She was only a child, and, up to the day of her marriage, had no conception of the real meaning of matrimony.

The prince has never enjoyed a moment's happiness with his young wife.

His very first attempt to offer her a husband's caresses caused her to turn deadly pale and go into convulsions; and this occurred as often as the two were left alone.
The prince complained of his hard lot, and sought medical advice.

It was reported that the young wife was subject to epileptic attacks.

A man of any delicacy would have accepted the situation and held his peace; but the prince took counsel of his factotum, a certain Benjamin Vajdar----" An involuntary movement, and a half-suppressed exclamation on Manasseh's part, made the speaker turn to him inquiringly; then, as the other said nothing, he resumed: "This factotum is the evil genius of the family, and the two together make a pair hard to match.