“Frederick,” she said hurriedly, “I have a dreadful secret to confide to you.  Our sister Louise loves Count Adolphus Schwarzenberg.”

“I thought as much,” murmured the Prince.

“I have known it for a long while,” continued the Princess, “but I took no notice of it, hoping that absence and separation would make her forget him.  But since his return I have had no more hope.  Last night, in her distress, she betrayed all to me, and I must tell you something dreadful, something shocking.  You must reveal it to nobody—­not another one must know it.  Do you promise me that?”

“I promise, Hedwig.  But tell me what it is.”

She bent over close to his ear and whispered: 

“She has granted him a rendezvous.”

“Impossible, sister, you are mistaken!”

“No, no, Frederick, I am not mistaken.  I heard her myself when she told him so.  It was in Count Schwarzenberg’s hothouse; I came behind her with the ladies, and she thought I was paying no attention whatever to her and all that she was saying to Count Adolphus.  But I managed to watch her constantly without attracting the attention of the ladies I was with.  My eyes and ears are very sharp, and I saw her press a note into his hand, and heard her repeat to him the contents of the note, appointing an interview with him this evening at ten o’clock.  Old Trude is to wait for him at the back side door of the castle next to the cathedral, and she is to conduct him to her.  You must not suffer it, Frederick William; that bad Count Schwarzenberg shall not carry off my sister.”

“No, that he shall not,” said the Prince.  “I thank you, sister, for coming to me.  We two shall save her—­we two alone, and nobody shall know anything about it.  Even she herself must not find out that we know her secret.  We must be brisk and determined, though, for it is late, only wanting a half hour of being ten o’clock.  Who is old Trude?”

“Louise’s chambermaid, who has been with her all her life, for Trude was her nurse.  She idolizes our sister, and would go through fire and water for her sake.  What Louise commands is law with her.”

“Then we must prevent old Trude, by force or cunning, from going to the door and admitting the count.”

“By force, impossible, for that would make a noise; but by cunning.  I have it, Frederick, I have it!  I will entice old Trude into my room and then lock myself in with her, playing all sorts of tricks, and seeming to have no object at all in view but amusement and teasing.  I will take care of old Trude.”

“And I of Count Schwarzenberg.  It is high time, sister!  Make haste, lest old Trude escape you.  But hark!  It will be necessary for you to speak to the old woman, besides.  You must threaten her with revealing the whole affair to our father if she does not do as you command, and tell our sister that she waited for the count a whole hour in vain.”

“You are right, Frederick.  That is still better.  Louise must believe that he did not come.  To work!—­to work!”