pardising your reputation as a soldier for the sake of a ----'

The epithet he used was forcible, and Eberhard Ludwig started forward
angrily.

'Yes, it is the task of a true friend to speak the truth without reserve'
(alas, Forstner!), 'and Mademoiselle de Graevenitz is an abandoned woman.'
As he uttered these words Wilhelmine entered the apartment.

'Mon Prince, is it thus you permit your friends to speak of me?' she said
in a low voice.

'A thousand times no!' cried his Highness. 'Forstner, you leave my
service for ever. Go!' He pointed dramatically to the door, but Forstner
had not concluded his peroration, and he had no intention of being
silenced this time; he was a diligent, persistent friend, poor soul.

'Mademoiselle de Graevenitz, I appeal to you; his Highness is playing a
ridiculous role in the sight of Europe! Give him up, send him back to
duty, to honour, to his great military career!'

'Monsieur, you come here to dictate to his Highness, it seems! Since when
is that your right?' She spoke sneeringly, and Eberhard Ludwig felt that
her taunt was directed in part at himself. She did not deem him capable
of resisting Forstner, perhaps? she considered him as a being whose
conduct could be dictated.

'I know my duty, sir,' he said; 'you have no need to teach it me.'

'Indeed, Monseigneur, you have forgotten it since yonder lady's advent!'
Forstner was getting beyond himself.

'I have not forgotten how to defend from insult the lady whom I love and
honour,' said Eberhard Ludwig coldly, 'and I request you, Forstner, to
withdraw immediately.'

'Mademoiselle de Graevenitz, you have ruined his Highness!' shouted
Forstner; 'he is untrue to all his vows: you are a ----'; but his words
are unrepeatable, even Wilhelmine shrank back. Eberhard Ludwig drew his
sword and forced his over-zealous friend through the door.

A moment afterwards his Highness returned and, flinging himself upon his
knees before the Graevenitz, poured forth a torrent of adoring words, but
the lady remained impervious to his pleading.

'I cannot suffer such treatment,' she answered; 'I can but beg your
Highness to depart from me for ever. I shall reside here, drag out a
solitary existence in this refuge which my friend Monseigneur de Zollern
has given me! Your Highness cannot defend me from insult, and I do not
choose to be flaunted as a wanton.'

'Alas, what can I do? I will give you all, but I have not the power to
legalise your posi