At last I could bear it no longer. The
queen was sitting with her hand in my wife's; I had been seated
on the other side of the room, for I thought that they might wish
to talk to one another; yet I had not seen them exchange a word.
I rose abruptly and crossed the room to where they were.
"Have you need of my presence, madam, or have I your permission
to be away for a time?" I asked.
"Where do you wish to go, Fritz?" the queen asked with a little
start, as though I had come suddenly across her thoughts.
"To the Konigstrasse," said I.
To my surprise she rose and caught my hand.
"God bless you, Fritz!" she cried. "I don't think I could have
endured it longer. But I wouldn't ask you to go. But go, my dear
friend, go and bring me news of him. Oh, Fritz, I seem to dream
that dream again!"
My wife looked up at me with a brave smile and a trembling lip.
"Shall you go into the house, Fritz?" she asked.
"Not unless I see need, sweetheart," said I.
She came and kissed me. "Go, if you are wanted," she said. And
she tried to smile at the queen, as though she risked me
willingly.
"I could have been such a wife, Fritz," whispered the queen.
"Yes, I could."
I had nothing to say; at the moment I might not have been able to
say it if I had.
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