s, she was well in her role, it amused
her.

'Ah! you priest of God! I appeal to you, not concerning the necessarily
unjust laws of men, but concerning the law of God and Nature. See, it is
no law of God's that I have transgressed. Remember, I am truly the wife
of Serenissimus, blessed by prayer. My second marriage is nothing--merely
a political arrangement. And my sin, what is it? I found a good man
dragging out the days of his youth in sadness beside a woman who could
not understand him--a woman only his wife in name. I gave my life to him,
I am true to him. The law of man refuses me justice, but God does not,
cannot; and I appeal to you, as God's representative on earth, to give me
my spiritual right: to include me in your prayers.' She sank back upon
the tabouret. The Prelate was astounded. The question of the
Landhofmeisterin's being mentioned in the public prayers for the head of
the State came back to him, but it was incredible, preposterous. No; this
woman surely sought the grace of God. She was earnest, repentance had
come to her. She desired his prayers. Thus well had Wilhelmine gauged the
Prelate's character, his incapacity for detecting the play-actress in the
passionate, imploring woman.

The pastor of souls was softened immediately by the vision of rescuing
this strayed spirit.

'My daughter,' he said solemnly, 'if you indeed desire my prayers, I will
intercede daily for you. I shall pray that your heart shall be steadfast,
pray for God's pardon for your evil life. But I ask you to combat
temptation with all your strength. May Christ in His mercy help you.'

The emotion of his great earnestness rendered the good man's voice
tremulous.

'I thank you, you are generous to me.' She reached him her hand, and he
held it gently between both of his. 'But, Prelate,' she continued, 'is it
not written in the Bible that when two or three are gathered together God
will grant their requests? I would fain have prayer offered for me in
church.'

The Prelate started; yet the demand seemed too outrageous. He could not
credit that this sinner wished for a nation's prayers as though she were,
in truth, the Duke's legal wife. No, no; she was a repentant sinner
seeking the grace of God. Far be it from him, a sinner, to refuse his
help.

'You mean, your Excellency, that you wish me to pray silently for you
when the faithful are gathered together?' he said tentatively.

'No, I do not mean that,' she answered quickly; 'I