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Updated: May 21, 2025
"Did you think and act thus, Louisa?" said Major du Trouffle, in a sad and anxious tone, looking his wife firmly in the eye. Louisa laughed with calm and unconcern. "My friend," said she, "would I have told all this to you, if I had committed the faults I charge upon others?
"Bring in this soothsayer, Fraulein von Lethow. He shall prophesy of you: I think you have not, like Madame du Trouffle, any reason to fear a picture of your past." The prophet entered.
Ah, tell me, worshipped lady, must I be forever banished from your presence." The words of the young man would have seemed insincere and artificial to every unprejudiced ear, but they filled the heart of the vain Louise du Trouffle with joy; they convinced her that she was yet beautiful enough to excite admiration.
A light tap at the door interrupted the count, and startled him inexplicably. "What does that mean?" he asked, turning pale. Marietta laughed aloud. "That means," she said, slowly and scornfully, "that you will not go to Magdeburg to-morrow that you cannot make use of the passport which your beloved Madame du Trouffle obtained for you.
My heart and my soul I laid gladly at your feet, and thanked God for the fulness of my happiness. My thoughts, my existence, my future, was chained to you. I had no other will, no other wish, no other hope. I was your slave I wanted nothing but your love." "Ah, and then came this Monsieur du Trouffle, and broke your fetters gave your heart liberty and wings for a new flight," said Prince Henry.
Madame du Trouffle drew back, and a glowing blush suffused her cheek, and as she advanced from the grotto she was again the gay, imperious coquette the beautiful woman, with the cloudless brow and the sparkling eyes, which seemed never to have been over-shadowed by tears. The conscience-stricken, self-accusing mother was again the worldly-wise coquette.
Louise du Trouffle sighed heavily. "I was too early married, and then unhappily married; at eighteen I was a mother. All this ages a woman not the years but the storms of life have marked these fearful lines in my face. Then it is not possible for a man to feel any warm interest in me when he sees a grown-up daughter by my side, who will soon be my rival, and strive with me for the homage of men.
She carefully closed the door of the room in which Ranuzi sat, and then examined the paper. After reading it, she drew her note-book from her pocket, and hastily tearing out a leaf, she wrote upon it with a pencil. "Lose no time, if you do not wish him to escape. He has received to-day, through the agency of Madame du Trouffle, the necessary passport and permission to go to Magdeburg.
I thank you, Louise, I thank you, and I swear that no earthly pomp or power could make me as proud and happy as this assurance of your love." Louise gazed into his beautiful, smiling face with terror. "Ah, my prince, my words have not the meaning you imagine. I spoke the simple truth. My heart has made its choice since yesterday, I am the betrothed wife of Captain du Trouffle."
"Certainly, it would be best and surest to arrest him instantly," said she; and her heart bounded with delight when she said to herself, with cruel pleasure: "When once arrested, he can go no more to Madame du Trouffle." The marquis did not reply, but he stepped thoughtfully through the room. Marietta's eyes followed every movement with a fiery glance. At length the marquis stood before her.
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