nspeakable misery, that the princess felt
her heart moved to its profoundest depths.

"Oh, my husband," she said, "curse me!--murder me!--but do not look upon
me thus." She then sank as if pressed down by an invisible power, to her
knees, and raised her hands to him imploringly.

The prince laughed coarsely, and stepped back. "Rise, madame," said he,
"we are not acting a comedy--it is only your husband who is speaking
with you. Rise, madame, and give me the key to your secretary. You
will understand that after having read this letter I desire to see the
others. As your husband, I have at least the right to know how much
confidence you have placed in your lover, and how far you return his
passion."

"You despise me," cried Wilhelmina, bursting into tears.

"I think I am justified in doing so," said he, coldly. "Stand up, and
give me the key."

She rose and staggered to the table. "Here is the key."

The prince opened the secretary. "Where are the letters, madame?"

"In the upper drawer to the left."

"Ah," said lie with a rude laugh, "not even in a secret compartment
have you guarded these precious letters. You were so sure of my blind
confidence in you that you did not even conceal your jewels."

Princess Wilhelmina did not answer, but as the prince read one after the
other of the letters, she sank again upon her knees. "My God, my God!"
murmured she, "have pity upon me! Send Thy lightning and crush me. Oh,
my God! why will not the earth cover me and hide me from his glance!"

Rivers of tears burst from her eyes, and raising her arms to heaven, she
uttered prayers of anguish and repentance.

The prince read on, on, in these unholy letters. Once he exclaimed
aloud, and rushed with the letter to the princess.

"Is this true?" said he--"is this which you have written, true?"

"What? Is what true?" said Wilhelmina, rising slowly from her knees.

"He thanks you in this letter for having written to him that you have
never loved any man but himself--him--Kalkreuth alone! Did you write the
truth?"

"I wrote it, and it is the truth," said the princess, who had now fully
recovered her energy and her composure. "Yes, sir, I have loved no one
but Kalkreuth alone. I could not force my heart to love you--you who in
the beginning disdained me, then one day in an idle mood were pleased to
love me, to offer me your favor. I was no slave to be set aside when you
were in the humor, and to count myself blessed amongst wome