which the important papers of the embassy were placed. You found
this key, Rosa, and I knew it, but I only laughed, and pressed you
closer to my heart."

"Terrible! terrible!" said Rosa, trembling. "He knew all, and still
he let me do it!"

"Yes I allowed you to do it--I did not wish to be better than the
girl I loved: and, as she desired to deceive me, I let myself be
deceived. I allowed it, because the demon of gold had taken
possession of me. I took the important papers out of my desk, to
which you had stolen the key, and hid them. Then the tempters came
and whispered of golden rewards, of eternal gratitude, of fortune,
honor; and these fiendish whispers misled my soul. I sold my honor
and became a traitor, and all this for the sake of gold! So I became
what I now am. I do not reproach you Rosa, for most likely it would
have happened without you."

"But what danger threatens you now?" asked Rosa.

"The just punishment for a traitor," said he, hoarsely. "Give me
some wine, Rosa, so that I can gain strength to go to the king at
once."

"To the king at this early hour?"

"And why not? Have I not been with him often at this hour, when I
had important news or dispatches to give him? So give me the wine,
Rosa."