The　prince　repeated　his　question；　and　his　tone　was　harder　and　more　imperious。
  〃The　day　is　not　fixed；〃　said　Louise；　〃we　must　first　obtain　the　king's　consent　to　our　marriage。〃
  〃I　shall　take　care　it　does　not　fail　you；〃　said　the　prince；　quietly。
  〃I　will　strengthen　your　petition　to　the　king。　Now；　madame；　you　must　forgive　me　for　leaving　you。　Many　greetings　to　your　betrothedI　shall　be　introduced　to　him　to…morrow　at　the　parade。　Farewell；　madame！〃
  The　prince　made　a　slight　bow；　and；　without　glancing　at　her　again；　left　the　room　slowly　and　proudly。
  Louise　gazed　after　him　with　mournful　eyes；　but　he　did　not　see　it；　he　did　not　see　how　she　fell；　as　if　broken；　to　the　floor；　as　if　struck　by　lightning；　and　when　the　door　closed　on　him　she　held　her　hands　to　Heaven　pleadingly　for　mercy　and　forgiveness。
  The　portiere　now　opened；　and　the　king　entered；　his　countenance　was　pale；　his　eyes　tearful；　but　they　sparkled　with　anger　when　he　saw　Louise　upon　the　floor。　For　him　she　was　but　a　heartless　coquette；　and　he　was　angry　with　her　because　of　the　suffering　she　had　caused　his　brother；　for　whom　he　felt　the　deepest　pity　and　compassion。
  But　that　was　now　past；　the　brother　could　weep　a　tear　of　pity；　the　king　must　be　firm　and　relentless。
  As　he　approached　her；　she　raised　herself　from　the　ground　and　made　a　profound　and　ceremonious　bow。
  〃You　have　repaired　much　of　the　evil　you　have　done；　madame；〃　said　the　king；　sternly。　〃You　have　played　a　dishonorable　game　with　my　brother。　You　enticed　him　to　love　you。〃
  〃I　think　I　have　atoned；　sire；〃　said　Louise；　faintly；　〃the　prince　no　longer　loves　but　despises　me。　Your　commands　are　fulfilled　to　the　letter；　and　I　now　beg　your　majesty's　permission　to　withdraw。〃
  〃Go；　madame；　you　have　done　your　duty　to…day；　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　disappointmentit　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；　dull；　and　monotonous。　As　you　say；　every　one　has　become　most　honorable　and　virtuous。　No　scandals　or　piquant　adventures　occur；　baptisms；　marriages；　and　burials　are　the　only　events。　This　is　really　a　miserable　existence；　for　as　I　do　not　wish　to　be　baptized　or　to　marry；　and　as　I　am　not　yet　ready　for　burial；　I　really　do　not　know　why　I　exist。〃
  〃But　those　that　are　married　and　baptized；　doubtless　know　why　they　exist；〃　said　the　prince；　smiling。　〃Tell　me　something　of　this　happy　class。　Whose；　for　example；　is　the　latest　marriage？〃
  〃The　latest　marriage？〃　said　Pollnitz；　hesitating〃before　answering；　I　must　allow　myself　to　ask　after　the　condition　of　your　heart。　Does　it　still　suffer？〃
  〃No；〃　cried　the　prince；　〃it　does　not　suffer；　it　received　a　heavy　shower　of　cold　water；　and　was　cured　instantly。〃
  〃I　rejoice　to　hear　it；　your　highness；　and　congratulate　you　on　your　recovery；　for　truly　there　is　no　more　painful　disease　than　a　suffering　heart。〃
  〃I　told　you　that　I　had　recovered　fully；　tell　me；　therefore；　your　news　without　hesitation。　You　spoke　of　a　marriage。　Who　were　the　happy　lovers？〃
  〃Your　highness；　Madame　von　Kleist　has　married；〃　murmured　Pollnitz。
  The　prince　received　this　blow　without　betraying　the　slightest　emotion。
  〃When　did　the　marriage　take　place？〃　he　asked；　with　perfect　composure。
  〃Yesterday；　and　I　assure　your　highness　that　I　never　saw　a　happier　or　more　brilliant　bride。　Love　has　transformed　her　into　a　blushing；　timid　maiden。〃
  Prince　Henry　pressed　his　hand　upon　his　heart　with　a　quick；　unconscious　movement。
  〃I　can　well　imagine　that　she　was　beautiful；〃　said　he；　controlling　his　voice　with　a　great　effort。　〃Madame　von　Kleist　is　happy；　and　happiness　always　beautifies。　And　the　bridegroom；　M。　du　Trouffle；　was　he　also　handsome　and　happy？〃
  〃Your　highness　knows　the　name　of　the　bride…groom；〃　said　Pollnitz；　appearing　astonished。
  〃Yes；　Madame　von　Kleist　told　me　herself　when　she　announced　her　approaching　marriage。　But　I　am　not　acquainted　with　Du　Trouffleis　he　handsome？〃
  〃Handsome　and　amiable；　your　highness；　and　besides；　a　very　good　officer。　The　king　gave　him；　as　a　wedding　present；　a　major's　commission。〃
  〃Then　the　beautiful　Louise　is　now　Mrs　Major　du　Trouffle；〃　said　the　prince；　with　a　troubled　smile。　〃Were　you　present　at　the　wedding？〃
  〃Yes；　in　the　name　of　the　king。〃
  〃Did　she　speak　the　decisive　Yes；　the　vow　of　faith　and　obedience；　with　earnestness　and　confidence？　Did　she　not　blush；　or　droop　her　eyelids　in　doing　so？〃
  〃Oh；　no；　she　smiled　as　if　entranced；　and　raised　her　eyes　to　heaven；　as　if　praying　for　God's　blessing　upon　her　vows。〃
  〃One　thing　more；〃　said　the　prince；　fixing　his　large；　gray　eyes　with　a　searching　expression　upon　Pollnitz〃what　is　said　of　me？　Am　I　regarded　as　a　rejected　lover；　or　as　a　faithless　one；　for　doubtless　all　Berlin　knows　of　my　love　for　this　lady；　you　having　been　our　confidant。〃
  〃Oh；　my　prince；　that　is　a　hard　insinuation；〃　said　Pollnitz；　sadly。
  〃Your　highness　cannot　really　believe　that〃
  〃No　protestations；　I　pray　you；〃　interrupted　the　prince；　〃I　believe　I　know　you　thoroughly；　but　I　am　not　angry　with　you　nor　do　I　reproach　you：　you　are　a　courtier；　and　one　of　the　best　and　rarest　type；　you　have　intellect　and　knowledge；　much　experience　and　savoir　vivre；　I　could　desire　no　better　company　than　yourself；　but　for　one　moment　cast　aside　your　character　as　a　courtier；　and　tell　me　the　truth：　what　does　the　world　say　of　this　marriage　in　regard　to　me？〃
  〃Your　highness　desires　me　to　tell　you　the　truth？〃
  〃Yes；　I　do。〃
  〃Now　the　important　moment　has　come；〃　thought　Pollnitz。　〃Now；　if　I　am　adroit；　I　believe　I　can　obtain　the　payment　of　my　debts。〃
  〃Well；　then；　your　highness；〃　said　Pollnitz；　in　answer　to　the　prince；　〃I　will　tell　you　the　truth；　even　should　I　incur　your　displeasure。　I　fear；　my　prince；　you　are　regarded　as　a　rejected　lover；　and　Madame　du　Trouffle　has　succeeded　in　throwing　a　holy　lustre　around　her　beautiful　brow。　It　is　said　that　she　refused　your　dishonorable　proposals；　and　preferred　being　the　virtuous　wife　of　a　major；　to　becoming　the　mistress　of　a　prince。〃
  〃Go　on；〃　said　the　prince；　hastily；　as　Pollnitz　ceased；　and　looked　searchingly　at　him。　〃What　do　they　say　of　me？〃
  〃That　you　are　in　despair；　and　that　you　have　retired　to　your　chambers　to　weep　and　mourn　over　your　lost　love。〃
  〃Ah；　they　say　that；　do　they？〃　cried　the　prince；　with　flashing　eyes　and　darkened　brow；　〃well；　I　will　show　this　credulous　world　that　they　are　mistaken。　Is　the　king　in　Sans…Souci？〃
  〃Yes；　your　highness。〃
  〃Well；　go　to　him；　and　announce　my　visit；　I　will　follow　you　on　foot。〃
  〃We　have　won　the　day；〃　cried　Pollnitz；　as　he　approached　the　king；　〃the　prince　desires　to　make　you　a　visit。　He　will　be　here　immediately。〃
  〃Do　you　know　what　my　brother　wishes　of　me？〃　asked　the　king。
  〃I　do　not　know；　but　I　suspect；　sire。　I　think　he　wishes　to　marry；　in　order　to　pique　his　faithless　sweetheart。〃
  〃Go　and　receive　the　prince；　and　conduct　him　to　me；　then　remain　in　the　antechamber；　and　await　until　I　call。〃
  When　Pollnitz　left；　the　king　seized　his　flute　hastily　aim　began　to　play　a