ok her hand
and kissed it most respectfully.

Louise was strangely surprised, and it seemed to her not at all
necessary for the count to preserve so inviolable a silence as to his
love; but she was obliged to appear pleased, and she did this with
facility and grace.

"I thank you," she said, gayly, "that you have freed me from a lover
whom, as the wife of Major du Trouffle, I should have been compelled
to banish from my house. Now I dare give a pleasant, kindly welcome, to
Count Ranuzi, and be ready at all times to serve him gladly."

Ranuzi looked steadily at her. "Will you truly do this?" said he,
sighing--"will you interest yourself for a poor prisoner, who has no one
to hear and sympathize in his sorrows?"

Louise gave him her hand. "Confide in me, sir count," said she, with an
impulse of her better nature; "make known your sorrows, and be assured
that I will take an interest in them. You are so prudent and reasonable
as not to be my lover, and I will be your friend. Here is my hand--I
offer you my friendship; will you accept, it?"

"Will I accept it?" said he, rapturously; "you offer me life, and ask if
I will accept it!"

Louise smiled softly. She found that Ranuzi declared his friendship in
almost as glowing terms as he had confessed his love. "So then," said
she, "you have sorrows that you dare not name?"

"Yes, but they are not my own individual griefs I suffer, but it is for
another."

"That sounds mysterious. For whom do you suffer?"

"For a poor prisoner, who, far from the world, far from the haunts of
men, languishes in wretchedness and chains--whom not only men but God
has forgotten, for He will not even send His minister Death to release
him. I cannot, I dare not say more--it is not my secret, and I have
sworn to disclose it to but one person."

"And this person--"

"Is the Princess Amelia of Prussia," said Ranuzi. Louise shrank back,
and looked searchingly at the count. "A sister of the king! And you say
that your secret relates to a poor prisoner?"

"I said so. Oh, my noble, magnanimous friend, do not ask me to say
more; I dare not, but I entreat you to help me. I must speak with the
princess. You are her confidante and friend, you alone can obtain me an
interview."

"It is impossible! impossible!" cried Madame du Trouffle, rising up and
pacing the room hastily. Ranuzi followed her with his eyes, observed
every movement, and read in her countenance every emotion of her soul.

"I will