rength, and it would have been cruel in the extreme. You saw
what I suffered. My heart was torn with anguish! No, madame, no; you did
not make this sacrifice, or, if you did, you loved me not. If you had
loved me, you could not have seen me suffer so cruelly, you would have
told the truth, even in the presence of the king. No earthly power can
control true love; she is self-sustained and makes her own laws. No! no!
I do not believe in this offering; and you make this excuse either to
heal my sick heart, or because your pride is mortified at my want of
consideration; you wish to recover my good opinion."

"Alas! alas! he does not believe me," cried Louise.

"No, I do not believe you," said the prince, kindly; "and yet you must
not think that I am still angry. I not only forgive, but I thank you.
It is to you, indeed, Louise, that I owe my present happiness, all those
noble and pure joys which a true love bestows. I thank you for this--you
and the king. It was wise in the king to deny me that which I then
thought essential to my happiness, but which would, at last, have
brought us both to shame and to despair. The love, which must shun the
light of day and hide itself in obscurity, pales, and withers, and dies.
Happy love must have the sunlight of heaven and God's blessing upon it!
All this failed in our case, and it was a blessing for us both that you
saw it clearly, and resigned a doubtful happiness at my side for surer
peace with Monsieur du Trouffle. From my soul I thank you, Louise. See
what a costly treasure has bloomed for me from the grave of my betrayed
love. Look at that lovely young woman who, although disguised as a
shepherdess, stands out in the midst of all other women, an imperial
queen! a queen of beauty, grace, and fascination! This charming,
innocent, and modest young woman belongs to me; she is my wife; and I
have your inconstancy to thank you for this rare gem. Oh, madame, I have
indeed reason to forgive you for the past, to be grateful to you as
long as I live. But for you I should never have married the Princess
Wilhelmina. What no menaces, no entreaties, no commands of the king
could accomplish, your faithlessness effected. I married! God, in his
goodness, chose you to be a mediator between me and my fate; it was
His will that, from your hand, I should receive my life's blessing.
You cured me of a wandering and unworthy passion, that I might feel the
truth and enjoy the blessing of a pure love, and