etary of legation.

"In the mean while you will not prevent those for whom you are about
to do a great service from showing their gratitude," said Baron Waltz.
"Every one has a right to give or to receive a present."

"Gentlemen," said Baron Weingarten, smilingly, "No one has spoken of
a present, but of a payment, a bribery, and you can readily understand
that this is insulting to a man of honor."

"Ah, he leaves open a door of escape," thought Zetto. "He is won, he can
be bought.--You are right, baron," he said aloud, "and we are wrong to
offer you now that which hereafter will be a debt of gratitude. We will
speak no more of this, but of the danger that threatens the king. You
alone can save him by warning him of his danger."

"You really believe, then, that Trenck has the intention of murdering
the king?" said Weingarten.

"We will believe it," said Zetto, with an ambiguous smile.

"We must believe it!" cried Baron Waltz, emphatically. "We must either
believe in his murderous intentions, or be ourselves regarded as
traitors and robbers. You will think it natural that we prefer the first
alternative, and as he resolved to ruin us, we will anticipate him, and
set the trap into which he must fall."

"Why could you not lay your snares in Austria, gentlemen? Why could you
not accuse him of intending to murder the empress?"

Zetto shrugged his shoulders. "That would not be credible, because
Trenck has no motive for murdering Maria Theresa, while he might very
well thirst to revenge himself upon Frederick. You know that the king
and Trenck are personal enemies. Trenck has boasted of this enmity
often and loud enough to be understood by the whole world, and I do not
believe that this animosity has diminished. Enemies naturally desire to
destroy each other. Trenck would succeed if we did not warn the king,
and enable him to anticipate his enemy."

"How can this be done? Will the king really go to Konigsberg to be
present at the Austrian festivities?"

"It has been spoken of."

"Well, Trenck now proposes to go to Dantzic, and he has boasted that
he will enter Konigsberg at the same time with the King of Prussia, who
will not dare to arrest him."

"We have made a bet with him of a hundred louis d'or on this boast,"
said Baron Waltz, "and for greater security we have put it in writing."

"Have you it with you?"

"Here it is."

The baron handed Weingarten a paper, which he seized hastily, unfolded,
and read sev