"Well," said Joseph, after a pause, "I will go. After all, I am about to have an adventure."
The mask bowed, and made her way through the crowd to a side-door which opened upon the private staircase leading to the boxes. Joseph looked with interest at the light and elegant form that preceded him, and said to himself, "Truly an adventure! I will follow it to the end."
They were now in the galleries, from whence a beautiful view of the ballroom was obtained. The lady entered a box, the king followed. The sound of the music, and the gay voices of the dancers, came with softened murmur to the ears of the king. He thought of the past, but rousing himself to the exigencies of the present, he turned to the lady and said: "Now, fair mask, to your narrative."
"Swear first to bear me to the end! Swear it by the memory of Isabella, whom you so passionately loved!"
"Isabella!" cried Joseph, turning pale. "You are very bold, madame, to call that name, and call it here! But speak. By her loved memory I will listen."
She took his hand, and pressed it to her lips. Then she begged the king to be seated, and took her place by his side.
"Sire, I wish to relate to you the history of a woman whom God has either blessed or cursed; a woman who, if she were not most unfortunate, would be the happiest of mortals."
"You speak as the Sphinx did before the gates of Thebes. How can one be at the same time blessed and cursed?"
"Sire, it is a blessing to be capable of loving with passion; it is a curse to love, and not be loved in return."
"And a greater curse," murmured Joseph, "to feign love and not to feel it. I have been a victim of such hypocrisy, and never shall I outlive its bitter memories."