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!