"Brother! oh, brother, be merciful! do not make cruel sport of me. I
acknowledge I appealed to the fireman of the empress. I offered him
four thousand louis d'or if he would intercede for Trenck. I see
that you know all; I deny nothing. If I have committed a crime
worthy of death, condemn me; but do not inflict such fearful
tortures before my execution. Do not mock at my great grief, but be
pitiful. Look upon me brother; look at my withered limbs, my
deformed visage; is not my punishment sufficient? torture me no
longer. You return me the sum of money I sent to Vienna; does that
mean that you have discovered and destroyed my plot? Is this so,
brother? Have you the heart to play this cruel jest with me? Having
thus made my last attempt fruitless, do you tell me in mockery that
Trenck is free?" She held the arm of the king firmly, and half
sinking to her knees, she looked up at him breathlessly.
"No, Amelia," said Frederick, and his voice trembled with emotion.
"No, I have not that cruel courage. The hand of your clock points
now to twelve; at this moment Trenck leaves Magdeburg in a closed
carriage, accompanied by two soldiers.
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