Twelve Thousand

Wilhelm Pederit is introduced as a private secretary to a German prince, having risen from peasantry to a position of privilege. His brothers, still working on the farm, harbor contempt for his status and his neglect of their poverty. Pederit is depicted as someone who values his elevated position, yet remains connected to his humble roots.

Pederit takes dictation for an agreement between the prince and an English emissary, Faucitt. The deal involves selling twelve thousand male citizens to Britain to serve as mercenaries in the American rebellion. This secret plan highlights the prince’s willingness to use his people for political and military interests.

Pederit learns that his two brothers are among the conscripted citizens for the mercenary plan. Though he pretends indifference, he secretly hopes to find a way to prevent their forced departure, feeling a sense of moral conflict about the plan.

The Baroness, the prince’s mistress, seeks Pederit's help to secure a high-standing hair stylist appointment for herself. Pederit, sensing a need for covert action, considers how to leverage this request for a larger purpose, indicating a turning point in his moral stance.

Pederit uses the prince’s official seal not to fulfill the Baroness’s personal request but to alert King Frederick the Great about the prince’s mercenary plan. This act of deception is meant to alert the king and prevent the conscription, risking his own safety in the process.

An emissary from Frederick the Great arrives just in time to stop the departure of the twelve thousand conscripts. The emissary’s presence reveals the protection given to Pederit, showcasing an alliance against the prince's plan and a turning point in the story.

The prince condemns Pederit to death after discovering his betrayal. However, Frederick’s emissary reveals that the king has placed Pederit under his protection, sparing Pederit’s life and exposing the moral conflict within the story.

Pederit is freed from his sentence, and the prince’s attempt to punish him is thwarted. Inspired by the American Declaration of Independence read by the emissary, Pederit and his brothers decide to escape their fate and sail to America as free men seeking a new, independent life.

Motivated by ideals of freedom and independence, the brothers begin preparations to leave Europe. Their decision marks a dramatic shift from their previous lives on the farm and under the prince’s authority, aiming to find liberty in America.

During their escape, the brothers are inspired by the reading of the Declaration of Independence. This document signifies their newfound resolve to pursue freedom and a new beginning in America, symbolizing hope and resistance.