Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/262

 nearest his heart: “Most gracious Lady,” said he, “you are aware that I passionately love Lucretia: truly may I say that I cannot exist without her. The whole Court has seen her treatment of me, has witnessed her cruel and contumelious falsehood. I have endured that which would have exhausted the endurance of most men, yet cannot I resolve to renounce her. To propitiate her I have expended all my patrimony; from time to time she has bestowed on me a deceitful smile, but her heart remains closed against me. What I would entreat of your Majesty is that you enjoin Lucretia to give me her hand, if she can assign no sound reason for refusing it.” The Empress promised she would speak to Lucretia in his favour, and endeavour to prevail upon her to reward his love with a due return.

But ere she had had an opportunity of talking with the proud Lucretia on the subject, Count Rupert requested an audience, and addressed her in the following terms: “August Empress, a lady in your train, the charming Lucretia, has deeply engaged my affections, and I have been fortunate enough to secure hers. I have, therefore, come to entreat that your Majesty would be pleased to dispense with her further attendance, and bestow her hand upon me, that, as her husband, I may take her home with me.”

Her Highness felt no little curiosity to know what