The Heart of Princess Osra

the Marquis d

nd with whom he could talk, and sport, and play at cards. All these things he did with M. de Mérosailles, and a great friendship arose between the young men, so that they spoke very freely to one another at all times, and most of all when they had drunk their wine and sat together in the evening in Prince Rudolf's chamber that looked across the moat towards the gardens; for the new chateau that now stands on the site of these gardens was not then built. And one night M. de Mérosailles made bold to ask the Prince how it fell out that his sister the Princess, a lady of such great beauty, seemed sad, and shewed no pleasure in the society of any gentlema

nd your sister, sir, I would e

joined the Prince: for that evening he wa

hat Rudolf had not the regard for his dignity t

is mor

e," laughed the Prince,

" asked M. de Mérosailles, leani

hundred that you do not gain a kiss,

" cried the Marquis. "But i

too near the flame, my lord! There are som

ously. "That risk I must run, though, if I am to win my wager.

de Mérosailles win so much as one kiss from the Princess Osra, and the wager stood at three. But he did not

, wherein she figured under charming names. These he bribed the Princess's waiting-women to leave in their mistress's chamber. Moreover he looked now sorrowful, now passionate, and he ate nothing at dinner, but drank his wine in wild gulps, as though he sought to banish sadness. So that, in a word, there was no device in Cupid's armoury that the Marquis de Mérosailles did not practis

was sick, and that he was glad of it; for death would be better far than the continued disdain of the Princess Osra. And all this, being told by the Marquis's servants to the Princess's waiting-women, reached Osra's ears, and caused her much perturbation. For she now perceived that the passion of the Marquis w

ot to undeceive her; moreover he found much entertainment in the

lf as near to death, hinted at the cruel cause of his condition, and prayed her of compassion to visit him in his chamber, and speak

eceives princes

here lay the Marquis, white as a ghost and languid on his pillows; and they were left, as they thought, alone. Then Osra sat down and began to talk very gently and kindly to him, glancing only at the

ns and self-reproach, cursing himself for a fool and a presumptuous madman, pitifully craving her pardon, and declaring that he did not deserve her kindness, and yet that he could not live without it, and that anyhow he would be dead soon, and thus cease to trouble her. But she, being thus passionately assailed, showed such sweet tenderness and compunction and pity, that M. de Mérosailles came

efore you go, and before I die, give me your forgiveness, and let yo

ly speak for emotion; and the Marquis seeing her emotion was himself deeply affected; and she rose from her chair, and bent over him, and whispered comfort to him. Then she leant down, and very lightly touched

f the Princess, working together with the great beauty of her softened manner, so affected him that he thought no more of his wager and could not endure to carry on his deception;

e Princess, crying to her that he had played the meanest trick on her, and that he was a scoundrel, and no gentleman, and that unless she forgave him he should in very truth die; nay, that he would not consent to live unless he could win from her pardon for his deceit. And in all this he was now absolut

there was no more truth or honesty in his present protestations than in those which went before, she fell into great shame and into a great rage; her eyes flashed like the eyes of her father himself, as she rose to her feet and looked down on M. de Mérosailles as he knelt imploring her. Now her face turned pale from red, and s

rn, she swept out of the room, leaving the Marquis on his knees. He started up to follow her, but dared not;

blot it out, since no

by his side, and, having put on his riding boots and summoned his servant, bade him saddle his horse. "For," said he to himself, "I will ride int

f returning from hawking. They met full in the centre of the bridge, and the Prince, seeing M. d

u ride to the funeral? It cannot be yourself, for I see

, and speaking low that the servants and the falconer

I do not see my sister at the window to watch you go,

rquis. "Yes, I have made way with the accurse

?" cried the Prince, with

issed me once, and t

a better reason, then,

ed to merriment when it appeared that the Marquis, having gone too near the candle, had been caught by its flame, and was so terribly singed and scorched that he could not bear to live. And while they talked on the bridge the Princess looked out on them from a lofty narrow window, but nei

rmed for his reason, but Princess Osra also, at the window, wondered what ailed him and why he wore such a long

ent rogue!" Yet she did not leave the window, but watch

, and the Prince raised him and kissed him on either cheek; then the Marquis went and mounted his horse, and rode off, slowly and unattended, into the glades of

walked down from the room where she was, and found her brothe

les has taken h

adame," rej

her also; for a man, said she, is known by his friends, and what a

ake him answer for what he has done with his life.

ay nothing; he chose rather to answer the first part of w

trouble, for he has gon

ous, but also half believing, because of t

rogue, so he cannot live; and in the third place you are so lovely, sister, that he cannot live; and in the first, second, and thi

ll dead,"

t." And he rose and strode out of the room very surlily; for he had a great friendship f

tonement for the past treachery; and she said to herself that she could not sleep quietly that night if the Marquis killed himself in the forest. Presently she wandered slowly up to her chamber, and looked in the mirror, and murmured low, "Poor fellow!" and then with sudden speed she attired herself for riding, and commanded her horse to be saddled, and darted down the stairs and across the bridge, and mounted,

owards her. She held her breath and waited a few moments. Then he took up the sword and felt the point and also the edge of it, and sighed deeply; and the Princess thought that this sorrowful mood became him better than any she had seen him in before. Then he rose to his feet, and took his sword by the blade beneath the hilt, and turned

sailles sitting on

be cured by adding an offence

ity, yet her cheek was flushed, and af

re, madame?" he

meditated this great sin, and

d what you cau

of it," she said, "b

ound. "I pray you, madame, leave me alone to die. For I cannot tear myself from the world so long

gh down, so that its leaves half hid her face, and the Marquis saw little more than he

you die, u

iveness before you fou

ven, my

e. For of heaven

nd now her cheek, and always her eyes were seen through t

en forgive

," he said,

re we poor mortals

r two towards where the bough swaye

id he, "cannot belie

which he seeks forgiveness;

and, if I obtain it

ugh swayed:

ll die, you may

he green leaves; through them the eyes of Osra gleamed: the sun's rays struck on her eyes, and they danced in the sun; and he

you forgive. The crim

eat: yet I

looked at the point of his sword, and then

hat if you will live, I will

I must forget to be forgiven, then

reached him from

, and you shall be

hand, and held a leaf a

f forgiven. Is there no

do not put the

nless I have sure wa

to make me

ord at his heart, and he swore on his honour that un

with great petulance,

e been dead by now

will st

t still die

lord. The sun strikes it

r eyes are brighter than

shade them wi

es," he whispered. "Madame, is

followed his eyes sp

u swear on

an oath that

I had not come," s

then it swayed swiftly up again; and its leaves brushed the c

ouched my ch

een a leaf," sa

a l

," said Pri

f the Tree of Life,"

ould set me on my

ide back to the

would relieve my

ous to do that much

and rode back t

ll this time they spoke hardly a word: and although the sun was now set, yet the glow remained on the face

nce Rudolf ran out to meet them, and

oman had been false to M. de Mérosailles and, after taking his money, had hid herself in his chamber, and seen the first kiss that the Princes

o tell me. In an hour the Guards will be here, and if the K

ghtily, "I ask your pardon, sir, but the King dares not hang

ow, it is dusk. You shall dress yourself as my groom, and I will ride to the frontier, and you sh

y for what you call a trifle, sir,"

said Rudolf derisively. "Come in with

bridge the evening had fallen, and it was dark; their horses sto

a load of wood, saw a troop of men coming over the cro

, who was now dressed as a groom. "Perhaps we can g

an a little forward and, shading her eyes with her hand, cried, "See there! I see the g

, calling again to M. de Mérosailles,

when the Princess turned and glided back swiftly to them. And-let it be remembered that evening had

, and I thank you for your cou

quickly in spite of the darkness, ran to where M. de Mérosailles was about to s

ailles." And she kissed him lightly on the cheek. Then she suddenly gave a loud cry of dismay, e

nd of woe, leapt up; and they rode out, and turning their faces towards the forest, set spurs to their horses and vanished at a breakneck speed into the glades. And no sooner were t

sir?" she asked most

d into the King's presence, and we have information that he is in the ca

you think that M. de Mérosailles is in the castle, pray search the castle from kee

he clothes of the Marquis, and the white powder with which he had whitened his face, but the Marquis they d

is not in

and, walking to the middle of the bridge

oom who rode with him, madame?"

ed the Princess, "that I could not myse

e, for I saw you e

hat that was my brother,"

er, madame, you

ther's servant, why not to my brother's?" And she held out her hand that he m

illes's clothes in the cas

omething of his in the c

fter them!" cr

aken. Yet the captain rode off with his men, and pursued till he met Prince Rudolf returning alone, having seen M. de Mérosailles safe on his way. And Rudolf had paid the sum of a th

en, again, she frowned, and, although nobody was there, and it was very dark into the bargain, more than onc

ed him the second time I know; it was in forgiveness. But why I kissed

in with a smi