"If that be so," said Amelia, "I give him up." She maintained her calmness.
"Porporina would persist in his defence," said Frederick. "I see it in her eyes."
"The reason is, that I cannot believe in his guilt," said she.
"Especially when the traitor is a handsome young fellow. Do you know, sister, that the signora is very intimate with Trenck?"
"I wish her joy," said Amelia, coldly. "If he be a dishonored man, I advise her to forget him. Now I wish you good day, signora, for I am much fatigued. I hope you will, in the course of a few days, come to see me again, to read this music. It seems to me very beautiful."
"You have then resumed your taste for music?" said the king. "I thought you had entirely abandoned it."
"I am anxious to resume it, and I hope, brother, that you will aid me in doing so. I am told you have made great progress, and now you will instruct me."
"We will now take them together from the signora. I will bring her."
"Well. That will be very pleasant to me."
The baroness took Porporina into the ante-chamber, and the latter soon found herself alone in one of the long corridors, without knowing whither to direct her steps to get out of the palace, for she did not remember how she had gotten into it.
The household of the king was as economical as possible, if we do not use a harsher word, and very few servants were to be met with in the palace. Porporina met no one from whom she could inquire, and wandered at hazard through the vast pile.
Reflecting on what had passed, overpowered by fatigue, and having fasted since the previous day, and feeling much debilitated--as often happens on such occasions--an unhealthy excitement sustained her physical powers. Wandering at hazard, and more rapidly than if she had been well, pursued by a personal idea, which, since the previous day had clung around her, she completely forgot where she was, went astray, crossed the galleries, the courts, retraced her steps, went up and down staircases, met various persons, forgot to ask her way, and at last found herself at the door of a vast hall, filled with divers confused objects, at the threshold of which a grave and polished person bowed to her with much courtesy, and invited her to enter.