Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/44

 she wishes, and I will try to get her there. I am going to try to do as you wish," continued Mersburg, "but whatever be the results of our efforts, never accuse me of neglecting your interests."

"Ah," said the Marquis of Thuringia, "I count too much on your friendship to fear it."

"Since Frederick had urged Mersburg to leave at once, the two friends separated without making any other plans. In a short time the marquis met the prince.

"Thuringia," he said as soon as he saw him, "I approve the motives which have caused you to refuse to accompany Mersburg. No suspicion is now on your head; but some of the gossips might have talked if you had gone with him."

"That is what has governed my conduct," said the marquis. "Will you permit me to say that you have acted very quickly in all this? It outrages the virtue of your wife. Such offenses are repaired with much difficulty, and nothing can be done for this unhappy Kaunitz whose life you have ended!"

"My friend," cried the prince, "there is something very queer in all that, something which I have just discovered. They said that he had admitted his love for Adelaide just as he died. I have discovered that this was not so and that he did not even mention my wife in his last sigh. He said that a mortal enemy was pursuing him and he was a victim as his poor mother had been. That was all he said. Who is this enemy? Do you know, Thuringia?"

"I don't know, Milord. It seems to me that the facts show more than ever how innocent your wife is."

"I believe it as you do."

"How terrible your remorse must be at this moment."

"Yes, my friend," said Frederick sinking into a chair. "It is frightful. How I would like to bring the unfortunate Kaunitz back to life."

"There is no use devoting your wishes to something which cannot be changed," said Thuringia, "rather think of repairing the damage done to the best and the most innocent of women." "Mersburg is trying to remedy the situation."

"I am afraid that your propositions will not appeal to a woman who must have been turned violently against you. Ah,