Heaven has reassured me; for all the pretty human meanness
of this world are forgotten beneath the Divine protection. Once more,
then, sire, and for the last time, I again implore you to leave me."

"Confess, rather," cried Louis, "that you have never loved me; admit
that my humility and my repentance are flattering to your pride, but
that my distress affects you not; that the king of this wide realm is
no longer regarded as a lover whose tenderness of devotion is capable
of working out your happiness, but as a despot whose caprice has crushed
your very heart beneath his iron heel. Do not say you are seeking
Heaven, say rather you are fleeing from the king."

Louise's heart was wrung within her, as she listened to his passionate
utterance, which made the fever of hope course once more through her
every vein.

"But did you not hear me say that I have been driven away, scorned,
despised?"

"I will make you the most respected, and most adored, and the most
envied of my whole court."

"Prove to me that you have not ceased to love me."

"In what way?"

"By leaving me."

"I will prove it to you by never leaving you again."

"But do you imagine, sire, that I shall allow that; do you imagine that
I will let you come to an open rupture with every member of your family;
do you imagine that, for my sake, you could abandon mother, wife and
sister?"

"Ah! you have named them, then, at last; it is they, then, who have
wrought this grievous injury? By the heaven above us, then, upon them
shall my anger fall."

"That is the reason why the future terrifies me, why I refuse
everything, why I do not wish you to revenge me. Tears enough have
already been shed, sufficient sorrow and affliction have already
been occasioned. I, at least, will never be the cause of sorrow, or
affliction, or distress to whomsoever it may be, for I have mourned and
suffered, and wept too much myself."

"And do you count _my_ sufferings, _my_ tears, as nothing?"

"In Heaven's name, sire, do not speak to me in that manner. I need all
my courage to enable me to accomplish the sacrifice."

"Louise, Louise, I implore you! whatever you desire, whatever you
command, whether vengeance or forgiveness, your slightest wish shall be
obeyed, but do not abandon me."

"Alas! sire, we must part."

"You do not love me, then!"

"Heaven knows I do!"

"It is false, Louise; it is false."

"Oh! sire, if I did not love you, I should let you do what you please