Sire, I am a great sinner, and my conscience gives me no rest.

Will you be my confessor, and listen to me ?" The king sighed.

"Ah," thought he, "she is hurrying to destruction, and by her own confession of guilt she will make it impossible for me to hold her guiltless!" "Speak!" said he aloud.
"First," said she, with downcast eyes--"first, I must confess to you that I have to-day deceived you, my lord and king.

Vanity and sinful pride enticed me to this; and childish anger made me consummate what vanity whispered to me.

But I repent, my king; I repent from the bottom of my soul, and I swear to you, my husband--yes, I swear to you by all that is sacred to me, that it is the first and only time that I have deceived you.