As he wished, he found. The lovely Otteline was alone, but in a mood of unusual pensiveness.—She was leaning her head upon her arm, when he entered; and there was a flush about her beautiful eyes, as if she had been weeping. She started on seeing him, and rising hastily, as if to disguise the chagrin which hung on her brow, said two or three gay words of welcome.
The discordant expressions in her face did not escape the watchful eye of growing passion. He ventured to utter a fear, that she was not well; or that something had happened to disturb her tranquillity.
"Nothing," replied she.
He looked incredulous; and she added with a smile, and a sigh, "Chevalier, if you would preserve your quiet, never enquire into the caprices of a woman."
"Then it is the caprice of some woman, which now disturbs yours?" exclaimed he, "Is it possible that the Empress can have given pain to one she so entirely loves?" "Not the Empress," replied the Countess eagerly, as if in haste to exonerate her benefactress; "she is all graciousness. But the Electress of Bavaria! She you so unfortunately assisted yesterday in this room; it is from her, that I have met with insult."
"Insult!" re-echoed Louis, "Impossible to you!"
"I wish it were so," replied the Countess; "but many causes make me an object of envy to that malicious Princess; and now she has triumphed."
"Again, I must say, impossible!" cried he, "for how can she, or any woman, triumph over the Countess Altheim?—Your virtues——"
"They are my own," interrupted she, casting down her eyes; "but my reputation is not; and yesterday put that into her power."
Some apprehension of what the Countess would not add, gleamed upon her auditor. "How?—Why?" cried he.