"Fair lady, allow me to ask one question. Have you put on a nun's gown to do penance for your sins?"
"I have nothing to do penance for."
"But you have, Countess!—your cruelties—your injustice to the poor
Brahmin yonder, who seems neglected by his God and all the world."
The beautiful Carmelite cast down her eyes, and appeared uneasy.
"And do you know, fair Countess, that in the Freudenwald affair the
Chamberlain is as innocent as I am?"
"As you, Prince?" said the Countess, frowning, "what did you tell me an hour ago?"
"You are right, dear Countess, I was too bold. You said so yourself.
But now I declare to you the Chamberlain was obliged to go to
Freudenwald by command of the Queen-mother—against his will was
obliged to be cavalier to the hated Reizenthal—"
"Hated—by him?"—interrupted the Countess with a bitter and sneering laugh.
"Yes—he hates,—he despises the Baroness. Believe me, he scarcely treated her with civility, and incurred the Royal displeasure by so doing. I know it; and it was for your sake. You are the only person he loves—to you he offers his hand, his heart—and you!—you reject him!"
"How comes it, Prince, that you intercede so warmly for Pilzou? You did not do so formerly."