wishing to exclude me from the persecution that falls upon our Union. Believing as a Sister, I want to suffer with the rest. Allow me to follow my husband.”
“To follow your husband?” the Emperor asked, with amazement. “You are married, and to whom?”
“I married the one who rejected me when I was Countess Felsenburk, to whom my wealth was nothing, because I was a descendant of traitors. I married the son of one of my porters, Andrew Hlohovsky is his name. He is the descendant of the Bohemian nobles whose wealth and title were given to my ancestor. His noble character aroused in my heart the warmest and purest love of which a woman is capable.
“Scorned as a Countess, I determined that Andrew must at least honor me as a benefactress of Bohemia unknown to him. As his patriotic soul had taught me to love my nation beyond my own life, I decided to become your adviser, and in that way to work for the advancement of Bohemia. But great was my
