to secure your supposed personal happiness. I gave up for you
the happiness of my life, but I can and will no longer fill a place of
shame in your memory. If, from time to time, your highness thinks of me,
you shall do me justice!"

"I think no longer of you in anger," said the prince, smiling. "That
sorrow has long since passed away."

"From your heart, prince, but not from mine! My heart bleeds, and will
bleed eternally! You must not only forgive--you must do me justice.
Listen, then: and so truly as there is a God above us, I will speak the
truth. I did not betray you--I was not faithless. My heart and my soul
I laid gladly at your feet, and thanked God for the fulness of my
happiness. My thoughts, my existence, my future, was chained to you.
I had no other will, no other wish, no other hope. I was your slave--I
wanted nothing but your love."

"Ah, and then came this Monsieur du Trouffle, and broke your
fetters--gave your heart liberty and wings for a new flight," said
Prince Henry.

"No, then came the king and commanded me to give you up," murmured
Louise; "then came the king, and forced me to offer up myself and my
great love to your future welfare. Oh, my prince! recall that terrible
hour in which we separated. I said to you that I had betrothed myself to
Captain du Trouffle--that of my own free choice, and influenced by love
alone, I gave myself to him."

"I remember that hour."

"Well, then, in that hour we were not alone. The king was concealed
behind the portiere, and listened to my words. He dictated them!--he
threatened me with destruction if I betrayed his presence by look or
word; if I gave you reason to suspect that I did not, of my own choice
and lovingly, give myself to this unloved, yes, this hated man! I
yielded only after the most fearful contest with the king, to whom, upon
my knees and bathed in tears, I pleaded for pity."

"What means could the king use, what threats could he utter, which
forced you to such a step?" said the prince, incredulously. "Did he
threaten you with death if you did not obey? When one truly loves, death
has no terrors! Did he say he would murder me if you did not release me?
You knew I had a strong arm and a stronger will; you should have trusted
both. You placed your fate in my hands; you should have obeyed no other
commands than mine. And now shall I speak the whole truth? I do not
believe in this sacrifice on your part; it would have required more than
mortal st