The prince took her hand and pressed it to his heart, then silently they left the saloon.
Louise had long since freed herself from her lover, and she now arose, resolved to return to the palace. Fritz Wendel tried to detain her, but the weak and foolish child had gathered courage from the modest words and dignified example of Laura.
"If you touch me again, you have seen me for the last time! I will never again return to this grotto!" Fritz Wendel was encouraged by her words; he had not asked her to return, and she had half promised to do so.
"I will not dare to touch you again," he said, humbly; "but will you not promise me to come again?"
"Well, I suppose I shall have to come again to hear the end of poor Laura's romance."
"This romance can be of great use to us," he said, seizing her hand and pressing it to his lips; "if mademoiselle accepts my love and allows me to hope I may one day become her husband, I will sell this secret to the king, and thus obtain his consent."
"You would not be so cruel as to betray them to the king?"
"Yes, there is nothing I would not do to obtain your hand."