It was impossible, therefore, she reasoned, that the king should fail in keeping the promise which he had himself exacted from her, unless, indeed, the king were a despot who enforced love as he enforced obedience; unless, too, the king were truly indifferent, that the first obstacle in his way were sufficient to arrest his further progress.

The king, that kind protector, who by a word, by a single word, could relieve her distress of mind, the king even joined her persecutors.

Oh! his anger could not possibly last.

Now that he was alone, he would be suffering all that she herself was a prey to.

But he was not tied hand and foot as she was; he could act, could move about, could come to her, while she could do nothing but wait.