elieve he might trust you with this terrible secret."

"You see, however, that he was mistaken," said the baron, smilingly. "I
demand of you to warn the King of Prussia of the danger that threatens
him."

"I shall be compelled to make this danger clear, give all particulars,
or the king will laugh at my story and consider it a fairy tale."

"You shall give him convincing proof. Say to him that the murder is
to be committed when his majesty attends the Austrian review at
Konigsberg."

"How will the officer cross the Prussian border?"

"He is supplied with an Austrian passport, and under the pretence of
inheriting a large property in Prussia, he has obtained leave of absence
for a month."

"There remains now but one question: why does the officer wish to murder
the king? What motive leads him to do so?"

"Revenge," said Baron von Waltz, solemnly--"an act of vengeance. This
Austrian officer who is resolved to murder the king of Prussia, is
Frederick von Trenck."

Weingarten was embarrassed, and his countenance bore an uneasy and
troubled expression. But as his eye fell upon the weighty paper that lay
before him, he smiled, and looked resolved.

"Now I have but one thing more to ask. Why, if your story is authentic,
and well calculated to startle even the brave king, have you thought it
necessary to remove my doubts with this document?"

Baron Waltz was silent, and looked inquiringly at Zetto.

"Why did I hand you this document?" said the councillor, with a sweet
smile. "Because gold remains gold, whether received from an Austrian
councillor or from a Prussian prince."

"Sir, do you dare to insult me?" cried the secretary of legation,
fiercely.

Zetto smiled. "No, I only wish to notify you that we are aware that
it is through you that Baron von Trenck receives money from a certain
aristocratic lady in Berlin. It is, therefore, most important that the
king should be warned by you of his intended murder--otherwise you might
be thought an accomplice."

Weingarten appeared not to be in the least disconcerted by this
statement--he seemed not even to have heard it.

"Before I warn the king," he said, with calm composure, "I must be
convinced of the truth of the story myself, and I acknowledge to you
that I am not convinced, cannot understand your motives for seeking the
destruction of Baron von Trenck."

"Ah! you search into our motives--you mistrust us," cried Zetto,
hastily. "Well, we will prove to you that