Frederick the Great and His Family [25]
"I insult you!" he said, with a wild laugh; "verily, I believe this woman has the effrontery to reproach me--I who believed in and defended her against every accusation--I that had the courage to love and trust, when all others distrusted and despised her. Yes, madame, I loved you: I saw in you a goddess, where others saw only a coquette. I adored you as an innocent sacrifice to envy and malice; I saw a martyr's crown upon your brow, and wished to change it for the myrtle-crown of marriage. And my love and hopes are dust and ashes; it is enough to drive me mad--enough to stifle me with rage and shame." Carried away by passion, the prince ran wildly through the saloon, gasping for air, struggling for composure, and now and then uttering words of imprecation and despair.
Louise waited, in silence and resignation, the end of this stormy crisis. She questioned her heart if this bitter hour was not sufficient atonement for all her faults and follies; if the agony she now suffered did not wipe out and extirpate the past.
The prince still paced the room violently. Suddenly, as if a new thought had seized him, he remained standing in the middle of the saloon, and looked at Louise with a strangely altered countenance. She had forgotten for a moment the part she was condemned to play, and leaned, pale and sad, against the window.
Perhaps he heard her sorrowful sighs--perhaps he saw her tears as they rolled one by one from her eyes, and fell like pearls upon her small white hands.
Anger disappeared from his face, his brow cleared, and as he approached Louise his eyes sparkled with another and milder fire.
"Louise," he said, softly, and his voice, which had before raged like a stormy wind, was now mild and tender--"Louise, I have divined your purpose--I know all now. At first, I did not understand your words; in my folly and jealousy I misconceived your meaning; you only wished to try me, to see if my love was armed and strong, if it was as bold and faithful as I have sworn it to be. Well, I stood the test badly, was weak and faint-hearted; but forgive me--forgive me, Louise, and strengthen my heart by confidence and faith in me."
He tried to take her hand, but she withdrew it.
"Must I repeat to your highness what I have said before? I do not understand you. What do you mean?"
"Ah," said the prince, "you are again my naughty, sportive Louise. Well, then, I will explain. Did you not say that you now love so truly, that you have promised to become the wife of the man you love?"
"Yes, I said that, your highness."
"And I," said the prince, seizing both her hands and gazing at her ardently--"I was so short-sighted, so ungrateful, as not to understand you. The many sorrows and vexations I suffer away from you have dimmed my eyes and prevented me from seeing what is written with golden letters upon your smiling lips and beaming eyes. Ah, Louise, I thank you for your precious words, at last you are captured, at last you have resolved to become the wife of him who adores you. I thank you, Louise, I thank you, and I swear that no earthly pomp or power could make me as proud and happy as this assurance of your love."
Louise gazed into his beautiful, smiling face with terror.
"Ah, my prince, my words have not the meaning you imagine. I spoke the simple truth. My heart has made its choice--since yesterday, I am the betrothed wife of Captain du Trouffle."
"That is not true," cried the prince, casting her hands violently from him. "You are very cruel today; you torture me with your fearful jests."
"No, your highness, I speak the truth. I am the betrothed of Captain du Trouffle."
"Since yesterday you are the betrothed of Captain du Trouffle!" repeated the prince, staring at her wildly. "And you say you love him, Louise?"
"Yes, your highness, I love him," said Louise, with a faint smile.
"It is impossible," cried the prince; "it is not true."
"And why should I deceive your highness?"
"Why?--ah, I understand all. Oh, Louise, my poor darling, how short- sighted I have been! Why did I not immediately