"What, you also, Rudolph?" cried Clémence.
"Permit me, my dear, to express all my thoughts," replied Rudolph. Then, addressing his daughter, "But before taking this last determination, we must examine if there may not be other prospects for the future, more agreeable to your wishes and ours. In this case, I should not regard any sacrifice, if I could secure you such a future existence."
Fleur-de-Marie and Clémence started with surprise. Rudolph continued, fixing his eyes on his daughter, "What do you think of your cousin Henry?" After a moment of hesitation, she threw herself weeping into the arms of the prince.
"You love him, my poor child?"
"You never asked me, father," replied Fleur-de-Marie, drying her tears.
"My dear, we were not deceived," said Clémence.
"So you love him," added Rudolph, taking his daughter's hands in his own, "you love him well, my dear child?"
"Oh, if you knew," replied Fleur-de-Marie, "how much it has cost me to hide from you the sentiment as soon as I discovered it in my heart—alas, at the least question from you, I should have owned everything. But shame restrained me, and would always have restrained me."
"And do you think that Henry knows your love for him?" said Rudolph.
"Great Heaven, father, I do not think so," cried Fleur-de-Marie, in terror.