Not a word of reproach escaped her, but exultant and joyous she hastened with outstretched arms to meet him, kissing away all his attempts to implore pardon, and thanking him that he had returned to her.
At first the prince gave himself up to the joy of the reunion with his beloved Wilhelmine sad children; but now, as the first outburst had passed, the quiet, happy dinner being finished, and they had returned to the sitting-room, a tinge of melancholy earnestness overshadowed his amiable face.
Wilhelmine threw her arms gently around his neck as she sat beside him upon the divan, and looked up to him with a tender questioning glance. "Your thoughts are veiled, dearest; will you not confide to me that which lies concealed there?""Ah, Wilhelmine, it is a mourning veil, and hides the sorrow of renunciation.""I do not understand you, Frederick," she smilingly replied. "Who could compel you to an abnegation which would cause you grief?""Listen to me, Wilhelmine, and understand that I am suffering from circumstances--an oath taken in the pressure of the moment. Try to comprehend me, my dear child."Drawing her closer to him, he faithfully related to her the night of the communion of the spirits, and his consequent oath.
"Is that all, my dear?" she replied, smiling, as he finished.
"What do you mean?" he asked, astonished.
"Nothing more than I would know if you have only sworn to renounce Wilhelmine Enke!""What could I have done more prejudicial to you?" he cried, not a little irritated.
"Surely you could not injure or grieve me more, and therefore I am not a little surprised that the pious Fathers could so carelessly word their oaths. You have sworn to renounce your affection to and separate from Wilhelmine Enke; so it follows that the Invisibles only demand that you give up my name, not myself, and that is easily changed, and my dear prince will not become a perjurer.""I do not quite understand you; but I perceive by the arch expression of your face that you have conceived a lucky escape for your unhappy Frederick William. Explain to me, dearest, your meaning.""I must change my name by marrying some one!" she whispered.
"Marry! and I give you to another? I will never consent to that," he cried, alarmed.
"Not to a husband, only a name," said she. "These Rosicrucians are such extraordinarily virtuous and pure beings, loving you so infinitely and disinterestedly, that it grieves them that my love for you does not shun the light, and throw over itself the mantle of hypocritical virtue! We will yield to the zealous purity of the Rosicrucians," continued Wilhelmine, her eyes sparkling, "and wrap this Wilhelmine Enke in a mantle of virtue by giving her a husband;and then, when she walks out with her children the passers-by will not have to blush with shame, and cry, 'There goes the miss with her children!' I have conceived and planned during this long and painful separation, and I am resolved to submit humbly to the pious Fathers, who are so zealously watchful for the salvation of your soul and my good fame.""That is to say, you are determined to snap your fingers at them!
Your plan is a good one, but you will find no one to aid you in a sham marriage!""I have already found one," whispered Wilhelmine, smiling. "Your valet de chambre Rietz is willing to stand with me in a sham marriage.""My body-servant!"
"Yes, Frederick William! You will confess that I am not ambitious, and only consent to it to secure our happiness from the persecution of these virtuous men. Here is the contract," said she, drawing from her dress-pocket a paper, which she unfolded. "He promises to give me his name, and regard me as a stranger always, for the sum of four hundred thalers annually, with the promise of promotion to confidential servant when the noble crown prince shall ascend the throne. [Footnote: Historical.--See F Forster, "Latest Prussian History," vol. 1., p. 74] Will you sign it?""I will do any thing that will grant me your affection, in spite of my unhappy oath. Give me the paper. I will sign it. When is the wedding?""The moment that you, my dear lord and master, have inscribed your name," said Wilhelmine, handing him the pen, and pointing to the paper.
The prince wrote the desired signature, quickly throwing the pen across the room, shouting, "Long live Wilhelmine Rietz, who has rescued me from perjury and sin! Come to my arms, outstretched to press to my heart the most beautiful, most intelligent, and most diplomatic of women!"Two days later it was related in Berlin that Wilhelmine Enke had married the princely valet de chambre Rietz, the crown prince being present at the ceremony, which took place at a small village near Potsdam.
Under the head of marriages, the Berlin newspapers announced "Wilhelmine Enke to Carl Rietz.""Ah, my Rosicrucians," cried Wilhelmine, laughingly, as she read this notice, a mischievous triumph sparkling in her eyes; "ah, my heroes in virtue, for once you are outwitted, and I am victorious! Iwould like to witness their surprise. How they will laugh and swear over it! The favorite of a prince married to a valet de chambre!
Wait until the prince becomes a king, then Wilhelmine Rietz will develop into a beautiful butterfly, and the wife of the valet de chambre will become a countess--nay, a princess. The Great Kophta has promised it, and he shall keep his word. I wear his ring, which sparkles and glistens, although the jeweller declares the diamond has been exchanged for a false stone. No matter, if it only shines like the real one. Every thing earthly is deception, falsehood, and glitter. Every one is storming and pressing on in savage eagerness toward fortune, honor, and fame! I will have my part in it. The storm and pressure of the world rage in my own heart. The fire of ambition is lighted in my soul, and the insatiable thirst for fortune consumes me. Blaze and burn until the day that Frederick William ascends the throne; then the low-born daughter of the trumpeter will become the high-born countess. The false stone will change to the sparkling diamond and Cagliostro shall then serve me."
