She laughed bitterly, while the Baron felt very uneasy. During that conversation her eyes were in turn wet with tears and burning with fire. Cosel possessed all the characteristics of Medea--everything that an ideal turns into reality. When she became silent, the chamberlain still stared at her as if he were mesmerized.
"I am very sorry indeed," said he at last, "that you force me to contribute to your misfortune." And he was sincere there.
"No one can make my misfortune greater," said she. "You are mistaken if you think that I regret the loss of palaces and luxury. No! I suffer because I have lost my faith in a human heart. Give me back his heart, and I will give up for it the crown of the world. I loved him! My whole life was bound up in him--he was my hero; he was my god; but the hero turned clown, his godhead is smirched."
The Baron tried to tranquilize her, but she cried,--
"O my golden dreams, where are you?"
Von Sinen could hold no longer. Pity was stronger within him than any other consideration.
"I implore you," said he, "to go away from here! I can say no more."
"What!" said Cosel. "Is it possible that even here I am threatened? Would the King of Prussia surrender a woman as Augustus surrendered Patkul?"
Von Sinen stood silent; it was evident he could not say any more.
"Where is there to go?" she murmured to herself. "I could not live too far from him; my heart still longs for him. Let them do with me what they please. I am disgusted with life. They have taken away my children--they have left me only bitterness."