Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/77

 "My Prince," said the count, "wouldn't it be better to return to your states, to publish her innocence and to request in the same proclamation all those who have any news of her to let you know at once."

"This means would hurt her reputation in giving too much publicity to her faults. Let's not do anything like that. Secret searches will cause less talk."

"Let's keep on then," said Mersburg calmly.

Our two knights decided to travel over Swabia and Franconia since they had not yet visited these two provinces.

They were near Frankfort on the Main when they discovered on the right a castle belonging to the Emperor. Although he was not on good terms with this prince, Frederick thought that because of his disguise he would not run any risk on entering. He decided to take this chance, since he was encouraged by the hope of finding his wife, having in mind that she was linked to towers and chateaux. He presented himself with the title of Knight and Protector of the Order of the Fair Sex and asked if he might have safety there. The soldiers went to speak to the commander of the chateau who, in a hospitable manner, went to greet the two men and to bring them into the main hall of the chateau. Soon, according to the custom, some squires came to unarm the two guests and at the time of dinner, the commander came personally to invite them to eat with him. During the dinner, the conversation was concerned mostly with the troubles and fatigue of the noble profession of the two illustrious knights who had come to honor the castle with their presence. That evening, they were established in an apartment by the same squires who had received them so well when they arrived.

"I don't believe," said Mersburg to the prince, "that we will learn anything about Adelaide in this place."

"I think you are right," answered the prince. "It doesn't matter, let's spend a few days with this good soldier; we will discover, perhaps, something which may interest us."

The next day the guests were treated with all the respect which had been accorded them at first and in the afternoon, the prince and Mersburg began talking about political events in Germany.