“I will believe all your majesty wishes me to believe,” cried he.
“Sister, sister, it is too much,” murmured the count.
“No one believes me!” cried she, throwing herself on the sofa, with tears in her eyes.
“Sister, pardon me,” said the count tenderly, “you are surrounded by devoted friends; this secret, which terrifies you so, we alone know. It is confined to our hearts, and no one shall drag it from us while we have life.”
“This secret! oh, I want nothing but to prove the truth.”
“Madame,” said Andrée, “some one approaches.”
The king was announced.
“The king! oh, so much the better. He is my only friend; he would not believe me guilty even if he thought he saw me.”
The king entered with an air of calmness, in strange contrast to the disturbed countenances of those present.
“Sire,” said the queen, “you come àpropos; there is yet another calumny, another insult to combat.”