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You will no doubt recollect the sensation caused by the theft of the jewels of the Princess Wilhelmine of Schaumbourg-Lippe from the lady's-maid in the rapide between Cannes and Les Arcs, the robbery from the Marseilles branch of the Crédit Lyonnais, and the great haul of plate from the château of Bardon, the Paris millionaire, close to Arcachon."
How handsome he looked; how noble in his anger; how his eyes flashed as he gazed upon her, who knelt at his feet, and kissed them, looking up to him as her rescuer! "Wilhelmine, come with me; I do not wish you to remain here," said he; "your sister will never forgive you that I have taken your part. Come, I will take you to your parents, and provide for you.
Wilhelmine trembled, for the answer was suited to the question. "Demand a second question of the prophetess," commanded Cagliostro. Again she laid her hand upon the brow of the sleeping one, and again she smiled and nodded with her beautiful head.
She looked up at her lover with sad eyes. Pointing in the direction of the cemetery of Montemartre, she replied in a low tone: "I am going to visit the dear dead." "Would you allow me to accompany you?" begged de Loubersac. Wilhelmine shook her head. "I must ask you to allow me to go there alone. It is my custom to pray there without witnesses."
No, the Princess of Prussia cannot rival Wilhelmine Enke. I have no fear of her. But the king I have to fear," cried she suddenly, shrinking with terror. In the meeting with the princess she had forgotten him, her anguish, her anxiety for the future. All were forgotten for the moment to be recalled with renewed terror. "Thank Heaven," she said, "I have escaped. For the moment I am safe!
But Providence had not entirely forgotten us, though its ways as usual were inscrutable. Wilhelmine, it seems, locked herself nightly in her room, and the locks being noiseless in the Monte Cristo apartments she could not realize when the key turned that she was really safely barred in.
"Yes, you also have secrets," remarked Wilhelmine. "They are only professional ones: there is nothing about my personality to hide: my life is an open book for all the world to read!" De Loubersac's tone was hard. It hurt Wilhelmine. For some while they had been seated behind a pillar, in the shadow: Wilhelmine had been speaking: Henri had been listening.
She told him she was not the daughter of the baron de Naarboveck, that her real name was Thérèse Auvernois. This told de Loubersac nothing. Wilhelmine explained that her childhood had been passed in an ancient château, on the banks of the Dordogne, with her grandmother, the Marquise de Langrune. One fatal December day the Marquise had been assassinated.
So numerous were their social engagements they rarely had time for a quiet talk together. Wilhelmine was in good spirits. De Naarboveck listened with an indulgent smile to her vivacious account of the little happenings and doings of her day. Presently a more serious subject came up for discussion. The word "marriage" was mentioned.
And they say that the Prince of Baireuth tried to bring about a reconciliation, but that the Prince of Wales took the part of the Crown Prince. The Prince of Wales? Then he has been received? And the King, so they say, in the heat of the argument, commanded that Princess Wilhelmine, the cause of the quarrel, be sent to Küstrin at once. Good Heavens, ladies! There are cards on the table. Hush!
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