vealed, in the court of Berlin, not only the secrets of the
Imperial embassy, but also the whole plan of the projected war. For this
reason he afterwards, when war broke out, remained at Berlin in the
Prussian service. His reason for betraying me was that he might secure
the thousand florins which I had drawn for on Vienna; for the receipt of
the 24th of May, 1755, attests that the sum was paid, by the
administrators of my effects, to Count Puebla, and has since been brought
to account; nor can I believe that Weingarten did not appropriate this
sum to himself, since I cannot be persuaded the ambassador would commit
such an action, although the receipt is in his handwriting, as may easily
be demonstrated, it being now in my possession. Thus did Weingarten,
that he might detain a thousand florins with impunity, bring new evils
upon me and upon my sister, which occasioned her premature death; caused
one grenadier to run the gauntlet three successive days, and another to
be hung.

Esther alone escaped, and since gave me an elucidation of the whole
affair. The report at Magdeburg was, that a Jewess had obtained money
from my sister and bribed two grenadiers, and that one of these had
trusted and been betrayed by his comrade. Indeed, what other story could
be told at Magdeburg, or how could it be known I had been betrayed to the
Prussian ministry by the Imperial secretary? The truth, however, is as I
have stated: my account-book exists, and the Jewess is still alive.

Her poor imprisoned father was punished with more than a hundred blows to
make him declare whether his daughter had entrusted him with the plot, or
if he knew whither she was fled, and miserably died in fetters. Such was
the mischief occasioned by a rascal! And who might be blamed but the
imprudent Count Puebla?

In the year 1766, this said Jewess demanded of me a thousand florins; and
I wrote to Count Puebla, that, having his receipt for the sum, which
never had been repaid, I begged it might be restored. He received my
agent with rudeness, returned no answer, and seemed to trouble himself
little concerning my loss. Whether the heirs of the Count be, or be not,
indebted to me these thousand florins and the interest, I leave the world
to determine. Thrice have I been betrayed at Vienna and sold to Berlin,
like Joseph to the Egyptians. My history proves the origin of my
persuasion that residents, envoys, and ambassadors must be men of known
worth an