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presented it to me on my marriage with you； and I think I have paid dearly enough for it to be allowed to spend my time there alone。 You will not follow me there； but will remain in Berlin； or travel； as it suits you。 Do you accept my conditions； madame？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the princess； proudly。 〃I accept them。 We will live like two galley…slaves； bound together in chains； without one thought or feeling in unison。 You have devised a severe punishment for me； my prince。 My only fear is that I am not the only victim that you also suffer？〃
〃I told you before； that I wished to punish no one。 All I seek is a little resta little peace； and your presence in this palace cannot endanger that； for you； madame； have not only annihilated my love for you； but also the remembrance of it。 And now； as you have accepted my conditions for our future life； I have nothing more to say than farewell； until death！ Farewell； madame； may your life be a happy one！〃
〃Farewell； prince！〃 murmured Wilhelmina； in a voice choked with tears。 〃Farewell！ and may God teach your heart to pity and forgive！〃
〃You will now have the kindness； madame； to arrange your toilet； then to follow me with your court to the great reception…room。 We give to…day a splendid dinner。 At this fete we will take an eternal adieu of the past。 It will be the last time we dine together。 Farewell； madame； I await you。〃
He bowed profoundly； then moved to the door。 The princess gazed after him breathlessly； and the tears that had long stood in her eyes now rolled slowly down her cheeks。
When the prince had reached the threshold； she started forward； crying in a piteous voice：
〃Henry！ oh； Henry！〃
The prince did not turn； but opened the door and passed out of the room。
Fifteen minutes later； a gay crowd was assembled in the reception… room。 The prince received his guests in his usual gay； cordial manner。 But the princess was different。 She was more quiet and formal than usual。 Her eyes did not sparkle； her cheeks were pale in spite of her rouge： her voice was low and tremulous； and the smile she called to her lip was hard and forced。 A still more remarkable change had taken place in Count Kalkreuth's appearance。 He who generally sparkled with gayety and wit； whose merry jests had been the delight of the courthe who had been the very shadow of the princess； her most devoted cavalierstood now pale and speechless at a window； gazing sadly at the prince； who was laughing and talking with his guests； and who had passed him repeatedly without turning his head。 The courtiers； however； saw only the outward signs of that agony that had almost distracted the count in the last four days。
For four days； since their last meeting in the garden of Rheinsberg； the prince had not spoken to him。 It was in vain he had written and implored an audience。 The prince returned his letters unopened。 In vain that at almost every hour during these four wretched days he had had himself announced to the prince。 Prince Henry would not receive him。 And still he felt the inevitable necessity of having an explanation with the prince。 His heart craved it as the dying man craves the last consolations of religion。 This friendship for the prince； notwithstanding he had betrayed and wounded it； was； and had always been to him a sort of religion； he had sinned against it in the folly of his passion； but he had now come to his senses； and he repented his guilt bitterly。 Not a thought of the princess lingered in his heart； it was the prince he yearned after； he must speak to him； he must be forgiven by him。 His love for him was greater than ever。 Now that he had turned from him； ho knew how much he had lost。 He had not yet given up the hope of an interview； for this； alone had he come to the dinner。 But whenever he endeavored to approach the prince； he had turned from him and entered into earnest conversation with some bystanders。
Now the prince stood alone at a window； now or never must the count succeed in speaking to him。 Passing through the room hastily； he stood before Prince Henry。
〃My prince；〃 murmured the count； softly； 〃have pity on me。 I entreat you to listen to me for fifteen minutes！〃
The prince fixed his piercing eyes upon the count's pale； agitated countenance； but did not speak。 Then passing proudly before him； he advanced to meet Prince Frederick William； who had just arrived。
The doors of the dining…saloon were now thrown open； and the guests approached the richly…covered table； at one end of which sat the prince and his wife。 Not far from them was Count Kalkreuth。 For more than two hours he had borne the agony of being near the prince without being addressed by him。 For two hours he had stood the inquiring； malicious smiles and glances of the courtiers； who were looking on with delight at his humiliation。
His martyrdom was almost over。 Dinner was finished； and all awaited a sign from the princely couple to rise from the table。 Prince Henry arose； glass in hand； and said； in a loud voice：
〃And now； my guests； I have pleasant news for you； as you are all friends of Count Kalkreuth； what is good news to him will be to you also。 His majesty has appointed him lieutenant…general of Prince Frederick William's army corps in Prussia。 The king； knowing my true friendship for him； granted me the privilege of announcing his promotion。 I am sorry to say that through it we lose him； for his majesty desires him； as soon as we leave the table。 to hasten to Sans…Souci to receive his commission。 And now； gentlemen； fill your glasses； we will drink to the lieutenant…general's welfare。〃
All arose to drink the toast except Count Kalkreuth。 His head was bent almost upon his breast； as if he were ashamed to show his pale； agitated countenance。 He would have given all he possessed to have flown from the hall。 Princess Wilhelmina sat opposite； she had not yet looked at him； but she now threw him a glance full of inexpressible pity； and raised her glass hastily to her lips。 It was not wine； but her own tears that she drank。
The prince now led the princess to the reception…room。 He stood beside her when Kalkreuth approached。 The guests were grouped about the room； every eye was fixed eagerly upon this trio。
Count Kalkreuth was still pale and unmanned； with tottering； trembling steps he advanced toward the princely couple。
The prince turned laughingly to his guests； saying： 〃See the strange effect of joy。 It has transformed our gay and witty count。 He is stern and solemn as if； instead of an honor； he had received a degradation。〃
No voice answered the prince。 Finally； in midst of deep silence； the count said：
〃I come to take leave of your royal highness before going to that exile which his majesty has kindly chosen for me。 For； although it is promotion； you must permit me to reiterate that it is also banishment； for at Konigsberg I shall not see my prince。 But I shall carry your picture in my heartthere it shall forever dwell。〃
〃We will not make our parting more hard by sweet words；〃 said Prince Henry； emphasizing the last words。 〃Bid adieu to my wife； kiss her hand； and then God be with you！〃
The princess； muttering a few incomprehensible words； gave him her hand； white and colorless as that of a corpse。 Count Kalkreuth touched his lips to it； and they were so cold that the princess shuddered as if she had been embraced by death itself。
It was their last meeting！a cold； formal farewell for life。 The count now turned to the prince； who gave him his hand smilingly。
〃Farewell； count；〃 said he。 Stooping to embrace him； he whispered in his ear： 〃You once saved my life； we are now quits； for you have murdered my heart。 Farewell！〃
He turned from him。 The count； no longer able to suppress his tears； covered his face with his hands and tottered from the room。
A few hours later he stood in the king's ante…chamber at Sans…Souci。 He had just been announced。 He waited longno one came to conduct him to the king； every door remained closed； every thing around him was dull and deserted。 It was dark； the sharp April wind was beating against the window and howling through the chimney。 The count's conscience was busy at work in this gloomy chamber。 He could endure it no longer； and was