VII.--Confessions

VIII.--The Russian Prince

IX.--Old Love--New Sorrow

X.--The Magistracy of Berlin

XI.--The Jews of the Mint

XII.--The Leipsic Merchant

XIII.--Ephraim the Tempter

XIV.--Elise

XV.--The Rescue

XVI.--Retribution

XVII.--Tardy Gratitude

XVIII.--The Auction

ILLUSTRATIONS

Feodor's Visit to the Garden
The Merchant draws Feodor from his Hiding-place
The Rich Jews appeal to Gotzkowsky
The Great Frederick examining the Porcelain Cup

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.

THE FESTIVAL.

The sufferings of the long war still continued; still stood Frederick
the Great with his army in the field; the tremendous struggle between
Prussia and Austria was yet undecided, and Silesia was still the apple
of discord for which Maria Theresa and Frederick II. had been striving
for years, and for which, in so many battles, the blood of German
brothers had been spilt.

Everywhere joy seemed extinguished; the light jest was hushed; each
one looked silently into the future, and none could tell in whose
favor this great contest would finally be decided, whether Austria or
Prussia would be victorious.

The year 1760, the fifth of the war, was particularly sad for Prussia;
it was marked in the history of Germany with tears and blood. Even
Berlin which, up to that time, had suffered but little from the
unhappy calamities of war, assumed now an earnest, mournful aspect,
and it seemed as if the bright humor and sarcastic wit which had
always characterized the inhabitants of this good city had now
entirely deserted them. Going through the wide and almost empty
streets there were to be met only sad countenances, women clothed in
black who mourned their husbands or sons fallen in one of the many
battles of this war, or mothers who were looking with anxiety into the
future and thinking of their distant sons who had gone to the army.

Here and there was seen some wounded soldier wearily dragging himself
along the street, but hearty, healthy men were seldom to be met, and
still more seldom was seen the fresh countenance of youth.

Berlin had been obliged to send not only her men and youths, but
also her boys of fourteen years to the army, which, according to the
confession of Frederick the Great, consisted, in the campaign of the
year 1760, only of renegades, marauders, and beardless boys.

For these reasons it seemed t