'
May a good fairy long preserve you your bravery and your
Christianity! But surely your highness must have important and
convincing proofs to believe in the innocence and faithfulness of
this woman. I confess that any other man would have been discouraged
in his godlike belief by facts. It is a fact that for twelve days
Madame von Kleist has sent you no message through me; it is a fact
that she was not at the masked ball; that as often as I have been to
her in these last days, to deliver letters for your highness, and to
obtain hers in return, she has never received me, always excused
herself; and, therefore, I could not receive her letters, nor
deliver those of your highness."
"And were you not in Berlin early this morning! Did you not go to
her as I ordered you, and tell her she might expect me this
evening?"
"I went to her house, but in vain; she was with the queen-mother,
and I was told that she would not return until late in the evening,
I therefore could not deliver the message, your highness."
The prince stamped his foot impatiently, and walked hastily to and
fro; his brow was clouded, his lips trembled with inward emotion.
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