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ut it would be useless。 There is no question of my sufferings； but of his who through me has lost his youth and his freedomhis all！ Nine years he has lain in prison； for nine years my one aim has been to release him。 My existence； my soul； my heart； are bound up in his prison walls。 I only live to release him。 Though I have ceased to look for human assistance； my heart still prays earnestly to God for some way of escape。 If you know any such； general； show it to me； and were it strewed with thorns and burning irons； I would wander upon it in my bare feet。〃
She raised her hands and fixed an imploring glance upon the general； who had listened to her in silence。 When she had ceased speaking； he raised his head and looked at her。 Amelia could have cried aloud for joy； for two bright； precious tears gleamed in his eye。
〃You weep；〃 cried she； 〃you have some pity。〃
The general took her hand； and kneeling reverentially before her he said： 〃Yes； I weep； but not over you。 I weep over your great； self… sacrificing soul。 I do not pity youyour grief is too great； too sacredit is above pity。 But I bow profoundly before you； for your suffering is worthy of all reverence。 To me you appear much more beautiful than all the women of this court who dance giddily through life。 It is not the diplomatist but the man who kneels before you and offers you his homage。〃
Gently Amelia bade him rise。 〃With a sweet； happy smile upon her lip she thanked him for his sympathy； and hoped they would be good friends and counsel with each other。〃
The general was silent for a few moments。 〃The feelings of the empress must be worked uponshe must intercede with King Frederick for Trenck。 He cannot refuse her first request。〃
〃Will you undertake to effect this？〃 said Amelia； hastily。 〃Will you intercede for your unfortunate relative？〃
〃I had done so long ago had it been possible。 Alas； I dared not。 Trenck is my relativemy request would； therefore； have been considered as that of a prejudiced person。 My exalted empress possesses so strong a sense of right that it has become a rule of hers never to fulfil a request made by any of her own intimate and confidential friends for their families or relatives。 She would have paid no attention to my request for Trenck's release。 Moreover； I would have made enemies of a powerful and influential party at courtwith a party whose wish it is that Trenck may never be released； because he would then come and demand an account of the gold； jewels； and property left him by his cousin； the colonel of the pandours； thus causing a great disturbance amongst several noble families at court。 These families are continually filling the ear of the empress with accusations against the unfortunate prisoner； well knowing that he cannot defend himself。 You must appear to have forgotten that poor Trenck is languishing in prison while his property is being guarded by stewards who pay themselves for their heavy labor with the old colonel's money。 It is dangerous； therefore； to meddle with this wasp's nest。 To serve Trenck； the interceder must be so harmless and insignificant that no one will consider it worth while to watch him； so that Trenck's enemies； not suspecting him； can place no obstacles in his path。〃
〃Lives there such a one？〃 said the princess。
〃Yes； your royal highness。〃
〃Where is he？ What is his name？ What is he？〃
〃The fireman in the apartments of the empress。 He is a poor Savoyard； without name； without rank； without position； hut with credit and influence。〃
〃A fireman？〃 cried the princess； with amazement。
〃An old； ugly； deformed fellow； called by the other servants Gnome because of his stubborn silence； his want of sociability； his rough manner and voice； his caring for nothing but his service； which he performs with great method。 Every morning at six he enters her majesty's apartment； makes the fire； throws back the curtain to admit the light； arranges the chairs； and then withdraws without the least noise。 All this he does without committing the slightest indiscretion； always the same； never lingering beyond his time never leaving before。 He is like a clock that maintains always the same movement and sound。 The empress； accustomed for thirty years to see him enter daily her apartments； has become used to his homeliness； and often in the kindness of her heart enters into conversation with him。 His answers are always laconic； in a tone of perfect indifferenceat times brusque； even harshbut they have a sensible and often a deep meaning。 When the empress speaks with him； he does not cease his work for a moment； and when he has finished he does not remain a minute longer； but goes without asking if she desires to continue the conversation。 For thirty years he has had the same duties and has fulfilled them in the same manner。 He has never been accused of a mistakehe has never been guilty of inquisitiveness or intrigue。 Thus the empress has great and firm confidence in him。 She is so convinced of his truth； disinterestedness； and probity； that he has gained a sort of influence over her； and as she knows that he is to be won neither by gold； flattery； promises of position and rank； she constantly asks his opinion on matters of importance； and not seldom is biassed by its strong； sensible tone。〃
〃But if this man is so honest and disinterested； how are we to influence him？〃
〃We must seek to win his heart and his head。 He must become interested in the fate of the unfortunate prisonerhe must become anxious for his release。 When we have done this much； we can question his self…interest and offer him gold。〃
〃Gold？ This wonder of probity and truth is susceptible to bribes？〃
〃He never has； perhaps never may be。 He himself has no desires； no necessities； but he has one weaknesshis daughter。 She is a young and lovely girl； whom he； in his dark distrust of all at court in the form of men； has had educated in a convent far from Vienna。 She is now living with some respectable family in Vienna； but she never visits him； never enters the castle to inquire for him for fear she should be seen by some of the court gentlemen。 This girl has now formed an attachment to a young doctor。 They would like to marry； but he has no practice； she no money。 Her father has saved nothing； but spent all his wages on her education； and has no dowry for his daughter。〃
〃And he intends to plead with the empress for this dower？〃
〃If such a thought came to him he would put it away with contempt； for his only ambition consists in making no requests； receiving no gifts from the empress。 Nor would he now act for this gold alone contrary to his idea of right； were his daughter to die of sorrow。 As I said before； his heart and head must first be won； then only must we speak of reward。〃
〃If this man has a heart； we cannot fail to win it when we tell him all that Trenck has suffered and still endures；〃 cried the princess。 〃The agony and despair that have been heaped upon the head of one poor mortal will surely touch both head and heart。 When we have succeeded； we will give his daughter a handsome dower。 God has so willed it that I am right rich now； and can fulfil my promises。 My pension as abbess and my salary as princess were both pai