hard Ludwig fell on his knees at her feet, and in broken words
implored her pardon. He kissed the hem of her garment, accused himself of
treason to her, prayed her to be consoled.

'Give me water, I am faint!' she moaned. He sprang up and hastened to his
sleeping-room to bring water for her. Now was her moment: with incredible
swiftness she drew the letter from its hiding-place and slipped it under
a bundle of papers and plans on the bureau. When his Highness returned
carrying a goblet of water, he found his mistress still weeping bitterly
with her face hidden on the writing-desk.

She drank the water while Eberhard Ludwig hung over her in anxious
rapture, heaping reproaches upon himself for his cruelty, but she refused
to be consoled.

'What can I do to prove to you that all my unworthy suspicions have
vanished?' he cried in desperation.

'Tell me what was written in that letter; let me defend myself,' she
answered quickly.

'You ask the one thing I may not do. I cannot,' he said sadly.

'And the letter is lost!' she cried; 'who knows what enemy of mine has
got it? Alas! perhaps all the world will know the vile things this man
has written, and you have let him go unpunished. All will know save the
accused criminal! Oh! the injustice! the cruelty!'

The Duke shuddered.

'Yes, it is true; that terrible thing I had not remembered. O God! if I
could but find that accursed letter! At least, no one but myself need
have known of the foul accusations; but now that the letter is lost----'

Wildly he began to search once more in the bureau, and Wilhelmine almost
laughed when she saw him lift the packet of papers under which she had
slipped Forstner's letter. With a cry the Duke turned to her.

'Thank God! I have found it! It lay here beneath this bundle. Wilhelmine,
beloved, now none can read these blasphemies against you,' he cried.

'So you tell me to my face that yonder paper is a blasphemy against me, a
foul accusation, and you will not let me clear myself!' she cried wildly.

'I swore to Forstner that I would never, in spoken or written word,
divulge his communications--never give or voluntarily let another take
his letters. Unless you can divine what you wish to know, there is no
help.' He laughed harshly.

'Divine what is in that letter?' she said in a musing tone.

Suddenly a thought came to her. She remembered each word of that horrible
letter. It was necessary his Highness should know she knew, yet
impe