nge."

Ranuzi fell upon his knees and kissed her hand as ho took the pin.

"And now, sir, go. My maid is a salaried spy, and a longer interview
would make you suspected. You would be watched, and all discovered. Go!
If I believed in the power of prayer, I would lie upon my knees night
and day, and pray for God's blessing upon your effort. As it is, I can
only follow you with my thoughts and hopes. Farewell!"

"Your royal highness sends no reply to these lines, written with
Trenck's heart's blood?"

Amelia took the pen and wrote a few hasty lines upon the paper, which
she handed Ranuzi. The words were: "Ovunque tu sei vicina ti sono."

"Give him that," said she; "it is not written with my heart's blood, but
my heart bleeds for him--bleeds ever inwardly. And now resume your role
of soothsayer--I must call my ladies."

The afternoon of this day Ranuzi wrote to his friend, Captain Kimsky,
prisoner of war at Magdeburg: "The train is laid, and will succeed.
The fortress will soon be in our hands. A romantic, sentimental woman's
heart is a good thing, easily moved to intrigues. Magdeburg will
be ours! Prepare everything--be ill, and call for me; I shall get a
passport. I have a powerful protectress, and with such, you know, a man
mar attain all the desires of his heart!"

CHAPTER VI. A COURT DAY IN BERLIN.

It was the birthday of Prince Henry, and was to be celebrated with
great pomp at the court. The king had himself written explicitly on
this subject to the master of ceremonies, Baron Pollnitz. Pollnitz was,
therefore, actively occupied in the early morning, and no general ever
made his preparations for a battle with more earnestness and importance
than the good baron gave his orders for the splendid fete which was to
be given in the royal apartments that night.

And this was indeed a great opportunity. The people of Berlin were to
enjoy a ball and a concert, at which all the Italian singers were to be
present; and then a rare and costly supper, to which not only the court,
but all the officers who were prisoners of war were to be invited.

This supper was to Pollnitz the great circumstance, the middle point of
the fete. Such an entertainment was now rare at the court of Berlin, and
many months might pass away ere the queen would think of giving another
supper. Pollnitz knew that when he thirsted now for a luxurious meal he
must enjoy it at his own cost, and this thought made him shudder. The
worthy baron