Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/139

 him as long as I will be with him. To serve you in all ways and to preserve you from all dangers will be my only duty and occupation. It is time to break your fetters and to be happy once more; but there are some precautions to take first, and I believe you will approve of what I have in mind. Come then without losing a minute. Your husband believes you are dead, and he is weeping over you; I thought it was a good plan to throw him off the track. If your sudden appearance dries his tears and returns him to his former fury, I will be there to defend you. His injustice will give more strength to the Marquis of Thuringia and we will be able to take you away from that barbarian. Do not fear him any more and appear without fail. Come to Fredericksburg as though you were a foreigner and let me know the moment you appear and leave the rest to me.

"Well, Bathilda," said Adelaide in showing her the letter, "what do you think about what he has written me?"

"Mersburg confirms what I have always thought of him, Milady, that you did not have a better friend in the world. As for the advice he gave you, as long as he guarantees that it is all right, I think you should follow it. In that way you at least will be nearer to the person you love, and it is time to break with the one who has caused you so much unhappiness. Besides, this life of adventure which we are leading has been full of dangers, and our good luck cannot keep on forever."

Another uneasiness worried the princess. She feared meeting her husband on the way if she followed him at once, and if she did not give the count time to prepare things in Fredericksburg they might not work out right.

"Then, Milady," said Bathilda, "let him take a few days lead. But let's not stay in Venice. Let's go to the first agreeable city to spend some time in order to let your husband get well ahead of you."

As soon as possible they left Venice and started on their way through Bavaria. They found that the roads were in awful shape and on several occasions had to cross streams which threatened to sweep their carriage from the road.

On one occasion as they were going along a narrow road which had a cliff on one side and a frightful precipice on the