.

THE KING AND WEINGARTEN.
The king paced his room hastily; he was very pale, his lip trembled, and his eyes sparkled angrily.
He suddenly remained standing before the Austrian secretary of legation, and gazed long and earnestly into his face, but his glance, before which so many had trembled, was sustained by the secretary with so quiet and innocent a countenance that it deceived even the king.
"I see that you are convinced of the truth of what you tell me." the king said at last.

"You really believe that this madman has the intention of murdering me ?" "I am convinced of it, sire," replied Weingarten, humbly, "for I have the proof of his intention in my hand." "The proof--what proof ?" "This paper which I allowed myself to hand to your majesty, and which you laid upon the table without reading." "Ah, it is true! I forgot that in my excitement," said the king, mildly.
"I beg you to read me the contents of this paper." Baron Weingarten received the paper from the king with a respectful bow; his voice did not tremble in the least as he read the important words which refined malice and cruel avarice had written there--words which, if literally interpreted, would fully condemn Trenck.
The words were: "'In consequence of a bet, I pledge myself to be in Konigsberg the same day in which the King Frederick of Prussia, my cruel enemy and persecutor, shall arrive there.

I shall go there to do, in the king's presence, that which no one has done before me, and which no one will do after me.

If I do not succeed in accomplishing my purpose, or if I should be arrested, I have lost my bet, and shall owe Baron Waltz one hundred louis d'or, which must be paid him by the commissioners of the Trenck estate.'" "'BARON FREDERICK VON TRENCK.'" "And Trenck wrote this note himself ?" said the king.
"If your majesty is acquainted with Trenck's handwriting, you will perhaps have the goodness to examine it yourself." "I know his handwriting; give me the paper." He took the paper and glanced over it searchingly.