Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Prince Otto

278 PRINCE OTTO
hopes,' he pleaded. ' Tell me, dearest Madame
von Eosen, tell me ! You cannot be cruel : it is
not in your nature. Give ? I can give nothing ;
I have nothing ; I can only plead in mercy.'
' Do not,' she said ; ' it is not fair. Otto, you
know my weakness. Spare me. Be generous.'
'0, madam,' he. said, 'it is for you to be
generous, to have pity.' He took her hand and
pressed it ; he plied her with caresses and ap-
peals. The Countess had a most enjoyable sham
siege, and then relented. She sprang to her
feet, she tore her dress open, and, all warm from
her bosom, threw the order on the floor.
' There ! ' she cried. ' I forced it from her.
Use it, and I am ruined ! ' And she turned
away as if to veil the force of her emotions.
Otto sprang upon the paper, read it, and
cried out aloud. ' 0, God bless her ! ' he said,
' God bless her.' And he kissed the writing.
Von Eosen was a singularly good-natured
woman, but her part was now beyond her.
* Ingrate ! ' she cried ; ' I wrung it from her, I
betrayed my trust to get it, and 'tis she you
thank ! '
' Can you blame me .^ ' said the Prince. 'I
love her.'
' I see that,' she said. ' And I P '
' You, Madam von Eosen ? You are my
dearest, my kindest, and most generous of