They now
desired to see if this love was returned by the princess, or
suffered by her as a coquette.
None had gazed at this scene with such breathless sympathy, such
cruel joy, as Madame du Trouffle. Being one of the usual circle at
Rheinsberg, she had been invited by the princess to the present
fete, and it seemed to her very amusing to receive her own husband,
not at their home, but at the castle of her former lover. Major du
Trouffle was on the prince's staff, and had accompanied him to
Rheinsberg.
Louise had not as yet found time to greet her husband. Her glance
was fixed eagerly upon the princess; she noticed her every movement,
her every look; she watched every smile, every quiver of her lip.
Her husband stood at her side--he had been there for some time,
greeting her in low, tender words--but Louise did not attend to him.
She seemed not to see him; her whole soul was in her eyes, and they
were occupied with the princess. Suddenly she turns her sparkling
eyes upon her husband and murmurs. "He is lost! His laurels will be
insufficient to cover the brand which from to-day on will glow upon
his brow!" Her husband looked at her in amazement.
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