CHAPTER XVII.
Hardly had the carriage in which Count Watzdorf had come disappeared than Cosel called Zaklika to her. Being afraid of spies in her own house, Cosel told him to follow her into the courtyard, and there she tried to speak to him as if she were giving him some instructions concerning the house.
Zaklika had guessed her thoughts.
"We are watched here, are we not?" said Cosel.
"Yes," answered the faithful servant.
"Can we deceive them?"
"The principal spy is Gottlieb, but he is stupid."
"Gottlieb!" exclaimed the Countess.
"Yes; the man that talks so much of his fidelity to you."
"In the city everybody knows you, I suppose?"
"Many of them have forgotten me," answered Zaklika.
"Could you bring some news?"
"If I must, I will."
"It is dangerous for me to remain here," continued Cosel. "I must escape. I have confidence in you alone; you must advise me how it can be done."
Zaklika was silent and thoughtful.
"It is difficult, but if we must--"
"Then," said Cosel, "I must take my jewels and money with me."
Zaklika did not say a word; he pulled his moustache and lowered his eyes.
"Could you assure me that we shall be able to cross the frontier before our escape is noticed?"
"I will do my best."
His face was covered with perspiration; it was evident that he doubted the success of the enterprise, but he did not wish to show it.
"We should have done it a long time ago," said he.
He snapped his fingers and frowned. Cosel looked at him with fear and curiosity. This silent, energetic man was so different from the others, on whom she could not count; he astonished, but at the same time rejoiced her. She felt that he was a man.
"I have a boat," said he, "hidden in the bushes. During the night I will go into the town and learn everything I can; then I will think how we could escape. You must not call me--they will think I am shut up in my room, as has happened often before."
At that moment Cosel perceived Gottlieb stealing towards them, and not wishing that he should guess anything, she nodded to him. The German swiftly approached.
"Gottlieb," said she, "I would like some flowers planted, for I think I shall stay here a long while. If you go into town you must try and get me a gardener, for the Pole says he does not know anybody."
Gottlieb looked at them both as if trying to guess whether she was speaking the truth, and began to assure the Countess that he would do anything to please his beloved mistress.
Cosel entered the house, and Gottlieb tried to learn something from Zaklika, but it was in vain.
Towards the evening the Pole, as they called him, disappeared. This aroused the suspicions of the spies; they tried to open the door of his room, but found it locked. The room was on the ground floor, so they looked into it through the window, opposite to which was the bed. A man was lying there. This quieted the spies, and they let him sleep.
In the meantime Zaklika unmoored his boat, and, jumping into it, allowed it to be carried down by the stream, which bore it swiftly towards Dresden. In a couple of hours he perceived the lights of the capital. He already knew where to go for news.
In the Dresden Court, where every one squandered money, the bankers were very important people, and among them was Lehman. He came from Poland, he was a laborious and honest man, shrewd in money transactions, but scrupulously honest. Cosel had sent Zaklika several times for him, and they had had some important transactions.
The Jew, who had the best of opportunities for learning people's characters, had recognized in Cosel a noble soul; he had entire confidence in her, and respected her very much.
Zaklika knew that even after Cosel's downfall Lehman had given her proofs that he remained faithful to her, and he thought he could trust him and ask him for advice.
Having left his boat near the hostelry of a Wend, as in those days there were still many of them in Dresden, he drew his hat over his eyes and went into the town.
When he had passed the gates, although it was late, he recognized by the movement in the streets that there was an entertainment in the castle. Zwinger and the garden of Hesperides were illuminated. The King was giving a torchlight masquerade to the Countess Denhoff.
Zaklika did not go near the castle, but went directly to Judenhause, situated in Pirna Street, in which Lehman had a modest house. Zaklika was sure that he would find the banker alone at this hour, and he was anxious for nobody to see him. An old servant opened the door to him, and showed him into a room at the rear of the house.
Lehman, a quiet man, with steady black eyes, shook hands with him, and, in reply to Zaklika's inquiring look round, said,--
"You are safe here; no one can spy on you in my house. What is your news?"
"Bad news," answered Zaklika; "it couldn't be worse. They hunted us from the Palace, from the house in Dresden, and now they wish to drive us from Pillnitz--or perhaps something worse. We must help that unfortunate woman--persecuted as she is by these cowardly villains."
"Yes," said Lehman; "but we must be careful, and not hurt ourselves in the attempt."
"Cosel must escape," added Zaklika.
"To where?" asked the Jew. "She would be safe only beyond the seas."
"I hope the King will not ask his neighbours for our extradition."
Lehman moved his head.
"The Countess," went on the faithful servant, "must take what she can with her, for anything she leaves, the rapacious people will seize, as they did that which she left in the Palace."
The banker nodded.
"But it would not be safe to carry the money with us in our flight, for we might be caught and deprived of everything. You must help the Countess to save the rest of her fortune."
"Believe me," said the banker, "I am willing to help the Countess. I knew her well; she was the only pearl amid all that mud; but you must understand that it would not be right for me to endanger myself and my family for her sake."
"God alone will know of your good deed, and you know that neither I nor the Countess would betray you."
"Well, I consent," said the Jew; "but you must be careful that nobody sees you going out, for I, too, am watched by spies."
"I will be careful," said Zaklika.
"Everything you give me I will send you whenever it best suits you," added the Israelite.
Lehman took from a sideboard a bottle of wine and two glasses.
"No, thank you," said Zaklika. "I must hasten, for I want to learn some news to take to my mistress."
"It is always the same old story," said Lehman, gloomily; "those who drink with the King they are in favour; they enjoy themselves from morning till evening, and they send to Königstein those who are in the way of their amusement. You must not ask for pity or heart, for the least sensitive people are those who are lascivious. The King uses all of them, bestows favours upon them when he needs them, and he despises them."
"What about the Countess Denhoff?"
"She gathers money, that's all; and it seems the King already thinks of marrying her to somebody."
Lehman shrugged his shoulders.
"You wish to learn something," continued he. "Here the people are changed, but not the things."
They talked a little while longer; then Lehman led Zaklika to the gate at the rear of the garden, and gave him a key for it. Zaklika, wrapped in his mantle, went on further. He did not think it would be dangerous to mix with the crowd, to approach Zwinger, and see what was going on there.
He was already in the street leading to the castle thronged with nobles vénitiens, when somebody slapped him on the shoulder.
He turned, surprised--the fool Fröhlich smiled at him.
"How did you recognize me?" asked Zaklika.
"Besides the King, nobody here has such broad shoulders as you have," whispered Fröhlich. "What are you doing here? I heard that you were with Cosel."
"I left her," answered Zaklika, "There was nothing to do after her downfall."
"You are right," said the fool; "one must always take care of one's neck. Then you returned to the King's service--or perhaps you are with Denhoff?"
"Not yet," answered Zaklika. "But tell me, what do you think of her?"
"She is like those little black animals that jump and bite, but which it is difficult to catch," said the fool, laughing.
They were still talking when a passing Spaniard, with a mask on his face, stopped, and began to look attentively at them. Zaklika wanted to go, when the masked man approached him, raised his hat, and seized him by the hand.
Fröhlich disappeared immediately.
The unknown asked Zaklika imperatively,--
"What are you doing here?"
"I am looking for a position," answered he.
"Do you no longer like the service in which you were formerly?"
"They do not need my services there now."
"What kind of position are you seeking?"
"I am a nobleman," answered Zaklika.
The Spaniard muttered something, then he said,--
"Where is Cosel?"
"Probably in Pillnitz--I am not sure."
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Don't ask; you are not afraid, I hope."
Zaklika went, and he soon noticed that the stranger led him to Flemming, who was at home, drinking with some friends. Masked men went to and fro; those who preferred the wine remained. Flemming expected the King. There was a great noise in the house.
The Spaniard entered, and whispered something to Flemming, who then came to Zaklika, and conducted him to a separate room. The Spaniard followed them.
"When did you leave Cosel?" asked he.
"A few days ago."
"What was she doing then?"
"She was settling in Pillnitz."
"Does she intend to stay there?"
"I think so."
"Why did you part from her?"
Zaklika understood that he must win their confidence, and he answered,--
"She dismissed me, for now she does not need many servants."
"Do you know Pillnitz well--the people and the roads?"
"Very well indeed!"
"Would you accept another service?"
"Why not?"
"Even were you obliged to act against your former mistress?"
"The King is my only master," said Zaklika, "for I am a nobleman."
Flemming laughed.
"Come to me in two days," said he.
"Very well."
Flemming wanted to give him some money; but Zaklika refused to accept it, and withdrew.
Thus he was sure he had two days in which to save his beloved lady.
He wrapped himself in his mantle, and visited some friends in the suburbs; then he took his boat and went towards Pillnitz, sculling hard against the current of the river.