are looking at us. Let's postpone this important discussion." Louis went away to dream about his misfortunes and Mersburg went in to see the prince.
"Well," said Frederick, "was I wrong to give myself up to the torments of jealousy?"
"It would appear that you were right, Milord, but never would I have suspected the one whom you honor with your love."
"Oh, my friend, the heart of woman is inexplicable; it is a labyrinth in which the one who thinks he knows the way is certain to be lost. I adored this woman, and she betrayed me. I thought she was frank and sincere, and there was nothing in her except imposture and lying. It was because of her reputation for virtue that I brought her to my throne, and that is how I have been recompensed. That Kaunitz … who could have believed it? That young man on whom I had heaped favors. Whom can princes trust? But tell me, my friend, had that intrigue lasted a long time? Did they love each other? Do you believe it?"
"If I had known anything about it, Your Highness, I would have told you about it long ago. I imagine that this young man is much more guilty than the princess. Is it not possible that he may have loved her without her responding to his passion?"
"But that rendezvous?"
"We do not have any proof that it was one. The princess was accustomed to going often to the bird house all alone. It may be that Kaunitz followed your wife without her having the least part in this meeting."
"But they have been discovered talking together."
"Only a few words, because there were only a few instants between the time when the young officer entered the bird house and the time when the guards arrested the two of them."
"But Kaunitz, when he was dying from the sword blow which I gave him, did not deny loving the princess."
"In that case, Your Highness was prudent in treating him so severely."
"In the first moments I was tempted to treat Adelaide in the same manner."
35
