按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rding to my rank； and； to carry out his purpose surely； he now forces you to marry。 Oh； Louise； say that this is so； acknowledge that the power of the king； and not your own heart； forced you to this engagement。 It is impossible； it cannot be that you have forgotten the vows that we exchanged scarcely two weeks ago。 It cannot be that you look upon the heart that loved you so deeply； so purely； as an idle plaything； to be thrown away so lightly！ No； no； Louise； I have seen often in your beaming eyes； your eloquent smiles； I have felt in your soft and tender tones； that you loved me fondly； and now in your pale； sad face I see that you love me still； and that it is the king who wishes to separate us。 My poor； lovely child； you have been intimidated； you think that my brother； who reigns supreme over millions； will yield to no obstacle； that it is vain to resist him。 But you are mistaken； Louise； you have forgotten that I am Frederick's brother； that the proud； unconquerable blood of the Hohenzollerns flows also in my veins。 Let my brother try to force me to his purpose； I shall be no weak tool in his hands。 You had not firm confidence in your lover； Louise； you did not know that I would resign cheerfully rank and all family ties for your sake； you did not know that I had sworn to marry only the woman I love。 This I must do to satisfy my heart and my honor； and also to show the king that Prince Henry is a free man。 Now tell me； Louise； if I have not divined all。 Is not this the king's cruel work？ Ah； you do not answer； you are silent。 I understandthe king has made you swear not to betray him。 Now look at me； Louise； make me a sign with your hand； tell me with your eyes； and I will comprehend youI will take you in my arms and carry you to the altar。 My God！ Louise do you not see that I am waiting for this sign？that you are torturing me？〃
Louise raised her head； her heart was melting within her； she forgot her terror； and was ready to resist God； the king； and the whole world； to grasp the noble and unselfish love that the prince offered her。 But her glance fell involuntarily upon the curtain； behind which the king stood； and it seemed to her as if she saw the angry； burning eyes of Frederick threatening to destroy her。 She remembered her daughter； Fritz Wendel； and the world's mocking laughter； and was overcome。
〃You are still silent；〃 said the prince； 〃you give me neither sign nor glance。〃
Louise felt as if an iron hand was tearing her heart asunder。
〃I really am at a loss what more to say or do；〃 she said； in a careless tone； that made her own heart shudder。 〃It pleases your highness to make a jest of what I say。 I am innocent； my prince； of any double meaning。 Five weeks have passed since I saw youI believed you had forgotten me； I did not reproach you； neither was I in despair。 I soon found that it was stupid and dreary to have my heart unoccupied； and I sought for and soon found a lover； to whom my heart became a willing captive。 Therefore； when Captain Trouffle pleaded earnestly for my hand； I had not the courage to say no。 This is my only crime； your highness。 I was not cruel to myself； I received the happiness that was offered。 I have been called a coquette； my prince； it is time to bind myself in marriage bonds； and show the world that love can make an honest woman of me。 Can your highness blame me for this？〃
The prince listened with breathless attention； gradually his countenance changed； the color faded from his cheeks； the light from his eyes； a smile was still on his lips； but it was cold and mocking； his eyes burned with anger and contempt。
〃No； madame；〃 he said； with calm； proud indifference； 〃I do not blame youI praise； I congratulate you。 Captain du Trouffle is a most fortunate manhe will possess a most beautiful wife。 When will this happy ceremony be performed？〃
Madame von Kleist was unable to reply。 She gazed with wild terror into his cold； iron faceshe listened with horror to that voice； whose mild； soft tone had become suddenly so harsh； so stern。
The prince repeated his question； and his tone was harder and more imperious。
〃The day is not fixed；〃 said Louise； 〃we must first obtain the king's consent to our marriage。〃
〃I shall take care it does not fail you；〃 said the prince； quietly。
〃I will strengthen your petition to the king。 Now； madame； you must forgive me for leaving you。 Many greetings to your betrothedI shall be introduced to him to…morrow at the parade。 Farewell； madame！〃
The prince made a slight bow； and； without glancing at her again； left the room slowly and proudly。
Louise gazed after him with mournful eyes； but he did not see it； he did not see how she fell； as if broken； to the floor； as if struck by lightning； and when the door closed on him she held her hands to Heaven pleadingly for mercy and forgiveness。
The portiere now opened； and the king entered； his countenance was pale； his eyes tearful； but they sparkled with anger when he saw Louise upon the floor。 For him she was but a heartless coquette； and he was angry with her because of the suffering she had caused his brother； for whom he felt the deepest pity and compassion。
But that was now past； the brother could weep a tear of pity； the king must be firm and relentless。
As he approached her； she raised herself from the ground and made a profound and ceremonious bow。
〃You have repaired much of the evil you have done； madame；〃 said the king； sternly。 〃You have played a dishonorable game with my brother。 You enticed him to love you。〃
〃I think I have atoned； sire；〃 said Louise； faintly； 〃the prince no longer loves but despises me。 Your commands are fulfilled to the letter； and I now beg your majesty's permission to withdraw。〃
〃Go； madame； you have done your duty to…day； and I will also do mine。 I shall not forget what I promised you when you are Madame du Trouffle。 We will forget all the faults of Madame von Kleist。〃
He dismissed her with a slight bow； and gazed after her until she had disappeared。
At this moment； a heavy fall was heard in the antechamber。 The door opened immediately； and the pale； disturbed face of Pollnitz appeared。
〃What is the matter； Pollnitz？〃 asked the king； hastily。
〃Oh； sire； poor Prince Henry has fainted。〃
The king was startled； and stepped quickly to the door； but he remained standing there until his features resumed their calm expression。
〃He will recover；〃 he said〃he will recover； for he is a man； in my youthful days I often fainted； but I recovered。〃
CHAPTER X。
THE CONQUERED。
Painful and bitter were the days for Henry that followed his first disappointment。 He passed them in rigid seclusion； in his lonely chambers； he would see no one； no cheerful word or gay laughter was allowed in his presence。 The servants looked at him sorrowfully； and when the prince appeared at the parade the day after his painful interview with Louise； even the king found him so pale and suffering； he begged him to take a week's leave and strengthen and improve his health。
The prince smiled painfully at the king's proposition； but he accepted his leave of absence； and withdrew to the solitude of his rooms。 His heart was wounded unto death； his soul was agonized。 Youth soon laid its healing balm upon his wounds and closed them； anger and contempt dried his tears； and soothed the anguish of his heart。
The king was right when he said of his brother； 〃He is a man； and will recover。〃 He did recover； and these days of suffering made a man of him； his brow； once so clear and youthful； had received its first mark of sorrow； the lines of his face were harsh and stern； his features sharper and more decided。 He had experienced his first disappointmentit had nerved and strengthened him。
Before his eight days' leave of absence had expired； his door was again open to his circle of friends and confidants。
His first invited guest was the grand chamberlain； Baron Pollnitz。 The prince welcomed him with a bright and cheerful face。
〃Do you know why I wished to see you？〃 he asked。 〃You must tell me the chronique scandaleuse of our most honorable and virtuous city。 Commence immediately。 What is the on dit of the day？〃
〃Ah；〃 sighed Pollnitz； 〃life is now stupid