"No, principally to warn you; you know that the king is particularly severe against his body-guard. You are the colonel of this splendid regiment, and should, without doubt, set the other officers a good example. I doubt if the king would consider that you did your duty, if he knew that you not only made debts, but borrowed money from the officers of your own regiment." "Take care, Baron von Pollnitz!" said Jaschinsky, threateningly. Pollnitz said, smilingly: "It appears that you are menacing ME, that is wholly unnecessary. Listen quietly to what I have to say. I have come to arrange a little matter of business with you. Day before yesterday you borrowed two hundred ducats from Baron Trenck. Give me one hundred of them, and I give you my word of honor not to expose you--deny me, and I give you my word of honor I will go instantly to the king, and relate the whole history. You know, count, you would be instantly cashiered." "I do not know that his majesty would grant a ready belief to the statement of Baron Pollnitz, and you have no proof to confirm it." "I have proof. You gave your note for the money. I think that would be convincing testimony." The count was pale and agitated. "If I give you a hundred ducats, you promise on your word of honor not to expose me to the king?" "I give you my word of honor; more than that, I promise you to defend you, if any one shall accuse you to the king." Jaschinsky did not reply; he stepped to his desk and took out two rolls of ducats. "Baron," said he, "here is half of the money I borrowed from Trenck; before I hand it to you I have one request to make." "Well, speak." "How did you learn that I borrowed this money?" "I saw your note which you gave to Trenck." "Ah! he showed it to you," cried Jaschinsky, with such an expression of hate, scorn, and revenge, that even Pollnitz was moved by it. He took the gold and let it slide slowly into his pocket. "I owe you a hundred ducats; I cannot promise you to return them; but I can promise you that Trenck will never produce your draft, and I will show you how to revenge yourself upon the handsome officer." "If you assist me in that, I will present you with my best horse." "You shall be revenged," said Pollnitz, solemnly. "You can send the horse to my stable; Frederick von Trenck will soon cease to be dangerous to any one; he is a lost man!--And now to the king," said Pollnitz, as he left the colonel's quarters. "Yes, to the king; I must thank him for the confidence he showed me last night." The king was making his preparations for war with the most profound secrecy; he worked only at night, and gave up his entire time seemingly to pleasures and amusements. He was daily occupied with concerts, balls, operas, and ballets; he had just returned from seeing the rehearsal of a new opera, in which Barbarina danced; he was gay and gracious.