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ed。 Again came the false notes； frightful to the ears of musicians。 And now Graun and Fasch could not keep time。 The king held his breath。
〃Go on； Quantz；〃 said he； zealously； placing the flute again to his lips。
Quantz cast a sullen look at him。
〃As your majesty pleases；〃 said he； and he played so fiercely that Graun and Fasch shivered； and Quantz himself whistled to drown the discord。 The unlearned marquis looked in blessed ignorance upon his royal friend； and the beautiful music brought tears to his eyes。 When the piece was ended； the king said to Quantz：
〃Do you find this text false？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； it is false！〃
〃And you two also believe it false？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； it is false！〃 said Graun and Fasch。
〃But； if the composer will have it so？〃
〃It is still false！〃 said Quantz； sullenly。
〃But if it pleases me； and I think it melodious？〃
〃Your majesty can never find it so；〃 said Quantz； angrily。 〃The notes are false； and what is false can never please your majesty。〃
〃Well； well！〃 said the king； good…humoredly； 〃don't be quite so angry！ it is； after all； not a lost battle！ ＇Footnote： The king's own words。＇ If this passage is impossible； we will strike it out。〃
〃If your majesty does that； it will be a beautiful composition； and I would be proud myself to have composed it。〃
The king smiled； well pleased。 It was evident that this praise of his proud and stern master was most acceptable to the hero of Leuthen and Rossbach。
CHAPTER XVI。
THE BROKEN HEART。
A carriage stopped before the pleasure palace of Oranienburg。 The lady who sat in it； cast anxious； questioning glances at the windows； and breathed a heavy sigh when she saw the closed shutters； and observed the absence of life and movement in the palace。 At this moment an officer stepped hastily from the great portal to greet the lady； and assist her to descend。
〃Does he still live？〃 said she； breathlessly。
〃He lives； countess； and awaits you eagerly！〃 said the officer。
She did not reply； but raised her large； melancholy eyes thankfully to heaven； and her lips moved as if in prayer。
They stepped silently and rapidly through the dazzling saloons； now drear and deserted。 Their pomp and splendor was painful； it harmonized but little with their sad presentiments。
〃We have arrived； countess；〃 said the officer； as they stood before a closed and thickly…curtained door。 〃The prince is in this garden… saloon。〃
The lady's heart beat loudly； and her lips were pale as death。 She leaned for a moment against the door； and tried to gather strength。
〃I am ready I announce me to the prince！〃
〃That is unnecessary； countess。 The prince's nerves are so sensitive； that the slightest noise does not escape him。 He heard the rolling of your carriage…wheels； and knows that you are here。 He is expecting you； and has commanded that you come unannounced。 Have the goodness to enter； you will be alone with the prince。〃 He raised the curtain； and the countess looked back once more。
〃Is there any hope？〃 said she； to her companion。
〃None！ The physician says he must die to…day！〃
The countess opened the door so noiselessly； that not the slightest sound betrayed her presence。 She sank upon a chair near the entrance； and fixed her tearful eyes with inexpressible agony upon the pale form； which lay upon the bed； near the open door； leading into the garden。
What！this wan； emaciated figure； that countenance of deadly pallor； those fallen cheeks； those bloodless lips； the hollow temples； thinly shaded by the lifeless； colorless hairwas that Augustus William？the lover of her youth； the worshipped dream… picture of her whole life； the never…effaced ideal of her faithful heart？
As she looked upon him； the sweetly…painful； sad； and yet glorious past； seemed to fill her soul。 She felt that her heart was young； and beat； even now； as ardently for him who lay dying before her； as in the early time； when they stood side by side in the fulness of youth； beauty； and strengthwhen they stood side by side for the last time。
At that time； she died！ Youth； happiness； heart were buried； but now； as she looked upon him； the coffin unclosed； the shroud fell back； and the immortal spirits greeted each other with the love of the olden time。
And now； Laura wept no more。 Enthusiasm； inspiration were written upon her face。 She felt no earthly pain； the heavenly peace of the resurrection morning filled her soul。 She arose and approached the prince。 He did not see her； his eyes were closed。 Perhaps he slumbered； perhaps the king of terrors had already pressed his first bewildering kiss upon the pale brow。 Laura bent over and looked upon him。 Her long； dark ringlets fell around his face like a mourning veil。 She listened to his light breathing； and； bowing lower； kissed the poor； wan lips。
He opened his eyes very quietly； without surprise。 Peacefully； joyfully he looked up at her。 And Laurashe asked no longer if that wasted form could be the lover of her youth。 In his eyes she found the long…lost treasurethe love； the youth； the soul of the glorious past。
Slowly the prince raised his arms； and drew her toward him。 She sank down； and laid her head by his cold cheek。 Her hot breath wafted him a new life…current； and seemed to call back his soul from the spirit…world。
For a long time no word was spoken。 How could they speak； in this first consecrated moment？ They felt so much； that language failed。 They lay heart to heart； and only God understood their hollow sighs； their unspoken prayers； their suppressed tears。 Only God was with them！ God sent through the open doors the fresh fragrance of the flowers； He sent the winds； His messengers； through the tall trees； and their wild； melancholy voices were like a solemn organ； accompanying love's last hymn。 In the distant thickets the nightingale raised her melancholy notes； for love's last greeting。 Thus eternal Nature greets the dying sons of men。
God was with His children。 Their thoughts were prayers； their eyes； which at first were fixed upon each other； now turned pleadingly to heaven。
〃I shall soon be there！〃 said Prince Augustus〃soon！ I shall live a true life； and this struggle with death will soon be over。 For sixteen years I have been slowly dying； day by day； hour by hour。 Laura； it has been sixteen years； has it not？〃
She bowed silently。
〃No；〃 said he； gazing earnestly upon her； 〃it was but yesterday。 I know now that it was but yesterday。 You are just the same unchanged； my Laura。 This is the same angel…face which I have carried in my heart。 Nothing is changed； and I thank God for it。 It would have been a great grief to look upon you and find a strange face by my side。 This is my Laura； my own Laura； who left me sixteen years ago。 And now； look at me steadily； see what life has made of me； see how it has mastered metortured me to death with a thousand wounds！ I call no man my murderer； but I die of these wounds。 Oh； Laura！ why did you forsake me？ Why did you not leave this miserable； hypocritical； weary world of civilization； and follow me to the New World； where the happiness of a true life awaited us？〃
〃I dared not；〃 said she； 〃God demanded this offering of me； and