Part 34 (2/2)
”The best proof,” said he, ”that I wish you well is my coming here. I would like to help you to come to some understanding with the King; but you must show some goodwill, and finish peacefully like Aurore and Teschen.”
Cosel blushed.
”Aurore and Teschen,” exclaimed she, ”were his favourites, while I am his wife. I have his written promise.”
Watzdorf laughed.
”Ah! dear Countess,” said he, with offensive familiarity, ”it is an old story. You know well how tyrannical pa.s.sion is; a man is not master of himself under its influence. Our King also signed the peace at Altranstadt, but does not consider himself bound by it; it is the same with his promise to marry you.”
Cosel could hardly contain her indignation.
”No! I still believe he is an honest man who knows what he does, and deceives neither himself nor any one else.”
She began to pace to and fro.
”Tell me, then, frankly,” said Watzdorf, ”what are your conditions? The King is willing to grant them to you, only you must not ask anything impossible or attach too much weight to trifles. You will give me back that paper.”
Cosel turned towards him excitedly.
”Did you come for that?” she asked.
”Well, yes.”
”Then return,” said Cosel angrily; ”for as long as I have life I shall not surrender that paper; it is a defence of my honour, and that is more precious to me even than life. Do you think I had consented, for all the King's riches, to stretch out my hand to him if he had not given me the promise of marriage?”
”But you well understand,” said Watzdorf, ”that it is of no value, for the Queen is living.”
”Then why do you want it back?” asked Cosel. ”You must be ashamed that the King has deceived me.”
”I cannot hear any reproaches against the King,” said Watzdorf.
”Then return from whence you came,” said Cosel, leaving the room.
The Count stopped her.
”Think of what you are doing; you are forcing the King to be severe with you. He can use force! You cannot hide the paper so that it cannot be taken from you.”
”Let him try, then,” said the Countess.
”It would be a very sad extremity,” rejoined Watzdorf, ”and we would like to avoid it. If you oblige us to use force, you cannot expect anything else.”
Cosel did not let him finish, but said to him,--
”You wish me, then, to sell my honour? I a.s.sure you that there is not money enough in the King's treasury to pay for the honour of such a woman as I am. I shall not return that doc.u.ment for anything! I wish to let the world know how I have been deceived.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
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