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〃It is his majesty's express command that you should be married without delay；〃 said General Saldern； 〃he has also commanded me to say to you that this scandalous intrigue； insulting to morals and good manners； should no longer be brought before the public。 You are both； therefore； banished from his court； from Potsdam and Berlin； and commanded to take refuge at your country seat； and lead there a solitary and quiet life。 This is the only punishment he inflicts upon you； and I have nothing more to announce。 If agreeable to you； madame； we will go at once！〃
〃Where？〃 cried Camilla； drawing back in terror from the general； who approached her。
〃In the next room； madame； a priest is waiting； who； at the express command of his majesty； will now perform the marriage ceremony。〃
Camilla uttered a loud shriek and fell senseless into the arms of le beau cousin； who advanced toward her at a nod from the general。 When consciousness returned； the priest was before her and Kindar at her side。 The ceremony was performed； and the unhappy couple left Berlin at once； never to return。 The remainder of their lives was passed in sorrow； solitude； and self…contempt。
CHAPTER XIV。
THE SEPARATION。
The three days the king had allowed his brother to make up his mind in； were past。 Prince Henry had made up his mind。 On the morning of the second day； he had sent off two couriersone to the king at Sans…Souci； the other to his wife at Rheinsberg。 He had remained in Berlin； and had taken possession of the splendid palace opposite the opera…house； that the king had lately built and furnished for him。 He had ordered his major…domo to prepare a handsome dinner； as he wished to open his house by entertaining all the nobility of Berlin。
The feast was to take place the third day after the king's interview with the prince。
The courier who left the morning before； carried a letter to Princess Wilhelmina； requesting her in a few cold； ceremonious words； to come to Berlin and preside at the proposed dinner and concert。
This invitation was to the princess a command she dared not resist。 She left Rheinsberg early in the morning and arrived at the palace an hour before dinner。
Prince Henry met his wife in the large vestibule leading to the front building。 He advanced toward her with a bright smile； passed her arm through his； and led her； pale and trembling； up the steps； making her observe the style of the building and the many conveniences of their new dwelling。 He spoke cheerfully； walking slowly so as to give the followers of the princess； who were occupied with her baggage； time to collect around her and witness the perfect understanding between her and her husband。 When they had mounted the last step； the prince laughingly pointed to the two halls leading from the stairway。
〃Here； madame； commence our separate apartments。 To you belong the right； to me the left wing of the castle。 I will pass through the hall to the right and lead you to the apartments whose mistress you will now become。〃
The princess threw a timid； inquiring glance at him。 She had been so convinced that her husband would demand a divorce； that she had allowed her thoughts to linger upon this possible mode of escape。 Now her heart trembled within her。 〃Perhaps；〃 murmured she as they passed through the long hall〃 perhaps he will murder me as the Duke of Orleans did his wife because she loved the Count de Guiche。〃 She hesitated； therefore； as the prince opened a door and bade her enter。 She looked anxiously around for her followers。
〃Cannot my maids accompany us？〃 said she； softly。
〃No； madame；〃 said the prince； roughly。 〃We go alone。〃
He drew her into the room； entered after her； then closed and locked the door。
Princess Wilhelmina shrieked in terror； and drew away from him。 〃Why do you lock the door？〃 said she； trembling。 〃Do you wish to murder me？〃
The prince laughed aloud。 〃Ah； you wish a tragic end to your romance； madame；〃 said he。 〃Not so； however。 It will be quiet and prosaic。 You will act neither the part of a martyr nor a heroine。 I wish neither to reproach nor punish you。 I leave that to God and your conscience。 I wish only to arrange with you the details of our future life。 I locked the door； as I do not wish to be disturbed。〃
〃What are these details？〃 said the princess。
〃We will speak of them hereafter； madame。 Will you first do me the honor to read this letter I have just received from the king in answer to mine？ Have the kindness to read it aloud。〃
The princess received the letter and read：
〃MY DEAR BROTHERYour letter has been a great source of consolation to me； for it assures me that you are again a man； and have overcome your grief。 It is not your lot to be only a tender or an avenging husband。 You are； before all else； a prince and a man。 Both qualifications have duties forcing you to submit to life and to become worthy of it。 There is still much to be done in this world by both of us； and a true man should not be turned from his path because a foolish woman places a few thorns beneath his pillow。 Stifling his pain； he continues his road quietly。 I am glad this is also your opinionthat you have given up all thought of a public scandal and denunciation。 In relation to the princess。 I give you full power to make any and every arrangement you see fit。 As to Kalkreuth； he shall receive the place you mentioned。 I have appointed him lieutenant…general of the third army corps in Prussia。 He will leave here at once。 I desire you to inform him of his promotion。 As soon as you dismiss him； send him to me at Sans…Souci。 You tell me you are about to give a feast。 That pleases me right well。 It is better to stifle your pain with bright flowers and gay music； than to tear out your hair and retire to a convent。 May your feast be a bright one； and may it last forever！ FREDERICK。〃 Princess Wilhelmina； having finished the letter； handed it to her husband。 〃I see；〃 whispered she； softly； 〃that you have been noble and generous； my husband。 You shower benefits upon us instead of just anger。〃
〃I do neither the one nor the other；〃 said the prince； coldly； 〃I simply wish to pass a peaceful life； and above all things I would not have the world think me unhappy； for unhappy I am not nor ever mean to be。〃
The princess gave a timid glance at his countenance； so at variance with his words。 The last three days had worked such a fearful change。 His cheeks were thin and pale； his brow dark and clouded about his mouth were deep lines of care never more to be effaced。 Princess Wilhelmina was deeply touched when she saw this change。
〃My husband；〃 said she softly； raising her hands imploringly to him； 〃have pity on yourselfon me。 Hear me before you decide。 I feel that I have sinned heavily against you； but I will endeavor to expiate my sin。 In looking at you and seeing how much you have suffered； the pain that almost bursts my heart tells me how dear you are to me。 I repentI repent； my husband。 I will force my heart to love you； and you alone。 From now on； I will be a faithful wife； the one aim of my life shall be to make you happy。 Here I swear； as before God's altar； that I will love and obey you as my husband and master。 Will you accept this heart； that comes to you full of repentance？ Henry； will you？〃
She held out her hand； with a bright； beaming glance； but he did not take it。
〃No； it is too late；〃 said he。 〃I raised you a temple in my heart。 You have destroyed it； and wish now to build another with the shattered ruins。 No； princess； that which the lightning has struck must remain in ashes。 I could never believe in the stability of your building； but would be expecting it to fall daily。 This temple can never be rebuilt。 I forgive； but can never more love you。 We are separated before God and our own hearts。 But to the world we are still wedded。 We shall both inhabit this palace； but we shall seek never to meet one another。 On grand fete days； when etiquette demands it； we shall dine together； but preside at separate tables。 And you must forgive me if I never address you。 We are dead to one another； and the dead do not speak。 In the summer I shall live at Rheinsberg； the king presented it to me on my marriage with you； and I think I ha