"Revenge," said Baron von Waltz, solemnly--"an act of vengeance.
This Austrian officer who is resolved to murder the king of Prussia,
is Frederick von Trenck."

Weingarten was embarrassed, and his countenance bore an uneasy and
troubled expression. But as his eye fell upon the weighty paper that
lay before him, he smiled, and looked resolved.

"Now I have but one thing more to ask. Why, if your story is
authentic, and well calculated to startle even the brave king, have
you thought it necessary to remove my doubts with this document?"

Baron Waltz was silent, and looked inquiringly at Zetto.

"Why did I hand you this document?" said the councillor, with a
sweet smile. "Because gold remains gold, whether received from an
Austrian councillor or from a Prussian prince."

"Sir, do you dare to insult me?" cried the secretary of legation,
fiercely.

Zetto smiled. "No, I only wish to notify you that we are aware that
it is through you that Baron von Trenck receives money from a
certain aristocratic lady in Berlin. It is, therefore, most
important that the king should be warned by you of his intended
murder--otherwise you might be thought an accomplice."

Weingarten appeared not to be in the least disconcerted by this
statement--he seemed not even to have heard it.