The emperor repeated his words.
"You have loved her? Do you, then, love her no longer?"
"No. I love her no longer."
"When did you cease to love her?"
"On this day week, your majesty," said the count, defiantly. Joseph would not seem to observe the look which accompanied these words. His voice was unchanged, as he replied
"Count, although you feel resentful toward me, you believe me to be a man of honor, do you not?"
"I do, sire."
"Then I swear to you by all that is sacred to me as man and sovereign, that Therese is as pure in the sight of Heaven as its brightest angel. I swear to you that she is as worthy as ever she was to be loved and esteemed by her husband as his wife and the future mother of his children."
"Your majesty must have formed an intimate acquaintance with the countess, to be able to answer for her purity of heart," returned Kinsky, coldly.
Joseph looked up, pained.