She, who thought that her own sufferings could not be surpassed, was overwhelmed by a suffering which revealed itself by menace and by violence.
"Sire," she said, "for the last time I implore you to leave me; already do I feel strengthened by the calm seclusion of this asylum; and the protection of Heaven has reassured me; for all the pretty human meanness of this world are forgotten beneath the Divine protection.

Once more, then, sire, and for the last time, I again implore you to leave me." "Confess, rather," cried Louis, "that you have never loved me; admit that my humility and my repentance are flattering to your pride, but that my distress affects you not; that the king of this wide realm is no longer regarded as a lover whose tenderness of devotion is capable of working out your happiness, but as a despot whose caprice has crushed your very heart beneath his iron heel.

Do not say you are seeking Heaven, say rather you are fleeing from the king." Louise's heart was wrung within her, as she listened to his passionate utterance, which made the fever of hope course once more through her every vein.
"But did you not hear me say that I have been driven away, scorned, despised ?" "I will make you the most respected, and most adored, and the most envied of my whole court." "Prove to me that you have not ceased to love me." "In what way ?" "By leaving me." "I will prove it to you by never leaving you again." "But do you imagine, sire, that I shall allow that; do you imagine that I will let you come to an open rupture with every member of your family; do you imagine that, for my sake, you could abandon mother, wife and sister ?" "Ah! you have named them, then, at last; it is they, then, who have wrought this grievous injury?
By the heaven above us, then, upon them shall my anger fall." "That is the reason why the future terrifies me, why I refuse everything, why I do not wish you to revenge me.

Tears enough have already been shed, sufficient sorrow and affliction have already been occasioned.

I, at least, will never be the cause of sorrow, or affliction, or distress to whomsoever it may be, for I have mourned and suffered, and wept too much myself." "And do you count _my_ sufferings, _my_ tears, as nothing ?" "In Heaven's name, sire, do not speak to me in that manner.