there, nothing could turn him from carrying out the project which this note suggested.
At the time agreed upon, the two Saxons got into their gondola and had themselves taken to the place which had been designated. Hardly had they reached this place when they heard gondoliers singing a barcarolle and soon there was an answer from another gondola. In a few instants the two boats were side by side … Heavens! What an object appeared before the eyes of a loving husband! A coffin filled the middle part of the gondola; two priests were praying beside it and a person who was hidden in such a way that his face could not be perceived threw the following note into the prince's gondola:
This is the Fate of the Princess of Saxony and the punishment which the Republic reserves for those who conspire against her. You saw her yesterday for the last time; she was arrested and taken to the place of her punishment. Profit by the example; the severity which has fallen on the wife might easily fall on the husband. Don't be in Venice tomorrow, and if you wish to destroy the Republic of Venice, you will have to come with your troops and not try to overthrow it by plots.
While Frederick was reading this fatal note, the two gondolas separated and each was soon out of sight of the other.
It took all of Mersburg's strength to prevent Frederick from throwing himself into the sea. He wanted to expire, he said, on the coffin of the only being he adored in the world.
"Let's flee, Prince," cried the count, "it is the only thing left for us to do. Think about your people and do not expose yourself to danger. Posterity would not pardon you the weakness of dying for a woman who has given you so much cause to hate her."
But love does not listen to reason, and anything attempted to extinguish it only makes it more intense. The despair of the prince was frightful.
"I will never see again the one I loved," he cried throwing himself out of the bed which had been prepared for him on his return to the inn. "I am losing her forever. The wrongs which I have committed toward her are irreparable. Oh, Mers-
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