overcame me and
robbed me of my reason."

"Even because you were so wise and bold a warrior," said the king, with
a cold smile, "I wished to give you an opportunity to prove your genius
to my whole people, whose sovereign you will one day be. Because you
wept and clamored before say generals over my faults as a leader, I
wished you to prove to them that you were capable of commanding and
bringing good out of evil. I trusted you with my third army corps--I
expected it to retreat safely and surely under your command, after I had
almost led it to destruction in a bloody, disastrous battle. I gave you
the opportunity to make yourself a god in the eyes of my soldiers,
a glorious model to my generals. What use have you made of these
advantages? You bring me crippled, hungry, desperate soldiers! You bring
me generals covered with shame, and blushing over their guilt. If I
should deal with them as they deserved, I would give them over to a
courtmartial and they would be condemned."

"And still I am not conscious of any fault," said the prince. "I dare to
say fate was against me, and that I am wholly innocent."

"And I repeat to you your conduct has been that of an ally of France,
who wished destruction to the Prussians, and to close this hated war!"

"If that were so, I would be a traitor!" said the prince.

"And who will dare say that you are not?" cried the king. "Who will say
that he who, while I was engaged in war with France, exchanged the most
tender letters with the former French ambassador Valori, and complained
to this Frenchman of the obstinacy of his brother, who is also his king?
Who will say that this man is not a traitor? Was it not known to you, my
brother, when you wrote to Valori, that the French had already invaded
my Westphalian provinces? It was known to you--and yet you dared to
write to a Frenchman that you were convinced of the decline of my
kingdom. And yet you dared to bring charges against me, and to say: 'Ce
seront mes enfants qui seront les victimes des fautes passees.' Did you
not know that it was the Marquise de Pompadour who gave occasion for
this war? You knew it, and yet you commissioned Valori to entreat the
marquise to have her portrait painted for you! Now, sir, I ask you, in
all candor, if these are not the acts of a traitor?"

The prince made a passionate exclamation, and laid his hand upon his
sword.

"You dare to dishonor me, sire!"

"I dare it! I dare to tell you the truth," sai