　all　his　wanderings　and　all　his　sins。　On　taking　leave　he　promised　the　princess　to　bring　his　oldest　daughter　and　present　her；　and　Amelia　promised　to　be　a　mother　to　her。　Death；　however；　prevented　the　fulfilment　of　these　promises。　It　appeared　as　if　this　interview　had　exhausted　her　remaining　strength。　In　1786；　a　few　days　after　the　meeting　with　Trenck；　Amelia　died。　Trenck　lived　but　a　few　years；　he　went　to　France　and　died　under　the　guillotine　in　1793。　As　he　sat　with　his　companions　upon　the　car　on　their　way　to　execution；　he　said　to　the　gaping　crowd：　〃Eh　bien；　eh　bien；