Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/50

 found her? Would this angered husband forgive her or would he take his vengeance? But on the other hand, no matter what action he took, he ran the risk of never seeing Adelaide again. All of this was running through Thuringia's mind as he resisted the efforts of the prince to make him regent during his absence. He did not dare hold out too long, however, because the prince would begin to become suspicious about his motives. By the next day all the details had been settled, and the prince and Mersburg set out for Dresden.

Frederick, having assembled his various states, declared that his health would not permit him to attend to his duties for a while, that he was leaving the reins of government in the hands of his cousin, the Marquis of Thuringia, who was a sovereign in his own name of the province of Thuringia. He went on to say that he felt that he had chosen a man worthy of this position and that he believed that the Emperor would leave them in peace since he had more important wars which called him to other countries.

After the expression of regret of the assembly on the departure of the prince to which they all joined their wishes for a rapid return, they felicitated him on the choice of the Marquis of Thuringia to replace him. After this ceremony, the prince and Mersburg hastened to the chateau to make their preparations for the trip.

Before starting out, Frederick thought that it was essential to find out whether his wife had returned to Brunswick, but he did not want to ask the Duke of Brunswick since he did not wish to reveal the troubles which existed in the marriage, and so he had some of his secret agents make a thorough investigation. When the information came that Adelaide could not be in Brunswick, the prince and Mersburg started out.

Their first visit was to Torgau. Major Kreutzer trembled when he knew that his sovereign was arriving.

"I am heartbroken at what has happened in your castle, my friend," said Frederick to the old officer. "Two unpardonable negligences hang over you; that of the fire in the building under your command and another even more important for me, that which has brought about the escape of the sacred person I had left in this post. I could blame your daughter equally, but I