hatred. Without
my help, however, he will soon be sufficiently punished. His beautiful
Wilhelmina will revenge me."

She broke out in wild and convulsive laughter, and repeated again and
again in joyous tones, "Yes, yes, his beautiful Wilhelmina will punish
him for calling me an old witch."

The king shuddered at her mad laughter, and was oppressed by her
presence; her mirth was sadder than her tears. He bade her a silent
adieu, and hastened away as if flying from a pestilence. The princess
did not detain him; she had fallen upon a chair, and staring immovably
before her, she cried out: "Trenck is free! Trenck is free! Life is his
once more! I must, I will live till I have seen him once more. Then,
when my poor eyes have looked upon him yet once again, then I will
die--die!" [Footnote: This wish of the princess was fulfilled after
the death of Frederick the Great. Trenck received permission from his
successor, Frederick William II., to return to Berlin. He was graciously
received at court; his first visit, even before he was announced to the
king, was paid to the Princess Amelia. She received him in the same room
in which, forty-seven years before, they had passed so many happy hours.
Upon the same spot, where, beautiful in youth and grace, they had once
sworn eternal love and faith, they now looked upon each other and sought
in vain, in these fallen and withered features, for any trace of those
charms, which had once enraptured them. Trenck remained many hours with
her; they had much to relate. He confessed freely all the events of his
fantastic and adventurous life. She listened with a gentle smile, and
forgave him for all his wanderings and all his sins. On taking leave he
promised the princess to bring his oldest daughter and present her, and
Amelia promised to be a mother to her. Death, however, prevented the
fulfilment of these promises. It appeared as if this interview had
exhausted her remaining strength. In 1786, a few days after the meeting
with Trenck, Amelia died. Trenck lived but a few years; he went to
France and died under the guillotine in 1793. As he sat with his
companions upon the car on their way to execution, he said to the gaping
crowd: "Eh bien, eh bien, de quoi vous eurerveillez-vous? C'eci n'est
qu'une comedie a la Robespierre." These were Trenck's last words; a few
moments afterward his head fell under the guillotine.]

Suddenly she sprang from her seat. "I must know Trenck's future; I must