The king stood sunk in deep thought in the window-niche, long after
Pollnitz had left the room; he appeared to forget that his ministers
were waiting for him; he thought of his sister Amelia's long, sad life,
of her constancy and resignation, and a profound and painful pity filled
his heart.

"Surely I dare at length grant her the poor consolation of having
brought about his release," said he to himself. "She has been so long
and so terribly punished for this unhappy passion, that I will give her
the consolation of plucking a few scentless blossoms from the grave of
her heart. Let her turn to the fireman of the empress, and may my
pious aunt be warmed up by his representations and prayers! I will
not interfere; and if Maria Theresa intercedes for Trenck, I will not
remember that he is a rebellious subject and a traitor, worthy of death.
I will remember that Amelia has suffered inexpressibly for his sake,
that her life is lonely and desolate--a horrible night, in which one
feeble ray of sunshine may surely be allowed to fall. Poor Amelia! she
loves him still!"

As Frederick stepped from the window and passed into the other room, he
murmured to himself:

"There is something beautiful in a great, rich human heart. Better to
die of grief and disappointment than to be made insensible by scorn and
disdain--to be turned to stone!"

CHAPTER VIII. THE CLOUDS GATHER.

While the king lived alone and quiet in Sans-Souci, and occupied himself
with his studies and his government, the gayeties and festivities
continued uninterrupted in Rheinsberg. It seemed that Prince Henry had
no other thought, no other desire than to prepare new pleasures, new
amusements for his wife. His life had been given up for so many years
to earnest cares, that he now sought to indemnify himself by an eager
pursuit after pleasure. Fete succeeded fete, and all of the most elegant
and accomplished persons in Berlin, all those who had any claim to
youth, beauty, and amiability, were invariably welcome at the palace of
the prince.

It was late in the autumn, and Prince Henry had determined to conclude
the long succession of wood and garden parties by a singular and
fantastic entertainment. Before they returned to the saloons, the
winter-quarters of pleasure, they wished to bid farewell to Nature. The
nymphs of the wood and the spring, the hamadryads of the forests, the
fauns and satyrs should reign once more in the woods before they placed
the sc