Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/21

 all of Saxony; but I see that the tales they have dared tell about your beauty are far beneath the reality. However illustrious my throne may be, it was on that of the Universe that you should have taken your place, and if I regret that my throne is not so great as it might be, it is because I find it impossible to place at your feet all the honors due to you."

"Sire," answered the princess, "The Duke of Brunswick, my father, has promised me happiness with you; I see it written in your eyes."

Frederick bowed. He embraced Louis of Thuringia, his ambassador, then answered the reverences of the ladies of honor and the whole group went upstairs to be shown their apartments.

While the gentlemen and ladies were being taken to their apartments by the people of the household, the princess was conducted to hers by her august husband.

As most of the traveling had been done during the night, everybody rested until noon when a luncheon was served in magnificently ornamented rooms. The illustrious newly wed couple, Louis of Thuringia, and a few others were admitted to this honor.

Adelaide had just passed her twenty-third year when she left her father's home to be united to the Prince of Saxony, who, older than she by twelve years, had the disadvantage of being somewhat ugly and at the same time weak and jealous by nature, which did not augur too well for the success of their marriage; but these faults were those of his century. While women usually see jealousy as a fault which they pardon in the ones they love, Adelaide was not the type of person who could be anything but displeased with such an emotion.

Louis of Thuringia, a relative of Frederick, who had just brought to his cousin the wife he would willingly have picked for himself, was twenty-seven years old. He had the most pleasant face imaginable. He had both ease and nobility in his carriage, pleasing qualities in his mind, sweetness in his character, an ardent heart, an extreme penchant for love and all things of the heart.

As soon as the luncheon was over, it was decided to go into the forest which was especially beautiful at this time of the