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arkened his brain； he would rather distrust all his reflections than to believe that this woman； whom he had loved with all the strength of his nature； this man whom he had confided in so entirely； had deceived and betrayed him。 It was too horrible to doubt the noblest and most beautiful； the holiest and gentlestto be so confounded； so uncertain in his best and purest feelings。 He could not banish doubt from his heart； like a death…worm； it was gnawing day and night； destroying his vitalitypoisoning every hour of the day； and even in his dreams uttering horrible words of mockery。 Since the fete in the wood he had been observant； he had watched every glance； listened to every word； but he had discovered nothing。 Both appeared unembarrassed and innocent； perhaps they dissembled； perhaps they had seen him as he lay before the hut； and knew that he had been since that day following and observing them； and by their candor and simplicity they would disarm his suspicions and lull his distrust to sleep。 This thought kept him ever on his guard； he would； he must know if he had been betrayed； he must have absolute certainty。 He stood concealed behind the curtains of his window； and looked down into the garden。 His eyes were flxed with a glowing； consuming expression upon the princess； who； with one of her ladies； now passed before his window and looked up； but she could not see him； he was completely hidden behind the heavy silk curtains。
The princess passed on； convinced that if her husband had been in his room； he would have come forward to greet her。
The prince wished her to come to this conclusion。 〃Now；〃 thought he； 〃she feels secure； she does not suspect I am observing her； at last I may find an opportunity to become convinced。〃
Count Kalkreuth was there； he had gone down into the garden。 He advanced to meet the princess； they greeted each other； but in their simple； accustomed manner； he； the count； respectfully and ceremoniouslythe princess dignified； careless； and condescending。 And now they walked near each other； chatting； laughing； charmingly vivacious； and excited by their conversation。
The prince stood behind his curtain with a loudly…beating heart； breathless from anxiety； they came nearer； she led the way to the little lake whose smooth and frozen surface shone like a mirror。 The count pointed to the lake； and seemed to ask a question； the princess nodded affirmatively； and turning to her ladies； she spoke a few words； they bowed and withdrew。
〃They are going to skate；〃 murmured the prince。 〃She has sent her ladies to bring her skates； she wishes to be alone with the count。〃
Breathless； almost in death…agony； he watched them； they stood on the borders of the lake； and talked quietly。 The expressions of their countenances were unchanged； calm； and friendly； they were certainly speaking of indifferent things。 But what means that？ The princess dropped her handkerchief； seemingly by accident。 The count raised it and handed it to her； she took it and thanked him smilingly； then in a few moments she put her hand； with a sudden movement； under her velvet mantle。 The prince cried out； he had seen something white in her hand which she concealed in her bosom。
〃A letter！ a letter！〃 cried he； in a heart…breaking tone； and like a madman pursued by furies； he rushed out。
The Princess Wilhelmina was in the act of having her skates fastened on by her maid； when Prince Henry advanced with hasty steps from the alley which led to the lake。
Count Kalkreuth advanced to meet him； and greeted him with gay； jesting words； but the prince had no word of reply for him； he passed him silently； with a contemptuous glance； and stepped directly in front of the princess； who looked up with a kindly smile。 He said：
〃Madame； it is too cold and rough to skate to…day； I will have the honor to conduct you to your rooms。〃
Princess Wilhelmina laughed heartily。 〃It is a fresh； invigorating winter day； my husband。 If you are cold； it is not the fault of the weather； but of your light clothing。 I pray you to send for your furs； and then we will run a race over the ice and become warm。〃
Prince Henry did not answer。 He seized the arm of the princess and placed it in his own。 〃Come； madame； I will conduct you to your apartment。〃
Wilhelmina gazed at him with astonishment； but she read in his excited and angry countenance that she must not dare oppose him。 〃Permit me； at least； to have my skates removed；〃 said she； shortly； giving a sign to her maid。 The prince stood near； while her maid knelt before her and removed the skates。 Count Kalkreuth was at some distance。
Not one word interrupted the portentous silence。 Once the prince uttered a hasty and scornful exclamation。 He had intercepted a glance which the princess exchanged with Count Kalkreuth； and a glance full of significance and meaning。
〃What is the matter with you； prince？〃 said Wilhelmina。
〃I am cold；〃 said he roughly； but the perspiration was standing in large drops on his forehead。
When the skates were taken off； the prince drew his wife on quickly； without a word or greeting to his friend。 Kalkreuth stood pale and immovable； and gazed thoughtfully upon the glittering ice。 〃I fear he knows all；〃 murmured he。 〃Oh my God； my God！ Why will not the earth open and swallow me up？ I am a miserable； guilty wretch； and in his presence I must cast my eyes with shame to the ground。 I have deceived； betrayed him； and yet I love him。 Woe is me！〃 He clasped his hands wildly over his face； as if he would hide from daylight and the glad sun the blush of shame which burned upon his cheeks； then slowly； with head bowed down； he left the garden。
The prince； during this time； had walked rapidly on with his wife； no word was exchanged between them。 Only once； when he felt her arm trembling； he turned and said harshly：
〃Why do you tremble？〃
〃It is cold！〃 said she； monotonously。
〃And yet；〃 said he； laughing derisively； 〃it is such lovely； invigorating weather。〃
They went onward silently； they entered the castle and ascended the steps to the apartment of the princess。 Now they were in her cabinetin this quiet； confidential family room； where Prince Henry had passed so many happy hours with his beloved Wilhelmina。 Now he stood before her； with a cold； contemptuous glance； panting for breath； too agitated to speak。
The princess was pale as death； unspeakable anguish was written in her face。 She dared not interrupt this fearful silence； and appeared to be only occupied in arranging her toilet； she took off her hat and velvet mantle。
〃Madame；〃 said the prince at last； gasping at every word； 〃I am here to make a request of you！〃
Wilhelmina bowed coldly and ceremoniously。 〃You have only to command； my husband！〃
〃Well； then； 〃said he； no longer able to maintain his artificial composure。 〃I command you to show me the letter you have hidden in your bosom。〃
〃What letter； prince？〃 stammered she； stepping back alarmed。
〃The letter which Count Kalkreuth gave you in the garden。 Do not utter a falsehood； do not dare to deny it。 I am not in a mood to be restrained by any earthly consideration。〃
As he stood thus； opposed to her； with flashing eyes； with trembling lips； and his arm raised threateningly； Wilhelmina felt that it would be dangerous； indeed impossible to make any opposition。 She knew that the decisive moment had arrived； the veil must be lifted； and that deception was no longer possible。
〃The letter！ give me the letter！〃 cried the prince； with a menacing voice。
Wilhelmina gazed at him steadily； with eyes full of scorn and hatred。
〃Here it is；〃 taking the letter calmly from her bosom； and handing it to the prince。
He snatched it like a tiger about to tear his prey to pieces； but when he had opened it and held it before him； the paper trembled so in his hands； he was scarcely able to read it。 Once he murmured： 〃Ah！ he dares to say thou to you； he calls you his 'adored Wilhelmina！'〃 He read on； groaning； sometimes crying out aloud； then muttering wild imprecations。
The princess stood in front of him； pale as death； trembling in every limb； her teeth were chattering； and she was forced to lean against her chair to keep from falling。
When the p