"Are you not well, lady?"
"Very well, your Majesty."
"Perhaps you have something to complain of? Have confidence in me—as a friend!"
"Your Majesty is very kind——"
Regina struggled with herself. At last she said, with her eyes on the floor,
"Your Majesty's goodness leaves nothing to wish for."
"We shall meet again."
The king continued his walk through the saloon.
Lady Regina withdrew to a deep window recess in one of the other rooms and wept.
"Holy Virgin," she prayed, "forgive me, that my heart does not belong to you alone. You who can see into my inmost being, you know that I have not enough strength to hate this heretic king as you demand of me. He is so great, so noble. Woe unto me, I shudder to think of the holy charge you have given me!"