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〃I understand perfectly；〃 said Von Halber； 〃I will speak eloquently by deeds； and not with words。〃
True to this intention； Von Halber； after having partaken of a gay dinner with Trenck and several officers； left his house； accompanied by all his servants。
〃The horses must be exercised；〃 said he； and； as he was unmarried； no one remained in the house but Trenck。
〃You will be my house…guard for several hours；〃 said the officer to Trenck； who was standing at the door as he drove off。 〃I hope no one will come to disturb your solitude。 My officers all accompany me； and I have no acquaintance in this little village。 You will be entirely alone； and if； on my return； I find that you have disappeared in mist and fog； I shall believe that ennui has extinguished youreduced you to a bodiless nothing。〃
〃Well； I think he must have understood that；〃 said Von Halber； as he dashed down the street； followed by his staff。 〃He must be blind and deaf if he does not flee from the fate before him。〃
Trenck； alas； had not understood。 He believed in no danger； and did not； therefore； see the necessity for flight。 He found this quiet； lonely house inexpressibly wearisome。 He wandered through the rooms； seeking some object of interest； or some book which would enable him to pass the tedious hours。 The cavalry officer was a gallant and experienced soldier； but he was no scholar； and had nothing to do with books。 Trenck's search was in vain。 Discontented and restless； he wandered about； and at last entered the little court which led to the stable。 A welcome sound fell on his ears； and made his heart beat joyfully； with rapid steps he entered the stable。 Two splendid horses stood in the stalls； snorting and stamping impatiently； they were evidently riding…horses； for near them hung saddles and bridles。 Their nostrils dilated proudly as they threw their heads back to breathe the fresh air which rushed in at the open door。 It appeared to Trenck that their flashing eyes were pleading to him for liberty and action。
〃Poor beasts；〃 said he； stepping forward； and patting and caressing them〃poor beasts； you also pine for liberty； and hope for my assistance； but I cannot； I dare not aid you。 Like you； I also am a prisoner； and like you also； a prisoner to my will。 If you would use your strength； one movement of your powerful muscles would tear your bonds asunder； and your feet would bear you swiftly like wings through the air。 If I would use the present opportunity； which beckons and smiles upon me； it would be only necessary to spring upon your back and dash off into God's fair and lovely world。 We would reach our goal； we would be free； but we would both be lost； we would be recaptured； and would bitterly repent our short dream of self…acquired freedom。 It is better for us both that we remain as we are； bound； not with chains laid upon our bodies； but by wisdom and discretion。〃
So saying； he smoothed tenderly the glossy throat of the gallant steed； whose joyful neigh filled his heart with an inexplicable melancholy。
〃I must leave you；〃 murmured he； shudderingly； 〃your lusty neighing intoxicates my senses； and reminds me of green fields and fragrant meadows； of the broad highways； and the glad feeling of liberty which one enjoys when flying through the world on the back of a gallant steed。 No！ No！ I dare no longer look upon you； all my wisdom and discretion might melt away； and I might be allured to seek for myself that freedom which I must receive alone at the hands of the king； in Berlin。〃
With hasty steps Trenck left the stable and returned to the house； where he stretched himself upon the sofa； and gave himself up to dreamland。 It was twilight when Halber returned from his long ride。
〃All is quiet and peaceful；〃 said he； as he entered the house。 〃The bird has flown； this time； he found the opportunity favorable。〃
With a contented smile； he entered his room； but his expression changed suddenly； and his trembling lips muttered a soldier's curse。 There lay Trenck in peaceful slumber； his handsome； youthful face was bright and free from care； and those must be sweet dreams which floated around him； for he smiled in his sleep。
〃Poor fellow！〃 said Von Halber； shaking his head； 〃he must be mad； or struck with blindness； and cannot see the yawning abyss at his feet。〃 He awakened Trenck； and asked him how he had amused himself； during the long hours of solitude。
〃I looked through all your house； and then entered the stables and gladdened my heart by the sight of your beautiful horses。〃
〃Thunder and lightning！ You have then seen my horses；〃 cried Halber； thoroughly provoked。 〃Did no wish arise in your heart to mount one and seek your liberty？〃
Frederick Trenck smiled。 〃The wish； indeed； arose in my heart； but I suppressed it manfully。 Do you not see； dear Halber； that it would be unthankful and unknightly to reward in this cowardly and contemptible way the magnanimous confidence you have shown me。〃
〃Truly； you are an honorable gentleman；〃 cried Halber； greatly touched； 〃I had not thought of that。 It would not have been well to flee from my house。〃
〃To…morrow he will fly；〃 thought the good…natured soldier； 〃when once more aloneto…morrow； and the opportunity shall not be wanting。〃
Von Halber left his house early in the morning to conduct his prisoner to Berlin。 No one accompanied them； no one but the coachman； who sat upon the box and never looked behind him。
Their path led through a thick wood。 Von Halber entertained the prisoner as the lieutenant had done who conducted Trenck the day he left Coslin。 He called his attention to the denseness of the forest； and spoke of the many fugitives who had concealed themselves there till pursuit was abandoned。 He then invited Trenck to get down and walk with him； near the carriage。
As Trenck accepted the invitation； and strolled along by his side in careless indifference； Von Halber suddenly observed that the ground was covered with mushrooms。
〃Let us gather a few；〃 said he； 〃the young wife of one of my friends understands how to make a glorious dish of them； and if I take her a large collection； she will consider it a kind attention。 Let us take our hats and handkerchiefs； and fill them。 You will take the right path into the wood； and I the left。 In one hour we will meet here again。〃
Without waiting for an answer； the good Halber turned to the left in the wood； and was lost in the thicket。 In an hour he returned to the carriage； and found Trenck smilingly awaiting him。
He turned pale； and with an expression of exasperation； he exclaimed：
〃You have not then lost yourself in the woods？〃
〃I have not lost myself；〃 said Trenck； quietly； 〃and I have gathered a quantity of beautiful mushrooms。〃
Trenck handed him his handkerchief； filled with small； round mushrooms。 Halber threw them with a sort of despair into the carriage； and then； without saying one word； he mounted and nodded to Trenck to follow him。
〃And now let us be off；〃 said he； shortly。 〃Coachman； drive on！〃
He leaned back in the carriage； and with frowning brow he gazed up into the heavens。
Slowly the carriage rolled through the sand； and it seemed as if the panting； creeping horses shrank back