sigh seemed to glide along the building. Trenck started and looked
timidly around him.

"I am still alone," he murmured, "no one has heard my words; no, no one
but you," he continued cheerfully, "my old silent friend, my faithful
prison. To-morrow morning the officer on guard will enter and order the
sentinels to remove the bed; as soon as they enter I shall rush out and
lock the door. The sentinels being locked up, I put on the clothes which
are lying in readiness for me in the passage, and then forward to my
soldiers. I shall distribute gold freely among them--a friend will meet
me with the money at the house of Captain von Kleist, and if he has not
sufficient, Amelia has richly supplied me. Arise, arise from your grave,
my secret treasures."

He crouched close to the wall and removed the mortar and chalk
carefully; he then drew out a stone and took from under it a purse full
of gold.

His eye, accustomed to the darkness, saw the gold through the silk net;
he nodded to it and laughed with delight as he poured it out and played
madly with it. His countenance suddenly assumed an earnest expression.

"Poor Amelia," he murmured softly, "you have sacrificed your life, your
beauty, and your youth for me. With never-failing zeal you have moved
around me like my guardian angel, and how am I repaying you? By taking
from your brother, King Frederick, his finest fortress, his money, his
provisions; by compelling you and yours to fly from a city which no
longer belongs to you, but to the Empress of Austria, your enemy. With
your money I have taken this city; Amelia, you are ignorant of this now,
and when you learn it, perhaps you will curse me and execrate the love
which has poisoned your whole life. Oh, Amelia! Amelia, forgive me for
betraying you also. My unfortunate duty is forcing me onward, and I must
obey. Yes," he said, springing from his seat, "I must yield to my fate,
I must be free again--I must be a man once more; I can sit no longer
like a wild animal in his cage, and tell my grief and my despair to the
cold walls. I must reconquer life--I must again see the sun, the world,
and mankind--I must live, suffer, and act."

He walked violently to and fro, his whole being was in feverish
expectation and excitement, and he felt alarmed. Suddenly he remained
standing; pressing his two hands against his beating temples, he
murmured:

"I shall indeed go mad. Joy at my approaching deliverance confuses my
poor head; I will