"What?" said the prince, quietly; "I do not remember that I have any
thing to forgive."

"Ah, I see! you despise me still," said Louise, excitedly; "but I
will bear this no longer! I will no longer creep about like a
culprit, burdened with your curse and your scorn. You shall at least
know what it cost me to earn your contempt--what a tearful sacrifice
I was compelled to make to secure your supposed personal happiness.
I gave up for you the happiness of my life, but I can and will no
longer fill a place of shame in your memory. If, from time to time,
your highness thinks of me, you shall do me justice!"

"I think no longer of you in anger," said the prince, smiling. "That
sorrow has long since passed away."

"From your heart, prince, but not from mine! My heart bleeds, and
will bleed eternally! You must not only forgive--you must do me
justice. Listen, then: and so truly as there is a God above us, I
will speak the truth. I did not betray you--I was not faithless. My
heart and my soul I laid gladly at your feet, and thanked God for
the fulness of my happiness. My thoughts, my existence, my future,
was chained to you. I had no other will, no other wish, no other
hope. I was your slave--I wanted nothing but your love."

"Ah, and then came this Monsieur du Trouffle, and broke your
fetters--gave your heart liberty and wings for a new flight," said
Prince Henry.

"No, then came the king and commanded me to give you up," murmured