s to get this news safely to Vienna. But how to accomplish this is a
hard question. It were well could I go myself. But I am a prisoner of
war, and, until Magdeburg is in our power, this chain will clog me.
Another must be sent--a messenger full of courage, determination, and
hardihood. I have said this in my letter to Captain von Kimsky; he must
seek such a man amongst our sworn friends of the citadel, and give him
the sheet of paper I send in my letter. How harmless, how insignificant
this sheet of paper seems! and still, were it to fall in the King
of Prussia's hands, it would save him a strong fortress and several
millions of thalers, for all the money of the Dresden treasury was
brought to Magdeburg for safe-keeping. Ah! ah! how much would Frederick
give for these two lines of writing, and how richly would he reward
him who gave him the key to it! I will send the key by a different
messenger, and therefore this second letter. But even if both my
messengers were intercepted, all is not lost. I have notified Trenck
also to write to Vienna for money and help. He must continue to be
the shield behind which we intrench ourselves. Should the undertaking
miscarry, we will lay it upon Trenck; should it succeed, it will be
through me, and I will not be tardy in claiming my reward. The general
of our order is old; should he, however, persist in living, his
tenacious nature must--"He did not dare to finish the sentence; but
a wild, demoniac smile supplied the words his lips dared not utter. He
arose and walked several times up and down his chamber, completely lost
in ambitious dreams of the future, for whose realization, as a true
Jesuit, he shunned no means, mindful of the motto of their order: "The
end sanctifies the means."

He saw a ring upon his hand--that ring, full of significance, before
which kings had often bowed, which was to the Jesuits what the crown is
to the king--the sacred sign of power and glory--the indisputable sign
of invisible but supreme power. He saw himself, this ring upon his hand,
subjugating nations, rewarding his friends, punishing his enemies. He
suddenly awoke from his dreams, and remembered the present with a weary
smile.

"I must not forget, in dreams of the future, the necessity for action. I
have many important things to do this day. I must take these letters to
Marietta, see her address and post them; then I must seek La Trouffle
and receive from her leave of absence, on the plea of visiti