There were no other persons present than one who had the
aspect of a jew, and as it proved was so, that stood near the prince's
chair, and a soldier who kept the door.
Horatio was bid to approach, and when he did so, - you are called hither,
said the jew in the Swedish language, to answer to such questions as
shall be asked you, concerning a conspiracy carried on between you and
your fellow-prisoners with the enemies of Russia. Horatio understood the
language perfectly well, having conversed so long with Swedes, but never
could attain to a perfect pronounciation of it, so replied in French,
that he knew the prince could speak French, and he would therefore
answer to any interrogatories his highness should be pleased to make
without the help of an interpreter.
Are you not then a Swede? said the prince. Horatio then told him that he
was not, but came from France into the service of the king of Sweden
merely thro' his love of arms.
On these words Menzikoff dismissed the jew, and looked earnestly on him;
wan and pale as he was grown thro' his long confinement, and the many
hardships he had sustained, this prince found something in him that
attracted his admiration. - Methinks, said he, since glory was your aim,
you might as well have hoped to acquire it under the banners of our
invincible emperor.
Alas! my lord, replied Horatio with a sigh, that title, till very
lately, was given to the king of Sweden, and, I believe, whatever fate
has attended that truly great prince, those who had the honour to be
distinguished by him, will never be suspected either of cowardice or
baseness. - It was by brave and open means our king taught his soldiers
the way to victory, not by mean subterfuges and little plots: - I cannot
therefore conceive for what reason I am brought hither to be examined on
any score that has the appearance of a conspiracy.
Yes, replied the prince feircely, you and your fellow-prisoners have
endeavoured to insinuate yourselves into the favour of persons whom you
imagined entrusted with the secrets of the government: - being prisoners
of war, you formed contrivances for your escape, and attempted to
inveigle others to accompany your flight.
That every tittle of this accusation is false, my lord, cried Horatio,
there needs no more than the improbability of it to prove. - Indeed the
cruel usage we sustained, might have justified an attempt to free
ourselves, yet did such a design never enter our heads: - we were so far
from making use of any stratagems for that purpose, that we never made
the least overture to any of the guards, who were the only persons we
were allowed to converse with.
