Part 5 (2/2)
”The Princess Teschen is proud!”
Anna shrugged her shoulders contemptuously.
”I can be a wife,” exclaimed she, ”but I could x never be a mistress. I could not endure that such shame should rest upon my brow.”
”Shame!” repeated Hoym. ”It only burns for a time; the wound soon heals, although the scar remains for ever.”
”You are disgusting!” interrupted the Countess angrily. ”You have brought me here, and now you insult me with your vile insinuations.”
Emotion checked her utterance; and Hoym said humbly,--
”Forgive me, I have lost my reason. I know not what I am saying.
To-morrow has been appointed for the court ball. The King has commanded me to attend with you; you will be presented to him. It seems to me,”
added he softly, ”that you can do anything you wish--you can even not look beautiful. I am willing to lose my wager.”
Anna turned away contemptuously.
”You ask me to act a comedy to save your honour!” said she, with a sarcastic smile, ”but I hate falsehood. Your honour is not at stake.
Anna Countess von Brockdorf does not belong to the cla.s.s of women who can be purchased for a handful of diamonds. Not a word more. I despise you all. I shall not be present at the ball!”
Hoym grew pale.
”You must be present,” said he, in an agitated voice. ”This is not a question of a childish fancy; my head and wealth are at stake. The King has issued his commands.”
”I do not care!” retorted Anna.
”You intend to disobey the King?” inquired Hoym.
”Why not? He rules over everything, I know, but he does not rule over family life. What can he do to me?”
”Nothing to you,” replied Hoym, uneasily. ”He is only too polite to beautiful women, but he will send me to Konigstein, and confiscate our estates. Misery and death threaten us!”
He covered his face with his hands.
”You do not know him,” he whispered. ”He beams and smiles like Apollo, but all the time he is terrible as the G.o.d of thunderbolts. He has never yet forgiven any one who doubted that he was all-powerful. You must be present at the ball, or I shall peris.h.!.+”
”Do you think, then, that the threat of your peril is so terrible to me?”
She shrugged her shoulders and walked towards the window.
Hoym followed her, pale as a ghost.
”For G.o.d's sake listen to reason!” he exclaimed, ”You cannot intend disobeying the King's commands.”
He had scarcely finished speaking, when there was a tap at the door, and a lackey entered. Hoym frowned.
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