me Taliazuchi, with great vivacity and
minuteness, and expressed his own suspicions and conjectures; which,
indeed, came very near the truth, and proved that, where he was warmly
interested, he was a good inquisitor. He entreated Frederick not to look
upon the matter carelessly, as in all probability there was treason on
foot, which extended to Vienna. Madame Taliazuchi had much intercourse
in Berlin with the captive Italian officers, and it might be that one of
these officers was carrying on a dangerous correspondence with Vienna.
In closing his letter, the marquis said: "Enfin, sire, quand il serait
vrai que tout ceci ne fut qu'une bete italienne qui so serait echauffee,
et qui aurait pris des chimeres pour des verites, ce qui pourrait encore
bien etre, cette femme ne parait rien moins que prudente et tranquille.
Je crois, cependant, que la peine qu'on aurait prise de savoir ce
qu'elle veut declarer serait si legere, qu'on ne la regretterait
pas, quand meme on decouvrirait que cette femme n'est qu'une
folle."--"Oeuvres de Frederic le Grand," vol. xix. p. 91.] She had
almost resolved not to seek the marquis again, or if she did so, to say
that she had been deceived--that the secret was nothing--that she had
only been bantered and mystified. But now, all these softer, milder
feelings seemed burnt out in the wild fire of revenge and scorn which
blazed through her whole being. "He is a traitor--a shameless liar!" she
said, pressing her small teeth firmly and passionately together; "he
is a coward, and has not the courage to look a woman in the face and
confess the truth when she demands it; he is a perjurer, for he took the
oath which I exacted from him--he swore to love me alone and no other
woman; he had the impudent courage to call down the vengeance of God
upon himself if he should break this oath. Why do I hesitate longer?"
cried she, springing from her seat; "the perjured traitor deserves that
my betrayed and crushed heart should avenge itself. He called down the
vengeance of God upon himself. Let it crush him to atoms!"

Now all was decision, courage, energy, and circumspection. She took
the two letters she had received from Ranuzi and concealed them in her
bosom, then dressed herself and left her dwelling.

With a firm step she passed through the streets which led to the castle.
As she drew near the house of Madame du Trouffle, she hesitated, stood
still, and looked up at the windows.

"If only this once he did