"So," said the archduke, sarcastically, when his godson discontinued his story, "you wish to marry a young girl to whom you have addressed three or four words, and whose rare beauty, as you say, has turned your head." "I hope to obtain the consent of your Royal Highness to marry Mlle. Antonine, because I love her, monseigneur, and it is impossible for our marriage to be postponed." At these words, so resolutely uttered in spite of the timidity of Frantz, the prince trembled and reproached himself for having believed it to be one of those chaste loves of such proverbial purity. "And why, sir," said the prince, in a threatening voice, "why cannot this marriage be postponed?" "Because I am a man of honour, monseigneur." "A man of honour! You are either a dishonest man, sir, or a dupe." "Monseigneur!" "You have basely abused the innocence of a child of fifteen years, I tell you, or you are her dupe. Parisian girls are precocious in the art of cheating husbands." Frantz looked at the prince a moment in silence, but without anger or confusion, vainly trying to ascertain the meaning of these words which touched him neither in his love nor in his honour. "Excuse me, monseigneur, I do not understand you." Frantz uttered these words with such an expression of sincerity, with such ingenuous assurance, that the prince, more and more astonished, added, after a moment's silence, looking at the young man with a penetrating gaze: "Did you not just tell me that your marriage with this young lady could not be deferred?" "No, monseigneur; with the permission of your Royal Highness, it ought not to be and will not be!" "Because without marriage you would be wanting in honour?" "Yes, monseigneur." "And in what and why would you be wanting in honour, if you did not marry Mlle. Antonine?" "Because we have sworn before Heaven to belong to each other, monseigneur," replied Frantz, with restrained energy. The prince, half reassured, added, however: "And pray, under what circumstances have you exchanged this oath?" "Fearing to displease you, monseigneur, or fatigue your attention, I discontinued my story." "Well, continue it." "Monseigneur, I fear--" "Continue,--omit nothing. I wish to know all of this affair." "The uncle of mademoiselle went out in the evening, monseigneur, and she remained at home alone. The season was so beautiful that Mlle. Antonine spent all her evenings in the garden. We grew better acquainted with each other; we talked long together many times,--she, on the little bench, I, leaning on my elbow on the wall; she told me all about her life; I told her about mine, and, above all, monseigneur, my respectful affection for you, to whom I owe so much. Mlle. Antonine shares this moment my profound gratitude to your Royal Highness."