sufficient atonement for all her faults and follies; if the agony
she now suffered did not wipe out and extirpate the past.

The prince still paced the room violently. Suddenly, as if a new
thought had seized him, he remained standing in the middle of the
saloon, and looked at Louise with a strangely altered countenance.
She had forgotten for a moment the part she was condemned to play,
and leaned, pale and sad, against the window.

Perhaps he heard her sorrowful sighs--perhaps he saw her tears as
they rolled one by one from her eyes, and fell like pearls upon her
small white hands.

Anger disappeared from his face, his brow cleared, and as he
approached Louise his eyes sparkled with another and milder fire.

"Louise," he said, softly, and his voice, which had before raged
like a stormy wind, was now mild and tender--"Louise, I have divined
your purpose--I know all now. At first, I did not understand your
words; in my folly and jealousy I misconceived your meaning; you
only wished to try me, to see if my love was armed and strong, if it
was as bold and faithful as I have sworn it to be. Well, I stood the
test badly, was weak and faint-hearted; but forgive me--forgive me,
Louise, and strengthen my heart by confidence and faith in me."

He tried to take her hand, but she withdrew it.

"Must I repeat to your highness what I have said before? I do not
understand you. What do you mean?"