, and I will also do mine. I
shall not forget what I promised you when you are Madame du Trouffle. We
will forget all the faults of Madame von Kleist."

He dismissed her with a slight bow, and gazed after her until she had
disappeared.

At this moment, a heavy fall was heard in the antechamber. The door
opened immediately, and the pale, disturbed face of Pollnitz appeared.

"What is the matter, Pollnitz?" asked the king, hastily.

"Oh, sire, poor Prince Henry has fainted."

The king was startled, and stepped quickly to the door, but he remained
standing there until his features resumed their calm expression.

"He will recover," he said--"he will recover, for he is a man; in my
youthful days I often fainted, but I recovered."

CHAPTER X. THE CONQUERED.

Painful and bitter were the days for Henry that followed his first
disappointment. He passed them in rigid seclusion, in his lonely
chambers; he would see no one, no cheerful word or gay laughter was
allowed in his presence. The servants looked at him sorrowfully;
and when the prince appeared at the parade the day after his painful
interview with Louise, even the king found him so pale and suffering, he
begged him to take a week's leave and strengthen and improve his health.

The prince smiled painfully at the king's proposition, but he accepted
his leave of absence, and withdrew to the solitude of his rooms. His
heart was wounded unto death, his soul was agonized. Youth soon laid its
healing balm upon his wounds and closed them; anger and contempt dried
his tears, and soothed the anguish of his heart.

The king was right when he said of his brother, "He is a man, and will
recover." He did recover, and these days of suffering made a man of him;
his brow, once so clear and youthful, had received its first mark of
sorrow; the lines of his face were harsh and stern, his features sharper
and more decided. He had experienced his first disappointment--it had
nerved and strengthened him.

Before his eight days' leave of absence had expired, his door was again
open to his circle of friends and confidants.

His first invited guest was the grand chamberlain, Baron Pollnitz. The
prince welcomed him with a bright and cheerful face.

"Do you know why I wished to see you?" he asked. "You must tell me the
chronique scandaleuse of our most honorable and virtuous city. Commence
immediately. What is the on dit of the day?"

"Ah," sighed Pollnitz, "life is now stupid