it logically followed
that unchastity in his women-folk was in his eyes the unpardonable sin.

He heaved himself out of his deep chair. "How far has this gone?" he
demanded.

Prudence restrained the Countess from any over-statement that might
afterwards be disproved. Besides, there was not the need, if she could
trust her senses. Patience and vigilance would presently afford her all
the evidence required to damn the pair. She said as much, and promised
the Elector that she would exercise herself the latter quality in his
son's service. Again the Elector did not find it grotesque that his
mistress should appoint herself the guardian of his son's honour.

The Countess went about that congenial task with zeal--though George's
honour was the least thing that concerned her. What concerned her was
the dishonour of Sophia, and the ruin of Koenigsmark. So she watched
assiduously, and set others, too, to watch for her and to report. And
almost daily now she had for the Elector a tale of whisperings and
hand-pressings, and secret stolen meetings between the guilty twain.
The Elector enraged, and would have taken action, but that the guileful
Countess curbed him. All this was not enough. An accusation that could
not be substantiated would ruin all chance of punishing the offenders,
might recoil, indeed, upon the accusers by bringing the Duke of Zell to
his daughter's aid. So they must wait yet awhile until they held more
absolute proof of this intrigue.

And then at last one day the Countess sped in haste to the Elector with
word that Koenigsmark and the Princess had shut themselves up together
in the garden pavilion. Let him come at once, and he should so discover
them for himself, and thus at last be able to take action. The Countess
was flushed with triumph. Be that meeting never so innocent--and Madame
von Platen could not, being what she was, and having seen what she
had seen, conceive it innocent--it was in an Electoral Princess an
unforgivable indiscretion, to take the most charitable view, which none
would dream of taking. So the Elector, fiercely red in the face, hurried
off to the pavilion with Madame von Platen following. He came too late,
despite the diligence of his spy.

Sophia had been there, but her interview with the Count had been a
brief one. She had to tell him that at last she was resolved in all
particulars. She would seek a refuge at the court of her cousin, the
Duke of Wolfenbuttel, who, she was sure-