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and inconstancy upon him； how indolently； how carelessly he had laughed； and called her his tigress； his anaconda。 She then recalled how suddenly she had felt his love grow cold； how anxiously she had looked around to discover what had changed him she could detect nothing。 But an accident came to her assistancea bad； malicious accident。 During the war there were no operas given in Berlin； and Marietta was entirely unoccupied； for some time she had been giving singing lessonsperhaps for distraction； perhaps to increase her income； she had； however； carefully preserved this secret from Ranuziin the unselfishness of her love she did not wish him to know that she had need of gold； lest he might offer her assistance。
One of her first scholars was Camilla von Kleist； the daughter of Madame du Trouffle； and soon teacher and scholar became warm friends。 Camilla； still banished by her mother to the solitude of the nursery； complained to her new friend of the sorrows of her home and the weariness of her life。 Carried away by Marietta's sympathy and flattering friendship； the young girl had complained to the stranger of her mother； in the desire to make herself appear an interesting sacrifice to motherly tyranny； she accused that mother relentlessly； she told Madame Taliazuchi that she was always treated as a child because her mother still wished to appear young； that she was never allowed to be seen in the saloon in the evening； lest she might ravish the worshippers and lovers of her mother。 Having gone so far in her confidences； the pitiable daughter of this light… minded mother went so far as to speak of her mother's adorers。 The last and most dangerous of these； the one she hated most bitterly； because he came most frequently and occupied most of her mother's time and thoughts； she declared to be the Count Ranuzi。
This was the beginning of those fearful torments which Marietta Taliazuchi had for some months enduredtortures which increased with the conviction that there was truly an understanding between Ranuzi and Madame du Trouffle； that Ranuzi； under the pretence of being overwhelmed with important business； refused to pass the evening with her； yet went regularly every evening to Madame du Trouffle。
Marietta had endured this torture silently； she denied herself the consolation of complaining to any one； she had the courage； with smiling lips； to dispute the truth of Camilla's narratives； and to accuse her of slander； she would have conviction； she longed for proof； and Camilla； excited by her incredulity； promised to give it。
One day； with a triumphant air； she handed Marietta a little note she had stolen from her mother's writing…desk。 It was a poem； written in French； in which Ranuzi； with the most submissive love； the most glowing tenderness； besought the beautiful Louise to allow him to come in the evening； to kneel at her feet and worship as the faithful worship the mother of God。
Marietta read the poem several times； and then with quiet composure returned it to Camilla； but her cheeks were deadly pale； and her lips trembled so violently； that Camilla asked her kindly if she was not suffering。
〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃I suffer； and we will postpone the lesson。 I must go home and go to bed。〃
But Marietta did not go home。 Beside herself； almost senseless with pain and rage； she wandered about through the streets； meditating； reflecting how she might revenge herself for this degradation； this faithlessness of her beloved。
At last she found the means； with firm step； with crimson cheeks； and a strange smile upon her tightly…compressed lips； she turned toward the castle。 There she inquired for the Marquis d'Argens； and Ranuzi's evil genius willed that D'Argens should be found at that time in Berlinhe was generally only to be seen at Sans…Souci。 Marietta did not know the marquis personally； but she had heard many anecdotes of the intellectual and amiable Provencal； she knew that the marquis and the king were warmly attached； and kept up a constant correspondence。 For this reason； she addressed herself to D'Argens； she knew it was the easiest and quickest way to bring her communication immediately before the king。 The marquis received her kindly； and asked her to make known her request。
At first Marietta was mute； regret and repentance overcame her； for a moment she almost resolved to be silent and to go away。 Soon； however； her wrath was awakened； and armed her with the courage of despair： with panting breath； with strange disordered taste； she said： 〃I have come to tell you a secretan important secret； which concerns the king。〃
The good marquis turned pale； and asked if it related to any attempt upon the life of the king？
〃Not to his life； but it was a secret of the greatest importance；〃 she replied。 Then； however； when the marquis asked her to make a full disclosure； she seemed suddenly to see Ranuzi's handsome face before her； he looked softly； reproachfully at her with his great fathomless eyes； whose glance she ever felt in the very depths of her heart； she was conscious that the old love was again awake in her； and by its mighty power crowding out the passion of revenge。 A lingering hesitation and faint…heartedness overcame herconfused and stammering； she said she would only confide her secret to the king himself； or to that person whom the king would authorize to receive it。
The marquis； in a vivacious manner； pressed her to speak； and made conjectures as to the quality of her secret。 Marietta found herself involved in a net of cross…questions and answers； and took refuge at last in absolute silence。 She rose and told the marquis she would return in eight days； to know whom the king had selected to receive her communication。
The eight clays had now passed； and Marietta had； during this time； many struggles with her own hearther ever newly awakening love pleaded eloquently for forgivenessfor the relinquishment of all her plans of vengeance。 ＇Footnote： The marquis； in one of his letters to the king； described his interview with Madame Taliazuchi； with great vivacity and minuteness； and expressed his own suspicions and conjectures； which； indeed； came very near the truth； and proved that； where he was warmly interested； he was a good inquisitor。 He entreated Frederick not to look upon the matter carelessly； as in all probability there was treason on foot； which extended to Vienna。 Madame Taliazuchi had much intercourse in Berlin with the captive Italian officers； and it might be that one of these officers was carrying on a dangerous correspondence with Vienna。 In closing his letter； the marquis said： 〃Enfin； sire； quand il serait vrai que tout ceci ne fut qu'une bete italienne qui so serait echauffee； et qui aurait pris des chimeres pour des verites； ce qui pourrait encore bien etre； cette femme ne parait rien moins que prudente et tranquille。 Je crois； cependant； que la peine qu'on aurait prise de savoir ce qu'elle veut declarer serait si legere； qu'on ne la regretterait pas； quand meme on decouvrirait que cette femme n'est qu'une folle。〃〃Oeuvres de Frederic le Grand；〃 vol。 xix。 p。 91。＇ She had almost resolved not to seek the marquis again； or if she did so； to say that she had been deceivedthat the secret was nothing that she had only been bantered and mystified。 But now； all these softer； milder feelings seemed burnt out in the wild fire of revenge and scorn which blazed through her whole being。 〃He is a traitora shameless liar！〃 she said； pressing her small teeth firmly and passionately together； 〃he is a coward； and has not the courage to look a woman in the face and confess the truth when she demands it； he is a perjurer； for he took the oath which I exacted from himhe swore to love me alone and no other woman； he had the impudent courage to call down the vengeance of God upon himself if he should break this oath。 Why do I hesitate longer？〃 cried she； springing from her seat； 〃the perjured traitor deserves that my betrayed and crushed heart should avenge itself。 He called down the vengeance of God upon himself。 Let it crush him to atoms！〃
Now all was decision； courage； energy； and circumspection。 She took the two letters she had received from Ranuzi and concealed them in her bosom； then dressed herself and left her dwelling。
With a firm step she passed through the streets which led to the castle。 As she drew near the house of Madame du Trouffle； she hesitated； stood still； and looked up at the windows。
〃If only this once he did not deceive me！ If he is not here； if he told me the truth！〃 His countenance had been so open； so calm； so smiling when he said to her that he had a rendezvous with some friends at the Catholic priest's； and in a graceful； roguish mockery； asked her if she was jealous of that meeting。 No； no！ this time he was true。 He could not have played the hypocrite with such smiling composure。 Scarcely knowing what she did； Marietta entered the house； and asked if Camilla was at homethen hastened on to the door of Camilla's room。
The young girl advanced to meet her with a joyous greeting。 〃I am glad you have come； Marietta。 Without you I should have been condemned to pass the whole evening shut up in my room； wearying myself with books。 But I am resolved what I will do in fut