"No!" she exclaimed suddenly, "you lie; it cannot be the King's will; you blacken the King, wishing to defend him. I have not yet doubted his noble heart, although I believe he is occasionally thoughtless. The King cannot ask for it."
The messenger silently took from his pocket the King's letter and handed it to the Countess.
She glanced at it contemptuously.
"If that which he signed for me has no value now," she said, "what weight can I give this letter? Tomorrow the King may ask you to return that to him."
Watzdorf, in confusion, replaced the letter in his pocket and said,--
"Countess, I pity you--you may believe me or not, but I am sincere. For God's sake, think of what you expose yourself to! remember the lot of many people. It is dangerous to oppose the King."
"I know him better than you," she answered.
"I beseech you!"
"Spare yourself the time and trouble," said Cosel quietly. "It is in vain; you can do less with me by threatening than by persuasion."
She threw a contemptuous glance at him and left the room.