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THE GOLDEN RAIN.
Prince Frederick William betook himself, with painful curiosity, to the audience-room, where the Minister von Herzberg awaited him.
"Your excellency," said he, "his majesty refers me to you, for the true explanation of the miraculous elixir contained in this little box, and about which I am naturally very curious, and beg of you the key to open it." "Will your royal highness," said the minister, smiling, "have the grace to grant me a few moments' conversation, which may serve as an explanation, for his majesty has not in reality given me a key ?" "I pray you, my dear excellency, to explain it," cried the prince, impatiently.
"Pardon me if I probe the tenderest feelings of your heart, my prince.
The command of the king imposes this duty upon me.

He has known for a long time of your connection with a certain person, to whom you are more devoted than to your wife." "Say, rather, his majesty has twice forced me to marry two unloved and unknown princesses, when he knew that I already loved this certain person.

Twice I have married, because the command of his king is law to the crown prince of Prussia.

For my love and my sympathy there is no law but that of my own heart, and this alone have I followed." "His majesty does not reproach you.