"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."