the king and Trenck are personal enemies. Trenck has boasted of this
enmity often and loud enough to be understood by the whole world,
and I do not believe that this animosity has diminished. Enemies
naturally desire to destroy each other. Trenck would succeed if we
did not warn the king, and enable him to anticipate his enemy."

"How can this be done? Will the king really go to Konigsberg to be
present at the Austrian festivities?"

"It has been spoken of."

"Well, Trenck now proposes to go to Dantzic, and he has boasted that
he will enter Konigsberg at the same time with the King of Prussia,
who will not dare to arrest him."

"We have made a bet with him of a hundred louis d'or on this boast,"
said Baron Waltz, "and for greater security we have put it in
writing."

"Have you it with you?"

"Here it is."

The baron handed Weingarten a paper, which he seized hastily,
unfolded, and read several times.

"This is indeed written in very ambiguous language, and calculated
to ruin Trenck should it reach the hands of the king," said Baron
Weingarten with a cruel smile.