Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/51

 can attribute her imprudence to her devotion to my wife. But whatever be the responsibility, have you discovered any outside influence in all this?"

"None, my Prince. Everything is the work of the fire which has facilitated the escape of the princess."

"Sir," said Frederick, "I cannot prevent your punishment. I take away from you the command of this fortress. Return to the army corps to which you were attached. I will not mention the reasons which oblige me to take these measures against you."

The major threw himself at the feet of the prince without obtaining any change in this order. The misfortunes which resulted from this escape were too serious for the prince to pardon those whom he could suspect of having something to do with it. Kreutzer left the place, and the prince set out for Leipsig. In this city which was free at that time and which governed itself by its own laws under the protection of the Prince of Saxony, Frederick could begin to live in perfect incognito; but occupied with the object of his searches, he didn't stay long and soon took the road to Hamburg.

There was a moment in this trip in which he was close to the road which led to Mersburg, the main town, as we have said, of the territory of the friend who accompanied him. He proposed to the count to go off the road a little and to spend a little time in his chateau; but the latter said that he regretted very much to say that his chateau was in such bad condition that it could not receive anybody so important as the prince.

"Well," said Frederick, "let's go at least to the field of battle where the Emperor Henry I beat the Hungarians nearly a century ago."

This proposition being made in such a way that it was impossible for the count to reject it, the travelers, guided by some peasants who offered to show them the celebrated place, went along by the Fata River. They were observing with attention everything their guides pointed out when suddenly the eyes of the prince fixed themselves on two women who were walking along the river on the opposite bank.

"My friend," said Frederick to the count, stopping suddenly,