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orthy to be a guest at Sans…Souci。〃
He bowed to the king； who tenderly pressed his hand and silently left the room。
Frederick looked after him with an expression of unutterable pity。
〃Three days will be long enough to deaden his pain； and then he will be more reasonable and form other resolutions。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
A HUSBAND'S REVENGE。
Camilla lay upon a sofa in her boudoir； and listened with breathless attention to the account her beau cousin gave of the adventures of the last eight days。 She listened with sparkling eyes to the witty description he gave of his duel with Lord Elliot； and declared that she found him extraordinarily brilliant。 Camilla was indeed proud of her handsome lover。 Kindar explained minutely how he had compelled Lord Elliot； who for a long time avoided and fled from him； to fight a duel with him。 How he forced him on his knees to acknowledge that he had done his wife injustice； and to apologize for the insult he had offered to Kindar； in charging him with being the lover of his pure and virtuous wile。
〃And he did this？〃 cried Camilla； 〃he knelt before you and begged your pardon？〃
〃Yes； he knelt before me； and begged my pardon。〃
〃Then he is even more pitiful than I thought him；〃 said Camilla； 〃and I am justified before the whole world in despising him。 Nothing can be more contemptible than to beg pardon rather than fight a duel； to kneel to a man to save one's miserable life。 I am a woman； but I would scorn such cowardice。 I would despise the man I loved most fondly if he were guilty of such an act of shame。〃
Camilla was much excited； she did not notice how Kindar started； turned pale； and fixed his eyes on the floor。 She was so charmed with the courage of her beau cousin that she could think of nothing else。 Even her frivolous nature had this feminine instinctshe prized personal daring and courage in a man more than all other things； of strength of mind she knew nothing； and therefore she could not appreciate it； but she demanded courage； dignity； and strength of physique。 She laid her hands upon her cousin with cordial approbation； and gazed lovingly at him。
〃You are as beautiful as a hero and a demigod； and it seems to me I never loved you so fondly as at this moment； when you stand before me as the victor over my cowardly husband。 Ah； I wish I could have witnessed that scene； you proud and grand； and he lying trembling like this miserable windspiel at your feet； repeating the words of retraction and repentance which you dictated。〃
〃It was indeed worth seeing；〃 said Kindar； 〃but let us speak now of something more important； dear Camilla。 You must leave Berlin to… day； and for a few weeks at least withdraw to your estate； till the violence of the storm has blown over。 It is； of course； most agreeable and flattering to me to have my name coupled with that of so lovely and charming a womanto be looked upon with jealousy and alarm by the cowardly husbands of Berlin。 It will not； however； be agreeable to you to be torn to pieces by slanderous tongues。 Every old maid； every prude； and every hypocritical coquette （and of such base elements the feminine world is composed）； will find this a happy occasion to exalt her own modesty and virtue； and denounce and condemn you。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Camilla； proudly； 〃I will remain in Berlin。 I have courage to defy the whole world for your sakeI will remain to prove that I am not ashamed of my love。 The whole world shall know that the brave and handsome Kindar； the beloved of all women； is my lover。 Ah； cousin； you merit this compensation at my hands； you defended my honor against the aspersions of my husband； and compelled him to a shameful retraction。〃
〃Does Baron von Kindar make this boast？〃 cried a voice behind her。
Camilla turned and saw Lord Elliot standing in the door； he looked at her with a cold； contemptuous glance； which wounded her far more than a spoken insult would have done。
〃Why are you here； sir？〃 she cried。 〃With what right do you dare force yourself into my presence？〃
Lord Elliot made no reply； but smiled coolly； and Camilla's eyes filled with tears of rage。
〃Cousin；〃 said she； turning to Kindar； 〃will you not free me from the presence of this contemptible creature； who dares to affront and〃
Suddenly she stopped speaking and gazed in amazement at her handsome cousin； his countenance was not serene； he was indeed livid； and stood trembling and with downcast eyes before her husband。
〃Well；〃 said Lord Elliot； raising himself proudly； 〃do you not hear your cousin's command？ Will you not dismiss this poor creature who dares disturb this tender interview？〃
〃I will withdraw。〃 stammered Kindar； 〃I am de trop。 I have no right to interfere between Lord Elliot and his wife。 I take my leave。〃
He tried to step through the door； but the powerful hand of Lord Elliot held him back。
〃Not so； my handsome gentleman；〃 said Lord Elliot； with a hoarse laugh； 〃you are by no means de trop； on the contrary； I desire your presence； you will remain here and listen to the charming and merry narrative I am about to relate to Lady Elliot。 I have come； madame； to give your ladyship the history of a hunt； not； however； of a chase after wild beasts； of the hart and the hare； but of an all… conquering cavalier； who； however； judging from the manner in which he fled and sought to save himself； must possess the cowardice of the hare； and the fleet foot of the hart。 You know； I presume； that I speak of your beau cousin； and myself。〃
While Lord Elliot spoke； Camilla stared in breathless agony at her cousin。 She seemed to hope to read in his pale face the explanation of this incomprehensible riddle； she expected him to command her husband to be silent； and to offer him some new insult。 But Kindar did not speak； and Camilla came to a desperate resolution。 She was determined to know why he stood so pale and trembling before her husband。 She would force him to an explanation。
〃It is wholly unnecessary； my lord；〃 she said； in a haughty tone； 〃to relate your history to me； I am acquainted with all the particulars of the chase of which you speak。 I know your degradation and humiliationI know that you fell upon your knees and pleaded for pardon when satisfaction was demanded of you。〃
〃Ah！ I see； le beau cousin has changed roles with me；〃 said Lord Elliot。 〃That was indeed most amiable。 Your lover must； of course； always play the most important part； and no doubt； he thought to do me honor by this change。 I cannot take advantage of this generous intention； and must correct a few errors in his narrative。〃
〃Speak！ then； speak！ my lord；〃 said Camilla； whose eyes were still fixed sternly upon her lover。
〃As you graciously permit it； madame； I will give you an account of the chase。 But first； madame； I must clear myself from an accusation。 I am suspected of having challenged Von Kindar； because he was the lover of my wife。 I look upon that； however； as an accident； and nothing more。 Le beau cousin happened to be at hand when my susceptible； ardent wife looked around for a lover； and she accepted him； he was the first； but he will not be the last。 I was not driven to pursue him by jealousy。 I am a true son of this enlightened age； and shall not； like the knights of the olden time； storm heaven and earth because my wife has a lover。 I am a philosopher。 For a noble wife； who had made me happy in her love； I might perhaps feel and act differently。 I； however； married a heartless fool； and it would have been mad folly to risk my life with a brainless fop for her sake。〃
〃Speak； cousin！〃 cried Camilla； springing forward； white with passion。 〃Speak！ Do you not hear these insults？〃 She laid her hands upon his arm； he muttered a few incomprehensible words and tried to shake them off。
〃He has heard every word；〃 said Lord Elliot； scornfully； 〃but he is without doubt too polite to interrupt me。 He will have the goodness still to listen silently。〃
Camilla let her hands fall； gnashing her teeth she turned away and seated herself upon the divan。 Her lover and her husband stood before her； the one； trembling like a broken reed； leaned against the wall； the other erect and proudly conscious of his own worth and dignity。
〃I said that